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Bio Readings Tarot FAQ Tarot Code of Ethics Tarot Certification Tarot Whispers Book Reviews Deck Reviews Articles Links Book List Newsletter |
January 2006
Welcome to Gateway To Tarot. This will be my last monthly newsletter. It has been a long, successful, and satisfying ride, but it is time to move on. "Gateway To Tarot" will be published in the future as an informational tool only, bringing you news of my personal projects, and, at times, of the projects of others that interest me.
My site will remain up, as will the "Gateway To Tarot" archives. I want to thank each of you for walking this path with me. You will still be able to find my reviews (the newer reviews will be marked new.
A full listing of Tarot book reviews can be found here: www.tarot-bookreviews.thecrystalgate.com
A full listing of Tarot deck reviews can be found here: www.tarot-deckreviews.thecrystalgate.com
A full listing of non-Tarot book reviews can be found here:
www.personalempowermentbooks.thecrystalgate.com
A full listing of non-Tarot oracle reviews can be found here: www.tarot-deckreviews.thecrystalgate.com
This newsletter is sent out to subscribers only. If you have received this newsletter 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. Newsletters from January 2003 on are archived on my site, www.TheCrystalGate.com.
My thanks to each of you for continuing to be part of this process. If you do not wish to receive future newsletters (random as they will be), please contact me at: crystalgate@aol.com with "unsubscribe" in the subject line.
Mitakuye Oyasin - For All Of Our Relations.
Bonnie Cehovet, TE
Editor's Message
Editor's Message Writing this newsletter has been an intense project of mine for several years now. It is time for me to reassess my priorities, and to specifically make more time for my writing (Tarot and non-Tarot). To that end, I will no longer be publishing on a monthly basis. When I do publish, it will be referencing work that I am doing, or work being done by others in the Tarot field that I wish to promote. I want to thank each of you for staying with me for so long, and hope that you will continue to do so. This newsletter serves as a holiday newsletter, in that I am addressing both Christmas and New Year's, and as a review of the amazing projects that were birthed in 2005. Wishing each of you a Merry Christmas, and a very Happy New Year!
Blessings,
Christmas Message & Spread When I was growing up, Christmas was Christmas. Now my circle has expanded, and I have a need to recognize holiday traditions from all cultures. I think this is important, to validate all cultural beliefs. Not in a Wal Mart "Happy Holidays" merchandising fashion, but from the heart. I am going to speak in this, my final newsletter, about what my traditions mean to me. I think that my readers will find similar feelings rooted in their own traditions. Family and Spirit are where this holiday (Holy Day) has its roots. I grew up in Minnesota, in a very traditional "Currier & Ives" atmosphere. The ice skating rink was within walking distance for a small child, and we spent a great deal of time making snow forts, snow angles, and, yes, snow balls that we did not hesitate to throw at each other! There was always a rack at my house where one set of mittens was drying out, while we were wearing a second set! Christmas was a very busy, very happy time. There were activities at school, including a school play and chorus; church school, and a play at church; catelogs with lots of pictures of toys in them to be gone through (three children, so there had to be three catelogs - we did not believe in waiting for someone to get through with a catelog so we could see it!); presents to be wrapped; candy being made, and cookies being baked. The card table was set up, with nuts in their shells, nutcrakers to open them, and, when company came, divinity, fudge and home baked cookies. Life does not get better than Christmas for a child! These are the memories that sustain me. I am sure that you each have similar memories that sustain you. I continue many of the same traditions from my childhood - cooking, baking, and decorating in a fashion where the process is as important as the result. Peace, Hope, and Joy are very real things, and I want to be reminded of them. My wish for each of you this holiday season is that you each experience Peace, Hope, and Joy in your lives, and in your hearts. My gift to you is the following spread. I choose to use the format of a traditional Christmas Tree. You can adjust the spread to refelct a symbol that is important for you at this time of year, as well as adjusting the position definitions to reflect your beliefs.
2 3 4 5 6
7 8 9 10
1. What Star shines on my life at this time?
New Year's Message & Spread New Year's - a time of celebration, a time of promise and hope, a time of endings and new beginnings. As readers, we need to know how to best understand this time of year not only from our own perspective, but from that of the Seeker's that we read for. We need to be able to get past the music and the noise makers, the omnipresent New Year's resolutions, and focus on what the New Year is bringing in, and what strengths, what skills and abilities are available to make the most of the coming year. Many years ago I left behind the concept of New Year's resolutions. They were never focused on what the New Year was all about, they were focused on the changes that I thought were necessary for my life. For the most part, they were doomed to failure. When I started focusing on the concepts of what energy was in my Personal Year, along with the energy of the Calender Year, I started seeing much more success. My gift to each of you on this New Year's is the following very simple spread, incorporating the energy of the Seeker's Personal Year, along with the energy of the coming New Year. Note: Cards one and two can be taken from the deck being read with, or from a seperate deck.
3 4 5 6 7 2 1. New Year 2006: Add the digits of the year, then reduce the number to 21 or less. (2+0+0+6=8) Pull the corresponding Major Arcana card (either Strength or Justice, depending upon the system that you use), and place it in the reading. 2. Seeker's Personal Year: Add the digits of the Seeker's birth month and birth day to the digits of the year, then reduce the number to 21 or less. Pull the corresponding Major Arcana card and place it in the reading. Positions three through seven are read in the light of the energy of the Seeker's Personal Year and the energy of the Calender Year. 3. What shadows am I carrying into the New Year? 4. How can I best incorporate these shadows into my life so they they may be resolved? 5. How can I best accomplish my goals int he New Year? 6. What skills and abilities do I bring into the New Year? 7. How can I use these skills to accomplish my goals?
2005 In Review Many more books and decks were birthed in 2006 than you will find mentioned here. What you see here is what crossed my path.
"Animals Divine ~ Companion ~", by Lisa Hunt (Llewellyn Publications) ISBN #0-7387-032104. "The Complete Tarot Reader", by Teresa C. Michelson (Llewellyn Publications) ISBN #0-7387-0434-2. "The Tarot DeckFinder", by Raye Martin (http://home.earthlink.net/~deckfinder). A self-published book covering information on over 2,000 Tarot decks and oracles. "Kabbalistic Tarot", by Dovid Krafchow (Inner Traditions) ISBN #1-59477-064-6. "Llewellyn Tarot Reader 2006", anthology (Llewellyn Publications) ISBN #0-7387-0675-2. "Lover's Path Tarot", Novel by Kris Waldherr (U.S. Games Systems, Inc.) "Seeker - The Tarot Unveiled", by Rachel Pollack (Llewellyn Publications), ISBN #0-7387-0521-7. "Tall Dark Stranger", by Corrine Kenner (Llewellyn Publications), ISBN #0-7387-0548-9. "The Tarot - History, Symbolism, and Divination", by Robert M. Place (Jeremy P. Tarcher) ISBN #1-58542-349-1. "Tarot Kit For Beginners", by Janet Berres(Llewellyn Publications) ISBN #0-7387-0506-3. "Tarot Symbolism", by Robert V. O'Neill, Ph.D. (Association For Tarot Studies) ISBN #0-9757122-0-9. This is a re-issuing of O'Neill's seminal work on Tarot symbolism. "Revelations Tarot Companion", the companion book to the Revelations Tarot, by Zack Wong (Llewellyn Publications). ISBN #0-7387-0607-8. "What's In The Cards For You?", by Mark McElroy (Llewellyn Publications) ISBN #0-7387-0702-3.
"Animals Divine Tarot", by Lisa Hunt (Llewellyn Publications) ISBN #0-7387-0321-4. "The Brotherhood Tarot", by Patric Stillman (Independently Published) ISBN #0-9762695-0-3. "The Gay Tarot", by Lee Bursten (Lo Scarabeo). ISBN #0-7387-0597-7. "Lovers Path Tarot", Deck and novel by Kris Waldherr (U.S> Games Systems, Inc.) ISBN #1-57281-408-3. "Revelations Tarot", by Zach Wong (Llewellyn Publications) ISBN #0-7387-0607-8. "Tarot of Dreams", by Ciro Marchetti (text by Lee Bursten) (Independently Published) www.ciromarchetti.com.This is the quintessential Tarot package for 2005!
Tarot Art Calendar This limited edition art calander has been gifted to us for three years now by author/illustrators Arnell Ando and Leslie Cochran. For the 2007 issue, go to www.arnelart.com around August or September of 2006.
Tarot Seminars/Symposiums BATS - The Bay Area Tarot Symposium, organized by Thalassa, is held on an annual basis in the city of San Francisco. Dates and further information can be obtained here: www.daughtersofdivination.com. LATS - The Los Angeles Tarot Symposium, organized by inimitable Barbara Rapp, is held on an annual basis in the city of Los Angeles. For more information, contact Barbara at hrabarb@earthlink.net, or go to www.crystalcave.com. Readers Studio - The Readers Studio is a joint effort between the Tarot School (Ruth Ann and Wald Amberstone) and Llewellyn Publishing Worldwide. The focus of this Studio is to expand the understanding of the Tarot for those who choose to read on a professional basis. Information can be found on the Tarot School site, www.TarotSchool.com.
Tarot Schools/Teaching Sites Learning The Tarot www.learntarot.com This is the cyber home of Joan Bunning, offering a comprehensive (and free!) course on learning the basics of Tarot reading. The Tarot School www.TarotSchool.com The Tarot School offers in person classes (in New York City), as well as an excellent series of teleclasses. Gifted authors/teachers/readers/wise people Ruth Ann and Wald Amberstone offer their years of wisdom, backed by solid research, in a safe atmosphere that is highly conducive to learning and sharing. For more information, go to: www.TarotSchool.com/Seminars.html My blog on the "Intuition and Imagery" series of teleclasses from 2005 may be seen here: here.
Tarot Certification One of my wishes for the New Year is that each of you consider what role Tarot certification plays in your life. For many of you, the choice may be to not certify. For others, it will be to certify to a specific level. Whatever serves you best is the path that you need to follow. There are two national certifications that I am aware of in the United States: "American Board for Tarot Certification" (ABTC) - www.americanboardfortarotcertification.org. I am Vice President for the ABTC, and would like to mention a new package that we are offering - that of "Tarot Enthusiast". In essence, this is not a certification level. It is a package that we are offering, for a nominal fee ($10.00), that includes monographs on what the Tarot is, and ways to read it. It is basically for that section of the public that has perhaps experienced a Tarot reading or two, has a general interest in it, but has no formal knowledge. More information is available on our site www.americanboardfortarotcertification.org. "Tarot Certification Board of America" (TCBA) - www.tarotcertification.org. The Tarot School, run by Ruth Ann and Wald Amberstone, offers certification through classes taken in person or through their teleclass structure. Even if you are not motivated by the certification, the classes are well worth looking into on their own merit! James Wanless also offers several different levels of certification based on his Voyager Tarot cards and system at: www.voyagertarot.com.
Tarot Sites To Watch www.fairytaletarot.com One of the cyber homes of Karen Mahony and Alex Ukolov (Magic Realist Press), and the cyberhome for their delightful new deck "Fairy Tale Tarot" . Interesting things always happen on the Magic Realist Press sites! www.gaiantarot.com This is the cyberhome of Joanna Powell Colbert, and the Gaian Tarot. Joanna is sharing with us her journey in the completion of the Minor Arcana cards for this beautiful deck. She also has a link for purchasing what I consider to be exceptional Tarot bags, and a section for on line three card readings with the Gaian Tarot that will knock your socks off! www.gailadrian.comCyber home for Frangranceur and Tarot wise woman Gail Adrian. http://www.lunaea.com/tarot/limitededition.html This is the site for artist Lunea Weatherstone, and her limited edition Full Moon Dreams deck. www.magic-realism.com/seeoflogos.html This is the site for an upcoming 32 card oracle (deck and book) from Magic Realist Press, in conjunction with Tarot wise-woman Rachel Pollack. www.mary-el.com This is the cyber home of Tarot artist Marie White, and her upcoming "Mary-El Tarot". www.newmoontradingco.com This is the cyber home of Julie Cuccia-Watts, and the MAAT Tarot (which is now finished!). ww.sakki-sakki.com This is the cyberhome of artist Monicka Clio Sakki, and the Sakki-Sakki Tarot. Monicka has a companion book to her outstanding deck, entitled "Playing With Symbols" that is newly available (and a great deal of fun!). www.tarotofcolor.com. This is the site for the upcoming deck Tarot of Color, a deck based on Qabalistic attributions, and created by artist/reader Leisa ReFalo. www.tarotjournaling.com One of the cyber homes of Corrine Kenner, and the home for her book on Tarot journaling. www.tarotjourney.net Personal (and very well done!) site of Tarot wunderkind Leisa ReFalo. In previous months I have been bringing you news and interesting links from Trionfi.com, a Tarot and card history site. If you have an interest at all in Tarot history, I recommend that you visit this site (http://trionfi.com). This is a pivotal time for Trionfi.com. There is a great need for financial help, so that it can maintain its identity, and continue to be able to offer the wealth of information that it offers. There are several different things under consideration, including a possible book, and site sponsorship. Please visit, and give site owner Huck your feedback.
Online Divination Sites
Tarot Newsletters Receive e-mail updates to Aeclectic Tarot (www.Aeclectic.net/Tarot) from Solandia at: www.aeclectic.net/tarot/join.html Geraldine Amaral edits a Tarot print magazine, Celebrating The Tarot , that comes out on a yearly basis. For more information, see: Tarot Journal (www.tarotcelebrations.com/ order%20Tarot%20Journal.htm)
Robert M. Place, artist and visionary, gifts us with a newsletter entitled The Restored Temple of Hermes. The newsletter will be coming out every other month, and will include 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.
Ruth Ann and Wald Amberstone of The Tarot School (www.tarotschool.com) edit the long running newsletter Tarot Tips (www.yahoogroups.com/group/tarottips). This newsletter is a wealth of information based on their personal work and the work done with their classes. If you want to know about Tarot - it is here!
Gigi Miner edits an absolutely wonderful e-newsletter entitled Veritas. To sign up for the newsletter, e-mail Gigi at: LadyFogg@twcny.rr.com with "newsletter" in the subject line.
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
Tarot Miscellaneous This is a very special announcement. A long time Tarot collector (that many of you may know from various e-lists) is selling more than half her treasured trove of Tarot decks and books. Each deck and book wants a home that loves and admires Tarot. Amongst the collection are several collectibles. For more information contact: ParsifalsSister@mac.com , or ParsifalsSister@yahoo.com. I have placed two orders already (as finances permitted), and the decks (and books) were well packed, and arrived in good condition (with all cards accounted for!). The holidays are here, when we are all looking for gifts for others (and perhaps about gifting ourselves!). This is a wonderful opportunity to find a home for some incredible Tarot resources. This kind of opportunity does ot happen often. May you each find that which is meant to come into your life. The list of books being offered includes:
* Thinking Tarot, Edward A. Aviza, ppk, retail 19.95 offering 2.00 The list of Tarot decks being offered includes:
2.The Tarot of the Origins, Sergio Toppi, retail 19.95, new used,
offering 18.00 These decks are not yet priced!
45. The Visconti Tarots: Extraordinary Examples of Renaissance Art
Atanas Alexandrov Atanassov, retail 25.00 There is a lot of prime material to choose from here. Don't be afraid to gift yourself, or to send this promo on to someone that you feel might be interested in it!
Good news - the limited edition (and long OOP!) Transformation Tarot (By Arnell Ando) is going to be re-issued as a deck/lwb combo by U.S. Games. Look for this deck in Fall of 2005 or early Spring 2006. This is a deck that I do not have, and would love to own, so "Yahoo!". It will not be exactly the same as the original issue, as some of the cards have been done over, at the request of U.S. Games, but it will be a pleasure to own!
Looking for Tarot bags? Look no farther! www.gaiantarot.com/shop/orderbags.html
Thank all of you who have joined me on this wonderful journey. May the future be well lit, and well traveled, for each of you.
No part of this newsletter may be reprinted without my express permission, in any venue, on line or off.
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