TQTarot

REST. This is the first day since March that I am sleeping alone. I've sprained my ankle on the way here, so it really is an indication that I need to take things slow, and to relax after all of this. This entire year has been a challenge. So much loss and grief and transition. I have much to do but also need to give myself a break- to recharge and take some time for myself. The cards couldn't be more clear. 

A new week and it's supposed to be one of more rest and recharging. What is the message that the Page is bringing to me? Wands= passion, fire. Will I get some of that back this week? This page looking ahead with a staff as a guide (or as a support?). Look for and find inspiration!

This spread looks at the 4 elements of a situation. Need to begin by thinking of a situation you're in the moment: new job and career opportunities / finally the opportunity to write the book  1. My Situation at the moment: King of Cups  I am in a place of (perceived) mastery- I've gotten what I think I wanted, what I believe will give me work/life balance and which will fulfill my personal / emotional goals as well as professional goals I've set for myself. Positive reading: I'm emotionally "sorted," calm in crisis Negative: I'm emotionally walled off, too rigid, not willing to be vulnerable 2. The Earth of the situation: How is this affecting me physically? What's happening with my home life here, my relationship to my body, what physical needs are being expressed here? How about my relationship to work and money? 4 of Cups: I'm not fully present or in my body. I might be getting what I want but I don't fully see it. I've

Deck using: Circo Tarot Earth mountains (Fool, Hermit, Temperance, World, Two of Wands, Eight of Wands, Ten of Wands, Seven of Cups, Page of Pentacles, Queen of Pentacles, King of Pentacles) branches/ leaves (Magician, Ace of Wands, Five of Pentacles) flowers (Empress, Death, Star, Sun, Ace of Knives, Four of Wands, Six of Wands, Two of Cups, Six of Cups, Queen of Pentacles) thorns (Ace of Knives) wheat (Empress) skulls (Emperor) dirt/soil (Death) plants (Tower) coyote (Moon, Five of Wands) cacti / desert (Moon, Seven of Knives, Seven of Cups) forest/trees (Eight of Wands, Six of Cups) vines (Ace of Pentacles) Air clouds (Fool, Hanged Woman, World, Two of Wands, Four of Cups) smoke (Tower) sword (Magician, Justice) birds (Nine of Pentacles) Fire sun  (Fool, Sun, Four of Cups) lion (Strength) Fire/Smoke (Tower, World) Lightning (Tower) staff/wand (Fool, Emperor, Two of Wands) snake (Seven of Cups, Seven of Pentacles) Water Waves (Temperance, Star, World,

-persistance, mastery -trying to improve, grow, learn to better my situation - strategizing to save the exhibition -figure out how to work as a TT faculty member

Two of Wands (pulled for me by Angie) New ideas, creativity, power. I asked about what to do about exhibition at [venue]. This seems like it's saying it's time to harness power and take new/different initiatives after thinking through it a bit more. Speaking of initiative, sent email back to AAI today (initiative in the name!) as a possible different / other venue. Also need to set up time to talk with WK of the family FDN. I need to remember that this show is powerful, and important, and deserves to be out in the world. Need to move from place of fear and scarcity mindset to one of imagining different routes and possibilities for it, in a different scenario where it can thrive. From the Creative Tarot: "This is a great card to pull for a creative project because it suggests that you are now in a position of power. You are good at what you do, and you've progressed in your abilities and your confidence so that now you can take time to assess where you have com

I pulled this card a couple hours ago but didn't have the chance to write about it before getting caught up in work. I was wondering what I needed to think about leaving behind. Just received an email from [org] that might be the end of my exhibition. I think I need to be ready to let this opportunity go, and start over again. Try to find a new venue, try to piece together a different opportunity and place for this show to live. There have been so many disappointments and real tragedies this year--not only for myself, but for our collective humanity--but this hurts all the same. I thought this year would turn out/be very different than what it is, I imagine we all did. It still feels unreal to have to be letting so much go. Everything, it feels like. There is so much grief.

The Hermit: A searcher, looking up at where her flashlight shines. She is searching- or has she already found what she is looking for? She is lone in the wilderness- mountains behind her, standing outdoors on a mooonless night. A veil of stars covers her. Today is Monday- a time to reset and move on with a new week of work and responsibilities. What gives me purpose? How can I make work a joyful space even as it is difficult? I need time alone with my thoughts. I would rather be listening to Braiding Sweetgrass and learning than performing as teacher today- already dealing with white fragility in the virtual classroom and it's triggering me, reminding me of last quarter's scary and awful experience. Another fragile white man who can't handle women of color's knowledge and experiences. But this is the work of teaching, and trying to do it carefully and with purpose. I need to remember to conserve my energy for the work that matters, and not to waste it where it is

1. About you in general: what is your most important characteristic? Death: someone who is letting go of old patterns/in an active moment of transformation and growth, shedding skin. Someone who has lived many lives in this one life. One cycle of life has ended, and I'm entering into another one.  2. What strengths do you already have as a tarot reader, what are you bringing to this course? The World: I can see bigger patterns, bigger picture or connections. I try to balance different elements/ qualities of earth, fire, air, and water. Optimistic perhaps, looking at the horizon for possibility for improvement/change. I've completed one cycle of life and am ready to move onto the next. Can possibly help others with their own transitions and making bigger plans / holistic plans for the future.  3. What limits do you feel as you start this course?  Queen of Wands: perhaps need to better harness some of this energy- it may be blocked. Need to take on some of these quali

My personal card for this journey of taking this tarot course is the 4 of Cups. don't often pick this card- I don't remember a recent reading that featured this card; but it stood out to me today. The image is of a woman looking to the left, while her arm reaches out, away from her, towards a hand holding out a cup. She doesn't see/notice the three cups within her reach, or perhaps she is bored with them and wants something else (intangible, unseen, desired?). Her face looks unhappy at worst or apathetic at best. I can't tell if she is passively holding her arm up, not even aware of the gift that is being offered to her; or if she is actively seeking/reaching but cannot see that what she is reaching for is so close/nearly there. I do not think this is a "happy" card, but it is one about wanting or needing to find possibility or a different way- about emotional growth and change (Cups suite). "I am" exercise for the 4 of Cups I am the 4 of Cups.

My birth card: The Lovers Unity between heart and mind professional goals and personal dreams - find the balance this life path i am on is about healing my relationships to family, to self, friends, lovers need to work on making heart-centered choices  how do i trust myself to do the right things? Free write about what I want to do with this course: I'm interested in deepening my practice in tarot - to move from still relying on other guides to trusting myself and my own interpretations. I don't think that tarot can predict the future- it is a useful tool for us to check in with ourselves and to make sense of threads or events- to create a narrative that we can use to course-correct or to help begin taking more decisive actions. I think tarot can be a good tool of gathering information by/for yourself, especially at times of crisis or change when things don't feel clear cut or are just plain confusing. It is like astrology in this way, but perhaps works at an even more pers