Articles

Feb 22 2014

Free Daily Tarotscope — Feb 22, 2014 — Six of Swords

Author: Mel and Chris • Discussion: No Comments

Six of Swords

Today may be a good day to step away from your usual routine in order to get some clarity and perspective.

You may just need a simple change of scenery — getting away from it all long enough to clear your head and recharge your batteries. And you may be thinking about a much bigger change: one that involves a transition into unfamiliar territories.

The Six of Swords speaks of both moving forward and of moving in the right direction. Often it means leaving behind something that’s been holding you back and moving toward something that promises to lift you up. A better job, a better location, a better relationship. A better life.

In some versions of this card we see a man ferrying a woman and child across a large body of water. Perhaps she’s a widow: she’s hunched forward, cloaked in a shroud and appears to be in mourning. We see land on the other side, and get the feeling that they’re heading to their new home.

In this deck it’s a large ship but the meaning in similar. It steers seamlessly across the turbulent waters toward a brand new world.

Feb 21 2014

Free Daily Tarotscope — Feb 21, 2014 — Seven of Cups

Author: Mel and Chris • Discussion: No Comments

Seven of Cups

You may need a reality check today. Or at the very least a kick in the pants to get motivated toward manifesting your dreams.

The Seven of Cups is a card of temptations, often fueled by irrational thoughts or fantasies. There are sometimes too many options available, which makes it hard to decide. But more often it’s a case of wishful thinking and foolish day-dreaming that can interfere with actual progress.

In this version of the card, we see a woman seated before a “magic mirror” which reveals to her her deepest longings. She doesn’t see her own reflection in the mirror (reality) instead she sees herself celebrating a happy marriage to the man of her dreams, surrounded by elegance and finery. In contrast her own silhouette is shrouded in darkness.

This is the dilemma with the Seven of Cups. What you long for looks so appealing while what you have appears so drab. But it’s just an illusion and even if it weren’t — even if it were perfectly attainable — it’s not going to come about by sitting around day dreaming about it.

In some decks this card is called “Debauchery.” It refers to the superficial appeal of things that most of us only think will make us happy.

Feb 20 2014

Free Daily Tarotscope — Feb 20, 2014 — Nine of Staffs

Author: Mel and Chris • Discussion: No Comments

Nine of Staffs

If you want to get anything accomplished today, you may just need to get out of your own way. The Nine of Wands (called “Staffs in this Deck”) can indicate a sense of weariness or trepidation over circumstances that are completely outside of your control.

You may have cause to be worried and you may just be imaging the worst. Your fears can get blown out of proportion and cause you to expect things to fall apart, even when there’s no reasonable cause for alarm.

In this deck we see a woman standing in the midst of a group of trees, barely peeking out from behind one of them. Her companion animal, a Unicorn, is likewise cautiously peering out. Together they scan the horizon looking for signs of danger.

The Nine of Staffs is a card of perseverance though. It’s the “hang in there” card, reminding you that you’re almost at the finish line, with one final hurdle or battle to overcome. You could be replaying past tapes in your head — recalling the times you didn’t succeed or that you almost made it to your goal only to have the rug pulled out from you at the last minute.

The message behind this card is to remember that what seem like insurmountable odds are actually challenges set forth by the Universe. If you are to succeed, you’ll need to steer clear of temptations that are not in keeping with your principles.

Feb 19 2014

Free Daily Tarotscope — Feb 19, 2014 — Six of Pentacles

Author: Mel and Chris • Discussion: No Comments

Six of Pentacles

Today you may be called upon to open your heart and loosen your purse strings, as a measure of generosity and good will.

The Six of Pentacles is all about benevolence — giving what you can afford to give: whether it’s of your time, your money or your energy — to someone who needs it more than you do.

This card speaks of understanding the pathways between giving and receiving, to the extent that there are no expectations for being repaid. You give because you can and because the gratitude you receive in exchange is more than enough reward.

Even though you can only see a portion of her face, the woman in this card looks kind and compassionate. She has the words ” again and again look” across her forehead, a reminder that all that you put out there comes back to you in one way or another. In this respect the Six of Pentacles is also a reminder to pay attention and be grateful for the blessings you receive.

You may be also be the benefactor of someone else’s good will. Look outside: did someone clear the snow away from your walkway? Or help you unload your groceries? Did a friend call just to say hello?

Feb 18 2014

Free Daily Tarotscope — Feb 18, 2014 — Three of Cups

Author: Mel and Chris • Discussion: No Comments

Three of Cups

You may have plenty of people around you (friends and lovers and a solid support network), but are starting to see how your greatest fulfillment comes from within. The Three of Cups is usually associated with merriment and gaiety — a celebration amongst friends, but in this version we see how this is not always the case.

A solitary figure, depicted here as a young woman seated before a full moon, looks contentedly over her shoulder. Three goblets stand upright beside her and a raven rests in her hand. She’s basking in the glow of the full moon (representing intuition and sensitivity) while holding the mysteries of life (the raven) in the palm of her hand.

Perhaps she’s alone, or perhaps her loved-ones are just out of sight. Either way, she seems fulfilled and content and “complete” in her solitude.

This card represent a positive confirmation that you are as at one with yourself and your surroundings as you are in the people who love and support you. You have been able to turn loneliness into contentment, and discontent into personal fulfillment.

Perhaps you’re now realizing that you don’t need someone else to make you whole. Or maybe you’re at a place in your life where you realize the true meaning of loving yourself. It’s the first step toward creating a connection with others, yet once you achieve it you begin to realize that loving yourself is often enough.

Feb 17 2014

Free Daily Tarotscope — Feb 17, 2014 — King of Cups

Author: Mel and Chris • Discussion: No Comments

King of Cups

Today’s card — the King of Cups — is all about getting in touch with your emotions and learning to express them in a healthy mature manner.

The Kings — as with all of the court cards — will often describe an individual entering your life as a facilitator for an important lessons. In this case as it’s Cups (called “Chalices” in this deck) that lesson refers to the realm of feelings, emotions, instinct and intuition.

The King in this version is seated on a throne that rises of the ocean like a pedestal. His robes are ornate although somewhat weathered. His crown and his chalice are both gold. An elephant and a seahorse adorn his shield — a clear reference to his reign over land and sea.

Although this King is kind and compassionate, he’s nobody’s fool. He’s not easily persuaded or manipulated and he doesn’t get caught up in maudlin sentimentality. The seas around him may be turbulent, but he maintains his calm as he keeps a watchful eye on the horizon.

The King of Cups encourages you to be compassionate while still maintaining an air of authority. It speaks of developing a clear emotional radar without becoming wishy washy. And it speaks of getting a better understanding of your emotions without becoming overpowered by them.

Feb 16 2014

Free Daily Tarotscope — Feb 16, 2014 — The Chariot

Author: Mel and Chris • Discussion: No Comments

The Chariot

Today you’ll be thinking about taking greater control of your life and being a more active participant in your destiny.

The Chariot card speaks of getting into the driver’s seat and taking charge of where you’re heading — and that means you must also be willing to take responsibility for any missteps along the way.

In the past it may have been easier to blame outside forces for setbacks in your life. Or it may have felt safer to remain passive and allow others to take control. But the Chariot card says it’s time to step up, stop making excuses and start living your own life.

Traditional versions of this card are often more aggressive and chaotic, with the charioteer struggling to harness and rein in opposing forces. The emphasis is on concentration, restraint, determination and drive.

But this is a softer more zen-like version. The figure in the card with her long wild tresses streaming behind her is at “one” with the creatures on whose backs she glides. Her stance is placid and her command is gentle as she holds the reins in one hand and uses her other to remind them of just who is in charge. All three have their eyes closed and appear to be completely in sync as they move toward their destination.

Feb 15 2014

Free Daily Tarotscope — Feb 15, 2014 — Wheel of Fortune

Author: Mel and Chris • Discussion: No Comments

Wheel of Fortune

Today you may be looking at the ups and downs in your life and thinking about how they’ve led you to where you are today. The Wheel of Fortune card is associated with fate, destiny, “karma,” life cycles and both good and bad luck.

Sometimes we blame ourselves for the down times (assuming we’ve “brought it all on ourselves”) while viewing the up times as outside of our control.

We all experience these up and down cycles — and we all try to maximize the former while minimizing the latter. But the Wheel of Fortune tells us that both are necessary and that the good times wouldn’t be good without the frame of reference of the not-so-good times.

In traditional (Rider Waite and Golden Dawn) style versions of this card, there are more ominous connotations of those up and down times, but as this deck was designed for children, the imagery is more positive, playful and whimsical.

We see a roulette wheel in the center with four sets of lucky symbols — hearts, 4-leaf clovers, horseshoes and brass rings — and eight sets of numbers around the perimeter.

The “eight” theme is repeated there in numerical increments as well. Rounding out the imagery is a pair of lucky white rabbits at the top of the card and a pair of unlucky black cats at the bottom.

Feb 14 2014

Free Daily Tarotscope — Feb 14, 2014 — the Lovers

Author: Mel and Chris • Discussion: No Comments

the Lovers

In honor of Valentine’s Day, today’s card is the Lovers card — Salvadore Dali’s Los Enamorados.

It doesn’t matter if you’re single, dating, married, separated, divorced or widowed, chances are good you’re going to be thinking about relationships today.

The Lover’s card is about “love.” But it’s not always an easy or definitive love. Sometimes there are feelings of ambivalence or uncertainty, and sometimes there are choices to be made that can complicate things even more.

You may be wondering where you stand in a relationship or whether someone you care about feels the same. You may be ready to fall head over heels in love and wondering when someone new is coming in.

This version of the card is somewhat reminiscent of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. The male and female figures are poised between two columns and leaning in to one another. Their stance is somehow seductive and demure at the same time. The male figure’s nakedness is discreetly hidden behind a giant blue butterfly.

The butterfly and pitchfork are common symbols in this deck and appear to be referencing male (pitchfork) and female (butterfly) energy.

Feb 13 2014

Free Daily Tarotscope — Feb 13, 2014 — Ace of Cups

Author: Mel and Chris • Discussion: 4 Comments

Ace of Cups:

Today’s card — from the Alchemical Tarot — is another Ace. This time though it’s the Ace of Cups (Vessels in this deck), which refers to feelings, emotions, intuition and most importantly “love” in its purest form.

This isn’t necessarily a romantic version of love; it has more to do with falling in love with oneself: an alchemical process if ever there was one. When you think about it, it’s this process that reveals to you — at least for a brief moment — all that you are capable of giving and receiving.

Aces in general represent raw, unformed energy. The spark of intuition (wands), the seed of an enterprise (pentacles), the origin of an idea (swords). And the most powerful potion of all — love (cups).

The imagery in this version of the card is rich with esoteric symbolism. We see a fish carting a precious (and fragile) vessel across a body of water. The vessel contains a heart which is floating in a pool of red (the blood of Christ) and from which sprouts a grape vine (the fruit of life).

The fish is said to be a messenger of the unconscious, but also represents wisdom, knowledge and transformation. The vessel — a symbol of mystery, sustenance and fertility, is also an alembic, within which the alchemical process of distilling, refining and transmuting occurs.

Feb 12 2014

Free Daily Tarotscope — Feb 12, 2014 — Ace of Wands

Author: Mel and Chris • Discussion: No Comments

Ace of Wands

Today is the perfect day to think about re-inventing yourself — courtesy of the spark of passion, inspiration and creative potential that is associated with the Ace of Wands.

The Ace of Wands — like all Aces — represents the pure unadulterated essence of its native element: in this case Fire. It’s a very dynamic and transformative energy that can be shaped and fashioned at will. The possibilities are as endless as your imagination — or your wildest dreams.

This version of the card is loaded in referential symbolism, with representations of fertility, creativity, inspiration, passion, expansion and growth.

The wand itself is part of a tree, with roots stretching deep into the earth and branches reaching high into the sky. A rainbow spans the sky behind it, illuminating the tiny buds that are just starting to bloom.

Feb 11 2014

Free Daily Tarotscope — Feb 11, 2014 — Five of Swords

Author: Mel and Chris • Discussion: No Comments

Five of Swords

Today you may need to look at all the different aspects of an argument or disagreement and decide your next move. Do you surrender? Finish off your opponent? Turn and walk away? Or do you go back in and clean up the spoils in the hopes that there’s something left to be salvaged?

The Five of Swords is traditionally associated with conflict and turmoil, not seeing eye to eye, and fighting for the sake of fighting. There are elements of ego, pride and “reputation” in the mix — not wanting to give in or to admit to being wrong — these are what keep the conflict alive.

In this version of the card we see a pair of eagles involved in a skirmish, and while one appears to be “winning” at the moment it’s apparent that that could easily change. Five Swords are lined up behind them, three of them broken and two still intact.

If you think about the disagreements in your own life, you’ll see that Ego is almost always to blame. The “death before dishonor” aspect of this archetype is so beautifully rendered here, right down to the Sun and Moon in the background and the Ouroboros (or World Serpent) behind the battling birds.