This week’s show ended up being almost exclusively about tarot and oracle cards.  Mr. Roger asked me to go into some detail about the Daily Card posts I’ve been doing through Facebook and my tarot blog, and then he had many questions about the different types of decks out there, the differences between oracle and tarot decks, and about how one learns to read them.  It was an interesting show that covered a lot of the different kinds of questions that I often get through Facebook and email about the tarot and about psychic card reading.  If you’ve been following along with this week’s Goddess Oracle readings on Facebook you’ll find this one interesting because we talked about both the Sphinx card and today’s Sedna card.

How do I listen to After Hours Radio?
I’ve had some people say on Facebook that they still don’t know when or how to listen to the show but that they would like to find a way to listen.  Keep in mind that while the show is being recorded at the moment, it is broadcast live.  At this time I don’t have access to MP3s of the show to download and until those are made available through the AHR site (which isn’t my site, and it’s not my station) I can’t share those.  So you will have to listen live in the meantime.

To listen to the show you want to go to www.fatzilla.org at 6pm Pacific or 9pm Eastern Time in order to listen.  Once you’re there you’ll see a player on the upper right of the page.  It looks like this:

Click on the little triangle “play” button and the stream will start.  That’s it!  That’s all you have to do to listen to the shows playing on After Hours Radio.  The one thing that you do need to keep in mind is that unless you click the link below the player that says “Pop Out Player” you must stay on the page and not close your brower otherwise you’ll lose the show.

So please be sure to tune in and check out the show tonight and EVERY FRIDAY from 6pm-9pm Pacific or 9pm-12am Eastern.  And be sure to share your thoughts and comments or even suggestions for future shows here or on my Facebook page! I’d love to hear what you think!

The look on the face of the faery here is one of watching…he’s looking and he’s waiting to see if anyone is looking back.  And if they are looking back and someone catches him watching them he’s going to disappear behind that tree in pretty short order.  And is this not how we sometimes approach working with the spirit world or the Fair Folk?  We want to observe them and we want to connect but only from a distance at times and when we notice that they are taking notice of us we run for cover.

Looking through the book that comes with the deck, the thing that stuck me was this:

Seeing straight through illusions and speaking your truth needs to start now!  You have been “seen” by the faeries as one of the evolving human ones, and as such you are responsible to your own truth, not to any exterior source of authority. Refuse to be dictated to.

The reason that this got me was it made me think about how so many people in the magickal community, but certainly not all, try and hold on to their ability to “see” as though it’s only something for them.  They don’t want to share what they know or they don’t want to share how they know it.  It’s as though they’ll then be “seen”.

I think we’re coming into a time where we really need to start sharing more of what we see and what we know.  While some people would say that the world is coming to its “end times” or what have you, really what is happening is a change of an age and a change of perception.  The things that we know and the way that many of use see the world can be a huge help for people that may have a hard time with these changes.  For those who have magickal and psychic gifts already developed this can be a huge chance to help heal.

The big trick for many has been in the past, and will be in the future, dealing with the feeling of not being “normal”.  Being seen as a “weirdo” or a “freak”.  Many people who have the ability to see and connect with the spirit world, when sharing with those who have no experience with such things, feel that they are being judged.  And that may well be the case at times, but this shouldn’t be the reason to not share, teach, or heal those that seek it or need it.

So I guess the thing that the card was staying to me today was “Wake up, look around, see what there is to be seen but then don’t hoard that for yourself.  Share it with the world and let people know ‘we’re’ here.”

This is where you’ll find the weekly and monthly tarotscopes, links for reading specials, tarot reviews for decks and books, and tarot related posts.  I’m going to be starting a teaching series focused around Emily Carding’s Tarot of the Sidhe which will be starting this week.  And we’ll talk about tarot spreads, tarot ethics, tarot reading techniques and other such things. It’s going to be a fun place to talk about tarot, talk about psychic development, and a place for people to ask questions and learn about tarot on a deeper level.

So come by and check it out. I’ve added it to NetworkedBlogs so you’ll have the chance to follow it that way and you can also subscribe to the RSS feed for the blog.   Check it out and join me for some tarot fun!

Rowan’s Tarot Blog

Earth Magic is a deck of 48 cards that takes various elements and aspects of the physical earth and combines it with the spiritual and energetic aspects of many of these natural wonders to guide us toward some of the powerful messages and insights that the earth has to share with us.  The cards depict everything from moon phases and seasonal changes to the Milky Way, certain animals like the Eagle, and acts of nature like the Tsunami and Lightning.  The artwork was what originally drew me to this deck.  The cover of the box holds the image for the Spring Equinox card in the deck which has art by Helena Nelson-Reed.  I love this image and it definitely intrigued me to look into other images with the deck.  It didn’t take long for me to realize this deck was going to be one that would be diverse, dynamic, and truly beautiful.

Other images in deck that were particularly interesting to me were the images used for the following cards:

Ocean: a beautiful image of a sunset against large blue waves and white caps.
Dreamtime: A aboriginal shaman plays a didgeridoo and out from it comes the energy of dreams and journeys yet to be had.
Ceremony: A woman sits at the hearth, hands delicately placed over a crystal grid while candles and incense burn as she works powerful healing magick with her guides.

It’s hard to pick a favorite card in the deck but I can honestly say that the art chosen for these cards is some of the most befitting of the card meanings in any oracle deck that I have worked with in the last few years.  It’s also very dynamic in that it truly covers all sends of the spectrum.  There are cards that call upon the happier moments of life, like Childhood and Lotus Flower, and other cards to look at the more difficult trials we endure in life  such as the volatility in the Volcano and the wake up call that the Tsunami brings.  This is something that I personally find really important with oracle decks; some decks lack a balance but this deck really holds the true balance and power of nature, both it’s destruction and rebirth, and  helps us see the lessons these things around us.

The deck comes with an extensive 170 page guidebook that presents both the facts of the card, explaining the card in a “real world”, physical sense, which is then followed up by a metaphysical interpretation.  Many of these two different descriptions of the cards come together really nicely making the lesson of each card seem quite clear and applicable to most life situations.  The guidebook includes a few standard spreads and the usual recommendations for cleansing and using the cards.

As with all oracle card decks I highly recommend looking through the book but use your own guidance and intuition with them in reading and meditation situations.  This deck is one that I personally feels offers many great opportunities to really let go and connect intuitively to the cards.  The images, along with the title of the card, have a (mostly) single word reference that helps to open up the way for understanding.

The cards themselves are not heavy but not terribly thin; they will certainly hold up with repeated use.  They have a glossy finish but not so much so that they are difficult to handle or shuffle.  When initially coming out of the box they did need to be “cracked” as the edges were a bit stiff and the cards were sticking together a bit.  Once all the cards were individually pulled from the deck and separated from one another I never had any other issue with the cards themselves.

This is a deck that would make a great first oracle deck for someone just getting started or for someone looking for a nice deck to use in daily meditation.  It would make a great gift for anyone in your life that is part of any earth-based spiritual practice.

I would definitely rate this deck as 5 out of 5 stars.
Earth Magic Oracle Cards – Find it on Amazon.com!

—-Below is a sample reading I’ve done with this deck to give an example of using it—-

I’m using The Cross spread from the book for my question.

The question I’m asking is what guidance would help me right now to get past my feelings of being overwhelmed with my current work load and schedule.

Sorry, it's not the best picture...

Card 1: Represents the Issue
Autumnal Equinox – release

The issue at hand here, the thing that seems to be a core problem, is a need to cut back and let go of the things that just aren’t working and aren’t necessary anymore.  During the autumn season nature sheds the things that have died or are no longer needed in order to make room for new growth in the coming seasons.  I know that I’ve been holding on to some things that aren’t growing anymore and I’m sure that if I let those things go I’d feel less pressured.

Card 2: Subconscious influence you’re unaware of
Dragonfly – emergence

Interesting; here I feel that the issue of emergence, breaking free and moving on to the next phase in life is something that I’m resisting.  It’s knocking and pushing harder and harder, probably being one of the things that is causing this feeling of restlessness and being overwhelmed by adding to the pile rather than shedding things first.  It’s hard to break free when you keep burying yourself deeper.  I feel like this might be something that I’m resisting out of fear of the unknown so it’s easier to just avoid it.

Card 3: External influence you’re aware of
Eagle – communion

Another interesting card; Eagle is a guide that talks about communicating with Spirit but also can be a sign of flying to heights that we may sometimes think we can’t get to.  Here the communication from Eagle is one that says “look and see what you’ve done and follow me to where you can go”.  I have seen that recently in my life and I am making the steps to follow Eagle forward, the problem again comes back to having to let go and make room to do it.

Card 4: What is required for resolution
Fairies – earth magic

This card set me back a bit and I had to ask the card and the guides of the card for some insight.  The message seems to be a simple one; take pause and get out!  I admit that I have spent every day for months indoors, tied to a computer or other electronic device of one form or another, and somewhat divorced from the natural magick of the earth.  The fae are there calling for a reconnect to that natural stream of magick inherent in the earth and the world around us.  It will help to clear away the cobwebs and make things seem more clear making the process of release seem much easier.

Card 5: Resolution
Dawn – new beginnings

Nothing could make things more clear than this card as it ties everything together nicely.  This card is crystal clear; it’s time to say goodbye to the old and hello to the new.  Let go of the things that hold you back, let go of self-imposed constraints.  I am the queen creating and holding on to my own restrictions.  If I want to get past this issue of feeling overwhelmed I need to listen to the messages of Eagle and connection to the power of the Fairies  and let go of the things that aren’t helping me any longer.

So I have my answer there!  Pretty clear and I love this deck for these sorts of things.

The message of the Grumpy Red Fairy is that you have to be you, you have to be true to your heart.  So many people spend so much of their time focused on judging others, looking at their outer appearance and deciding who they are and what their worth is based on this.  She says “Check yourself!  Are you judging people based on the outer shell they carry?”  But she seems to stop for a second before even giving you a real chance to think and says “Better yet, are you pretending to be something you’re not because you don’t want to offend those who would judge you?  Are you too afraid of what someone might say to you that you pretend to be happy all the time, presenting yourself as someone else just so you can fit in?”

Take a moment today and sit with the Grumpy Red Fairy and see what she has to say to you and see what aspects of yourself she can show you need to be cleared away to make room for the true you to step forward.  Life is meant to be lived as your true, authentic self.  Life isn’t supposed to be a masquerade party where you go around pretending to be something your not for the comfort and benefit of others.

When I pulled this card today and started to listen to the Grumpy Red Fairy, one of the fairies in the deck that I really identify with, the song “Everyday Is Halloween” by Ministry came into my head.  I think this is a song that resonates with her a great deal and I think it’s one that gets across some of what she’s trying to say.  Below is the song and the lyrics for you to check out.  Enjoy!

well I live with snakes and lizards
and other things that go bump in the night
cos to me everyday is Halloween
I have given up hiding and started to fight
I have started to fight

well any time, any place, anywhere that I go
all the people seem to stop and stare
they say ‘why are you dressed like it’s Halloween?
you look so absurd, you look so obscene!’

o, why can’t I live a life for me?
why should I take the abuse that’s served?
why can’t they see they’re just like me
it’s the same, it’s the same in the whole wide world

well I let their teeny minds think
that they’re dealing with someone who is over the brink
and I dress this way just to keep them at bay
cos Halloween is everyday
it’s everyday

o, why can’t I live a life for me?
why should I take the abuse that’s served?
why can’t they see they’re just like me
it’s the same, it’s the same in the whole wide world

o, why can’t I live a life for me?
why should i take the abuse that’s served?
why can’t they see they’re just like me
I’m not the one that’s so absurd

why hide it?
why fight it?
hurt feelings
best to stop feeling hurt
from denials, reprisals
it’s the same it’s the same in the whole wide world

Death scares people because they misunderstand it; death isn’t an end but a beginning and there is much beauty to learn from death if we’re willing to listen and embrace it.  The Jack-O-Lantern may have a scary face but he isn’t here to be menacing but to be a helper, to light the way and guide you in the darker parts of your path.  And the Witch with her cauldron is here to share her magick and remind you that you have the power to create anything you wish if you’re willing to gather up and use your power.  As these three peer in the window of your life and you look out at them are you frightened by their appearance or are you enticed and intrigued?

The message with this card today is that something in your life that might not appear in a comfortable package has a big and important message for you, something empowering and useful in your life, but you may be quick to reject it because it frightens you or makes you feel a bit on edge.  You need to learn to look past the surface, look past the labels and the things that define us on the outside.  All the trappings of fashion and appearance only give a very surface hint of who we are, and even then they can be nothing more than a mask that we wear, much like the trick or treater’s in the card.  What’s behind your mask and what’s behind the mask of others is what counts.

Be sure to take time today to look behind the masks that others around you wear and see what it is that they have to offer you.

In the deck, The Witch at the End of the World is the last card and signifies the ultimate end before a cycle starts anew.  There is no denying that things are coming to an end around her when you look at the environment she’s in.  The grasses behind her are whipping around, the sky is stormy and you can almost see the clouds shifting and the rain pounding behind her.  She is here to let you know that when a change of this magnitude has begun there really is no way to stop it.  You can wish for it to end or you can try and make changes to your course of action to prevent it, but in truth nothing can stop it.  It’s better to hang on and ride the waves of what is coming than to work so hard, expending so much energy, just to try and work against the current.

The message in this card today is that, while you might be frightened of changes happening in your life right now, there is nothing to fear and all will be well when things finish their shift.  This is something that is necessary and your only job in this right now is to weather the storm, learning and observing the patterns and changes that are taking place, and letting things just flow around you.  When the shift ends you’ll feel the peace and calm that it ushers in and you’ll be ready to move on to a new phase of life.

Often this card suggests major changes that involve some big things in life; this card can point to divorce, changes in a legal battle, even major health transitions that could be life changing.  Whatever your major shift is, The Witch at the End of the World isn’t a harbinger of sorrow of misfortune but a guide.  She is there to show you that the storm is coming, change is unavoidable, and she works to keep you safe as you wait out the storm.   She says “All is well and things will only get better in the end.”

The Angel of Alchemy is a card of healing and a card that asks you to evaluate and take notice of your life.  You may be dealing with a health issue or someone close to you may be dealing with something that might require a healing miracle.  We can see these miracles happen and we can invite them into our lives if we’re willing to let it happen.  We need to let the Angel of Alchemy know we are ready and willing to make changes to bring in healing.  This angel may be leading you into a situation where you will find the right doctors or the right methods of dealing with your condition (or the condition of a loved one; if this is the case you may be coming into a position of being a guide toward this person’s healing process).

Like with everything else, the Angel of Alchemy has the power to work miracles and do wonderful things in your life but you have to be open to letting them happen and willing to working with her.  One thing that she asks you to do when she approaches you is “What do you have left to do before you die?”  You could almost say she’s the one that provides you with a blank sheet of paper that says “Bucket List” on top of it and says “Here, fill this out” and then she waits to see what you want to do.  Then she’s going to help you to try and fulfill those desires.  If you’re willing…

Take this as a sign that now is a time to start evaluating your health and your life.  What do you have left to do with your life?  If you knew you only had a month left to live, what would you do with that time?  If you knew that someone you cared for only had a month to live what would you do for them or with them?  Take this opportunity to work some miracles in your life and lives of those around you.

The Blessing
Blessings of the Day, Journey, Beginnings

The message with this faerie card is simple but important.  We should begin each day and each new journey with a blessing.  This means that we need to not only bless ourselves and all we do but also be open to receive blessings.  This is very much about give and take, the exchange of energy between people and things in a Universe that is ultimately connected.  Blessings and gratitude, if part of our daily lives and our every action will not only enhance our own lives but also the lives of those around us, even those people that we don’t know we are directly impacting.  Every day and every journey has a start and an end and by starting from a place of blessing we will find the journey and the day takes us through blessed experiences and brings us to a positive end.

For today, make sure that you do what you do with a conscious awareness of how you approach people and activities.  Do you give thanks for being able to get up in the morning and get out of bed?  Do you give thanks for being able to care for yourself and others in your life?  Even when you have the worst day ever, do you give thanks for being able to go to sleep and get up and do it again the next day?  We need to remember to treat ourselves and others with kindness and gratitude, even when things are difficult.  Be sure that today you keep yourself aware of how you treat others.  Do you bless them or do you curse them?  Do you enhance their day and their journey?  And are you open to receiving blessings from them?

Today’s Affirmation
“I bless each day and each journey with love and gratitude.”

Mother and Daughter
Mothering, Teaching, Sharing knowledge, Nurturing self-worth

When we talk about the mother/daughter relationship we sometimes forget about how nurturing this relationship can really be.  As our children get older we forget that they still need nurturing and sometimes mothers forget that they nurture their own self-worth by caring for their children.  But what if you don’t have children?  You still need to nurture yourself, especially your own inner child.  This is where the mother/daughter relationship within can come into place.

Whether it’s nurturing your own inner child or taking time to nurture your own children, take the time out today, and even throughout the week, to take time to spend with them in whatever way you can to share with them in some way that nurtures you both.  If it’s nurturing yourself, get out into nature and take some time to see the world from a child-like perspective and find a way to nurture that aspect of yourself that seeks joy and excitement in the simple things.  If working with your actual children, no matter what their age, find a way to teach them something about yourself, your family history, or the world that can give them a new piece of knowledge to carry into the world but that can also help you feel your own worth in the world and in their lives.  Find a way today to teach and share something of yourself with the world.

Today’s Affirmation
By sharing my knowledge and wisdom with those around me, I nurture my own self-worth.