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!