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!

The Moon Card

The Moon is all about illusion, mystery, dreams, intuition, and a little bit of danger. There is a spooky element here, so I thought it would be appropriate to discuss this around Halloween!

 

When The Moon falls in a reading, pay attention to what you might be avoiding. Sometimes it's an obvious thing that you simply don't want to confront, but if you continue in that vein, what was an inconvenient issue could blossom into a very big problem. You're probably ignoring something that you need to deal with.

 

The crayfish represents the deepest subconscious. When the tide is high, we don't see what's beneath the surface of the water, so we don't give it much thought. When the tide goes out, we have a glimpse at what lurks on the ocean floor. It is not to be ignored--it's as much a part of our world and our evolution as things we see clearly every day.

 

The moon is the symbol of madness (lunacy) and femininity, of our most basic animal urges. Think about the concept of the werewolf--it's mirrored here in the dog and the wolf in the foreground (the former is domesticated, the latter is wild). The moon's light is reflected, not direct, hence all the illusion. It brings our secret side to the surface: suppressed feelings, clandestine motives. You must acknowledge these things or they'll find a way to take over.

 

Purge those deep memories. Look beyond the illusion. Pay attention to your dreams and your subconscious instincts. Once you bring what's in the darkness into the light, you can move forward in a less altered state. Use your imagination, but don't confuse fantasy with reality. This is a very psychic card and, at times, shows that you have an uncanny and very deep attraction to another person...or vice-versa. To wade through the message of The Moon, trust your instincts and be completely honest with yourself.

 

For some more clues to the meaning of The Moon card, compare the version from the Rider-Waite deck above to The Moon from the Halloween Tarot to the right. (I admit I'm partial to this particular version with the French bulldog representing domestication in opposition to the werewolf. Cute!) Note all the arrows lending to the confusing, illusory aspects of the card. The crayfish makes an unexpected appearance, and the castle in the distance signifies finding your way through the chaos to a place of stability. Comparing the same card from different decks is a great way to expand your insight. Look closer--you might find more!

Apple Lore

With autumn hitting its stride (and Samhain coming right up), there's no better time to explore the fantastic folklore surrounding the good old apple. Apple lore could fill a book, so these are just a few tidbits.

 

Apples are a big part of Samhain in many ways, including their place in the traditional "mute supper" (see my October 7th blog post on Samhain traditions and lore for details). If you happen to be looking for love this time of year, there’s a very old-school Samhain apple tradition just for you. Peel an apple in front of a mirror on October 31st, and make sure to keep the peel long. Throw the peel over your left shoulder while still looking in the mirror. When you turn to examine the peel, look closely—lore has it that you’ll see the first initial of the name of your true love in its shape.

 

When you cut an apple open, you’ll see a five-pointed star, or pentagram. Four of the points on the pentagram represent the four elements—earth, air, water, and fire—and the fifth represents Akasha, or the human spirit. The pentagram is a very powerful symbol in both ancient and modern magic (and in Christian tradition, where it symbolizes the five wounds sustained by Christ), and its appearance in the apple has given the fruit elevated status in its use in magic, spells, and potions. Apples are said to be highly protective when used in any form: consumed, rubbed on the skin, worn dehydrated in a Juju bag on the person, etc. The apple’s traditional link to good health is well-known.

 

In Judeo-Christian tradition, the apple is assumed to be the fruit of the tree of forbidden knowledge, though this fruit was probably initially a fig. When this story spread to Western Europe, the fig was replaced with their own local sacred fruit, the apple. In Norse folklore, the apple tree was the tree of immortality. The goddess Idunn was the Keeper of Apples, and she fed them to other gods and goddesses to keep them forever young. Apples were representative of wisdom and love to the Norse as well.

 

One of my favorite legends is tied to Avalon, the eternally beautiful island of the dead and land of faeries where King Arthur was taken after he was fatally wounded in the Battle of Camlann. “Avalon” comes from the Welsh word for apple, “afal” (pronounced “aval”); Avalon is also known as Avallach, the Isle of Apples. Arthur is taken there by Morgan le Fay and her two sisters to be healed and live life eternal. This is yet another example of the apple’s link to longevity, immortality, health, and rebirth.

 

Even the Evil Queen’s "gift" of a poison apple to Snow White has its roots in old beliefs: the Medieval church believed that apples could be purposefully enchanted, then given to unsuspecting victims to cause them to become demonically possessed. Then there’s bobbing for apples, also called Snap Apple in Scotland (where Halloween is also called Snap Apple Night). Tradition dictates that the first to bite into an apple while bobbing would be the first among the participants to marry. This is just another one of many forms of divination practiced around Samhain.

 

Apples are everywhere this time of year. When you bite into a fresh, crisp Granny Smith, or have an apple pie, apple cobbler, apple cider, etc., give a little extra thought to the long and remarkable history of this little wonder fruit!

The Halloween Tarot

There are so many Tarot decks out there that I can't even keep track anymore, and that's a pretty cool thing. No matter what you're interested in--cats, dragons, Arthurian legend, photo collage, specific artists (Hieronymus Bosch, Salvador Dali, etc.), Celtic traditions, vampires, crystals, and on and on--there's a deck in that theme. I happen to be nuts about Halloween, and when I first saw the Halloween Tarot by Kipling West (U.S. Games Systems, 2003; this link is for the deck and book set) a few years ago in a metaphysical book shop, I thoroughly enjoyed it. It wasn't until I finally purchased it just a few months ago, however, that I really fell in love with its numerous charms. I initially thought that this might be kind of a fluffy deck; the colors are bright, striking, and whimsical, and the images are not "dark." Even traditionally unnerving cards like The Tower, Death, and The Devil have a lighthearted bent in the Halloween Tarot. A curious black cat appears in every single card of both the Major and Minor Arcana, and we follow its journey like we would follow The Fool through his. When I finally did a reading with the Halloween Tarot, any illusions I had about it being fluffy were dispelled. These cards were crisp and clear in their message, and, most importantly, I had a lot of fun reading them. I re-discovered Halloween! Traditional Tarot suits are Wands (fire), Cups (water), Swords (air), and Pentacles (earth). The Halloween Tarot makes excellent use of these elemental correlations and gives us Imps (in place of Wands/fire), Ghosts (Cups/water), Bats (Swords/air), and Pumpkins (Pentacles/earth). Court Cards follow the typical Rider-Waite structure of Pages, Knights, Queens, and Kings. Since a picture is worth a thousand words, I'm including several images from the deck below (some of the Major Arcana; a Court Card from each suit, and a Minor Arcana card from each suit) along with brief comments: I love this Death card. The growth/change/rebirth theme is wonderful here. In Temperance, the artist and alchemist themes are apparent as the witch happily mixes her concoctions. There's a lot going on in these cards. Frankenstein is the steadfast Emperor! The Bride of Frankenstein as The Empress is a fantastic symbol of the creation of new life, and she expresses her nurturing side with her cat. The solitary Hermit is shown as a mad scientist, keeping to himself and spending his time gleaning knowledge. In The Tower card, the traditionally terrifying image is made more whimsical in the spirit of Halloween. Strength makes clear the impact of finesse over brute strength. The image on the right is the fully reversible backside of all the cards. I prefer my card backs to be reversible so that I don't know in advance if the card will fall right side up or reversed. Examples of the suits of Imps and Bats. Happiness and celebration are clear in the Four of Imps, and the woman in the Eight of Bats is wrapped up in toilet paper by mischief-making bats as if in the midst of a Halloween prank. She can easily escape, but chooses not to. Examples of the suits of Pumpkins and Ghosts. The woman in the Nine of Pumpkins is content and successful as she tends her garden. The three Ghosts celebrate, intertwined, over a starlit pumpkin patch. One each of the four Pages and Knights. One each of the four Queens and Kings. If you get a chance to read with this deck, definitely give it a go. As I said, I was surprised at and so pleased with the results (shame on my preconceived notions!). When I was a kid, Halloween was fun and spooky, and a time I looked forward to all year; as a grown-up, I find that I'm reminded of those feelings when I pull out this deck. I consider it a gift.

Some Samhain and Halloween Traditions and Lore

With October 31st looming, I thought I'd share a few random tidbits on its traditions. I'll use Halloween and Samhain interchangeably here; for details on where these names come from, have a look at my October 3rd blog post covering the history of Samhain/Halloween. Now go ahead and impress your friends with some lore:

• It's been said that the traditional orange and black associated with Halloween come from the colors of bonfire flames against the black sky.

• Some herbs associated with Samhain: mugwort, as a divination aid (used in incense, a sachet, or a bundle during Tarot reading, scrying, pendulum work, seances, tea leaf reading, crystal balls, and so on); mullein seeds, for abundance; rosemary, to honor the dead (very strongly linked to Halloween).

• This is a popular time of year for petition magic. Do it right on Halloween if you can. Write what you desire on a small piece of paper. Light a candle, preferably black, though orange, white, silver or gold work well this time of year, too. Concentrate on what you want or need, and burn the paper. This practice stems from the old Celtic Needfire, which is just what it sounds like: a bonfire is created during a time of need (common for Celts at the New Year), and an effigy representing that need is burned.

• Stones associated with Halloween: obsidian; clear quartz; amber; ruby; diamonds; carnelian.

• A "mute supper" is an old Samhain tradition to honor the dead. This supper is eaten in silence, by candlelight, typically on a table with a black cloth. Chairs are left empty for the deceased, or simply one chair, and a black candle is lit and placed at each vacant setting. A silent opening prayer is performed. Why all the silence? It was thought that the spirits were more likely to come in the quiet. Guests should come with a hand-written note for their ancestor(s) or other departed, which is placed under that spirit's plate prior to dining. After the meal is the silent closing prayer, and the guests leave the room quietly, returning shortly to discuss their impressions. At this point, it's tradition for each guest to participate in some form of divination, either in pairs or as a group.

• Traditional Samhain foods, often part of the mute supper, are: meat of any kind with rosemary seasoning; all sorts of nuts; anything that includes pumpkin, turnip, squash, or apples; potatoes; roasted seeds of pumpkin, turnip, and sunflower.

• Samhain saying in reference to the Wheel of the Year: "The Wheel turns, the veil thins."
• Legend goes that if you hear footsteps behind you on Halloween, don't turn around...it could be a spirit following you around!

 
 
 
 

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!

Treasure Chest Spread

Most people think the Tarot exists solely in order to answer questions. While that is certainly one of its primary roles, it also has so many other uses. The card images can give you inspiration, strength, focus, and motivation; they can be used to explore how you feel about an issue; they're great for meditation; they can be used to study esoteric systems, like Qabalah, or for other systems like numerology, astrology, and even Jungian psychology; they can show you that life has a multitude of facets, and while we would prefer good stuff to bad, it's all part and parcel of what we have to face while we're on this mortal coil. The cards can help us handle the not-so-fun stuff and truly appreciate the great stuff, shedding light on the subtle, beautiful, little things that we often take for granted.

The Treasure Chest Spread an excellent example of what we can glean from a spread outside of a typical question. It comes from the wonderful book Power Tarot: More Than 100 Spreads That Give Specific Answers to Your Most Important Questions by Trish MacGregor and Phyllis Vega (Fireside Publishing, 1998). As Tarot author Janet Boyer writes in her Amazon review of Power Tarot: "I love the Treasure Chest Spread because of its imagery and because it's so affirming to the individual." I completely agree, and Power Tarot happens to be my favorite compilation of spreads in book form. Without further ado:

Treasure Chest Spread

1         2         3

4         5         6

7         8         9

1)   Diamonds:  Where you shine.  Major talents, abilities, and assets that you have.

2)   Pearls:  What you know.  Knowledge and information that you have incorporated into your life.

3)   Gold coins:  What you have.  Money and material possessions currently available to you.

4)   Emeralds:  Who you know.  Relationships that are now part of your life.

5)   Platinum chains:  What’s holding you back.  Things or people in your life that you need to release.

6)   Sapphires:  Where you could shine.  Emerging talents, assets, and abilities.

7)   Quartz crystals:  What you’re learning.  Knowledge and information that you could incorporate into your life.

8)   Rubies:  Who you may soon know.  Relationships that are entering your life.

9)   Unpolished diamonds:  Your hidden lights.  Assets and talents that you can develop.

Whenever I look at this spread, I'm reminded of what a gem it is (no pun intended). It's clever, creative, and offers insight into aspects of ourselves and our world without the necessity of beginning with a specific query. I hope you try it and like it!

More Lore: Amber!

Though often thought of--and called--a gem or a stone, amber is technically fossilized pine tree resin. These days, it's most commonly found in the Baltic region.

Amber was used in worship and rituals during the Stone Age, as evidenced by artifacts found in parts of Europe. It was also very highly valued in most ancient civilizations; Homer mentioned a gift of amber jewelry in the Odyssey, and Emperor Nero was a notable connoisseur. It was commonly used in high-end rosary beads in the Middle Ages because of its glassy-smooth surface.

As this resin hardened during its formative stages, insects were often trapped inside. Most of these insects are 25-50 million years old (too young for housing dinosaur DNA, for those of you thinking along the lines of Jurassic Park; older amber exists but is uncommon).

Amber is closely tied to the sun (the Greeks called it “elektron,” or “sun-made"), possibly because of the Greek myth of Phaethon, son of Helios, the sun god. In the myth, Phaethon convinced Helios to allow him to control the chariot that pulls the sun around the earth for a single day. Phaethon accidentally drove dangerously close to the planet, damaging the surface with the sun's heat, and Zeus was forced to strike him dead. Phaethon's sister and mother grieved fiercely, and their tears, dried by the sun, turned to amber. Amber also holds an electrical charge and can attract small particles, perhaps another reason for its ‘elektron’ moniker.

With its ancient heritage and prominent role in myth and worship, and its value in the earliest economies, amber has been used for just about every magical purpose. It's considered invigorating and enlivening due in part to its containment of life in the form of ancient insects, plus it has the quality of massive solar energy. If your vigor is sapped, wear or carry amber with you. It is said to enhance/magnify the energy you put into any project as well, and should you desire anything, amber acts as an agent to help draw that thing to you. It's readily available as jewelry and as a loose stone, and whether worn or carried, lore says it protects the bearer from ill health. Amber incense is available as well, though it's very rare to find actual amber incense--this is mostly used for spells by purists--"amber" incense generally refers to a blend of scents, including vanilla, and doesn't include real amber.

Its purposes and uses are countless, and I've only scratched the surface here. It's a beautiful gem, and while it's not inexpensive, it's pretty easy to find. If you've never handled amber, I highly recommend viewing it up close and personal to get a feel for this lovely bit of history!

A Little Lavender Lore

Years ago, around 1990 or so, I visited France. While there, I saw some gorgeous lavender fields in the southern part of the country. The stunning violet and green shades inspired the colors I chose for Interactive Tarot (apparent here and on my website), in fact! The images and the fragrance have stayed with me and continue to influence me after all this time.

Lavender is wrapped up in a lot of lore. It is primarily associated with love, protection, sleep, purification, happiness, and tranquility. As with many flowers and herbs, it's not just the physicality of the flower, but the scent. In aromatherapy, it's conducive to deep relaxation and the fragrance is said to aid in a restful sleep. Wearing the scent of lavender is said to attract love and protect the wearer from harm.

According to lore, even the very sight of the lavender flower promotes long life. Sprinkle some around your house (potpourri is a good option) to promote a peaceful atmosphere. Burn lavender incense to ward off worry and depression. Lavender is easy to obtain and almost universally appreciated as a fragrance. It's simple to introduce this wonderful flower into your life and home!