Buy Local Monday: The Local Buzz

Aside from reading Tarot cards, as I’ve been doing for the past 20+ years, I also have my own consulting business. I'm on sabbatical from my consulting for the next year or so, but I still consider myself a proud southern Maine local businessperson, especially since this is where I do the majority of my Tarot readings! As such, I love supporting other local business, and will be highlighting one of these businesses each Monday in a little blog post called Buy Local Monday. Behold, the first installment!

First up is my very favorite place to sit and relax right in my hometown of Cape Elizabeth, Maine: The Local Buzz! It’s located right on the main drag in town at 333 Ocean House Road; phone is 207-541-9024. I’ve gotten to know Dawn, the fabulous general manager and one of the owners, pretty well over the last year or so, and she and her fantastic staff have always made me and every patron feel so welcome in there. A special thanks to Grace and Owen, too, for always brightening my day at the register when I come in!

Whether you’re in the mood for an unbelievable coffee beverage, locally grown tea, a fabulous panini (I’m partial to the Continential Panini, with prosciutto, gruyere, and fig jam...delicious!), wine, beer, or cocktails, there’s something for everyone. They serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and even have a kids' menu. It’s one of those rare places that is family-friendly but is also a fantastic place for single adults or couples. There’s a gorgeous bar (reminds me of the old-school, heavy-wood bars I used to go to in Chicago) and plenty of tables and oversized chairs. I so love it in there. It’s spacious and always full of local art that just adds to the cozy atmosphere.

Oh, and the live music! Check the Local Buzz website and Facebook page for a rundown of who is playing and when. There’s nothing else like it in town—it’s lively, fun, and the talent is from right in the area. They've even had belly dancing events at the Buzz, a Ladies' Night where other local businesses were there showing their wares, and so many other functions, many of which support local schools, organizations, and charities. There's always something so cool and interesting going on; you owe it to yourself to check out what's next, or just to stop in and take it easy with a delicious drink or a meal. I can't overstate what a great place the Buzz is and what proud, committed community supporters the owners are.

I read Tarot cards at the Buzz every Tuesday afternoon from 1-5, by the way, and it's the highlight of my week (to the right is an image of my table setup there, complete with my iced tea!). Readings are half-price (just $20) for a full, 10-card reading. It takes about 20 minutes, and walk-ins are welcome. I love spending time in there in the first place, but to have the opportunity to meet wonderful new people in that comfortable environment is truly a special thing. I can't thank Dawn enough for inviting me in each week. Please do stop by and visit the Buzz. I know you'll love it, and you'll be back!

The Local Buzz

333 Ocean House Road

Cape Elizabeth, ME  04107

207-541-9024

Monday: 6:30am to 5:00pm
Tuesday: 6:30am to 5:00pm

Wednesday and Thursday: 6:30am to 10:00pm

Friday and Saturday: 6:30am to 11:00pm

Sunday: 8:00am to 12:00pm

All images are from the Local Buzz Facebook page.

Weekly Reading Gig!

Yowza! I'm so excited to announce that I'll be doing readings at my favorite hangout, the Local Buzz, located at 327 Ocean House Road in Cape Elizabeth, Maine! I'll be there every Tuesday from 1-5 p.m. and will be offering full 10-card, 20-minute readings at the discounted rate of only $20! I'll soon be offering other options as well, but for now I chose the reading type that will cover any issue. It's first-come, first-served, or you can make an appointment with me via e-mail or on the Interactive Tarot Facebook page.

If you've never been to the Buzz, you must stop by and have a beverage (coffee, tea, wine, or liquor) or some of their delicious food. I'm a big fan of the Continental Panini, made up of prosciutto, gruyere, and a thin layer of fig jam, toasted perfectly on multi-grain bread. Nom nom nom! The owner and general manager, Dawn, is amazing, so please feel welcome to say hi to her if you stop by. Even if you're not up for a reading, come by on a Tuesday afternoon and visit with me! If I'm in not with a client, I'd love to chat over tea, or even give you a little tutorial on the cards if you've always wondered what they're like. I'm so looking forward to this, and I hope to see you there!

What's new with Interactive Tarot? Events and giveaways!

I’ve been taking a bit of a blogging hiatus, but I’m happy to be back! There’s a lot going on with Interactive Tarot, including a special pricing event, two giveaways, a reading event, and the newly revamped Interactive Tarot website. I hope some of you will take advantage of one (or more!) of these:

Now through June 30th

Special Pricing: Chakra Reading

This seven-card spread is typically $40, but from now until the end of June it's specially priced at $30! The PayPal button to order is right at the top of the Services page on the Interactive Tarot website. For details on what this spread entails, check out my blog post on the subject. It's a fantastic way to discover and overcome blockages that may exist in one or more of your chakras. This is also a great spread for self-discovery that can show you how to enhance your strengths and not just discern difficulties you might be having, but conquer and move past them.

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Now through May 18th

Tarot Deck Giveaway

Simply go to the Interactive Tarot Facebook page and "Like" the May 5th post where I announce the giveaway. It's that easy! I'll draw a name at random on Friday, May 18th, and announce it on Facebook, after which I'll contact the winner individually. The prize is the Universal Rider-Waite Tarot deck. This is a very accessible deck for a beginner, and great to have on hand for a reader of any level. Good luck!
 

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Now through May 18th

Evil Eye Beads Giveaway

Just as with the Tarot deck giveaway above, all you have to do is head on over to the Interactive Tarot Facebook page and "Like" the post where I announce this giveaway! The deck giveaway post went up on May 5th; this one is dated Monday, May 7th, and the random drawing will be Friday, May 18th. The Evil Eye is an ancient talisman that is said to ward of negative energy. The winner can choose the set of seven--yes, seven!--semi-transparent beads on the left side of the cord in the photo, or the seven beads on the right that are opaque and hand-painted. They'll look great on a leather cord, silver chain, or a Pandora-style bracelet, either as a group or one at a time. Just something fun and different!

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6/1/12
and the first Friday of each month to follow
First Friday Art Walk
647-A Congress Street
Portland, Maine
5-8 pm
June 1, 2012
and the First Friday of every month!

 Readings are half price - only $20 for 30 minutes!

My dear friend Maria Castellano-Usery has graciously offered me some of her gallery space for this monthly event. Come on by to see her wonderful art (or check out www.brushstrokesbymaria.com), grab some food and drink, and share some fantastic company. Walk-ins are welcome, or make an appointment with me in advance on the Interactive Tarot Facebook page or via e-mail!  

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That's all for events and giveaways...for now, at least! I need to catch up on all the content I plan on putting up here now that I'm back among the living. As always, if you have a request or an idea for a post, please don't hesitate to let me know in the comments section here, on the Facebook page, or via e-mail.

Chakra Tarot Reading: Special Pricing!

I'm offering special pricing on my Chakra Spread through the end of January! It's currently just $30 (normally $40). This is a seven-card spread that covers various aspects of what makes up the core of who you are. The reading also highlights any blockages that your chakras might be experiencing and offers suggestions on how to correct these blockages. It's very helpful to stop and examine what motivates us at our deepest levels, and this reading does just that.

For details on the spread and the territory it covers, check out the blog post here wherein I discuss this reading and its positions. To order, just visit the Services page of the Interactive Tarot website; the PayPal button for the special pricing is right at the top of that page. E-mail readings typically take four to five days to complete as they include a very detailed write-up as well as images of your spread and of each individual card. I welcome any questions you might have on this reading or on anything Tarot-related (as always)! Please feel free to contact me on the Interactive Tarot Facebook page or at jennifer@interactivetarot.net.

Radiant Rider-Waite Deck Giveaway

Just a quick announcement! I'm giving away two Radiant Rider-Waite Tarot decks over on my Interactive Tarot Facebook page. All you have to do is "Like" the January 17th post with the giveaway announcement. Easy as pie! I'll draw two names at random (two winners are better than one!) on January 27th and will post the winners on the Facebook page. I have Tarot-related giveaways on the Interactive Tarot page at least once a month, from decks to books to readings to jewelry. Wouldn't winning a new Tarot deck be a great way to start the new year? Bonus: part of the prize is that you can ask me any questions you like via e-mail as you learn the cards or continue your journey with them. I love sharing and discussing all things Tarot, so selfishly speaking this part of the prize will be fun for me. So, head on over and click "Like"...and good luck!

Blogging with the Tarot Pals

I’m so happy to announce that I was invited to be a contributing blogger on the new Tarot Pals blog! I’m thrilled at the opportunity to share blogging duties with six wonderful Tarotists. I was asked to contribute by Tarot author Janet Boyer, who is also a top reviewer on Amazon, has written on many other subjects, hosts radio shows, does social media marketing work, has co-created the soon-to-be-released Snowland Tarot, and on and on. To get the full picture, you can check out her website at JanetBoyer.com and find her work on her author page at Amazon. I’m a big fan, and in particular I love her deck and book reviews on her website. Other members in the Tarot Pals group are Gina Pace (creator of the fantastic Pagan Tarot); John Marani; Michael Banuelos; J.R. Rivera, and Wilma Carroll, all exceptional readers and active members of the Tarot community.

I just put up my first Tarot Pals blog post earlier today, in fact! As we enter a new calendar year, we tend to assess our lives, and this always includes special consideration for finances. My Finance Spread for the New Year post offers up a small, succinct spread utilizing five cards that focuses on key aspects of financial assessment. I hope you try it out and find it helpful!

I will still be blogging here regularly, and of course I'll still be plenty active on the Interactive Tarot Facebook page and running my Interactive Tarot website. If you follow my blog, you already know that I've been reading Tarot cards for over 20 years and absolutely love sharing and discussing Tarot and Tarot-related info and ideas. I plan to do even more in 2012, and I hope you'll be part of this journey. If you ever have questions or comments on anything relating to Tarot, please feel free to post on my Facebook page or send me an e-mail at jennifer@interactivetarot.net. I really am so happy to discuss this passion of mine. I hope that you find your passion this year, or that an old one is reignited--it's never too late!

Winter Solstice, or Yule

A friend of mine just asked me if I had some suggestions for/info about the Winter Solstice, also called Yule...and as it happens, I do! There is much to say about this wonderful time of year, but I thought I'd share just a few tidbits here

The Winter Solstice is on December 22nd this year, falling on the first day of Capricorn (it falls between the 20th-23rd each year). The Wheel of the Year continues to turn, and Yule marks the rebirth of the Sun God, who slowly makes his way back up from the Underworld. Although we’re still steeped in darkness, the world is already turning toward longer days and more sun. Dark is relinquishing to light.

Think “renewal” and "introspection." It’s a time to refresh and take on new challenges. If there’s something you’ve always loved to do but have not spent much time on it lately, make a concerted effort to bring it back into your life. If there’s something you’ve always wanted to try but never have, now is the time to do some research and get started.

A Yule Log is traditionally harvested from one's personal property or given/received as a gift (even a thick twig from the lawn or sidewalk will do if a log-sized piece of wood is unavailable). Lighting three or more candles around the Yule Log is just as acceptable if you can’t go setting things on fire where you live. All white candles, or a combination of red, green, and white are good choices. The Yule Log and/or candles are meant to symbolize the return of the Sun.

Some symbols of the Winter Solstice: Yule Log; candles; wreaths; poinsettias; apple cider; mistletoe; clove-studded fruit. Herbs associated with Yule: thistle; frankincense; laurel (throwing some bay leaves into a meal is an easy way to incorporate this one); holly; oak; pine; bayberry. Some traditional foods: fruits; nuts, pork; turkey; anything with caraway; ginger tea. 

Any ritual activities that are meant to improve peace, harmony, balance, and love in your life are perfect for this time of year, and visualizing yourself achieving these things whilst meditating on the burning Yule Log or candles is a perfectly simple and effective ritual. The very best thing to incorporate into Yule is the company of loved ones, so be sure to reach out and give plenty of hugs!