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May 2004
Welcome to Gateway To Tarot.
This newsletter is sent out to subscribers only. If you have received this in error, please send a blank e-mail to: Gateway To Tarot with "unsubscribe" in the subject line. If you were forwarded this newsletter, and would like to subscribe, please send a blank e-mail to: Gateway To Tarot with "subscribe" in the subject line. As of January, 2003, the newsletter will be archived on my site, www.TheCrystalGate.com.
I want to thank all of you for bearing with me the past few months.
My thanks to each of you for continuing to be part of this process.
Mitakuye Oyasin - For All Of Our Relations.
Bonnie Cehovet, TM
Editorial: Tarot Ramblings
Editorial: Tarot Ramblings Finally, nice weather and a chance to get out and about! Of course, there is the small problem of spring allergies, but they will pass. May summer be a time in which all of our creative endeavors find fertile homes. Gigi Miner's latest card for her Ethyrial Tarot, the 5 of Wands, can be seen here: http://www.geocities.com/ladyfogg/mytarot.html. This is a beautiful deck in progress - time well spent in viewing it. :) The latest card for Joanna Powel's Gaian Tarot, The Teacher (The Hierophant) may be seen here: www.gaiantarot.com/majors/hierophant.html. What a vibrant deck this is! Amy Zerner and Monty Farber have a new feature activated on their gorgeous site, www.theenchantedworld.com - TheEnchantedAstrologer, an online astrological divination tool. Be sure to visit their site and check this one out! Amy will be exhibiting her Spiritual Couture at the Gayle Willson Gallery the 29th of May. Call 631-283-7990 for more details. Look for TheEnchantedAlchemist, an online tool of alchemy, to be activated soon!
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. :)
Guest Article: A Spiritual Journey, By Gigi Miner As a Tarot Consultant, I use the Tarot for many things in my life. They, naturally, come to mind when I am pondering ideas and concepts. So it is only natural that they come to mind in the idea of a "spiritual journey". Each life we come into this world to learn something, to perfect something about ourselves. Some lessons may take several lifetimes, others may be accomplished in one lifetime and spiritual growth can be taken in leaps and bounds. There is no "right" or "wrong" way to pursue spiritual growth. I would tend to believe that each individual has their own path to walk and their own ways of learning things. What works for one may not work for another. But along the way we may meet people of similar spirits who can act as sign-posts, pointing the way for us and helping us figure out what we need to learn and how we might get there. Each card of the Major Arcana represents certain qualities. We could say that each card is the "embodiment" of a quality we might try to attain in any given lifetime. For the sake of discussion, let us start with the Fool and work our way through the Majors.
On-line Divination sites: In cruising the internet this past month I have found several on-line divination sites - both Tarot and non-Tarot, that are both fun and worth spending time with. Some of these sites are for specific Tarot decks - and I have to say the the art is stupendous! It makes me feel glad to be alive, and more than happy to be part of the Tarot world. I hope that you enjoy these as much as I am: *www.transformation.co.ca/oraclehome.htm * www.pixelations.com/ogham/index.2.html The Voice Of The Woods - A Celtic Ogham Divination System * www.thefool.com The Victoria Regina Tarot * www.theenchantedworld.com Interactive site for Amy Zerner & Monty Farber (Enchanted Tarot) * The Voyager Tarot (James Wanless)
by Bonnie Cehovet, TM What wonderful memories of May Day I have - of putting together small May baskets, then placing them on our neighbors doorsteps, ringing the bell and running away to hide! As a child, I had no clue what the holiday was all about - but it was an occasion for celebration, and that was enough for me. These are the kinds of memories that can sustain us during th bad times - that assure us that there really is a kinder, gentler world out there. The true origins of May Day (May 1st) go back to Pagan times. The Maypole was a living tree that was taken for use in community ceremonies - dancing around the Maypole with bright colored streamers. It was a way of marking the beginning of summer, and the transition between spring and summer. It was celebrated with exuberance - especially in the sexual activities of the community! (It was, after all, a fertility festival!) The Church objected to this on more than one level. They objected to what they deemed to be "depravity", but they also objected to the fact that social structures were set aside, with the community as a whole being equal on this day. Whoops - they were afraid that they were going to lose control of the people, so they actively discouraged May Day celebrations. Beltane, a major Pagan holiday, is also celebrated on May 1st. Beltane celebrates the marriage of the God and the Goddess, the joining of the Divine Masculine and the Divine Feminine to form consciousness. Beltane also marks the seasonal change to summer, and the fertility of the earth that summer represents. Whether you celebrate May 1st as May Day or as Beltane, the intention is the same - to honor Mother Earth, to honor love in all of its various aspects and to promote a time of peace in the community. It is also a very special time, in that the veil between the worlds is lifted, making access to the Otherworld, to ancestors and ancestral wisdom much easier. Beltane/May Day is a wonderful time to look at the corners of our lives that we want to become fertile and grow. What do you want to manifest? What creativity in your nature needs to be honored? There are several ways that we can work with the Tarot on answering these questions. One way is to work with a Tarot spread specifically tailored to this holiday. The following spread is something that I came up with. You may feel free to use it, or to create your own spread.
New Spread: Honoring The Archetypal Mother, by Bonnie Cehovet, TM Honoring The Archetypal Mother is the beta version, so to speak, of a spread I am developing around integrating the various aspects of the mother archetype into our lives. The Tarot itself has many wonderful representations of the mother image: The Empress, with her unconditional love; the Queen of Cups, who teaches us to love ourselves, and then to extend that love to others; and the Moon, the very image of the Triple Goddess - maiden/mother/crone. The following spread can be done in two ways: by going through the deck and consciously drawing the cards that represent the answers that resonate within you, or by shuffling the deck and drawing random cards. You might even want to do it both ways, and compare the readings. I know that I am very good at deceiving myself, so my nature is to always work with the random draw. By doing it both ways, I am better able to see where my take on life differs from the reality of life. I define the various aspect of Mother within this reading as: Archetypal Mother: The archetype of nurturing, supportive energy. Birth Mother: Our Birth Mother can be either our literal, biological mother, or the person who raised us, nurtured us, and supported out goals as we were growing up. Spiritual Mother: This is more of an esoteric concept, and one that is not grasped easily. In Judaism, it is the Shekinah (presence of God) - the feminine aspect of the Holy Trinity. The Shekinah is the visible manifestation of the Divine presence. It is the feeling of God's presence everywhere. Through connecting with the Shekinah, we connect with the nurturing presence of the divine. Inner Mother: This is the inner presence that allows us to nurture our personal creativity and growth, and to nurture those around us.
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1. What do I need to know about my relationship with my birth mother?
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? 04/01/04 It is spring, and all around us is new growth and beautiful color. Opportunities abound if you choose to walk with me - I can help you find the doorway to all worlds. This speaker was the Fool. From LadyStar11: "I like the Two of Cups for this card. Can even relate to the Ace of Cups. These two cards always feel so light to me, and bright. Yet it can also relate to the Fool, for as he/she evolves, more doorways open all the time. With the World as the last card in the majors, in most decks, you go from there into the Fool, but on a higher level. So on that higher level, more opportunities, newer paths, brighter colors. The more I think about it, the more I like the Fool for Bonnie's "Who Am I" Who am I? 05/01/04 Home and family are very important to me, as well as the abundance that surrounds me. I am a worker bee. 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. :)
Newsletter Review: Celebrating The Tarot: A Journal For Tarot Enthusiasts I just received the latest edition of Geraldine Amaral's print newsletter Celebrating The Tarot - A Journal For Tarot Enthusiasts. Geraldine has done some absolutely outstanding work in the Tarot world - including her participation in the Washington, DC Tarot Society; her personal work as a Tarot reader and teacher; and the stellar book on Tarot and ritual that she co-authored with Nancy Brady Cunningham - Tarot Celebrations (Samuel Weiser, 1997). Her newsletter is all things that we could ask it to be - filled with her own wisdom, as well as the wisdom of others in the Tarot world; tidbits of happenings in the Tarot world that keep us all up on things; reviews, articles ... and so much more! The 2004 newsletter started out with scans from the Transformational Tarot (Red Wheel/Weiser). This was followed by news from the year 2003 - decks and books that had come out, Tarot in TV land and some of the special events that had occurred, such as the Readers Studio (sponsored by The Tarot School and Llewellyn Publications, April 2003) and The Toronto Tarot Symposium (co-hosted by James Wells, July, 2003). The following is a brief run down on what this newsletter covered: Articles:
* "Shoot" Your Enemy With Light and Prayer - by Geraldine Amaral
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.com or visit her website at www.tarotcelebrations.com. Her class listings may be seen here: class schedule.
Bio: James Wells James Wells is a Toronto-based Tarot consultant with an international clientele. Since age 12, he has lived, worked and played with the Tarot and its rich symbolism. James is also a Reiki Master, publisher of The Six-Rayed Star, musician, explorer of divination systems, weaver of rituals, and workshop facilitator. His job as a Worker of Oracles is to create sacred space for constructive feedback and soul work - a place where dreams, goals, imagination, intuition and magick, have full sway so that you can enjoy insight, support and healing.James is a member of the International Tarot Society and the Daughters of Divination. In person as well as in the media, he is a sought-after presenter on Tarot, ritual, and personal growth.James is fond of good books, singing, writing, his Tarot collection, close friends, delicious foods, travel, well-made martinis, and long walks. James may be contacted at: workeroforacles@yahoo.ca, or through his site, www.workeroforacles.com.
Healing Images: Tarot & Dreams. A weekend of soul-discovery with James Wells. Both dreams and tarot have their roots in the deep realms of the archetypes. Through dream-sharing circles, spreads, original processes, journalling, and ritual, you will combine the two to know yourself more deeply. In James' home in Cabbagetown, Toronto (unless registration gets higher than 12 people). Friday 7 to 9:30 p.m., Saturday & Sunday both 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. $200 Canadian (includes 2 lunches). Register with James before September 17/04, 416 - 966 - 2685 or workeroforacles@yahoo.ca . For those coming from out-of-town, I'll provide a list of local accomodations.
May 13 / 04. Tarot & Your Astrological Birth Chart" (Bring a copy of your chart. If you don't have one, I'll print one for you for $5 extra. Provide date, exact time, and place of birth more than 48 hours before the class.) ENERGY SENSING WORKSHOP. Wednesday, May 26 at 7:00 p.m. in my home. Everything is energy. Learn how to sense its subtler forms in the body and in the world around us through hands-on exercises and the incredible soul dance! $25. TAROT 101. Everyone's favourite beginners' tarot course is back! Six consecutive Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m. First session May 4, final session June 8. Only $125. If you've already taken this course, pass on the word! If you haven't, please consider joining us. Bring writing materials and a tarot deck of your choice. ENERGY SENSING WORKSHOP. Wednesday, May 26 at 7:00 p.m. in my home. Everything is energy. Learn how to sense its subtler forms in the body and in the world around us through hands-on exercises and the incredible soul dance! $25.
Bio: James Wanless James Wanless, Ph.D., is a former political science professor and creator of the best selling Tarot deck Voyager Tarot. A popular speaker and seminar leader, Dr. Wanless travels throughout the US, Europe and Asia, educating attendees in creativity, intuition and leadership. He is also author of Way of the Oracle, Little Stone and Strategic Intuition For The 21st Century.
NETHERLANDS MAY -30
Tarot Site Review: Croneways.com (www.croneways.com) is the cyber home of artist/poet/visionary Ellen Lorenzi-Prince. I had the amazing good luck to encounter Ellen as an Internet presence when she was in the initial stages of her first Tarot deck, The Crone Tarot. What an amazing deck that is! Based on the archetype of the Crone as the Ancient Holy One, and Mother of all Mothers, The Crone Tarot takes us on an amazing inner voyage that allows us to come face to face with our shadow sides, to look death in the face and come back stronger people. Crone Ways contains scans from the entire Crone Tarot, as well as the riveting poetry that accompanies them. (Ellen published The Crone Tarot as a private endeaver. Included with the deck is an incredible book with poetry giving access to each card. No keywords - as they will hold you back (IMHO). Just the poetry - which will open doors that you did not know existed!) Ellen takes us on two seperate journies with The Crone Tarot. The first journey is the Crone's Journey, the second journey is the Fool's Journey. They are both worth taking! A new journey has been undertaken - Pandora's Tarot. This deck is based on Greek mythology and art, with an archetypal female being chosen to represent each of the Major Arcana cards. The cards that have been finished are up on the site - and are well worth visiting! I hope that Ellen chooses to publish this deck, whether privately or through a publisher. I want to be very near the front of the line when this happens! I waited far to long to get Tarot Of The Crone - it is a lesson that I will not forget! Life is to be lived - not to be put off! There is a live link on Crone Way's that could easily be missed - it is right above the graphic for Pandora's Tarot, entitled Offering's To Hekate. There is some marvelous writing here - definitely not to be missed! Ellen writes about Hekate as Queen of Ghosts, Mother of Monsters and Goddess of Witches. She writes about her dreams, and her fears - about life, and about death. Powerful words, with a powerful message. Crone Ways is a wonderful affirmation of the Crone, and of life. Please visit and see for yourself!
Interview: Ellen Lorenzi-Prince I came to know Ellen Lorenzi-Prince as an on-line entity when she was in the beginning stages of her first Tarot deck - Tarot Of The Crone. Ellen is an amazingly talented and creative person. Through her artwork and poetry she opens doors to the soul, inviting each of us to walk the walk of transformation in whatever manner comes to us. Ellen is currently at work on a new deck, Pandora's Tarot, that will open doors for each of us that we didn't even know we were looking for! Here is Ellen in her own words: BC: Ellen, let's go way back to the beginning. How did Tarot find its way into your life? ELP: In 1985 I attended a women's spiritual retreat led by Starhawk. One morning she guided us on a trance journey to explore our inner place of power. In my journey I went towards the North, seeking quiet and solitude. But there I encountered a snow woman who told me I must go South instead, to find and claim passion for my life. I did, and ended up hunting a leopard and dressing in her skin. Later that day, I saw a woman playing with a curious deck of round cards and asked to see them. The first card I turned over was my snow goddess, and the second was the leopard woman. It was the Motherpeace Tarot deck, and I'd just seen the Priestess of Swords and the Magician. It felt as if magic and vision had leapt out from my inner world and found a way to exist in the world I could touch with my hands. Before the week was over, the woman with the cards had decided to give that deck to me, and I had found an incredible spiritual tool. BC: What is Tarot for you? Is it more a tool for transformation through readings, a meditative tool, or a tool for use in ritual and ceremony? Or is it all of the above? ELP: Tarot provides both information and inspiration, with both being helpful in developing one's self and in navigating one's life. I'll ask the cards almost any question, from the mundane to the sublime, since I believe matter and spirit are basically indivisible. (I certainly wouldn't want to do without either one!) I feel that whatever is of concern to me or to the querent is fair game. I won't limit myself, my curiosity or my questing, and I won't limit others either. Of course, if you ask a funky question, you can get a funky answer. But that's part of the fun of it. BC: I recently started working with "Tarot Of The Crone" - what an amazing deck! The title itself drew me in - working with the energies of maiden/mother/crone, accessing ancient wisdom, and, yes, working with the feminist side of life. What was it that led your creative work in this direction?
Tarot Tidbits: 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,
Receive e-mail updates to Aeclectic Tarot (www.Aeclectic.net/Tarot) from Solandia at: www.aeclectic.net/tarot/join.html.
The World Tarot Network (www.worldtarotnetwork.com) puts out a wonderful newsletter (edited by Deni Richter, TS), filled with all kinds of information - from Tarot, to Astrology and Numerology, to Feng Shui and Chakra's ... and more! To sign up, visit: WorldTarot@aol.com.
Geraldine Amaral edits a Tarot print magazine, Celebrating The Tarot , that is sent out on a yearly basis. For more information, see: Tarot Journal (www.tarotcelebrations.com/ order%20Tarot%20Journal.htm).
Gigi Minor edits an absolutely wonderful e-newsletter entitled Veritas. To sign up for the newsletter, e-mail Gigi at: LadyFogg@twncy.rr.com with "newsletter" in the subject line.
Robert M. Place, artist and visionary, has just brought out a newsletter entitled The Restored Temple of Hermes. The newsletter will be coming out every other month, and will inlude articles and a question and answer section. To subscribe, please e-mail Robert Place at: rmp@juno.com, with The Restored Temple of Hermes in the subject line.
No part of this newsletter may be reprinted without my express permission, in any venue, on line or off line.
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