Tarot by Christiana Weekly Newsletter 10/17/2012

Tarot by Christiana's Weekly Newsletter   October 17, 2012  Did you see my Article in Reflections? I was honored to have my article "Advice from the Elements" published in the September edition of the American Tarot Association's newsletter, Reflections. Find it on www.atatarot.com. Make sure you enjoy the rest of the newsletter, and, while you are there, consider joining the ATA! The Week in Review Megpaganpuff shares her list of songs that she associates with individual tarot cards on our Tarot Topics Community Blog. Read "Epiphanies of the Dark Tarot Music List" on tarottopics.org. For tarot students, Christiana shares a reading technique in "Create a Custom Tarot Spread for a Specific Situation" on the Tarot Topics Community Blog.   Christiana shares some of her thoughts about current culture on The Dark Forest. Read "When in Doubt, Dance" on thedarkforest.com. Tarot Community Blog Do you know about Tarot Topics, my Tarot Community Blog? Tarot blogging is becoming one of the fastest ways to learn more about tarot. By reading the blogs written by other people you can learn all sorts of things about tarot. By blogging about tarot yourself you are able to process your own thoughts and ideas about tarot, and share them with others. Membership is free. Just register and I will mail you your log in instructions so you can post articles in your very own Tarot blog!   Give the Gift of Insight As you plan your holiday gift list, or get ready to celebrate a birthday or anniversary, remember that a gift certificate for a reading with me is a special, unique gift. Gift certificates can be redeemed from anywhere in the world; readings will be performed by phone or Skype. Your recipient will receive a recording of the reading to keep. You can also give the gift of a premium webinar to your favorite tarot enthusiast! You can order by phone and pay by credit card or PayPal.  Just call 561-655-1160.   If you are on Facebook, please take a minute to "like" my community page, and my book pages for Fortune Stellar and Tarot Tour Guide. Do You Have Your Copy of Fortune Stellar Yet? Fortune Stellar will help you build a tarot business  that really works! Fortune Stellar is available in paperback or eBook format through Jupiter Gardens Press, and on Amazon for your Kindle and Barnes and Noble for your Nook. Here's what one beginning tarot professional had to say about Fortune Stellar. "Christiana, I cannot thank you enough for your book, "Fortune Stellar". You willingness to share your experience, knowledge and wisdom so freely as well as your podcasts and webinars is a wonderful gift. It gives the tools needed so a person can really consider the cost, do their homework and make really well- informed decisions…and the best part is they do not have to reinvent the wheel." Coming Soon - Red Feather Guild! I am excited to announce that I will soon be adding a new website to my network of sites.  Many of you know I have been teaching tarot for many years, and in many venues. This year I will be offering new webinars and new venues for learning tarot. Students will have the opportunity to take tests after completing each class. Once I have reviewed the students' comprehension of the class I will certify that they have taken the class and passed the test. With their permission, the student will be listed on the Red Feather Guild website as having passed the class. This will be a great service to those students pursuing a career in tarot, as well as a terrific way for each student to keep track of their accomplishments. I will administer the tests and list the students on the website at no extra cost beyond the cost of the premium class. The name "Red Feather Guild" is an esoteric tarot reference. In the Major Arcana of the images designed by A.E. Waite and drawn by Pamela Colman Smith three characters wear a red feather; the Fool, Death and the Sun.  These three characters point the way to a path of spiritual transformation, just as all tarot study does.   The Miracle of Autumn   Growing up in the Northeast, autumn was the time we witnessed the miracle of the changing leaves. Suddenly, the landscape was painted in brilliant shades of red, yellow and orange. Here in Florida, the changes are more subtle, but still noticeable. Here, we are gearing up for our prime season. Where ever you are, autumn can be a time to think about positive changes. It can be a time to appreciate nature, and the continuous cycle of nature that brings change yet is always constant. What miraculous changes do you welcome into your life at this time?   Have You Attended a Webinar Yet?   I am thrilled that so many people have been attending my webinars. This past week's free webinar entitled "Magick with Symbols and Images" was very popular. About the webinar, Cynthia said "Great session today.....broadening my horizons".  Val said "LOVE the bindrune technique. First time I've ever heard of it and I think it's brilliant".  Joanne said "Wow! The class on symbols and images was fantastic! Thank you, Christiana, for another fabulous class!" The thing that really surprised me about these webinars is how much fun they are, and how interactive they are. Attending a webinar with me is not like attending a lecture or watching a video. It is more like attending a workshop. I encourage students to interact with other students, and with me. Many people who meet in my webinars become friends, just as happens with in-person classes. Some people have yet to attend a webinar because they are unfamiliar with the technology. I always log in and open the meeting fifteen minutes before class time. This gives you an opportunity to get logged in without pressure, and to call me if you need help. The instructions are simple and easy to follow. Some folks even get together as a group in one person's home and attend together, sharing snacks and discussion afterward. It is true that there can be occasional technical difficulties, but no more hassle than you might encounter driving through traffic on your way to an in-person class. I use Cisco's Webex, which is an industry standard for on-line meetings. You can attend on your computer, your tablet or your smartphone. You can even call-in and listen and participate by phone. I still have two more webinars this month, Global Tarot Circle on October 21 which is free, and a premium webinar on October 23, entitled Personal Tarot - Reading for Yourself.   View a recording of last week's webinar, Magick with Symbols and Images on CelebrateSpiritualGrowth.com! You will need the free WebEx player available on their site webex.com. Upcoming Events  Sunday, October 21, 2012 - 5 pm Eastern Don't miss October's Global Tarot Circle! This is a free on-line event. If you are interested in tarot, you will love Global Tarot Circle. In this informal workshop, we work together to share readings, fellowship and tarot study.  For more information about this Global Tarot Circle event visit tarotcircle.org.  Tuesday, October 23, 2012 - 7 pm Eastern Please join us for the premium webinar Personal Tarot - Reading for Yourself. You will learn the techniques you need to know to be able to use tarot as a tool for personal divination, soul-searching, and decision-making. You will learn to identify the cards that speak to you in a personal way, and that help you to understand yourself and your core identity. For more information and to register, visit tarotbychristiana.org.   Saturday, November 3, 2012 - 7 pm Eastern Please join us for a special in-person event at Insights Center for Personal Growth, 1480 C Royal Palm Beach Blvd, Royal Palm Beach, FL 33411. Christiana will present a Psychic Gallery. Those who have attended Christiana’s galleries are always impressed with her accuracy, insight, energy and humor. Each person will have the opportunity to ask questions and receive guidance from Spirit. You will find healing, inspiration and direction from the messages you receive. You may even receive communication from a departed loved one. Don’t miss this opportunity to work with Christiana and receive your message from Spirit! For more information and to reserve your seat, visit celebratespiritualgrowth.com.   Wednesday, November 7, 2012 - 7:30 Eastern Please join us for the premium webinar Sharing Wisdom - Reading for Others. In this online presentation, Christiana Gaudet will guide you through each step of performing a great reading. She will help you discover your personal style as a reader, and discuss some common pitfalls and ways to avoid them. She will give you insight in how to derive the most specific information possible from each reading. For more information and to register, visit tarotbychristiana.org.   Your Weekly One-Card Reading  Your One-Card reading for this week is the Seven of Wands. This image is traditionally shown as a brave person successfully defending himself from attackers in all directions. In the Crystal Visions Tarot our hero is riding a dragon whilst deftly fending off his attackers. We all feel this way sometimes; that too many things are coming at us too quickly; and that we must handle everything by ourselves without aid. But this card is not about being overwhelmed. It is about valor. While we may be struggling, and we have too much to accomplish or too many problems, this card reminds us that we can handle whatever comes. The Seven of Wands reminds each of us to be the valiant hero. It assures our success, even against difficult odds.   When is Spiritual Healing Appropriate?   I often say that there is a thin line between psychic and psychotic. I mean it as a joke, but there is some truth there, too. Everyone is a little bit dysfunctional, right? And, to be honest, pretty much everyone suffers from depression, anxiety or some other emotional or mental illness at one point or another. I have long believed that if our Western society were more open to understanding the psychic and spiritual influences around us we would all be much healthier. If we taught our children to meditate and to understand their chakras and communicate with the spirits around them we would have fewer teenagers in psychiatric wards. But none of us exists in a vacuum. We Americans exist in a greater society that doesn't place a high priority on psychic development; a society that limits spiritual development to an hour a week in church. That same society has a very narrow definition of what is "normal." Often I get questions from people about spiritual ways to combat mental and emotional illness. Some people feel that their illness, or the illness of a family member, is caused by a spiritual problem, or even a specific entity that has attached itself to the unfortunate person. Some "professionals" make a lot of money by offering to remove entities from the afflicted. There are even Biblical references to this phenomenon, such as Jesus casting out demons. Can spirits cause mental illness? In Tibetan Buddhism they can, and they are treated by legitimate doctors who understand the different causes of illness, including physical, emotional and spiritual. In Catholicism, the few documented cases of spirit possession neither cause nor coexist with mental or emotional illness. Here in the United States, most people feel that mental and emotional illnesses are caused by a number of factors, including genetics, trauma, and organic brain dysfunction. I have been doing psychic work long enough to know that anything is possible. But I also know that we have to work within our current cultural environment, no matter how dysfunctional it in itself may be. I also know that part of mental illness (whatever has caused it) can include a basic disconnection from reality. But what is reality? Aren't spirits real? Isn't energy healing real? In my opinion - they are. Sometimes, though, I think it is dangerous for Westerners to try to "treat" psychiatric conditions by spiritual means. I have seen meditation cure anxiety. I have used tarot cards to heal depression. I have seen Reiki fix any number of maladies. I have personally performed "house cleansings" that have made a huge difference for the people who live there. But I will be the first in line to make this strong statement - and I know many people will disagree with me on this, but here goes. Not everyone is a good candidate for spiritual forms of healing, especially when it comes to psychiatric disorders. There are many psychic professionals who would never say this, and who don't want you to believe this, because they would rather charge you hundreds of dollars to "heal" you or your loved one. There are many clients who don't want to hear this because they don't want to see the true cause of their problems and would rather blame a "spirit" or a "curse" than have to acknowledge their own need to make difficult change. How can we reconcile the more holistic spiritual philosophies with the Western ones that are more prevalent and considered "reality" for those of us who live in the West? I think even the Tibetan Buddhists would agree that a spirit can't enter a person without their permission. Perhaps here in the West we are trying to treat the part of the person that gave permission to the spirit, rather than trying to directly remove the spirit. That may or may not be the easiest way, but here in the West, it is the way that syncs best with our our cultural reality. There are many Westerners who are familiar with, open to and trained in spiritual healing. There are others who may seek spiritual healing but are not good candidates. The important question is this. How do we know which person is a good candidate for spiritual healing? In my opinion, the answer is one simple word: grounding. Is the person who needs healing grounded in reality? For instance, could they tell the difference between the voice of their intuition and voices that tell them to hurt themselves or others? Can they understand their own responsibilities in their search for personal healing? Are their spiritual beliefs based on imaginings, a need for attention, fears and superstitions, or are their beliefs based on study, meditation and true personal conviction? Are they willing to make personal changes to enhance their well-being, or are they more interested in being the victim? Are they truly ready to heal, or do they glorify in their illness? People who have some basic grounding can usually benefit from spiritual healing. People who don't have that grounding may not benefit. In fact, the attempt at spiritual healing could make the person worse. Make the person worse? How could that be? Well, if the person who needs healing comes to believe that their malady is caused by something outside of themselves it relieves them from their responsibility to their own healing. Spiritual healing, be it through tarot cards, energy work, angelic healing, prayer or any other means can be profoundly helpful -even miraculous - especially as an adjunct to medical attention. But, unless the person in need has the awareness and ability to do some of the work of healing themselves, very little can be accomplished. The old piece of Hermetic wisdom "As Above, So Below" is true in this context, as it is in so many others. What happens on the spiritual level must also happen on the mundane level. Without that, and without the ability to understand that, no healing can occur. I am blessed to be a healer in my work as a tarot professional. I am grateful every day that I am able to make a difference in someone's life. At the end, though, there is an important distinction to be made. I can be a source of healing energy, healing information and healing direction. You can use what I give you to heal yourself. A person who is grounded enough to understand that distinction will benefit from what I am able to do, and what other ethical professionals are able to do. On the other side of that distinction exist the ego and greed of unethical professionals, and the fear, superstition, irresponsibility and serious illness of those who are not yet ready to heal. Sadly, sometimes those folks will respond better to medication than to meditation, at least for now.   Read more posts by Christiana on tarottrends.com! The Tarot by Christiana Network of Websites Tarot by Christiana - tarotbychristiana.com Fortune Stellar Book Site - fortunestellar.com Tarot Tour Guide Book Site - tarottourguide.com Christiana's Personal Blog - tarottrends.com Tarot Topics Community Blog - tarottopics.org Modern Culture Blog - thedarkforest.com Tarot Topics Community News - tarottopics.com Tarot Circle Social Network - tarotcircle.org Tarot Events Calendar - tarotevents.org Tarot Continuing Education - tarotbychristiana.org Spiritual Growth Site - celebratespiritualgrowth.com Mobile Information Site - christiana.mobi Get a Copy of Tarot Tour Guide Signed by the Author! If you would like a signed copy of my new book, Tarot Tour Guide, delivered to you by mail, you may send $20 to PayPal@thedarkforest.com. You can also send a check to Christiana Gaudet, 5722 S Flamingo Road, Cooper City, FL 33330. Or, you can call me at 561-655-1160 and pay with a major credit card. Tarot Tour Guide, along with my first book, Fortune Stellar, is also available on Amazon in paperback or Kindle edition.  Tarot by Christiana tarotbychristiana.com To schedule a reading or for more information call 561-655-1160 Toll free call 866-99TAROT (866-998-2768) [facebooklike] [twittertweet] [googleplusone] [lnkdinshare]

Tarot by Christiana Newsletter January 18, 2012

Happy MLK Jr. Day!

As we celebrate the Dream and the vision, here is this week’s Tarot by Christiana newsletter.  I hope you will be able to join me for some great tarot events this week! 
This newsletter will also be available on my Tarot Topics Community News website at http://tarottopics.com.

Recent Events

Tarot Circle in Unity Church in the Gardens in Jupiter

On Monday, MLK Jr. Day, Tarot Circle met at Unity Church in Jupiter.  There was a great turnout, with some local Jupiter residents, and people driving from as far as Jensen Beach and Coral Springs.

Our topic was Tarot Numerology.  We divided the deck by numbers, and included the Major Arcana with the Minor Arcana.  For example, we look at the Aces, the Magician and the Sun, Card 19 (19=1+9=10=1+0=1), all as one group.  Each card in that group expressed the energy of the number one, which represents beginnings, source, initiation, the individual and essence.

We decided to put Major Arcana 10, The Wheel of Fortune, with the four Minor Arcana Tens. 

One thing that separates tarot numerology from many other traditions of numerology is that we have the number ten, rather than simply one through nine.

The numerical value of tarot cards gave us an insightful way to learn their interpretations, and to discover more information about each card.

About this meeting, one new attendee said:

“I loved being in your group the other evening...  The wisdom in the room lit me up and made me hungry for more…”

Tarot Circle meets at Unity Church in the Gardens, 550 Bush Road in Jupiter, on the third Monday of every month at 7 pm.  Please join us!

Please Join my Meetup!

Whether you are in Palm Beach County, South Florida or anywhere in the world, please join my Meetup, Tarot Circle Meetup of the Palm Beaches and Worldwide.  Meetup.com is a free website that keeps you connected with people who share your interests.  Tarot Circle Meetup of the Palm Beaches and Worldwide lists all my tarot events, both local and on-line.

Simply go to http://meetup.tarotcircle.org/ and join!

This Week’s Events

Wednesday, January 18 (today) at 7 pm Eastern, I will host Global Tarot Circle, which in a free informal tarot workshop conducted on-line via Webex.  You can join in on your computer or by phone.   

Our topic tonight is Predictions.

For more information, and everything you need to log in or call in, visit http://tarotcircle.org/content/global-tarot-circle.

Saturday, January 21, Tarot Circle will meet in the Harvey Building in downtown West Palm Beach from 11 am – 1 pm.  This is a new meeting time for us – I hope many people will find the Saturday meeting convenient.  For more information, visit http://meetup.tarotcircle.org/ and RSVP, and find details at http://tarotcircle.org.

Sunday, January 22, I will offer a free webinar.  The topic is The Four Elements and the Major Arcana.  This is a great class for people of any level of tarot experience.  Get all the info, including the login instructions, at http://tarotbychristiana.org.  You will be able to join the class by computer or telephone.

Next Wednesday, January 25, is another free tarot class at the Harvey Building.  This time our topic is The Four Elements and the Minor Arcana.  We will meet at 7 pm.  Find all the details at http://tarotbychristiana.org.

Do not hesitate to call me with questions about any of these events, at 561-655-1160 or 866-99TAROT.

This Week’s Special Read

I am excited to share my guest blog post on the terrific tarot website Biddy Tarot!  Please read 5 Inspiring Ways to Heal Yourself with Tarot at http://www.biddytarot.com/blog/tarot-healing

Please Check out My Blogs

As well as enjoying the opportunity to guest blog on some of the best blog sites around, I also have two blog sites.  My personal blog is http://tarottrends.com.  My most recent post is entitled Revival, and is about old Broadway musicals, the tarot Sun card, synchronicity, my crazy youth, and hope for the future – all in 800 words or less.

I also have a community tarot blog, where members of the tarot community join me in writing about our favorite topic, tarot.  In addition to my own posts, we have posts from tarot notables Joanne Matthew, Mary Nale, Mary Ellen Collins, Linda Moore and, I’m proud to say, Biddy herself!  If you would like to write a blog post there, all you have to do is sign in and submit it!  Check it out at http://tarottopics.org.