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Now that Christmas is behind us and New Year's is on the horizon, I want to take this week to slow down and reflect on the events of this year and set my intentions for this coming month. For me, making resolutions for an entire year is too overwhelming. It's easy for me to say, oh well I have a whole year to figure this out, no rush now and then I get to July and realize I didn't do anything at all. So, I'm starting with just January, what do I really want to learn about myself this coming month and what do I want to work on? This simple spread can be used in multiple scenarios and can be used to offer insight into many of life's questions. This time of year, I'm going to use it to set my intentions for January which is a big crossroads for me. We are closing out this weird year and entering into another unknown and on top of that, I'm turning 30. More on that later...  This spread uses just three cards Card 1: What will I embrace? Card 2: What will I need to accept? Card 3: What will I need to let go of?  Card 1: Two of Wands (upright)
The Two of Wands tells me that I will take my inspiration and form a clear action plan while accounting for potential challenges. Since this card is in the Embrace space, I'm going to work on making a clear goal and plan to set myself up for success. Card 2: Knight of Wands (upright) The Knight of Wands stands for energy, passion, motivation and enthusiasm. Since this is my action card, I'm going to use all those things to keep be going while I create my action plan. Card 3: Ace of Cups (upside down) The Ace of Cups in reverse can mean that I'm holding back or pushing down emotions and that I'm afraid if I let my emotions show to the world that I won't be able to stop them. Since this is in the let go space, I need to make sure I allow myself to show those emotions and stop holding back. Overall reading: It's clear to me that I'm holding onto some emotions and feelings that need to be let out but my creative vision will thrive if I make a plan and stick to it. Hellooooo January! PlusPeace
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A great time to gain new insight and seek guidance is at the beginning and ending of new seasons, cycles or life events. Below is a recommended spread for the Winter Solstice and a sample reading using this spread.  Intention: What should I know to guide me into this new season? Card 1: The overall theme of the season. Card 2: Insight into love and relationships. Card 3: Insight about money and personal finances. Card 4: What is holding me back during this season or what am I holding onto? Card 5: What will flourish during this season or what should I put my energy into? Card 6: The areas for personal growth or ways I will grow during this season.  Card 1: The Devil (upright)
The devil represents my darker side like negative thoughts that can hold me back from being my best self. Since this is in the theme place, I know that going into this next season, this is something that will consistently come up. This card also means that I could be trapped between short term pleasure and long term pain. I'll need to keep this in mind when decisions arise this winter and take time to reflect on how my negative behavior has impacted me. Card 2: Page of Pentacles (upside down) The page of pentacles is a bit foolish and is telling me that in my relationships and love this season I've been dreaming but not putting anything into action. Perhaps there are things I've wanted to improve on in my marriage, this card reminds me to reflect on past mistakes and improve in order to keep my relationship strong. Card 3: Four of Cups (upright) Since I'm a small business owner, anytime I'm exploring finances and money, I usually use the guidance here for my business but occasionally I get some insight into my employment as well. In this instance with the Four of Cups, I'm going to use this toward my own business since it doesn't apply in my other situations. Here, the Four of Cups tells me that I'll encounter many business opportunities in the near future and should trust my judgement on whether to accept them or turn them away. This card suggests that my cup will be full and I'll have new opportunities I can pursue. Card 4: The Magician (upright) The Magician shows me that I will have all the tools needed to move forward in my life but without a clear vision I'm unable to do that. This card reminds me that I need to form a plan and use all the tools I've been given to take inspired action. Card 5: Page of Swords (upside down) The Page of Swords represents self expression but also usually means I've internalized my self expression and need to take action. Since this place in the spread represents what will flourish, I'll be in a place this season to express myself publicly and be receptive of others' ideas. Card 6: Queen of Cups (upright) The Queen of Cups is nurturing and compassionate, since this card represents my personal growth for the winter, I learn that I'll benefit and grow by listening and caring for the people in my life in a nurturing way. I'll need to lead with my heart and inner guidance in order to move in the right direction. My overall takeaway from this reading is that I'll go through some personal obstacles, the Devil tells me that my inner darkness with be a constant battle but the Queen of Cups shows that in the end if I trust myself to make the right decisions I'll come out of this season stronger and more in-tune with what I need and what the people around me need. For those of you who follow me on instagram, you probably have seen me promoting my new tarot deck sets. I used to roll my eyes at palm reading and tarot cards because I thought it was, well, a bunch of crap. I became curious about tarot cards after my sister received a reading from a friend last year. I ordered a set of classic Roger Waite cards and did a simple reading for myself at home using some internet resources and then they say in a box for a year.
When we returned from Mexico late last winter to discover that all hell had broken loose at home, everything changed. It did for everyone and it affected us all in different ways. I lost my job (temporarily) and we had no business coming in, the kids were no longer in school and overall I felt like I was losing purpose. In a search for inexpensive ways to calm myself and re-center, I found myself pulling out the tarot deck again. I did just a simple reading, I set my intention; to re-center and find purpose, shuffled the deck, took a deep breath and laid out three cards. What are tarot cards? Tarot cards are a deck of cards, each with a different picture that tells a different story. I've only used the Roger Waite cards and definitions so that's what I'll use in my posts and what my cards are themed after. There are 78 cards in total. There are 22 Major Arcana cards, these cards are overall themes and life lessons. Major Arcana cards that show up in a reading often guide the meaning of the other cards. There are four suits of Minor Arcana cards, each containing 14 cards. Cups are associated with emotions and relationships, Swords with intellect and attitude, Pentacles with physical situations and well-being and Wands with spirituality and intuition. How are tarot cards used? The use of tarot cards isn't definitive and many people use them in many different ways. Speaking from experience, I get the most out of them when I'm at a crossroads, having difficulty making a decision or feel like I'm lacking perspective in a certain area. Just like there are many ways to use the cards, there are many ways to interpret them and it will depend on what you're feeling, if you have someone doing the reading for you and what's going on in your life currently. How do I do a reading? Personally, I like to research different spreads (pinterest is fun when you're learning). I find a quiet, sacred space, usually this is my bedroom with the door closed. If you feel like it you can light some candles or play music. For me, sitting on a clean, made bed and taking some deep breaths to quiet my mind is all I need to make my space sacred. Before you begin, you'll want to set an intention. Ask yourself what you are hoping to learn or gain insight on from this reading. Ask your heart and mind to be open and receptive to a new perspective. For example, when I did the reading back in March, I was looking for guidance on how to use the time I had at home so that was my intention. When you're ready, shuffle and split your deck, then lay out cards in the spread you've picked. I'm still a bit shaky and don't know many of the meanings by heart so I use the Biddy Tarot website to help me interpret the cards I'm unsure of. I find it important not to take the cards literally, say I am looking for guidance on my business and I draw an upright 8 of Swords which usually means negative thoughts, restriction and victim mentality. Perhaps, for me and my intention, this card means that I'm holding myself back from opportunities and harboring some negative thoughts that are keeping me from moving the business forward. From here I can ask myself what those thoughts are and dig deeper on how to move beyond that. Perhaps the next card will offer insight on how to do that or from here I can set another intention more specific to these feelings and go again.  How do I know what spread to use?
I'll be posting a series of beginner spreads. Since I'm also a beginner, we can learn together! Check back every Monday for a new spread. I'll be kicking off this week with a Winter Solstice Spread to guide you into the winter months and some example intentions with each. If you'd like a set of my tarot cards, please reach out to me at pluspeace.me on instagram or send me an email at [email protected] PlusPeace |
AuthorI am a Maine maker and mother of two. I dabble in graphic design and co-own a screen printing business with my husband of 9 years. Archives
April 2024
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