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July 2003
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My thanks to each of you for continuing to be part of this process.
Mitakuye Oyasin - For All Of Our Relations.
Bonnie Cehovet, TM
Index:
Non-Tarot Deck/Book Review: The Fairy Ring
Non-Tarot Book/Deck Review: The Fairy Ring - An Oracle Of The Fairy Folk
author: Anna Franklin
suits: The Spring Court, The Summer Court, The Autumn Court, The
Winter Court
Anna Franklin and Paul Mason (co-creators of the Sacred Circle Tarot)
have done a wonderful job of creating a non-Tarot divinatory deck using
Celtic myth. Ms Franklin brings with her a background of thirty years as
a practicing Pagan (sixteen years as a High Priestess), and many years
of collecting and studying Celtic folklore. If you ever wanted to work
with leprechauns, elves and other fairy folk - here is your chance. A word
of warning - these are not all gossamer winged little fairies! Presented
here is a good representation of all of the energies of the "other world"
- helpful, mischievous and dangerous.
"The Fairy Ring" is presented somewhat in the format of the Tarot:
there are four suits, representing the four elements, and four court
cards to each suit. The pips in this deck, however, only go up to nine -
the transitional ten of the Tarot has been left off. There is no Major
Arcana, although similar energies are expressed in the eight Fairy
Festival cards (which represent the four fire festivals of the Celts and
the solstices and equinoxes of each year). They do form a journey
of sorts, but not the Fool's Journey of the Tarot.
Franklin starts out with a brief introduction into the Fairy world -
interesting and concise, a good basis for working with the cards. She
then talks about setting up a reading. She does not talk about framing
the question, but she does insist on the use of reversals. I think the
framing of the question should be addressed, as it is integral to the
reading - it is indeed the foundation for the reading. As for reversals -
I feel that is up to the reader, and should never be "insisted" upon.
These are my personal "quirks"!
The next section is one that I look for in every book on divination -
the presentation of spreads! I am always looking for new spreads to
work with, and I was quite impressed with what I saw here. I find
them important enough to list them here:
The Fairy Mound: This is a thirteen card spread used for looking into
issues/events from the past, how they effect the present and how best
to move into the future.
The Fairy Oracle: This is a seven card linear spread used to address a
single question.
The Fairy Gifts: This is a five card spread used to determine the skills
the Seeker will need to fulfill his/her destiny.
The Fairy Market: This is an eleven card spread useful for general
readings or single questions.
The Year Spread: This is a twelve card spread that shows the influences
coming in over the next year. Franklin suggests doing this at the
beginning of the year, but does not indicate if she is referring to
the calendar year, or to the Seeker's "new year", which begins at
their birthday. I vote for doing these types of readings starting with
the birthday for a "personal" year.
The Life Reading: This is a twelve card reading used for in-depth
analysis of the Seeker's life.
The Wildfolk Guides: This is a seven card reading that helps the
Seeker access supportive fairy energies.
The Fairy Oak: This is a ten card reading that looks at the cause of an
issue, and how the present circumstances came about.
The Fairy Ring: This is an eight card reading that gives a life overview,
and how to best proceed into the future.
Four of these spreads are presented on cards the same size as the
deck, with layout graphics and positional information. These are: The
Fairy Ring, The Fairy Oak, The Fairy Market and The Fairy Mound. I
find these very handy - and they can also be transferred to other
divinatory systems, such as Tarot or the Runes.
My monthly horoscope may be seen at: http://www.horoscope.thecrystalgate.com . I use
Tarot for mundane guidance and the Sacred Path cards by Jami Sams for spiritual guidance. I am always looking for feedback here. :)
Tarot Deck Review: I Tarocchi dell'Alba Doratta (Tarots Of The
Golden Dawn)
by Giacinto Gaudenzi
(Please note: This deck is not in any way connected to the Golden
Dawn group or the Golden Dawn Tarot by Robert Wang.)
This deck happened into my life in a very lovely way - as part of the
generous gift package that Llewellyn presented to those who attended
the 2003 Reader's Studio in New York City (sponsored by the Tarot
School (Ruth Ann and Wald Amberstone) and Llewellyn Publications).
It is a "majors only" presentation of this deck - there is a full 78 card
version.
The cards are approximately 3" by 5 3/4" - a little difficult for smaller
hands to handle. The card stock is good quality, but the cards are
not coated in any manner, so extra care would need to be taken when
using this deck. The reverse side of the cards is quite interesting - on
one end we see a "U" shaped vine, with a child-like figure with wings
swinging in the middle. On the other end - and the card must be flipped
end over end for the figures to be upright - we see a couple seated
under a leaf - a full basket of apples on her arm, and abundance of
fruit and vegetation surrounding them. There is a 1/4" white border
on the backs.
The face of the cards shows the same 1/4" white border. The number
and the name of the card are on the top, in black. The color used in
this deck is vibrant and intense. The deck is, at heart, an art deck.
Real figures are mixed with wings and fins to give the card a very
surrealistic look. Many of the cards show elf and fairy type figures -
with human-like faces.
There are several cards in this deck that draw my interest immediately.
L'Energia (Strength) is one of them - in this deck we see a winged
figure attempting to subdue a large frog. Il Fato (The Wheel Of Fortune)
shows a large female head at the top of the wheel. To her left is a male
figure hanging on to the wheel, to her right is what appears to be
another male figure being moved head down into the water. To the
bottom left of the card we see a male figure, submerged in the water
except for his head, hanging into the wheel for dear life!
I like this deck for its wonderful artwork, and its sense of joy. My only
problem was that the LWB that accompanied the deck was in Italian -
which I do not speak or read! Because of the nudity in the deck, I
would not use it for public reading purposes. However, I highly
recommend this deck for those who collect decks because of the
artwork, or for those who would use it for personal readings.
Tarot Happenings: Geraldine Amaral, Paul Hughs-Barlow, James Wells
Bio: Geraldine Amaral
Geraldine Amaral is the co-author of Tarot Celebrations: Honoring the Inner Voice and publisher of Celebrating the Tarot Journal. She recently created a Tarot instructional video, Tarot 1-2-3. She conducts a series of unique and creative tarot classes in the Washington DC area, utilizing Jungian and archetypal psychology. In her classes, she teaches people how to apply the
tarot's esoteric principles in pragmatic ways and as a tool for personal transformation. Because her book, journal, video and classes provide a unique blend of spirituality, psychology, philosophy, literature and personal empowerment methods, she is a well-respected
and popular writer and speaker. She resides in Arlington, VA with her two cats Sweet Baby and Minnie. You can contact her at tarotcelebrations@erols.comor visit her website at www.tarotcelebrations.com.
(Note: The following is reprinted with Geraldine's permission. The workshops are being given in theArlington, VA area.)
(Note: There will be no workshops for the months of
July and August.)
There is a wonderful symposium coming up July 18th
through the 20th in Toronto, Canada called '"The Toronto
Tarot Symposium". Program Director is the renown
Tarotist James Wells, Symposium Manager is Amy Lee-
Rosenberg. Presenters include Mary Greer, James Wells,
Norma Cowie, Bev Haskins, Paul Hughs-Barlow, Crystal
Sage, Amy Lee-Rosenberg, Tom Tadfor Little, Marcia
Masino and Rachel Pollack. There will be a merchants fair
and much more ... for more information, please go to:
.
Tarot Software Review: Orphalese Tarot
Creator: Richard Jefferies
Shareware - Version 4.3.1
System Requirements:
I want to state right at the beginning of this review that this is an end
user review - written by a non-techie. It will cover the actual use of the
software, not the technical background behind it. Let us begin!
The Orphalese Tarot is an absolutely wonderful system to work with! In
a way it is very simple, and in a way it is complex. The structure is set up
so that it is easy to understand and easy to navigate. It has a great deal
to offer Tarot students, Tarot readers, Tarot collectors, deck creators,
Tarotists working with creating new spreads - there are endless uses
for this software - and no one loses!
The creator, Richard Jeffries, is offering his work as Shareware, with
free unlimited usage. If one choses to register the software, the price
is quite inexpensive at $9.99. The differences between the registered
and unregistered software are: (1) that you can only use up to three
different decks under the "my decks" featured with the free version,
and that (2) you can access the internet forum, but are limited in
using all of the functions.
Tarot Book/Deck Review: The Shining Tribe Tarot: Awakening The
Universal Spirit
author: Rachel Pollack
suits: Trees (Wands), Rivers (Cups), Birds (Swords), Stones (Pentacles)
I count myself amongst the people that were blessed to be able to
attend The Reader's Studio 2003. I say blessed, because it was here that
I got to meet Rachel Pollack and see "The Shining Tribe Tarot" in person.
Rachel used this deck in her presentation on "The Forest Of Souls", her
latest book. I had seen this deck being discussed many times on on-line
Tarot lists, and it was on my "most wanted" list - but I didn't have it yet. A
after seeing it - I had to have it!
"The Shining Tribe Tarot" grew out of a previous deck done by Rachel
Pollack called "The Shining Woman Tarot". Part of the reason for the
revision was that "The Shining Woman Tarot" was perceived by some
as a feminist deck, which in itself is not a negative thing, but it was not
the author's intention. The deck was actually named for one card within
it - the Shining Woman, which was Rachel's representation of the major
arcana card The World.
There is much more than that to the revision of this deck. At its heart,
this is a "deck of many cultures", represented by Stone Age hieroglyphics,
Native American and African shamanism, Australian Aboriginal art and
the Kabbalah. As Rachel points out - these are amongst the earliest
forms of tribal art and divination. The artwork itself is primitive - and yes,
takes some getting used to if one depends on the graphics for
interpretation. The basic nature of the deck has not changed - while
the art is non-traditional, the meaning and structure of Tarot has
remained intact.
The gift that Rachel brings us is one of recognition - as readers, we are
accessing the cards through very old symbols, the symbols of the
ancient ones, our forefathers. As readers, we carry the same energy as
out forefathers - that of membership in the tribe of diviners.
Who am I?
Each month I am going to have one card from the Tarot talk to my readers. The card will in some way tell you something about itself and what it stands for.
I would like to have you the reader send in which card you think is speaking, and a short explanation of why you choose that card. In some instances, you may feel that more than one card is being represented.
In the following months newsletter, I will present all of my readers opinions, as well as a new card for that month.
In this manner, in real time, we can see the power (energy) behind the cards, and perhaps get a feel for how to use them in our lives.
Who am I? 06/01/03:
"If you choose to walk with me - expect to learn a lot about
yourself. Expect to learn about yourself in new and
innovative ways - ways which may well make you feel
uncomfortable. You may even find out that you are the one
holding yourself back. You may even find that the only way
that I can enter your life is when you invite me."
This little person was the Devil whispering in your ear! ;-)
Who am I? 7/01/03:
"Come and walk with me. Enjoy the sunlight and the breezes, the sense
of rightness about the world. When you are with me, your worlds are
in sync and your life flows freely."
Note: In next months newsletter I will publish who my
readers feel this description refers to. If you wish to
remain anonymous please let me know, and I will
honor that request. Give me the reasoning behind
your thought - I think we will see that there can be
more than one answer here. Perhaps this small
exercise can be used to open us all to new ways of
communicating with the Tarot. :)
Tarot Book Review: Women of the Golden Dawn: Rebels and Priestesses
by: Mary K. Greer
This is one of those books that sneaks up on you. Every so often on
one of my Tarot e-lists this book would be mentioned in passing. After
hearing about it several times, the thought began to stay with me that
this might be a book worth reading. The day finally came when the
book was in my mailbox. I was incredibly excited - it was here ... now
I was going to see for myself what everyone had been talking about!
The physical book itself has a commanding presence - 490 pages,
replete with charts, extensive footnotes, wonderful graphics and a
cover that one cannot takes ones eyes off of - a wonderful rendition
of "A Masque of the Four Seasons" by Walter Crane.
Women of the Golden Dawn tells the story of the men and women
that founded and nurtured the original Golden Dawn society (a
society of an occult nature, and the "parent" to the influential Rider/Waite
Tarot deck). The focus is on the women: Florence Farr, Maud Gonne,
Annie Horniman and Moina Bergson Mathers. This is their story - a
story of four women growing up within the strictures of Victorian
society - how they were able to live outside the bounds of convention,
how they were drawn into the world of high magick, and how t hey were
able to use that world to help them focus on accomplishing what they
did in the physical world.
The very strength that "makes" this book almost had me putting it
down before I ever really got into it. The first few pages (right up
until the storyline really begins) were so focused on timelines and
the psychological nature of the four women that I was sorely tempted
to leave the rest unread. I was not about to read close to 500 pages
on the psychological nature of anybody!
Fortunately for me, when I had just about had enough the story
began. It is written in a very interesting manner - using the connotations
of spring, summer, fall and winter as dividing periods in the all too
human lives of these women. What I "thought" was holding me back
in the beginning was actually the strength of this book - intense
research and the wish to present this "story" in a coherent manner.
Once I began the "story", I could not put it down! People that had
been names in a history book to me started to become "real people"!
They had personal family histories, marriages, divorces, children,
causes - all of the stuff that life is really all about. Behind all of this -
the driving force in their lives, was an intense interest in studying
(and most importantly, living) the principles of high magick that
became the Golden Dawn magickal system.
This book IS magick - we feel their joy, we feel their pain, we feel their
sorrow. We cheer them on, we encourage them to make "different"
decisions in their lives. For the duration of the time spent reading
this book, we live in a different world - their world. For many of us,
their world - and the body of work that they left behind, is actually
the basis for our world. I studied Rosicruciansim from the time I was
in my late teens. I studied astrology, Tarot, and the magickal arts. Like
these women - it was not an esoteric pastime - it became how I lived
my life. Complete with the corollary that I was always well aware that
the world that I walked in was not part of the conventional world.
Tarot Book/Deck Review: The Enchanted Tarot
author: Monty Farber
suits: Wands, Hearts (Cups), Swords, Pentacles
This deck came to me in a bit of an unusual manner. I have wanted it
for a long time, but never bought it. Then I had the chance to purchase
two decks, brand new, at a very reduced price from an internet friend -
and proceeded to do so. I will be ever grateful that my friend did not
resonate with this deck - because I certainly do!
Where to start - with the book or the deck? They are both top quality,
outstanding products. The book is hard cover, with full page, full color
illustrations of each card. I was amazed when I saw this - and did not
want to put the book down! The text is gently written by Monty Farber,
and addresses both of our worlds - that of Dreamtime and that of
waking time, and the Higher Self that each of us carries with us
through both of these worlds.
Monty goes on to talk about the methods that people have used to
access Dreamtime, while remaining in the waking state. He states
that the Tarot is a unique tool in that each of the 78 cards carry
messages to both our conscious and unconscious selves. Tarot
and the visual arts take us beyond cultural differences into
another world.
The interpretation of the cards for the Enchanted Tarot is done in a
manner that I have not seen elsewhere. The approach is threefold:
levels of consciousness terned "The Dream", "The Awakening" and
"The Enchantment". In The Dream, Monty presents a gentle fable
that shows us the allegorical meaning of the card (very similar to
the Inner Child cards).The Dream is such that each time you interpret
the meaning, deeper knowledge comes to you.
In The Awakening, the same information is brought into the conscious
realm through a straight forward discussion of the card (which would
be the interpretation section, in most books).
In The Enchantment, we see the connection between our waking world
and Dreamtime. The Enchantment is actually an exercise that will allow
you to put the energy of t he card to use in your life.
Tarot Book/Deck Review: A Renaissance Tarot
author: Brian Williams
suits: Staves, Cups, Swords, Coins
This is one of two decks that came to me in a very magickal way - one
of the members of a Tarot e-list that I am on had purchased them for
herself, only to find that she did not connect with them in any
significant manner. I was absolutely thrilled to take both decks off
her hands!
The journey that is the Renaissance Tarot spanned a period of ten
years - the results show the care, thought and nurturing that was
taken every step of the way. Brian Williams had a life long interest
in both classical and Renaissance art, which he has translated nicely
into the Renaissance Tarot. After spending a year in studies at the
University of Padua in Italy. Brian took the illustrations and theory
that would become the Renaissance Tarot and used them as the
basis for an independent thesis and project at the University of
California at Berkeley.
One of the themes that run through this book and deck is the place
that Tarot held in European culture. Brian's stated purpose with the
accompanying book is to provide a complete guide to the cards,
their meanings and their uses. He also goes into the historical
significance of each of the cards, which is not something that I have
seen done elsewhere. Each card, including the minors, has a bit of
myth in it that explains the archetypal qualities of the card, For
example, the Ten of Swords is the myth of Paris and Achilles, while
the Chariot is the myth of Aphrodite and Ares.
Throughout the accompanying book there are a wealth of black and
white illustrations from the Renaissance period. At one point we see
the game of Tarot being played (as taken from a mid-fifteenth century
fresco in the Sala dei Giochi in the Casa Borromeo in Milan. At another
point we see a manuscript illumination of Mars (the God) from the
fifteenth century. At yet another point we see an engraving of a Satyr
family by Durer from 1505. The list is endless - and fascinating.
With each of the majors we are treated to a wonderful description of
the card, quite an involved background into the archetypal myth, and
incredible illustrations, as well as divinatory and reversed meanings.
With the court cards and the minors we see a description of the card,
an abbreviated version of the myth behind it, as well as divinatory
and reversed meanings. Each section contains a black and white s
can of the card.
Tarot Tidbits:
Because this newsletter is Tarot specific, and because
I am going to try and keep it fairly short, I would like
to recommend a newsletter edited by another lady that
many of you know. LadyStar11 does a wonderful job of
writing and editing a monthly newsletter on Tarot,
Astrology and Numerology. Her topics will range much
further than this newsletter, and certainly stand as a
compliment to it. She may be reached at:
DancingWorld, launched in January 2001, brings a monthly offering of high-quality articles, reviews, guest essays, readers' letters, and resources of interest to the international Tarot, psychic, spiritual, and creative communities. The periodic "Inquiring Minds" feature solicits querent questions for a special reading by DW'seditor/writer Eva Yaa Asantewaa--sort of a Tarot-based Dear Abby column! DW's StarWeb networking section includes free listings of special events, workshops, services, products, and Web sites.Sign up now for your free subscription to DW at www.yahoogroups.com/group/DancingWorld(where you can also explore past issues in our archive of messages). Send inquiries to DancingWorld-owner@yahoogroups.com and books or other Tarot, psychic, spirituality, or creativity-related products for review to:
Eva Yaa Asantewaa, Radical Magick,
Tarot Reader: I do not usually run advertisements for
services in this newsletter. The following is an
exception, using my "editor's" perogative. :)
"Elizabeth has been working with Tarot for over 20 years
doing readings for herself, for acquaintances, and working
at psychic fairs. She is now conducting Tarot readings
by phone: $20-65, depending on length of reading. Leave
a message at 917-693-3735 or visit www.solaluna.org/
elizabeth.htm for more information.
Email: tarot@epalladino.mailshell.com"
Thank all of you who are joining me on this wonderful journey. Please contact me at: Crystalgate@aol.com with any comments, criticisms or suggestions for future articles.
No part of this newsletter may be reprinted without my express permission, in any venue, on line or off line.
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