October Announcements

I have five great announcements for October, including TWO giveaways! Check out Interactive Tarot on Facebook for future announcements that pop up here and there. 1) Gorham Art Fair I'll be at the Gorham Art Fair again this year! I had a BLAST last year and am so looking forward to it once more. It will be held at the Shaw Gymnasium in Gorham, ME (behind Baxter Memorial Library off of Ballpark Road at 75 South Street--it's a little tricky to find, but will be well-marked for the event) for two days: Friday, October 28, from 6-9 pm Saturday, October 29th, from 9 am-3 pm.  A 30-minute Basic Full Reading will be only $20--half-price! This is an ideal time to get a Tarot reading. As I noted my previous post about Samhain, the veil between the worlds is very thin this time of year, particularly around the 31st; divinatory powers are typically at their peak, and messages tend to be even clearer than usual. For more information about the event, check out the Gorham Art Fair Facebook page or the Gorham Art Fair site, or send questions to gorhamartfair@gmail.com. Come see tons of wonderful artists, have some great food, and hear some fantastic music! 2) Enlightenment Expo  I'm so excited to announce that I'll be participating in the Enlightenment Expo this year, hosted by the wonderful Dede Eaton of The Magick Closet!      Sunday, October 9th, from 10-5      Fireside Inn & Suites, 81 Riverside Street, Portland, ME Admission is $5 for access to TONS of amazing metaphysical practitioners, vendors, jewelry, guest speakers, and music! I'll be doing 20 minute readings for only $20. I would REALLY love to see some friendly faces! 3) Photo Giveaway Though I've been reading cards for 20 years, I "officially" started Interactive Tarot as it is now about a year ago. In celebration of over 100 fans on the Interactive Tarot Facebook page since then, almost 100 newsletter subscribers, over 1,000 Interactive Tarot Blog hits (since I put the counter up about four months ago), and several daily website visitors, I'm having a BIG giveaway! My dad is a lifelong photographer, and the prize is a photo he took of Portland Harbor (Portland, ME), shown below. While this isn't immediately Tarot-related, this represents where I live, and it's part of what has shaped my perspective and the way I read the cards. You can enter by clicking "Like" on the Facebook page giveaway posts dated October 1st and 3rd, or you can send me an e-mail at jennifer@interactivetarot.net with "Photo Giveaway" in the subject line. It's that simple. I'm proud of my dad and I love his photographs. This one is signed and in a hand-cut double-mat! Photo is 8"x10"; outside dimensions are 11"x14". Winner will be drawn on October 19th. 4) Evil Eye Bead Giveaway This is a newsletter-only giveaway! Just reply to the newsletter e-mail with "Evil Eye Bead Giveaway" in the subject line, and you're entered. To subscribe to the newsletter, click here, and you'll get the current issue within 24 hours. Once-monthly issues will follow, and you can unsubscribe at any time. Below is a photo of all the bead colors: green, yellow, blue, clear, red, and purple. If you win (and THREE of you will), you choose the color! They're lampworked glass with a sterling silver core. Great to wear on a leather cord, chain, or Pandora-style bracelet. The Evil Eye is an ancient symbol that, when used as a talisman, fends off negative or malevolent vibes. Who couldn't use a little extra help in that department? I'll draw three names at random on October 12th, the night of the next full moon. 5) Regular Monthly Engagement Thanks to my amazing and very dear friend Maria Castellano-Usery, I have a regular monthly gig that I'm THRILLED about! An incredibly talented artist, Maria participates in the First Friday Art Walk in Portland, Maine, and has so graciously offered me space to do readings for this event each month. It's the first Friday of every month (which you've probably gathered) at 647-A Congress Street from 5-8 p.m. The best part: a full half-hour reading of about 10 cards is only $20; as I mentioned above, that's half-price! Even if you don't feel it's time for a reading, please do stop by to say hello if you're in the area and soak up Maria's beautiful, happy, inspiring art. You can also check out her website in the meantime: www.brushstrokesbymaria.com. The atmosphere is fun and lively, and Maria always provides great food and drinks (her homemade guacamole alone is worth the trip!). Walk-ins are welcome, but if you'd like to guarantee a spot, just send a request to me at jennifer@interactivetarot.net or, better yet, via the Interactive Tarot Facebook page. If you're not yet a fan of the Facebook page yet, by the way, stop by!

An Abridged History of Samhain, aka Halloween

Who doesn’t feel the spooky vibe on and around Halloween? There’s plenty of history to give us all good reason for the goosebumps, that’s for sure. While the roots of Halloween (aka Samhain, pronounced SOW-in) and its traditions aren’t crystal clear, there are certainly prevailing notions with historical pedigree. Halloween and Samhain are essentially the same thing, though the term Samhain came before what we know more popularly as Halloween. Before we get to that fine distinction, first things first: let's go back about 2,000 years to the Celtic Pagans who started the whole thing.

 

The Celts lived and breathed the rhythm of the seasons and the land, which is hard for us to even conceptualize in our age of automation and an easily accessed, year-round food supply. The time of the harvest was critical to the Celts, and the harvest at Samhain was the final harvest of the year for them. This day also marks the Celtic or Pagan New Year and the start of winter, and as such, it is a time for endings and beginnings. Whatever harvest remained was left to rot, falling back to the earth where it would feed the soil and ultimately be reborn as a new harvest over the coming months. Because this symbolism was so crucial and all-encompassing for the Celts, whose very lives were tied to the weather and the turning of the year, this became the time when they would honor their dead. They determined that Samhain marked the time when the veil between the worlds of the living and the dead was at its thinnest. Even today, this transitional time of year is prime for ghosts and spirits, both angry and kind, to communicate with and walk among us.

“Samhain” means “end of summer.” The Celts would have harvest festivals on Samhain that, in part, celebrated the kindness that their sun god, Baal, showed them prior to the reaping. The Druids (Celtic priests) were a proactive bunch, so instead of simply waiting for the dead to stop on by, they would dress as scarily as possible—antlers and animal hides and the like--to ward off any evil spirits preemptively. (Sound familiar? Halloween costumes!) The Celts would also use bonfires to banish ghosts, and made offerings of plants and animals, which were added to these bonfires. When the fires burned themselves out, they Druids would interpret the charred remains (like reading tea leaves) to gain insight into the circumstances of the coming year. This perpetuated the strong ties between Samhain and  divination.

 

Just as the bonfires would scare off any looming ghoulies, so, too, would the head-shaped lanterns the Druids used for that very purpose. This was likely the forbearer of the jack-o’-lantern, though in Great Britain it probably originated as some other vegetable, like the turnip, since pumpkins weren’t local and didn’t catch on until Samhain reached America. Samhain certainly wasn’t all about banishing ghosts, however; welcoming and celebrating the spirits of the dead was just as important, if not more so. The Celts would leave out goodies for the well-loved spirits of dearly departed—think cookies for Santa at Christmas. This is likely how trick-or-treating originated: if the living relative didn't leave out any food, the jilted spirit might not take too kindly to that and wreak a little havoc.  

The Romans had similar festivals around the same time in honor of Pomona, their goddess of fruitful abundance (including the very seasonal apple orchards). It wasn’t until Christianity really picked up speed around 400 C.E. that the Celts and Romans felt pressure to put a lid on their festivals honoring the harvest and the dead. Christians were threatened by the stronghold of Pagan beliefs, particularly with regard to Samhain, so they moved All Hallows’ Day (now commonly called All Saints’ Day, a day of reflection and prayer for saints that both did and did not already have their own calendar event) from May to November 1st. November 2nd became All Souls' Day, a Christian day to honor the dead in their own traditions. October 31st, then, became All Hallows’ Eve, which morphed over time into Hallowe’en. Ditch the apostrophe, and here we land in 2011.

Halloween came to the States shortly after we were liberated from England in the late 18th century. Obviously it struck a chord: we’re still dressing up, lighting bonfires, carving jack-o’-lanterns, trick-or-treating, practicing various forms of divination, and scaring ourselves with ghost stories and other tales of the dead.

Four of Wands

I'm always happy to see the Four of Wands come up in a reading. Like every Tarot card, it can be read in any number of ways depending upon context, but its underlying good nature always shines through. It's a card of great success and celebration. Who couldn't use a little of that?

When this card falls, something wonderful has just been completed or has just been initiated. I often see it as a transition from something fairly rigid, mundane, and routine to a new phase of prosperity and innovation. The castle in the background is symbolic of what's being left behind, that old routine that stagnates a bit and doesn't really allow for a lot of freedom. The two figures on the card are leaving that environment to walk under the garland into a very bright, wide-open future. If you look closely, you can see a crowd gathered behind them; this is a celebration of their achievement. They're sharing it with the people they love.

Sometimes this card hints at a romantic relationship, and I've seen it as a harbinger of engagement, even marriage or solid long-term commitment. This could be a business relationship. It's prosperity and well-being; it's two people (sometimes more) coming together in a brilliant meeting of the minds that leads to something greater than either of them could have created alone. Numerologically, four is the number of stability, of a solid foundation. The suit of Wands connotes passion, fire, action, accomplishment, and energy. I don't read this card much differently when it falls in the reversed position. That's how powerfully it conveys the message of peace and prosperity. The Four of Wands is associated with the planet Venus in Aries--Venus is harmony, Aries is fire and energy. Put those together and you truly have something remarkable on your hands.

Mabon, or the Autumnal Equinox: September 23rd

Autumn is my favorite season, and because it really seems to awaken my senses, Mabon (the Autumnal Equinox) holds a special place in my heart. Eight celebrations comprise the Pagan Wheel of the Year; Mabon, coming up on September 23rd, is next in line. Mabon is a time to celebrate the harvest, as well as to pay attention to the balancing influences in our lives. As the days get shorter, begin to embrace the darkness and those aspects of yourself that are in shadow—in other words, the aspects of your personality that you tend to ignore, while deep down knowing that ignorance tends to feed the beast.

Apples are a symbol of Mabon, so go ahead and bake an apple pie…or just eat one! Really celebrate nature and the way your life and hers intertwine. Consider sharing your bounty: donate to a food pantry, or volunteer your time to benefit those who are less fortunate. When I think of Mabon, the Three of Cups comes to mind, with its theme of celebrating good fortune and sharing with friends and family. This is Pagan Thanksgiving, and traditional foods are those that you would find on a typical Thanksgiving table. Appreciate what you have and share it; find a way to incorporate your shadow nature in a beneficial, healthy way; try to get out to enjoy and appreciate nature and the changes she’s going through during this time of year. Each celebration on the Wheel of the Year is an opportunity for a renewed appreciation for what’s special about that season. Happy Mabon!

Chakra Spread

There are variations on the Chakra Spread, but traditionally this ends up being a vertical, seven-card spread that aligns with the chakra positions in the body. This is my own simple, conventional version. There are other chakra systems with varying numbers of energy points, but the most well-known in the West comes from Hindu and Buddhist traditions and points to seven areas of the body that house energy centers (to way oversimplify!). These vortices of energy branch out from various points of the spinal column.

This spread is read from the bottom up, from the root to the crown. You don't by any means have to be an expert on chakras to use this spread, but feel free to poke around on the web or check out my recommendations for further reading below for more depth and breadth on the topic. More info will enhance your results when you use this layout.

So, on to the spread! Before shuffling, decide whether you want to use the spread for an overview of current influences affecting your general well being, or if you'd like to know how the positions relate to a specific topic, like a relationship or your career. Mull your question over while you shuffle (in whatever way works best for you), then lay the cards out vertically, as follows:

    7: The Crown Chakra

    6: The Third Eye Chakra

    5: The Throat Chakra

    4: The Heart Chakra

    3: The Solar Plexus Chakra

    2: The Sacral Chakra

    1: The Root Chakra

Begin your reading with Position 1, and go up from there. Position definitions are as follows:

Position 1, The Root Chakra: The card that falls here will give you insight as to the foundation of what makes you "you." It indicates your general sense of motivation and ambition as well as how grounded you are. This position also governs the legs and feet and is associated with red, the color of action and strength. Look for an overview of your motivating forces here.

Position 2, The Sacral (or Spleen) Chakra: Your emotional state will show up in this card, along with commentary on your sexual energy. The sacral chakra is associated with sexuality, as well as your general gut urges, including the instinct to nurture. It's also associated with the color orange, the color of kindness and adaptability. This position will highlight the emotions that are currently ruling you.

Position 3, The Solar Plexus Chakra: This chakra is associated with the stomach and intestinal tract/digestion; think of this card as reflecting your level of ambition and willingness to charge ahead. Your ego is seated here as well, so look for indications of too much--or too little--pride. The solar plexus chakra is tied to the color yellow, which symbolizes confidence, happiness, and comfort level.

Position 4, The Heart Chakra: This is just what it sounds like. Your sense of love and compassion is here, and the card you turn will tell you whether that sense is healthy or if you need to do some healing. This position shows how you care for others, yes, but you'll also find here how you care for your SELF. Maybe you give and give and give and it's time to take some time for your own well-being, or perhaps it's the other way around. The heart chakra is associated with your heart, obviously, but also with your lungs. This chakra is green, relating to energy, growth, and giving.

Position 5, The Throat Chakra: How well do you communicate? How well--and how creatively--do you express yourself? Among other things, this card will tell you if you need to open up more. We often need to speak up and don't; you'll see in this card if that's the case for you and, if so, why. Blue, the color of the throat chakra, is symbolic of peace, harmony, understanding, and dedication. If your unconscious is trying to send you a message, you'll find it here.

Position 6, The Third Eye (or Brow) Chakra: Intuition and how you see things, externally and internally, reside here. The third eye chakra is associated with the eyes and brain, where our dreams, fantasies, and knowledge live. Look for this card to give you indications of how well you intuit and how imaginative you are, as well as how those things impact your outlook/perception of the world. Here, you'll find ways to manifest your dreams. Indigo is associated with the third eye chakra; indigo is symbolic of dignity, impulsive/compulsive behavior, and the ability to change.

Position 7, The Crown Chakra: The crown chakra is at the very top of the head and governs your nervous system. Sometimes it's actually considered to be sort of hovering above the head, which makes sense as this is your connection to the universe, or the Divine. I think of it as the place we most connect with the collective unconscious. Violet, the crown chakra color, indicates power and sentimentality. This card will offer commentary on your hopes and areas you can look to for inspiration.

Start the reading by taking stock of how the cards relate to one another. Are there pairs (or more) that go together naturally, and if so, how are those positions significant to you? Do you have a preponderance of one suit, certain numbers, or Major Arcana cards? How do you feel when you look at the reading as a whole? The Chakra Spread speaks to your physical, mental, and emotional well-being; the cards will consider all of these aspects when responding to your question. More so than in many other spreads, this one has the ability to eek out the emotional or psychological roots of some of your physical problems, so pay close attention to those connections in your reading. If any of the cards are particularly negative, there's a good chance that chakra is blocked or out of alignment. For insight as to how to release or correct that blockage, simply turn the next card in the deck and set it next to the card in question. Read it as an adjunct, as a way to bring that chakra into harmony with the rest. 

There is so much to say about this spread and the details it can offer in terms of bringing your well-being into balance. Here are some suggestions for further reading to get you the most from your chakra reading (each underlined title is linked to its Amazon page):

1) Layayoga: The Definitive Guide to the Chakras and Kundalini, Shyam Sundar Goswami (Inner Traditions, 1999; reprint of original 1980 publication). This is a little advanced, but I like it because it really goes to the East and doesn't dwell strictly on New Age/Western oversimplification of the chakras. This is truly an absorbing and comprehensive volume.

2) Buckland's Practical Color Magick by Raymond Buckland (Llewellyn Publications, 2010, 2nd edition; originally published in 1983). I find myself recommending this book often on most topics that relate to color. Buckland covers a lot of ground regarding the many, many uses of color in metaphysical applications. This is the book to get if you'd like an overview on magical color as opposed to general artistic color guidance.

3) Author Janet Boyer's self-published e-book, The Chakras, is available on Amazon. It's succinct and easy to understand, offering not only all the salient details you'll need, but sections on healing, unblocking the third eye, mantras, etc. as well. If you're relatively new to chakra study, this is a great place to start, and it's only $2.99.

First Friday Art Walk

Thanks to my amazing and fabulous friend Maria Castellano-Usery, I have a regular monthly gig that I'm THRILLED about! An incredibly talented artist, Maria participates in the First Friday Art Walk in Portland, Maine, and has so graciously offered me space to do readings for this event each month. It's the first Friday of every month (which you've probably gathered) and her gallery space is located at 647-A Congress Street (shares an entrance with Princess Nails). Doors are open from 5-8 p.m. The best part: a full 20-30 minute reading is only $20, HALF-OFF the regular price! Even if you don't feel it's time for a reading, please do stop by to say hello if you're in the area and soak up Maria's beautiful, happy, inspiring art or to talk a little Tarot. You can also check out Maria's website in the meantime: www.brushstrokesbymaria.com. The atmosphere is fun and lively, and Maria always provides great food and drinks (her homemade guacamole alone is worth the trip!).

Walk-ins are welcome, but if you'd like to guarantee a spot, just send a request to me at jennifer@interactivetarot.net or, better yet, via the Interactive Tarot Facebook page. Feel free to peruse my website at www.interactivetarot.net to get a better idea of my philosophy and what I have to offer. If you're not yet a fan of the Facebook page yet, by the way, stop by! I have frequent deck, book, and reading giveaways, and it's a truly friendly, open space where our little community shares Tarot and Tarot-related thoughts and news. I encourage questions, comments, and discussions on my page, and am committed to sharing information on metaphysical topics. I find so much joy in studying and discussing Tarot, even after doing so for 20 years; the more people I can share that with, the better!

Page of Cups

Pages represent discovery, curiosity, and a certain innocence. The suit of Cups represents love, relationships, intuition, and creativity. Put those things together and you have the heart (as it were) of the Page of Cups.

 

This is a strong image of the power of imagination. This Page is often the messenger of happy news, such as marriage or birth, and these words can be taken metaphorically--"birth" could be a great idea, for example, as opposed to the birth of a baby. Pages often represent youths, but this card could also point out gentle and artistic qualities in anyone. When you see this card, the beginning of a creative endeavor of some sort is being alluded to, perhaps even a new relationship.

 

The fish in the cup represents the unconscious, hence this card's link to intuition. Inspiration often sneaks up on us; when it does, the Page of Cups tells us not to deny or ignore it. Pay close attention to your dreams. Trust your gut and explore the creative possibilities that strike you!