Tarot News blog has news and information of interest to the tarot community.

Tarot Topics Community News Christiana Gaudet Tarot Topics Community News Christiana Gaudet

Nurturing Strength of Spirit

Spirituality is not transactional. There is no way to immunize ourselves from potential misfortune. Yet, spirituality can help us get through the most difficult times.

A beautiful woman holding a glowing heart in her hands.

Those who know me are aware of my sincere appreciation for the prose poem Desiderata, written by Max Ehrmann in 1927.

My grandmother found so much strength and grace in Desiderata that she always kept printed copies to give to people whom she felt might benefit from it. This poem was a kind of sacred text for my family, and it remains so for me.

That’s the thing about sacred text. Sacred text can be a work that is universally heralded as a holy book, but it can also be any book, poem, song, or story that gives you strength, wisdom, and inspiration.

The passage I have been focused on this week is the first sentence of the eighth paragraph. The line is “Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.” Though only ten words, there is so much to unpack in this one sentence.

People often want their spiritually (no matter their tradition or belief system) to be transactional and reciprocal. They want to think that if they perform certain rituals, believe certain things, or say certain prayers, they will immunize themselves against misfortune.

Then, when misfortune inevitably strikes, they feel abandoned. They wonder what they have done wrong, or if their faith was misplaced.

The purpose of spiritual faith is not to shield us against misfortune. As I see it, Ehrmann said it perfectly when he said that our strength of spirit is to shield in the face of misfortune.

Spiritually doesn’t prevent bad things. Spiritually can give us comfort, meaning, solace, purpose, and understanding when bad things happen.

How, then, can we nurture strength of spirit?

This is a very personal thing. It is a question we can all meditate upon and ask in our divinations. Many of us nurture strength of spirit by reading sacred texts, by honoring spiritual traditions and practices, and by enjoying the natural world and creativity.

What does strength of spirit look like? I think strength of spirit can be the ability to hold space for sorrow and joy in the same moment. Strength of spirit can be resilience, and the ability to have hope even in difficult times. Strength of spirit can help us find beauty and gratitude even in the smallest things. Strength of spirit can urge us to find meaning in suffering. Strength of spirit allows us to have compassion for others even when we ourselves are in difficulty. Strength of spirit helps us to know that tomorrow can always be a better day.

The StaarCon 2023 AfterGlow banner.

The StaarCorner

The AfterGlow closes on February 21 at 7 pm ET. If you have a StaarCon 2023 ticket, make sure you enjoy as many replays and lounge events as you can before then.

After that, remember to join us all year on Facebook in our private community group.

Mark your calendar now for StaarCon 2024, January 19-21. Plan to join us in person in West Palm Beach or online!

Marieke Lexmond speaks  at StaarCon 2023.
A young woman reads tarot cards.

Helpful Questions for Difficult Times

When we are going through difficulty, we often read for ourselves, or ask others to read for us. There is great comfort and wisdom to be found in divination. So often, though, we focus on the outcome, wanting to know how things will turn out. Sometimes divination can give us answers that give us hope. Sometimes, though, the outcome is not what we most need to know.

When we are doing a reading, either for self or for someone else, sometimes the best questions are about what is happening now, rather than what will happen. Sometimes the best questions are worded to allow our divination to help us find our strength of spirit.

What do I need to know about this situation?

What is the best thing for me to do right now?

What can help me during this difficult time?

What can I learn from this?

How can I recover from this?

How can I ask for help at this time?

How can I help others at this time?

What does spirit want me to know about this difficulty?

A woman reading tarot cards for another woman.

The Week in Review

This week I shared a blogpost that offers an insightful tarot reading technique. Read “Backing into a Delicate Reading”.

Tonight on my YouTube channel we have a members-only livestream at 7 pm ET. If you are a member, please plan to join us. If you are not a member, please consider joining!

From Around the Web

Read the original text of Desiderata. Read it several times. Think about it. See what wisdom it evokes within you.

Ethony has some advice on how to use tarot to get through hard times.

We are half-way through the month of February. Let’s see what Theresa Reed had to say about the astrology of this month, and see how things are evolving for you!

Major Arcana VII, Strength, turned up on a pile of tarot cards.

Creation and Divination

There are so many ways to combine creativity with divination. If you have a favorite way, or if you have created something you want to share, please email me. I would love to share your ideas and creations in this column!

When I think about nurturing strength of spirit, I think immediately of Major Arcana 8, Strength. One of the things I love about this card is that it clearly illustrates that physical force is not the greatest strength. The woman tames the lion with love, with gentleness, and with patience.

The Smith-Waite image shows the woman’s hand in the lion’s mouth. I think about this often. It seems a dangerous place to put your hand. To me this illustrates the basic nature of life; that there is nothing of value that doesn’t incur risk.

Here is a poem I wrote about the Strength card.

Strength

As water with patience carves into stone

So do hearts carve one on the other.

And when nature battles civility

New friends are drawn together.

 

Each has more reason to fear than to love

The dangers beckon, not understated.

This war is waged not with bullets but blooms

And fine compassion, communicated.

 

The gentle maiden must be of mind fierce.

She has enraptured a fierce jungle king.

The beast submits not by violence but choice

To a union of forces opposing.

 

Strength then is found not in warfare or blood

Nor in doctrine nor laws to rely on.

True strength is found in faith and control

With your hand in the mouth of a lion.

Upcoming Events

Maria Alviz Hernando and Christiana Gaudet at StaarCon 2023.

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 7
February 15, 2023

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Tarot Topics Community News Christiana Gaudet Tarot Topics Community News Christiana Gaudet

Six is the First Perfect Number

This week we take a deep dive into the power and meaning of the number Six.

A glowing number six in front of a cloud.

Welcome to Volume 6, Issue 6 of the Tarot Topics Weekly Newsletter. Given the sixes this week, I thought it would be fun to do a deep dive into the number Six, and its meaning in different traditions, as well as in tarot.

To be honest, whenever I think of the number Six, I think first of the poem, Now We Are Six, from the book of the same name by A.A. Milne, the creator of Winnie the Pooh. I still have that poem memorized. While I doubt the author had the divinatory study of numbers in mind when he wrote it, the poem does a good job giving some possible basic meanings for the six numerals, ending with, “But now I am six, I'm as clever as clever. So I think I'll be six now for ever and ever.”

The Pythagoreans felt that Six symbolized high ideals.

They also pointed out that Six is the first perfect number. Mathematically, a perfect number is a positive integer that equals the sum of its proper divisors, excluding the number itself. Six is the lowest of these perfect numbers, and therefore the first.

Perhaps there are metaphysical ways in which Six is also the first perfect number. When I was first learning tarot, I learned Three as the number of first fruits, Four as the number of comfort and safety, Five as the number of expansion, and Six as the number of victory. From this perspective, Six would be the first number to express complete success.

In Kabbalah, Six is Tiphereth, or Beauty. The Chaldeans heralded the number Six as caring and giving.

When we dig into the meanings of the number Six in different traditions, we find some common themes emerge. Those themes include family, nurturance, connections, and reciprocity.

This, along with the concept of victory as I first learned, is helpful to consider when we look at the Six cards in tarot.

The Lovers, of course, is a card about relationships. The Six of Cups is about our childhood, and our relationship with the past. The Six of Pentacles is about sharing, the Six of Swords is about forward motion, and the Six of Wands is about victory after battle.

Within each of these cards we can find beauty, connections, family, victory, and, in each, a certain kind of perfection.

If Six is your birth number, or life path number, you are likely to be a nurturing and caring person, and one who works to build connections to friends, family, and community.

In all systems of divination, I am fascinated by the unlikely but perfect marriage of science and myth, logic and intuition, systems and random. We can see the relationships of diviner and tool, human and spirit, and reader and querent in the number Six as well, and in all the Six tarot cards.

The StaarCon 2023 AfterGlow banner.

The StaarCorner

This week there are lounge events on February 11, 12, 13, and 14. If you are a StaarCon 2023 ticketholder you have access to the lounge events. Don’t miss this chance to spend some time with your StaarCon friends, and learn from your StaarCon presenters!

If you have a ticket and have not yet logged into Accelevents, log in now, watch replays of classes, and enjoy the lounge events. If you have any trouble logging in, please reach out to me at 561-655-1160 and I will help you get started.

The AfterGlow ends February 21 at 7 pm. Please get as much as you can out of this time of learning, shopping, and interaction.

Beverly Frable speaks about divining with nature at StaarCon 2023.
A woman with tarot cards on a picnic.

Tarot Exercise with the Tarot Sixes

Here is a way to get to know the tarot Sixes a bit better. There are six (no kidding) tarot cards associated with the number Six. Take them out of your deck. They are The Lovers, The Devil, the Six of Swords, the Six of Wands, the Six of Cups, and the Six of Pentacles.

In the lead article in this newsletter, we learned a few keywords associated with the divinatory meaning of the number Six. Look at each of these cards and determine the ways in which the following keywords describe each of these cards.

Relationships

Connections

Beauty

Victory

Can you find each of these keywords in each of these cards?

Tarot cards and crystals on a table.

The Week in Review

This week I uploaded two new recorded videos to my YouTube channel, one for everyone and one for members only. The all-access video is a collective reading and tarot spread for the coming spring. The members-only video is about ways to use tarot for personal healing.

Tonight, Wednesday, February 8, join us at 7 pm ET for a live class on using tarot cards with oracle cards.

Did you get your February TarotScopes yet?

From Around the Web

StaarCon presenter Marion Kirk has shared a great new blogpost about saying ‘no’ as a tarot reader. If you read for others, either casually or professionally, you need to see this!

The first Tarot Blog Hop of 2023 is out! It’s wrangled by Kimberly Essex. You can check out the theme, and then follow the master list to see what five tarot bloggers had to say about the topic of beginning again.

Of course, it had to happen, and Teen Vogue has the story. There is a new tarot deck inspired by Taylor Swift called The Taylor Tarot!

Golden tarot cards on the blue background with daisy flowers showing the Six of Cups.

Creation and Divination

Do you have a way of expressing your creativity that involves divination? Send me your poems, your art, your stories, and your crowdfunding links!

This week I will share poems that I wrote for two of the four Minor Arcana Six cards. Where or not one is a good poet, the act of writing about each card strengthens our understanding of the card, and our connection to the energy of the card.

Six of Cups

The journey back home before journey’s end

Memories shared, a reunion of friends.

Honored history and those who have passed

Looking with longing at what didn’t last.

When the sweetness of youth joins the great march of time

Some things will decay, but some things still shine.

Six of Swords

Silent on the waters slipping into the black night

An angel guides this journey toward the distant shore's true light.

Rising above turbulence with intent both calm and clear

Higher thought commands this boat, and the stars by which to steer.

Navigation born of science, and logic points the way

Leaving stormy seas behind as you sail toward the new day.

Upcoming Events

Dame Darcy and Christiana Gaudet at StaarCon 2023.

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 6
February 8, 2023

Christiana Gaudet Your Tarot Fairy Godmother banner.
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Tarot Topics Community News Christiana Gaudet Tarot Topics Community News Christiana Gaudet

The Power of Creativity

Creativity is borne of the element of Fire, as is spirituality, and motivation. Creativity is as essential to human life as is air, and water.

A cheerful young creative woman graphically showing her creative brain.

I believe that creativity is innate to all humans, and as essential as air and water.

We so often relegate the concept of creativity to the visual arts, or to music, or design. Yet, creativity expresses itself in so many ways.

In metaphysics we associate creativity with the element of Fire. We also associate spirituality with Fire. This makes sense to me. I believe that our prayers, our ceremonies, our understanding of sacred text and mythologies, and our divinations, are all based in and enhanced by our creative energies. In a way, creativity and spirituality are similar. Each supports the other.

One of the reasons I love tarot is that it is, although structured, creative from beginning to end. Tarot decks are created by artists. What we do with them is a process of creativity as well.

When people tell me that they are not creative, I refuse to believe them. Basically, if you think you are not creative, the truth is this. You just have not discovered how your creativity expresses itself.

There is power and energy in creativity. Our creativity inspires others, often in ways we did not anticipate. We are inspired by creativity, even when we do not recognize it for what it is.

The StaarCon 2023 AfterGlow banner.

The StaarCorner

The StaarCon 2023 AfterGlow is in full swing, even as we begin planning StaarCon 2024. Here is a full list of the planned StaarCon lounge activities for February. If you are a StaarCon 2023 ticketholder, please join as many lounge activities as you can!

The AfterGlow lasts until February 21 at 7 pm ET.

The Hippie Game of Hope

Brenda Elizabeth and Michelle Barrie

February 6, 7:30 pm ET

Understanding Your Dreams

Gita Rash

February 7, 6 pm ET

Virtual Auras: Explained and Enjoyed

Hattie Parker

February 11, 12:00 pm ET

A Modern Celtic Cross

Christiana Gaudet

February 12, 7 pm ET

Picking Up Where We Left Off: Divining with Nature Using Ancient Divination Practices

Beverly Frable

February 13, 7pm ET

Lenormand Practice Session

Brenda Elizabeth

February 14, 7:30 pm ET

Creating Healing with Tarot Chat

Amie Emberharte

February 16, 7 pm ET

Tarot as Entertainment: Parties, Live Events, & Working with Agents

Amy Forman

February 18, 1 pm ET

Mercedes Vasquez speaking about crystals and mediumship at StaarCon 2023.
Woman's hand with purple nails lays one of four Tarot cards spread out on wooden surface next to spikelets and lavender.

Creating a Tarot Spread

One way that we use creativity in tarot reading is creating a tarot spread. We can create a spread for a specific situation. We can create a spread in honor of a particular theme, like a holiday or even a television series. We can create a spread to use during a specific moon or astrological cycle.

To create a spread, decision what sort of spread you want to create, or what your inspiration is.

Think about what question you want each position to address, and how you want to word each position. Think about how many positions you want to have in your tarot spread.

Think about how you want the cards to be laid out graphically.

You can use a free graphics program like Canva to help you make a pretty spread. Or you can draw it out with a pen and paper.

The inspired energy that you use to create a spread enhances, and is enhanced by, your intuition.

The reading that you do with the spread you create can be extra powerful and insightful.

A woman reads tarot cards in a cerimonial space.

The Week in Review

If you are a member of my YouTube channel, I hope you had the chance to join us for our members-only livestream, Healing with Tarot. The replay remains available to all members.

It is a new month, so make sure to check out my Tarotscopes on my YouTube channel.

From Around the Web

Maria Alviz Hernando wrote a review of StaarCon 2023. It was such a joy to meet her in person, and to spend some time with her at StaarCon.

From the First Person section of The Globe and Mail, I was happy to find “I’m a Tarot Reader, My Job is Definitely Weirder Than Your Job”.

Have you read The Cloisters, by Katy Hays? I am always on the lookout for novels that feature tarot. Here’s a review from The Nerd Daily.

An artwork entitled Memories of Self.

Creation and Divination

This new weekly column will focus on creativity. Very often I will share the creative offerings of our community members. If you have a poem to share, or an indie publication you are kickstarting, or a tarot deck you are designing, please reach out to me. I would love to highlight as many creative people, and as much creativity, as I can!

To start us off, I am excited to share this lovely poem by P.C. Bain.

 

Hypnagogic – 12/5/22

In the dim-lit room creative forces engulf
Her like an embryo in the womb
Poised for inception into light
She hopes to birth the newly found information

As she lies between sleep and wake.
If she slumbers now would the euphonious

Whispers drown leaving only but a memory.

Compelled to stay awake
She grabs the microphone and speaks into its casing.

Tomorrow’s coming will enlighten her

Encouraging effervescent presence
When echoed words pierce the innermost
Part of her being

By P.C. Bain

Upcoming Events

Marion Kirk and Christiana Gaudet at StaarCon 2023.

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 5
February 1, 2023

Christiana Gaudet Your Tarot Fairy Godmother banner.
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Tarot Topics Community News Christiana Gaudet Tarot Topics Community News Christiana Gaudet

What We Create

What it means to create your life.

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There are certain people we identify as creative. They are artists, musicians, dancers, writers, and designers. Then there are people who do not see themselves as creative at all, primarily because they cannot sing us a song or knit us a sweater.

I think it is important to distinguish between profound talent and natural creativity. Not everyone has significant creative talent. Yet, we are all creative, and we all create things.

All children are expected to draw, play music, sing, write, and dance. Within us all is an inner child who still enjoys doing those things.

Even beyond artistic creativity, we all have the ability to create. We create families, household, and businesses. We create vacation plans, ceremonies, and gatherings. Some people create chaos and conflict.

Many people believe that we are creating our lives every day, with our thoughts, words, and actions.

What happens when we align our thoughts, words, and actions with our goals? Does this help us create the lives we want to live?

I believe so, to a very great extent.

In elemental studies, we see the element of Fire as the energy primarily associated with creativity. Yet, Fire is also our life force energy. That is, the very essence of our existence. Fire is also our spiritual energy.

To me, this says something important. Creativity is essential to who we are and how we live. We are all creators, each in our own way.

What will you create today?

What life are you creating for yourself?

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The StaarCorner

The StaarCon 2022 is live, and tickets are on sale now.

You can buy a ticket for the hybrid experience, which in live in person in Palm Beach Gardens and also online at Accelevents. You can also buy a ticket for the virtual-only experience.

I think you will agree that we have an amazing lineup in store for you.

If you are planning on attending in person this year, please do get your ticket early. These tickets are limited and will sell out quickly.

We cannot wait to see you at StaarCon 2022!

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See Me in the Tampa Bay Area in August

I will be back in the Tampa Bay Area August 26 through August 30.

On Sunday, August 29, from 3 pm to 5 pm we will have a free tarot meetup at Panera Bread in Lutz, Florida.

During my time in the Tampa Bay Area, I am available for private readings at my AirBnB in Wesley Chapel. I am also able to make house calls for private readings. I am happy to come to your home or office for a psychic house party.

For more information, or to make your appointment, call or text 561-655-1160.

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Tarot Creativity

There are so many ways to be creative with tarot. We can create new spreads. If we are artistic, we can create new decks.

There is a type of tarot creativity that can foster healing and growth.

Chose a card, either randomly or cognitively, which represents a difficult situation you are facing, or something you want to embrace in your life.

Now, find a way to make some work of art related to that card. You can make a collage, write a poem, make up a dance or a song, or draw a picture.

As you work to bring the energy of this card into a new way of being, you will experience healing.

I write tarot poetry. You can check out my 78 Poems Project on my website.

How will you let tarot inspire your creativity and bring you healing?

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Join Us This Weekend at Omega

It is not too late to get your ticket to see Mary K. Greer, Rachel Pollack, Madame Pamita, Shaheen Miro, and me at the Omega Institute this weekend.

The Masters of the Tarot Conference will be enlightening, informative, spirited, and fun.

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The Week in Review

This past week I had two tarot classes and a tarot meetup on YouTube Live. You can catch the replays, and see the classes that are upcoming, on my YouTube Channel.

From Around the Web

Here is a tarot spread from Shaheen Miro, with whom I will be presenting at Omega this weekend.

Here is a tarot spread from Kelly Lianne for unblocking creativity.

Little Red Tarot offers some ideas for making your own collage tarot deck.

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Catch Me in the Northeast Next Week

Call or text 561-655-1160 to schedule your appointment for an in person reading with me at True Bikram Yoga in Madison, Connecticut. I will be there July 26 through August 9.

I am also happy to come to your home for a house call or psychic house party.

I will be making some trips to Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New York, as well.

During my trip I remain available for readings by phone, Skype, FaceTime, Messenger, and Zoom.

This will be my final visit to the Northeast this year, so let us get together while I am here!

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Cards for Your Consideration

It is interesting to consider just how many tarot cards can speak in a reading of creativity. Of course, the entire suit of Wands can reference creativity. In the Major Arcana, we see creativity prominently in the Magician, the Empress, and Temperance.

We see creative thought in the suit of Swords, especially in the Ace, the Page, and the Knight of Swords.

We see creativity in the other two suits as well. The Three of Cups can speak of creativity, especially in terms of collaboration, and of song and dance. The Three of Pentacles can reference creativity on a professional level.

Why do so many tarot cards reference creativity? Perhaps it is because creativity is such an important part of our human journey.

Upcoming Events and Tours

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About Christiana Gaudet

Card and Craft, Inc.

Christiana Gaudet

3559 SW Corporate Parkway
Palm City, Florida 34990-8152

On the web www.christianagaudet.com
Online classeswww.cardandcraftacademy.com
StaarCon information www.staarcon.com

Private telephone, Skype, FaceTime and in person readings and instruction are available by appointment.

Tarot parties at your home or office are available throughout Florida.

Call or text toll free 866-99TAROT (866-998-2768)
Palm City 772-301-0232
or call or text 561-655-1160
for more information or to schedule your event.

Agent inquiries are welcome.

Tarot Topics Newsletter
Volume 4 Issue 29
July 21, 2021

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