Poetry: The Art of Words

I always loved to write. It's my favorite creative medium besides music and handiwork. Be it fictional stories, lyrics, or poems, a pen (or computer) is my brush and a piece of paper (or Word) is my canvas.

So that being said, I decided to do a poem for this project.

I based it off the card I had chosen earlier this semester, the thirteenth card of the Tarot called Death. While many fear it in the literal sense, I often stress that the Tarot in general is never as literal as all that, especially people I read for. This is a card I chose because like the card suggests, nothing is ever permanent and everything changes for better or worse--either way, it still happens for the sake of fate and the natural order of things.

I won't reveal the poem here; it will be presented in class on the day I go.

Advice

Someone drawing her own cards recently brought forth a dilemma she is facing, but had trouble interpreting the cards in her spread:

"For a while, I have been looking, unsuccessfully, to buy a house as an investment.  Recently one came on the market that I really like.  It is a true 3 family with lovely period details.  However, it is a little out of my price range and would require a lot of rehabbing before I could rent it out.  So I drew cards to help me make my decision.  For Don't Buy It, I got The High Priestess, the Two of Swords, and the Five of Cups.  For Buy It, I got The Lovers, the King of Cups, and Judgement.  How do you interpret these cards? What would you advise me based on this draw?"

Well, under Don't Buy It, I would say overall, it's in your best interest to not go this route; you will not be happy about it, which the Five of Cups is indicating to me. Would you regret it? Likely not, but it may not make you as happy as you want it to. The High Priestess tells you to obey your instincts; if you don't feel comfortable due to price range or having to do a bunch of renovations, then I would say to not buy the house. Plus, I feel like there is a catch as well that could trap you in later, given that you laid out the Two of Swords.

In comparison to what you laid out for Buy It, it is slightly contradictory, I find. I always tell people I read for that just because cards are laid out, it doesn't mean your future is set in stone. You are ultimately the master of your own destiny; that being said, if you were to purchase the house, it would be a huge decision on your part, told to me by the Lovers card you laid out (that's usually a card that is more likely to mean big decisions and forks in the road rather than what people literally think it means). The King of Cups is also telling me of sage advice that will probably need to be followed by someone with experience in real estate and/or renovating houses. Judgement, as the last card, tells me that there will be challenges if you go on to buy the house, and I'm definitely seeing it with finances if you do choose to undergo the renovations as a part of your investment.

Thank you for presenting your dilemma, and I hope this was helpful to you. Wishing you the best with this endeavor!

Tarot Spreads

It’s been a while since my last post, but life gets in the way so bear with me.

Anyways, moving on.

When learning to divine using the Tarot, learning spreads is an important step because it allows you to interpret and maybe see different aspects of a dilemma or situation in a particular order. In fact, the Tarot isn’t the Tarot without the use of spreads in some form or another. Having read for about four years, I have used a variety of spreads during that time and even developed some of my own depending on the needs of my querent and what exactly I need to see in order to answer their questions.

To date, I have used the following:

-One Card: I use this typically for small things and yes/no questions

-Three Card: a common spread that interprets Past, Present and Future. I typically draw a fourth card to serve as an “overview” for the situation

-Celtic Cross: about as traditional as you can get

-the Cross: just like the Celtic Cross spread, but without the last four cards. I would say this is more simple than the Celtic Cross even though it can be interpreted the same way

-the Seven Days: a spread that is useful for predicting the week ahead. I recommend doing this one on a Sunday (or Monday, if you’re in Europe)

-Zodiac Wheel: incorporates astrology and the twelve houses to determine the querent’s current situation and state and how they can improve/better themselves based on the interpretations

-the Year Ahead: self-explanatory; predicts the year ahead and looks strikingly similar to the Zodiac Wheel. Best done on December 31, or if you celebrate Samhaín (the Celtic New Year), then October 31.

-the Relationship layout: also self-explanatory, but this is a 15-card spread analyzing two people in a relationship (or about to be) and what they contribute, their personalities, etc.

-Past Lives: this is, by far, the most complex I have ever done and in my experience, requires adequate psychic talents to perform; so if you’re just beginning Tarot, don’t attempt this until you’ve practiced enough. It’s also quite draining; I find myself very sleepy or hungry after doing this even if I’ve eaten or slept beforehand. Basically, this is a 13-card spread which reveals the past life of the querent, from their gender to their childhood, from their relationships and the age at which they passed over. It also reveals the lessons learned between their current incarnation and their past one.

 

Out of these two, I would like to mostly address the Zodiac Wheel and the Past Lives readings.

The Zodiac Wheel is my most requested spread because it allows me to truly see what’s going on with the person inside, and if there are any spiritual influences coming through, then they do (just like in Celtic Cross). In fact, I recently did a reading for my neighbor in my dorm who is rather sensitive and has some emotional issues, as well as issues with self-acceptance. I felt like the Zodiac Wheel would be perfect because it can address many different issues in her life and actually see the different aspects of it. I read the cards like so:

 

 

1 – Aries: House of the Self

2 – Taurus: House of Possessions

3 – Gemini: House of Communication

4 – Cancer: House of Family

5 – Leo: House of Love Affairs

6 – Virgo: House of Health

7 – Libra: House of Partnerships

8 – Scorpio: House of Transformation

9 – Sagittarius: House of Learning

10 – Capricorn: House of Ambition

11 – Aquarius: House of Friendships

12 – Pisces: House of Spirituality

The 13^th card is the center, which is a card to be interpreted as the quality of life overall. I personally love this spread because I love astrology.

Anyways, the overall for her reading was my advice of working more on the self and trying to get herself out there because like I said, she has emotional issues and has trouble making friends because she is often misunderstood. I can relate to this, so aside from the reading I gave her personal advice.

~~

The Past Lives spread, as I mentioned, is pretty complex considering it has 13 cards in the arrangement. The reason I say it’s complex and needs adequate psychic talent to do is because you literally need to tune into the person you are reading for, their psyche, their thought form, because I notice that people who act a certain way or have attitudes toward certain things then that thing in question affected them in a past life. To do this, I either go into alpha consciousness or I meditate thinking of the person.

The first reading I actually saved the feedback from. It was from this summer, and I was quite shocked how accurate I was considering it was my first time doing it. Here’s a little sample of the feedback this girl sent back to me. Keep in mind, this reading took an hour to piece together and do:

“…I appreciate this so much. I always was attracted to the word ‘dictator’, so I had no idea why because I’m obviously not but somehow stood out in my memory. My soul does have a passion for war, or battles, I should say. In this life, I aim to win the war and I have lost many battles, but also gained many life lessons and wisdom…Aries and Tauruses I stay away from in this life. My wife must hhave been a horrible person. It may be because of my free spirit in this life, but I still have the same problem with jealousy…to know I didn’t die in the war is an A+ for me…you are correct, my parents have an overindulgence problem even in this life. I feel in this life, my heart SCREAMS at me to enjoy life…”

^^^

Note: according to the visions I got in this reading, I saw this girl was a male in her past life and lived during World War II.

Symbols of Rebirth

The Death card, as chosen from my previous blog entry, contains the following symbols: armor, a flag bearing a red and white Tudor rose, and a rising sun. Death Itself is depicted as a skeleton, which is quite cliché to say the least. However, depending on the deck in question, these symbols can be picked and chosen or replaced with something else of equivalent meaning.

In the Rider-Waite, the one I typically use, other symbols include children on the ground, a bishop (looks to The Hierophant, come to think of it) with his hands praying as if to plead to Death, the horse, dead-looking trees in the background, and two towers with the aforementioned rising sun between them.

 

A breakdown of the meanings of each symbol goes as follows:

-ARMOR: personal reservations, possible fears of the inevitable—it’s always good to let down your walls and welcome what is to come. Accept your fate, accept the changes that come your way, because they may just be a blessing in disguise.

-TUDOR ROSE: This rose appears on the flag as red and white, and those two colors represent the blood of life and the promise of new beginnings—overall, this rose is a symbol of rebirth. All that dies will be reborn, and all that falls shall rise again.

-RISING SUN: This is another symbol of the promise of new beginnings. Think of it as the “light at the end of the tunnel” or a “silver lining behind every dark cloud”. It also can be interpreted as the beauty that comes with Death, as endings always come before a new beginning. It also can be seen as the foreshadowing to The Sun card.

-CHILDREN: This is likely another symbol of rebirth, and because they are tired-looking and leaning on each other, it tells the reader and the querent that there is a stress that needs to be relieved with the coming of this inevitable change.

-BISHOP: Not even someone with power, like a bishop in the Catholic Church for example, can defeat Death. He reflects the natural order of things, much like The Hierophant card.

-HORSE: The horse upon which Death is sitting, in many cultures, represents passage. With each major change we undergo, we encounter a chance for passage and transition into this new phase of life. It also represents the passage of the soul in literal death of people or animals. It also could very well be a Biblical reference to the Book of Revelations, where there are Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse who are said to arrive at the Last Judgement (according to Christian tradition).

-DEAD TREES: This is a cliché symbol of death, but the dead trees are a solemn reminder to the reader and querent that like the seasons, life changes and transitions. Alternatively, you must learn to accept your losses (winter) before new leaves can grow (spring).

-TWO TOWERS: The towers have the sun between them on the right side of the card (at least in the Rider-Waite) are very much like a foreshadowing to The Tower card and its connotation to external destruction. Death, in contrast, reflects internal destruction in order for creation to take its place.

 

Overall, this card would be mine (aside from The High Priestess) because as a person, I am always evolving—I have a strong belief in the polarity of death and rebirth, as it is all connected with life. Without death, there cannot be life. Without destruction, there can be no creation. Without the natural order of things dictating that nature rid of the old things, there would be no new things to sprout in their place. I see these changes around me in everyday life, even on a level so deep I can’t put it into a single sentence.

Leaves fall off the trees in the autumn, making the trees dead and dormant in winter. Without this, the promise of spring wouldn’t allow for new leaves and blossoms to grow.

Forgive the morbid example, but it’s the same with hunting a deer. The blood from that deer rushes into the soil when it is shot, allowing for nutrients to nourish the seeds below and allow life to grow. Imagine that new life growing from the deer’s blood in the soil as a tree—an animal can live and feed off that tree and its leaves or whatever fruits it bears. Even a tree bearing fruit, the fruits contain seeds to allow new life to grow…I could go on about this, but I’ll stop right here.

A Celtic Cross

The question for this querent was: “When will I see my mother and uncle again? Are they watching over me?”

So I performed a Celtic Cross reading for her to ultimately answer this question, as well as gain any insight on her life at this moment. I always inform my querents that fate is NEVER set in stone, because it is what we do in the present time that changes it for better or worse depending. To supplement this, I give valuable advice which the querent can take at their discretion.

Another note, I do not always see the cards as literal. You will see this in the following commentary, done by me, and you will see that I have incorporated my visions into the reading:

 

“The first card represents your current situation, the Nine of Cups upright. It’s a very positive card, right now, you’re feeling very optimistic and you’re pretty much getting what you want right now. Just think of any earthly pleasures that you like, since its cups, drinks…but that isn’t anything you haven’t told me. But definitely positive in meaning. I can probably advise that if you want something right now, go for it.

What crosses you, [King of Cups] an older man, he’s a Scorpio, and he is known to give very good advice. He’s very emotional, he’s about in his forties. He seems to be well financially established especially since he’s grown emotionally and enough to understand the value of material possessions. Yeah, he’s pretty wise with what he does. He is to come.

The best you can achieve right now [Three of Swords reversed], is healing. Definitely a lot of healing. See, in its upright aspect it represents grief but the best you can achieve is healing of the self, healing of the soul…whatever pains you are feeling right now, make sure you cut things out of your life that no longer serve you, and this may take some contemplation beforehand…but I really see it’ll do you good, especially in the next couple months.

This is the hidden factors [four of pentacles upright], I can relate this back to the man crossing you, and I can also see it applies to you, but I can relate this to that [Three of Swords]. You’re holding onto past hurts. You gotta lose it. Again, it make take time, it may hurt to part with things that no longer serve you, because sometimes what we hold onto, we believe it means the most to us.

The past, this is the recent past, like within the past year. [Four of Cups] Solitude, I mean, this isn’t something you haven’t told me, but even in the past couple months its felt a bit lonely and I feel like you’ve been already taking steps to emotional healing that you need to undergo. Definitely, I mean it’s helped so far. You’re on the path already to emotional healing and healing of past hurts, or anything else you have in your life because its attributing to the hurt.

The near future, the fool reversed, my advice in the near future is don’t take unnecessary risks because you’re gonna probably get in trouble. But again, that’s me giving advice. You have a free will. Do as you wish. Trust your gut, instinct, if something is wrong anywhere you are, leave. That goes hand in hand with letting go. When you avoid taking risks around people you know, friends, then you’re gonna let them go, and you won’t make these mistakes.

I gave a piece of advise to answer a mid-reading question; “apply healing to your life. Positive affirmations help.”

Your views, Page of Pentacles upright…definitely there’s a young man who is ambitious with money, he’s also got a lust for life, too. Seems familiar to me too, I can’t put my finger on it, I don’t know who. But I have a feeling he is going to help you see your potential in applying emotional healing to your life. This is someone alive. Yes. You already know him.

This is how it affects the situation [Four of Wands], with this person’s influence you will find peace and rest. They’re responsible, like I said, good grades, a business major here. This is a card of rest. You will be able to allow an inner sense of strength to shine through, and it’s a renewed sense of it.

Hopes and fears [Page of Swords], this is another person in your life…what did you say his name was again?”

“Joe was my uncle.” He has since passed onto the other side.

“He seemed very rational, gave good advice, had good sense of conviction, knew his opinion mattered, and was able to stand up for what he believed in. He’s coming through right here. He’s definitely watching over you. I don’t think I had to pick up a card to see that anyways. We have spirits watching us everyday, and that is why.

The outcome, [The Lovers], they’re BOTH watching over you. The Lovers looks literal, but in this case, it’s not. You have a choice to make, and it’s the choice to let go and heal emotionally. The context of this male and female, you can see it here as a polarity. There’s a balance. You will see them again. You will. They have a lot of knowledge to offer you. A lot. So if they ever visit in dreams, pay attention. Dreams carry messages anyways, but dreams of the dead are valuable; they are trying to tell you something. Their knowledge is valuable. Depending on your spiritual path, a prayer to them could help you open to them. Those who have passed become our guides, especially those close to us. Thank them for this knowledge. This is general life knowledge, and is yet to come.”

I let her meditate to guide her further to emotional healing by letting her hold stones, and for as long as she felt comfortable. Below is her feedback.

“It’s was really cool and insightful and accurate for the most part, but I’m confused at some parts.”

I responded; “they will manifest in due time.”

Major Arcana and the Self (10/14-16)

This whole time, I seem to have been drawn to The High Priestess of the Major Arcana, simply because of the card’s spiritual, arcane nature. It seems that while I am still very much drawn to the properties of this card, I feel like after going more in-depth with each of the Major Arcana that Death is the card that is most resonating to me. Here is why…

Death comes to us all; it is our greatest teacher, but in time it kills all of its pupils. Without death, there would not be life, just like without darkness, there would be no light. Kind of goes hand in hand with what I like to say; “balance is all”. Many people are frightened or even saddened by the topic of death, crying or mourning if a loved one dies. The truth is, the spirit is eternal and there is always a chance for rebirth after this life; wherever we go, I won’t know until I get there myself (as will everyone in due time), we are made whole again. When we cry at a funeral, for instance, we cry for ourselves. We are innately selfish because we would do anything to have that person back, alive and well—but the thing we must focus on when losing a loved one are the memories. Those will live on for as long as we remember and cherish them.

Death doesn’t always have to be literal, either. In life, we encounter important, inevitable transitions of phases or ways of life—getting married, getting divorced, going to college, having a baby, seeing that baby grow into an adult, loss of job, loss of home, loss of ideals or beliefs…all of these more common aspects of life fall into this category because they bring about big changes in life overall. Sometimes these changes are more internal than external, but either way, they affect us in huge ways.

Questions for Reflection (9/30-10/2)

The Moon

Q: What glimpses have you had of other dimensions or realities?

Well, this is a loaded question. I have indeed had glimpses of other dimensions or planes. I do believe in a spirit realm; not like a heaven or hell kind of deal. Basically, I picture it as a place where all of the deceased go after their life here. That’s not to say I don’t believe there are many realms. I won’t know until I get there, but there is something there after this life.

Anyways, I will share one or two personal experiences here. First, is with something called astral projection, which is the willful projection of your Self as an astral entity so you may travel through this plane (the physical) or somewhere else entirely. The last time I went travelling in the astral, I ended up seeing many of my deceased relatives, and since I did this right before moving in the dorms, I found it very special that they knew I was about to undergo a major change. My aunt, who had succumbed to her addictions in 2006, gave me advice which ended up making sense a few days later—“don’t end up like me. I made mistakes in my life. Don’t do what I did.” I also received a hug from each deceased member of my family I had seen, but there was something about my great-nana’s hug that felt so comforting.

Oh, and this all took place in a garden too beautiful to be earthly, so I knew I wasn’t “here” anymore.

More recently, I have been seeing these white mists in my direct line of sight. I am severely near-sighted without glasses (meaning I can’t see distance), so this was odd; at the same time, it was very special. I have seen dark figures before, so seeing white mists was very much like a breath of fresh air. I consulted a friend recently for advice who told me that due to my young age, I’m going to start seeing things more vividly and even physically in front of me. So I expect more frequent glimpses of other dimensions or ethereal beings pretty soon.

Q: How much time do you spend daydreaming or fantasizing?

Too much. Simple as that. I often catch myself daydreaming at the worst times. I sometimes need to stop myself.

Q: What recurring dreams do you have and what messages do they carry?

I have many different symbols in dreams, especially if they’re recurring. I do not wish to share them here though.

Q: When have your own strong emotions surprised you?

My anger can sometimes get the best of me, especially if it’s mixed with hurt or grief. My feelings and emotions are quite complex despite my exterior. My anger shocks me sometimes because I normally do not let too many things bother me, simply because I’m used to it or if I want to maintain a positive outlook for the day. But when I’m angry, I’m really angry. ‘Nuff said.

Q: Where are the emotionally-charged atmospheres in your life?

Moving on—I don’t know how to answer this simply.

Q: What things have not turned out to be as they appeared?

Lots of things. I feel like I’m always uncovering truths about matters around me, so I’m consciously aware of situations. It’s always best to know both sides of a situation if something isn’t what it seems to be, especially if you aren’t the one involved. I’m noticing more now that I am really good at telling if someone’s lying or being misleading somehow. I can’t explain it, or how it’s coming to be; it’s just something you “know”.

 

The Sun:

Q: What is your most powerful form of self-expression?

Music and writing have always been my greatest forms of self-expression. I have written poems, lyrics, stories, even a novel or two. My first love was music, though—I’m not going to brag but I have been praised for my singing voice. I have been singing since I was very young, so you’d think I’d be a pro and famous by now.

No, wrong. But would I like to be famous? Hell yes!

I’m a different person onstage performing. I’ve sang at music festivals, talent shows, even the anthem for the Speaker of the House and Governor at the renaming ceremony of the Robert A. DeLeo Senior Center in Winthrop in 2012. I happened to be volunteering my time there for community service hours, and went on to entertain the elderly by singing for them. When I was a waitress, I would also entertain customers by singing impromptu karaoke when the restaurant had karaoke night. It isn’t just a past time, but it’s a passion. I feel the music I am singing. I AM the music I sing.

Q: What doubts or insecurities have you overcome?

I have overcome my sense of poor self-image. That doesn’t mean I don’t have insecurities still.

For example, I used to think I was fat, so I therefore struggled with body image issues. Of course, the kids in school bullied me in early elementary so that made me think badly about myself and to the point where I actually believed them. It’s taken me a while to accept myself for the way I look, and since doing so, I’ve felt more confident in my own skin.

Bullies in school also called me “ugly”, and it hurt me so much that I actually believed it along with being called fat. This kind of went along with the cliché “cliques” making fun of my clothing and what I wore as early as 5^th grade, but that’s a different story. It’s actually because of this that you will never see me wearing sunglasses. That’s another story, too.

Now, I’m an adult and I feel more confident being ME. Yes, I have my insecurities but any person worth their salt (and if they were smart) wouldn’t make me feel bad about them. There is no other like me, and there never will me. I’m a diamond—I can’t break.

Q: Who championed you and helped develop your gifts and talents?

It’s got to be my mom—I can remember spending so much time rehearsing for a show I’d be singing in. She was like my vocal coach all these years, even though she claims to have sung in her school years. She lost her singing voice to many years of smoking, though. How unfortunate.

She would help me pick the right songs, and with my range (mid to alto) it is VERY difficult to sing songs that are popular in this day and age. I guess I steer toward the classics from the 60s and 70s for a reason.

Q: Where in life are you a leader?

My high school had/has something called the Viking Longships Project, which is an independent study of Viking culture from the 700s-1200s (when they hit their peak on the world stage). That being said, you picked a field of interest and worked on that. Collectively, we were a crew of all fields of study—Woodwork, Boat-Building, Reenactments, History, Music, Textiles, Agriculture…and MY specialty—Linguistics.

I became Head of Linguistics by the end of my sophomore year. I had translated 70 kaflí (chapters) of the Egils saga from Icelandic to English. It surrounded the family history of Norseman Egil Skallagrimsson, the son of a skald (bard/storyteller) named Grim.

By junior year, I had written a short historical novel telling the story of an Irish girl taken to Norway as a slave in the 800s, and later in the year, directed a self-written play telling the Lay of Thrym, in which Thor gets his hammer stolen by a jotun named Thrym, who wants Freyja’s hand in marriage.

Senior year, I had it made—I was already in high regard by the instructor of the program. I was made student head of the class as well as the Head of the Presentation Committee. That class taught me the true meaning of leadership and gave me a taste of responsibility in a work-like environment. By this point, I had my hand/expertise in many different fields (writing, dramatic mythology, runes, to name a few). My perseverance made me a leader, and I am now remembered by the current students of that class since my graduation.

Q: What could you do to bring more joy into your life?

Many things. I don’t think I can name all of them.

Q: What are you most optimistic about?

My future. Yes, tomorrow is never a guarantee, they say, but I am open and accepting to whatever comes my way positive or negative. In the end, I’ll still be me. Lessons will be learned, and that’s a part of life. I am optimistic spiritually, mentally, physically, emotionally…I guess in every sense of the word. I have hope; where there’s hope, there’s freedom.