Many traditional tarot spreads have a position called “Hopes and Fears.” The card that falls into that position is meant to inform us about our hopes and fears.

I am embarrassed to admit that it was only recently that I fully understood that hopes and fears are the same thing.

I had often wondered why it would not be better to have a position for hopes and another for fears. Finally, it occurred to me that we hope for some things to happen and hope that other things won’t happen. We fear that some things will happen and others won’t.

Yet, hope and fear don’t carry the same energy. It is more pleasant to feel hope than fear. A tarot spread position called “Hopes” would be able to convey the same information as the traditional “Hopes and Fears” position. Yet, I think the tarotists of yesteryear were smart to give us the tradition of divining for hopes and fears.

People are often praised for being hopeful and shamed for being fearful. Yet fear is a necessary response that keeps us from taking unnecessary risks. When we engage in any sort of introspective practice, we need to be able to examine our fears without guilt or shame.

Once we understand our fears, we can often shift our energy from anxiety to optimism by expressing our fears in the language of hope.
“I hope I get the job!” differs from “I am afraid I won’t get the job!” even though they express the same thing.

When we can use hopeful language rather than fearful language, we engage the universe in the energy of making things happen rather than the energy of avoidance. This may help us create the things we hope for and avoid what we fear.

The StaarCorner

StaarCon 2024 AfterGlow

On Saturday, July 6, join María Alviz Hernando in The Sybil’s Tarot Lounge for a class called Bling with Intent – Enchant Your Jewelry.

StaarCon 5

We tried something new at StaarCon 2024 for our Saturday evening entertainment. We held a Bardic Circle hosted by Christine Leiser. What’s a Bardic Circle? Think about it like a talent show, as the bards gather to share their songs and stories. This event turned out to be a highlight of the weekend. It included some songs, stories, and jokes, along with some tarot improv.

As we plan StaarCon 5, we are excited to make the Bardic Circle a tradition. Christine has agreed to host once again. Anyone attending StaarCon 5 in person can sign up to share something in the Bardic Circle. Please make your plan to join us.

Our Hopes and Fears in Divination

When we seek answers in the practice of divination, we bring our hopes and fears to the table, including our hopes and fears about divination itself.

Many people lose hope when a reading does not give them the answer they want, rather than using the reading to find a better direction. Many people believe in misinformation, which causes them to fear that divination is somehow harmful.

When we read for others we always hope for a great connection. We are also understandably concerned that we do not give bad information or cause harm. Fear can be a guardrail that helps us attend to our duty of care for those we read. At the same time, anxiety at the tarot table can often shut down intuition.

It is also true that if we interpret the cards based on our hopes and fears or the hopes and fears of others, the reading will not be good.

I believe that in divination, we need to bring in a third energy to balance the hopes and fears. The energy we need is trust. We need to trust our skills, the cards, and the universe. If we cannot be in that place of trust, we are best to decline the reading.

The Week in Review

If you are a member of my YouTube channel, join us at 7 p.m. tomorrow for some Deep-Dive Readings. If you are not yet a member, you can join now at one of three levels.

Next week is the celebration of Independence Day in the United States. I will remain available for readings and will try to keep my livestream schedule throughout the holiday week.

From Around the Web

I was pleased to see this article from Double Blind magazine about the history of tarot.

I had the opportunity to attend Grimoire Academy’s exposition this past weekend. It was wonderful. The only thing I didn’t love was that some exhibitors were selling counterfeit tarot decks. Here’s a recent article from Water Moon Shop about fake decks, how to spot them, and why they are such a problem.

Bustle.com has your July Horoscopes.

Making Magic

I believe that divination is a form of magic, and that magic enhances divination. When we begin a reading by clearing our energy, grounding, and centering, we come to the table ready to channel wisdom. When we set our intention and create sacred space, we invite helpful energies to attend, protect, and empower the divination.

One important energetic exercise to help us prepare for a reading is to release our hopes and fears. We need to come to the divination with no attachments to outcome. That is the only way we can assure the divination will be good.

The term I use for the state of being that is best for divination is ‘compassionate detachment.’ We are emotionally detached to be fully objective, but our detached state is not a result of not caring.

We will do the best divination in the mental, emotional, and spiritual state of compassionate detachment.

One way to achieve this state is to visualize a small box and all your hopes and fears flowing into it. This simple self-guided meditation prior to divination is often enough to allow your intuitive brilliance to shine through.

Upcoming Events

Weekly YouTube Events

Monday 9:30 am: Your 3-Card Weekly Reading

Thursday Noon: Tarot Topics Newsletter Recap

Friday Noon: Your Friday Weekly Wrap-up

Saturday 12:30 pm: Saturday Psychic Sampler

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!

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 classes www.cardandcraftacademy.com
StaarCon information www.staarcon.com

YouTube @YourTarotFairyGodmother
Instagram @christianatarot @staarcon
TikTok @christianagaudettarot

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 are 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 Appointments Online

Schedule online at https://christiana-gaudet.as.me.

Agent inquiries are welcome.

Tarot Topics Newsletter
Volume 7 Issue 26
June 26, 2024