Learning from the Past
The poet George Santayana said that those who cannot remember the past are doomed to repeat it. This holds true for individuals as well as for nations.
Too often, we look to the past with regret, or with longing. In fact, the past can be our greatest teacher. When we look back and see the patterns that have developed in our lives, we have the power to break unhealthy patterns, and to find success in healthy ones.
When we learn the wisdom and skills of our elders, we are learning from the past in another way.
When we learn from the past, we prepare for a bright, new future.
Questions about the Past
As we work with tarot, we often turn to the cards to find closure and understanding about difficult things that happened in the past.
Here is a way to use tarot to explore the traumas of the past, with the intention of learning, healing and releasing.
Shuffle your cards, ask a question, and pull a single card in answer. Spend some time in contemplation, journaling and meditation about the answers you receive.
Use only the questions that seem resonant for you. You can create questions of your own as well.
What did I learn from this difficulty?
What do I regret about this situation?
How should I respond to my regrets about this situation?
What, if anything, must I do to resolve this situation now?
What unexpected gifts did this situation bring me?
Spiritually, why did this happen?
How will this help me in the future?
The Week in Review
This week, I answered another question about tarot on my YouTube Channel and on the Community Blog. You can read my answer and watch my video about how tarot cards discuss issues specifically resonant for people in LBGT communities.
On my personal blog, I wrote a post for professional tarot readers, about times when good news isn’t well-received.
From Around the Web
I was excited that a conversation with Theresa Reed from an episode of Christiana’s Psychic Café inspired a blog post from Dreadlock Tarot. If you are a professional reader, you will enjoy this helpful post about reading tarot in shops.
On Spiral Nature, I found some great information from Tabitha Dial about the tarot Court Cards.
Would you like to learn something new? Check out Instructables.com. You can learn to do or make just about anything on this website!
Four Tarot Cards that Look to the Past
Typically, tarot readings offer information about the past, as well as the present and future. The focus on the past happens not only to confirm the veracity of the reading. The past can show up in a reading to help us identify patterns, and to help us become proactive authors of our own life story.
Often, tarot helps us understand things that happened in the past, so we can learn our lessons, heal and move on.
Here are four tarot cards that can specifically reference things of the past.
Six of Cups: The Six of Cups is the card of nostalgia and happy memories. Often, this card advises a return to the childhood home, a re-connection with family or a contemplation of personal history.
Ten of Pentacles: The Ten of Pentacles is the card of ancestry and legacy. This card invites us to consider what we have inherited from our ancestors, and what we have learned from our parents, both good and bad.
Hermit: The archetype of the Hermit is “wise old man.” Sometimes learning from the past means learning from someone who was there before we were. The Hermit can refer to the wise counsel from our elders.
Judgment: Judgment tells us that it is time to evaluate the past, and put closure to it. Judgment asks us to evaluate our performance, and to take an accounting of what we learned. From there, Judgment directs us to put closure to the past, without regret.
What’s up at the Psychic Café?
You’ll be happy to hear I will finally have my interview with Hal Weeks available for you to view on my YouTube channel this weekend!
Hal is the fascinating author of Wickwillow Tarot. You’ll learn how he blends the styles of Tarot de Marseilles, Crowley-Harris-Thoth and Waite-Smith in both his reading style, and in the art and symbolism of his unique tarot deck.
Make sure you subscribe to my YouTube channel, and check out the many tarot videos I have for you!
Snake, from Gilded Reverie Lenormand, by Ciro Marchetti.
Learning Lenormand
Card Seven: Snake
The Snake may appear to warn us of an enemy, or to let us know of a person’s selfish behavior.
The Snake may predict betrayal, dishonesty or manipulation. This card can discuss many kinds of problems. Typically, the Snake is considered a negative card.
In a literal sense, the Snake can discuss problems with electrical wires, cables or plumbing, that is, things that are physically snake-like.
The Snake can indicate a seductress, or an untrustworthy woman.
As the Queen of Clubs, this card can indicate an active, brown-haired woman.
Next week, we will learn about card Eight, Coffin.
Have You Made Your Reservation for Florida TarotCon?
TarotCon is coming to Florida on October 10th and 11th. You can reserve your spot to study with some of the world’s foremost tarot experts in the beautiful environment of the Doubletree Hotel in Palm Beach Gardens.
Sign up now and get the Early Bird Discount!
Image from Gilded Royale, by Ciro Marchetti.
Your One-Card Weekly Reading
Your one-card reading this week is The Lovers.
This is a very interesting card. While it can refer to an actual love relationship, often the Lovers appears to offer us some particular advice.
The Lovers reminds us to find balance in our lives, and to be able to integrate the different aspects of self into a complete whole.
The Lovers tells us that we must work to be a complete and balanced person.
The Lovers also speaks to important decisions, and our need to weigh our options carefully.
Upcoming Events
Thursday, June 25, 7 pm
Global Tarot Circle
Free WebEx Webinar Available Exclusively Online
Spend an hour with the tarot! Join Christiana Gaudet and tarot enthusiasts from all over the world for conversation, readings and introspection about the tarot.
You can join on your computer, tablet or smartphone, or you can dial in on your telephone! For log-in info, visit the event listing on my website.
Sunday, June 28, 3:30 pm
Tampa Bay Area Tarot Meetup
Panera Bread, 23388 State Rd 54, Lutz, FL
Join us at Panera in Lutz, just north of Tampa, for “Tarot Readings: Practice and Learning”. We will read for each other in a fun, friendly and informal environment. Be ready to learn new techniques, share your knowledge and receive a great reading, too!
You can join and RSVP on our Meetup site, or visit the event listing on my website.
About Christiana
Christiana Gaudet
Origins Spa and Wellness Center
1537 N Dale Mabry Highway #102
Lutz, FL 33548
Private readings and instruction are available by appointment.
Tarot parties at your home or office
are available throughout Florida.
Call 813-948-4488, toll free 866-99TAROT,
or text or call 561-655-1160
for more information or to schedule your event.
Agent inquiries are welcome.
