This week I’ve been thinking about the formative things and defining moments in our lives – the things that make us who we are.

What is it, exactly, that comprises identity? Some of it is genetics, geography, heritage and family customs. Some of it is the relationships we form. Much of it is the arts and culture around us, and our reaction to the creativity that speaks to us, and speaks through us.

The challenging things that happen in life also shape us, as do our blessings.

Often, we spend a lot of time and energy in life trying to be who we perceive others want us to be. When we surround ourselves with the people, sights and sound that that make us feel whole, we more easily resist the urge to shape our identity to suit others.

Each of us is unique, yet we are bound together by the shared experiences that create our culture. Both our unique qualities, and our cultural similarities, are shaped, over time, by these influences around us.

“Influences and Identity” Tarot Spread

Here’s a new, original tarot spread, designed to help you identify and understand the influences that shape you.

Arrange the cards in a straight line, from bottom to top. The cards correspond to the seven chakras, so the first card is the base of the spine, and the last card is the top of the head.

Consider the gifts and shadows of each card. Think about how these influences have helped you, and how they have hurt you.
Reflect on which aspects of what influences you would like to maximize in your life, and which ones you need to mitigate.

The positions are listed from bottom to top, just as you will lay them out.

Card 7: Spiritual Influences
This card can reflect your religious upbringing. It can also describe the way in which you most easily connect to divinity.

Card 6: Personal Inspiration
This card reflects the things that inspire you to your own insight, reflection and growth. It could reference people, art, sports, nature, culture – anything that inspires you.

Card 5: Input from Others
This card talks about your conversations with loved ones, and how those people and the words they spoke to you have formed you.

Card 4: Matters of the Heart
This card will discuss how your romantic relationships, ideals or struggles have helped you become the person you are today.

Card 3: Motivation
This card will point out things that have influenced the way you define success. It might discuss career or hobbies. It might point out your relationship with money, or your own ability to manifest your career goals or visualize your future achievements.

Card 2: Family Relationships
This card will discuss how interacting with your family of origin shaped your sense of identity.

Card 1: Heritage
This card will represent your ancestry, your inherited traits, and your ability to identify with your cultural and family history.

As you look at these seven cards, you will get a stronger sense of your own unique identity, and the influences that have helped create who you really are. You will find ways to strengthen your gifts, and heal your limitations.

From My Desk to Yours

This week, I’m sharing some favorite posts from my personal blog.

From June 2011, here is “The Community Sandbox”. Sadly, the problems I describe there are just as true today as they were almost five years ago.

From July 2013, here is a post about patience and personal healing called “Ready to Heal”.

As Imbolc approaches, you can try my “Brigid’s Forge” tarot spread from January, 2014.

From Around the Web

Do you know about Ciro Marchetti’s new Kipper cards? Here’s the promotional video.

Here’s a New Year Tarot Spread to try, from Aquarian Soul Design.

From James Prescott, here are “4 Secrets to Discovering Your Identity”.

Song of The Week

Remember Edie Brickell and the New Bohemians? Here’s “What I am”.

Image from Pixie's Astounding Lenormand, by Edmund Zebrowski.

Learning Lenormand

Card 31: Sun

Sun is a positive card, related to happiness, brilliance and success. This is much like the Sun card in tarot!

The Lenormand Sun can describe a charismatic person, or can indicate the season of summer. This card discusses accomplishment and achievement.

Sun can also indicate luck, and can diminish the impact of negative cards that surround it in a reading.

The playing card association for Sun is Ace of Diamonds. This can indicate travel, motion and new things.

Next week we will learn about card 32, Moon. You will be surprised at the differences between the tarot Moon and the Lenormand Moon!

Be Defined by Your Joys, not Your Sorrows

Everyone has blessings and tragedies in life.

Sadly, we all know people who let their identities be shaped by their tragedies.

When we experience loss and grief, it changes us. We can’t avoid that.

We can determine the way in which we will let tragedy change us.

Will we become self-indulgent, or more dedicated to our own goals?

Will we become more bitter, or more compassionate?

Will we be grateful for our blessings, or angry about our tragedies?

We can’t always choose what happens, but we can always choose the way we let those events shape us and define us.

Image from Gilded Royale by Ciro Marchetti.

Your One-Card Weekly Reading

The Ace of Wands

Your one-card reading this week is the Ace of Wands.

Typically, this card can indicate a new motivation, an exciting new project, a flare of anger or even physical attraction.

There is a spiritual component to this card that is critical to our journey of self-discovery. The Ace of Wands is the essence of our passion.

This week, think about the things about which you are truly passionate. What lights a fire under you? What burns within you?

The Ace of Wands invites you to discover your passions, and pursue them.

Upcoming Events

Saturday, January 16, 10 am
A Morning with the Tarot
Temple Terrace Public Library
202 Bullard Parkway, Temple Terrace, FL 33617

Join me for this free presentation as I share the art, history, culture and uses of tarot. Find more information on the library calendar.

Wednesday, January 27, 7 pm
Global Tarot Circle
A Free WebEx webinar available exclusively online

Join me, and tarot friends around the world, for readings, techniques, insights and tarot fun! It’s free to attend, and you can join from your computer, laptop, tablet or smartphone, or simply call in!
Visit the event listing on my website for your log-in link and password, or your call-in number.

About Christiana

Christiana Gaudet
Origins Spa and Wellness Center
1537 N Dale Mabry Highway #102
Lutz, FL 33548

Private telephone, Skype and in person 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.