Tarot News blog has news and information of interest to the tarot community.
Third Eye Focus
This week Tarot Topics helps you learn to support your brow chakra!
Third Eye Focus
Awaken Your Intuition
The brow chakra, third eye, or ajña, in Sanskrit, is the energy center located on the forehead, above and between the eyes. The third eye is associated with our vision, intuition, imagination and eyesight.
My theory is that one of the reasons decks of artistic cards like tarot and other oracles can reveal so much truth is because they stimulate the third eye. We use our eyesight to see the art, which stimulates the imagination and awakes the intuition.
This means that the more we work with our card decks, the more we will be using the third eye and developing our intuition.
Other ways of opening, clearing and strengthening the third eye include yoga, meditation, and any sort of artistic endeavor. Remember that intuition flows from creative and imaginative thinking.
Many cultures practice some sort of anointing of the third eye; that is, to rub essential oil on the brow, or to mark the brow with a symbol. There are many anointing oils made specifically for the third eye.
The color of the third eye is indigo. You can use color to support your brow chakra by paying attention to the color of your clothing.
Many traditions see the third eye as related to all four elements (earth, air, fire and water) in equal measure.
Gemstones and crystals that can help clear, open and strengthen your third eye include clear quartz, fluorite and amethyst. It can be helpful to meditate lying on your back with a crystal or gemstone resting on your brow chakra.
When the third eye is blocked, or closed, life can lose its sense of excitement and wonder. Worse, we can easily stumble into false beliefs, or let fear be our determining motivator, rather than faith.
When the third eye is clear and open, we have vision for our future and our right action. We can easily spot deception and false friends, and more stridently move toward our own best interests.
Through divination we can receive insight, guidance and grounding. As we divine, the third eye grows more receptive and open. As the third eye clears, opens and focuses, our divination becomes even more profound.
Upcoming Tarot Tour Dates
While I am always available worldwide for readings and mentorship by phone, Skype, FaceTime and Messenger, I love to travel to give in-person readings, teach workshops and entertain at parties.
I am planning on traveling more in 2019 than I have ever before. Mark your calendar for the dates below, and watch this newsletter for more information each week.
Tampa Tarot Tour beginning February 15
I will be making regular trips to Tampa to offer private readings and house parties. Look for classes, workshops and meetups as well. If you would like to see me or host a party in the Tampa area in February, email me or call me at 561-655-1160.
Northwest Tarot Symposium March 1-4, Portland Oregon
I will be presenting, along with Jenna Matlin and Jay and Jadzia DeForest, a day-long program on professional tarot on the final day of the symposium, Monday. Tickets are still available, join us in Portland for an inspirational time! I will have limited availability for private readings while I am in town. Reach out for details.
Spring Northeastern Tarot Tour March 26-April 9
I will be in Connecticut offering house parties in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New York and Connecticut, as well as private readings at True Bikram Yoga in Madison. Look for some exciting workshops in Madison and New Haven as well. If you would like to see me or host a party while I am in town, email me or call me at 561-655-1160.
Is there somewhere you would like me to visit? Reach out and let’s see if we can plan something!
Four Cards for the Third Eye
Sometimes in a tarot reading I get a clear indication of the need for chakra work. It feels like the cards are calling attention to a single chakra in need of support. This can come up as an intuitive feeling, often supported by tarot images.
When the brow chakra needs support, these are four cards I often see.
Ace of Swords
Although all four elements are associated with the brow chakra, I like to associate the Ace of Swords, the Ace of Air, with both the throat chakra and the brow chakra. Air is the element of truth, and both of these chakras have a huge connection with truth – being able to see the truth with the brow, and say the truth with the throat.
High Priestess
The High Priestess knows the secrets of the underworld, and what lies beyond the veil. She is cloaked in the waters of the subconscious. When she appears, she may ask us to turn to our own inner knowing.
The Hanged Man
The Hanged Man advises us to see things in a new way, and through that shift, find enlightenment. Very often the process of shifting perspective is informed by intuition and enhances intuition.
The Moon
The Moon tells the story of the journey toward divine understanding. Fraught with danger, we must use our intuition along the path to seek the light in the darkness. This warns us of the danger of not listening to intuition, and the danger of being misled by our own imaginings.
The Week in Review
This week I finally got a chance to share the story of our Holiday Open House 2018. You can see pictures of our fabulous day. What does five hundred pounds of donated food look like? Now we know!
Here’s an article I wrote a a long time ago about tarot and the third eye.
From Around the Web
Teen Vogue ran an article on using tarot cards for mental health! Just the title makes me think about how far we have come in tarot acceptance over the course of my career.
I’ve been trying to improve my knowledge of astrology. I found this description of the twelve houses quite helpful. Astrolibrary.org is a great overall resource for learning astrology.
My favorite book about chakras is Wheels of Life by Anodea Judith. I’ve had this book since the 1980s. I bought my copy at The Four Elements, a New Age shop on State Street in New Haven, Connecticut. I took my first tarot classes there, as well!
Cards for Your Consideration
Welcome to a brand-new weekly feature in the Tarot Topics newsletter. In this column I will share a particular card image, or deck of cards, that I find interesting or enlightening. For the very first card I’ve chosen Temperance from the Paulina Tarot by US Games.
Traditional keywords for Temperance are ‘art’, ‘time’ and ‘alchemy’. Temperance advises patience and caution. Typically, we see her as an angel, mixing water from one cup to another. Many tarot illustrations fail to depict the alchemy that is taking place.
The element of Temperance is Fire. She is cooking, creating a solution, finding the blend that will be more than the sum of its parts.
The Paulina Temperance illustrates this active process strikingly as a yellow essence rises from one cup to mix with the blue essence from the other.
Our angel is masked, adding an aura of mystery to the magical process. She stands balanced on a diamond, a perfect metaphor for the patience and pressure it takes to create a diamond, and the precarious balance inherent in the process of creating the perfect blend in life.
How does this image add to your understanding of Major Arcana 14, Temperance?
Upcoming Events
Sunday, January 20, 4 to 6 pm
Tarot for Inspiration, Creativity and Positive Change
Christiana’s Conference Room
1025 SW Martin Downs Blvd, Suite 203, Palm City, FL
In this hands-on workshop you will learn ways that tarot can make a difference in your life. Using the sacred images of tarot, you will discover hidden talents, learn to tap into Universal wisdom, and create your personal roadmap for positive change.
This class is for tarot enthusiasts of all experience levels.
Class fee is $30. You must preregister to attend on Eventbrite or by calling 561-655-1160.
Thursday, January 24, 7 to 9 pm
Major Arcana: Lessons and Interpretations
Dream Angels, 128 Bridge Road, Tequesta, FL
Beginners and experienced readers will enjoy this fascinating exploration of the Major Arcana of the tarot. Learn how to interpret these cards in a reading, and how to embrace their lessons of personal and spiritual growth.
Register with Dream Angels.
Sunday, January 27, 4 to 6 pm
Cards and Conversation Tarot Meetup
Panera Bread, 2894 SW Town Center Way, Palm City, FL
Join us for a free, informal tarot workshop with plenty of opportunity for fellowship! We enjoy food, readings and learning about tarot, ourselves and each other in our monthly meeting. Beginners and long-time enthusiasts are welcome!
Tuesday, January 29, 7 pm
Global Tarot Circle on Facebook Live
Join tarotists from around the world for this free webinar. We will share readings, study, fun and fellowship.
Simply visit my Facebook business page, hit Like, and look for the live feed.
Thursday, January 31, 7 to 9 pm
Psychic Gallery with Christiana Gaudet
Dream Angels, 128 Bridge Road, Tequesta, FL
Bring your questions and join us in sacred space for an insightful and entertaining evening! In this small group setting each person attending will receive helpful information and answers. You may even receive a message from a loved one in spirit!
Register with Dream Angels.
Tarot Topics Newsletter Volume 2 Issue 3 - January 16, 2019
The Joy of Living in an Another World: A Review of Joie de Vivre Tarot
Joi de Vivre Tarot, reviewed November, 2011, on my tarot news blog.
Joie de Vivre Tarot
By Paulina Cassidy
Published by U.S. Games, Inc.
Review by Christiana Gaudet
The term “joie de vivre” is one of the many French expressions that doesn’t have an exact translation in English. The expression has, if you will, a certain je nais se quoi. The literal translation is “joy of life,” or “joy of living,” but inherent in the expression is a child-like whimsy and sense of wonder that the English translation just doesn’t capture. It is a fitting title for Paulina Cassidy’s new tarot deck, Joie de Vivre Tarot.
It is hard to believe that Cassidy has had time to produce a second deck. It feels like just yesterday I was interviewing her about the (at the time) forthcoming Paulina Tarot. When I had the pleasure of speaking with Cassidy, it was clear to me the creatures that appear on her canvas do so of their own volition. The artist is merely making visible the entities that already exist.
In Paulina Tarot, those creatures had walk-on roles in a fairly traditional deck. In Joie de Vivre Tarot, Cassidy’s unique creatures are the stars of the show.
In the LWB (little white book), written by Cassidy, the creature on each card has a name, and a bit of a backstory. They have names such as Jaunt, Prezto and Blossom. I hope she writes some detailed stories about them; they are fascinating.
The images of Joie de Vivre Tarot are unmistakably the work of Paulina Cassidy. They are fanciful, otherworldly, and, at times, macabre. It seems to me that in her first deck, Cassidy was trying to hold back just a little, maybe trying to be a wee bit tarot-proper. In this deck, she has given us a full view of the landscapes inside her head.
In trying to describe these images, I can only say this. Imagine that the characters of Tim Burton, Lewis Carroll, Edward Gorey and Dr. Seuss all met up at a party and dropped acid together. No, that’s not quite right. Acid is too strong, electric and chemical to produce the fine detail, old-fashioned whimsy and muted colors of this deck. Maybe they ate some mushrooms instead. On their collective hallucinogenic trip, they decided to create a tarot deck. The result of such an adventure might look very much like Joie de Vivre Tarot. Don’t get me wrong, that’s not a bad thing at all.
The cardbacks and card interpretations do honor reversals. The cards are standard sized, and rendered and packaged in classic U.S. Games style. The four suits are Swords, Wands, Cups and Coins. There do not seem to be specific elemental references in the card images. Strength is card Eight, and Justice is Eleven.
Many of the characters have sweet faces with big eyes and pointed chins. There is a very Victorian feel to the deck. There are clever elements to the images, such as the clock in the hair of Lady Temperance. While the images on the cards are certainly non-traditional, they make sense, and are delightfully imaginative.
I have a theory about this deck. I think it will be very effect for intuitive/psychic tarot reading. The reason is this. Joie de Vivre Tarot is arguably the most imaginative deck ever. It communicates emotion, and sparks imaginative thought. Imagination is seated in the third eye, or brow chakra. This chakra governs the eyesight with which we view the cards, as well as our psychic vision. By stimulating the imagination and the eyesight, these cards will stimulate our psychic ability as well.
Joie de Vivre Tarot will be a great deck for anyone who finds it appealing, from beginners to professionals. I probably won’t use it myself – I find the legs of many of the creatures absolutely creepy. Some legs are spindly and spiderlike. Some creatures seem human except for the one, tail-like leg emerging from their bulbous bodies. These details, and some others, make me feel as if I were present at the imaginary party with the Lorax, the Mad Hatter, Sally the Ragdoll and the Doubtful Guest. I ate the mushrooms, too, but I had a bad trip.