Tuesday 11 December 2012

30 Day Tarot Challenge: The First 10 Days

30 Day Tarot Challenge

I absolutely love blogging about anything and everything.  However I love to blog about my journey with Tarot most.  While I try to be a regular blogger on http://sungoddesstarot.blogspot.com  the truth is, with multiple demands on my time, I find myself blogging perhaps at best fortnightly. 

So I discovered this 30 Day Tarot Challenge here http://78keys.tumblr.com/post/36652622634/30-day-tarot-challenge
which excited me quite a lot. Kudos to Ree for thinking up of this fun challenge!  However, my challenges were that 1) I had to blog each day for 30 days about the given topic and 2) my fellow Tarot blogging friends are already at Day 10 of the challenge.

Incidentally, my Card du Jour picked on this day that I started on the 30 Day Tarot Challenge, was the Queen of Wands.  The Queen of Wands is known to take on any challenge with determination, passion and confidence.  She will never shy away from a challenge.  So, the Queen has spoken, I started with Day 1 of this blogpost on the night of 11 December 2012 and aim to complete it by 31 December 2012.   You might be wondering why I am taking only 20 days to complete a 30 day challenge.  Well, I have decided to complete the first 10 questions in 1 day to catch up with my fellow Tarot bloggers who are participating in this challenge too.  I really don’t fancy being ‘Slow Poke Jo’.      
     
Day 1 - What introduced you to/got you involved in Tarot?

When I was very young, I found a book on Cartomancy amongst Dad’s huge collection of books.  Typical to a person with a Life Path 7, that book intrigued me and I used a deck of regular playing cards for the purpose of trying out what I had learnt in the book.  I think I found my gift of intuition then because even with just the use of regular playing cards, I got insights about situations in my childhood even from them.  Of course, it helped that Granny too, is deeply intuitive and I may have picked that from her.

Over the years as I grew older, I visited a professional Tarot reader, now my teacher, quite regularly.  As I was not satisfied with just getting a reading, but wanted to understand the significance of the symbols within the Tarot cards, I started reading up about the cards too.  In that way, I could get the most out of my Tarot reader, and lend depth to any questions that I wanted to ask of her. 

In the beginning of this year, I decided to make that bold move to attend my Tarot teacher’s basic Tarot workshop, then went on to attend her advanced level Tarot workshop.  Graduating from her class wasn’t enough for me, as the spark had been lit and I wanted to take it further.  I started pursuing my studies further with the American Tarot Association, then got certified as professional Tarot reader by the Tarot Certification Board of America.  Following which I obtained a Tarosophy Diploma. 

My esoteric studies haven’t ended.  I then got myself certified as an advanced numerologist as I enjoy overlaying numbers with the Tarot card interpretations that I do for my clients.  Now that I have embarked on Reiki as well, these will all further lend depth to  my work with clients who come to me for a Tarot reading.

Day 2 - What was your first deck and why/how did you get it?

My first Tarot deck was the Mythic Tarot by Juliet Sharman-Burke, Liz Greene and Tricia Newell, upon the recommendation of my Tarot teacher.  It was based on the Rider Waite system and was fairly easy to read as the images were rather archetypal.  I had a love for classical studies and the fact that the deck was based on Greek mythology helped spur my interest to get to know the individual cards better.

Even when my Tarot teacher trained me on interpreting the Tarot cards, she used Greek mythology to explain the concepts.  I could hardly peel my hands from the cards, listening in awe as she conducted the lesson in a way a mother tells a story to a kid before bedtime.  With the Mythic Tarot deck, I fell in love with Demeter, and wanted to be like her, the protective Empress full of love for her daughter Persephone.  I was intrigued by Jason and the Argonauts in the suit of Wands which taught me to govern difficult situations with determination, passion and creativity.

After having been trained with the Mythic Tarot deck, I practiced with it on my friends and family.  As I practiced with fellow Tarot readers, I started getting exposed to other decks as well.

Day 3 - Do you have more than one deck that you use, and, if so, do you have a favorite? If not, why do you like the deck you have chosen?

I have 10 Tarot decks altogether and am still collecting more:  The Mythic Tarot deck ( my training deck);   the Radiant Rider Waite deck ( I use this for face-to-face readings with clients);  the Giant Rider Waite deck ( good for teaching/mentoring my protégés);   the Goddess Tarot deck ( I use this when I am reading for  high-powered executive women.  Somehow it resonates with them);  the Tarot of the Holy Light deck ( I bought it for the vivid colors and interesting symbolisms but still have yet to find affinity with the deck);   the Wizards Tarot ( I like this deck because it is so cute.  It makes me feel like Harry Potter going to school );  the Gilded Tarot deck ( I gave this to my son, Joel because of the beautiful images which I had hoped would encourage him to pick up the skill.  However I regretted it now that I saw the voluptuous figure on that Lovers card); the Tarot of Nostradamus (This was a gift from the hubby and is one of the more difficult decks for me to understand), the Rosetta Tarot deck (This was another gift from hubby. I love the vivid colors of this deck and more importantly, it started me on my discovery of Golden Dawn concepts.)

My favorite deck however, is the Morgan Greer Tarot deck.  The colors of this deck are just so beautiful and somehow, I found this deck talking to me most.  It is definitely easy to interpret because it’s based on the Rider Waite system which most of us are familiar with.  This is the deck that I use for email readings.  Granny bought me a beautiful silk pouch from Japan just for this deck.

Day 4- How long have you been reading the Tarot?

I had dabbled in Tarot cards for a few years and read for myself in that duration.  However, I picked up the skill of reading for others only since the beginning of the year when I gained proficiency in it through the courses I took.  Being a reader for the Free Tarot Network and Biddy Tarot had given me immense amount of practice.  On an average day, I do about 7-8 email readings each evening, and on an average week, I do about 8-10 face to face readings each week. Increasingly, I noticed that as I gained even more experience with my readings over the months, I learnt something new each time.  More importantly, the practice had sharpened my intuitive skills a lot more.

Day 5- When and where did you give your first reading?

My first reading face to face was done with a fellow novice Tarot reader from my advanced Tarot class. It was more a practice session.  Then I went on to meet fellow Tarot readers at the Tarot meet-ups and did my first reading for a stranger there.  As a reader for Biddy Tarot and the Free Tarot Network, I had my first experience with email readings then.    My first paying clients both face to face and via email came from people I didn’t know, who had searched for me via Google as they had chanced upon my blog.  My first reading at an event was done for the company that I am working for, who organized a charity event in support of the Children’s Cancer Foundation.  From there, I was introduced to the world of Tarot readings at events when by word of mouth, I was hired to do Tarot readings for birthdays, bachelorette parties and corporate functions.

Day 6 - What was the first spread you learned?

The first spread I had learnt was the horseshoe spread.  It’s a very simple straight forward spread which required me to pull a card for each specific position of Self, Situation, Obstacle, Development, Outcome and Advice.  It is the perfect spread for beginner Tarot readers as it didn’t require one to be proficient at reading reversed cards.  More importantly, it was so easy to remember the positions without agonizing if I got the flow correct.  Now that I think about it, I realized that my early journey with Tarot was that rigid. Thankfully now,  I  have learnt to design my own spread after gaining some experience and preferred to listen to my intuition when it came to choice of spreads.
Outcome
Self
               
Situation
Develop-ment
Advice
Obstacle
 










Day 7 - What is your favorite card (both in terms of the deck’s artwork and divinatory meaning)?
My favorite card is the Tower from the Radiant Rider Waite deck. It’s possibly a card that every client would hate to pick because the card signifies sudden and unexpected change and adversity.  The image on the card depicts a tall Tower perched atop a mountain, a symbol of men’s lofty ambitions.  It is struck by a bolt of lightning, which is a symbol of sudden inspiration, or a realization of the truth.  Flames burst out of its windows, threatening to burn the Tower to the ground.  This is a symbol of the destruction of existing structures, preconceived notions, and any irrelevant concepts or situation that no longer serve a purpose.  People are seen falling from the Tower, head first, in an act of desperation in a bid to escape disaster.  It’s a symbol of the upsetting of old beliefs and pre-conceived ideas.  This Tower is set in the background of grey clouds and rain, representing misfortune.

This is my favorite card because the imagery lends a lot of clarity to the interpretation.  One can’t run away from the fact that he or she needs to accept these changes and brave the challenges in order to embrace a new life.  This card for me, is really a lesson in life.  In our lifetime, there will be a few “Tower” moments.  If I hadn’t been a Tarot reader, I wouldn’t have had the understanding that the universe is using these moments of change, to help me build a better life.

Day 8 - Which card do you dread pulling the most?
I do dread pulling cards like the 3 of swords, 5 of Cups, and 10 of Swords for my clients.  I have always treated my clients as friends and whenever they feel a lot of pain, I feel that pain along with them.  In that moment as I read for a client, I do assume his or her energy.  That’s why meditation is very important for me and allows me to ground, centre and set up the boundaries necessary for me to conduct a Tarot reading in a manner that can constructively help my client.

The card I dread pulling most for my clients is the 5 of Cups, and more so when I pull out the card in the reversed position  As one that likes to view the world in a positive light, I see the card as a client’s self-inflicted sense of negativity which could be a situation he or she could come out of, by choice.  The image on a 5 of Cups card, shows a cloaked man looking away at 3 spilt cups representing his disappointment and feelings of loss.  2 upstanding cups are behind him but he doesn’t even consider them.  Quite often, when a client picks this card, I try to comfort him or her with the assurance that one should count the blessings and other opportunities presented by the universe.  Worse, when my client picks the card in a reversed position, I know he or she is having problems moving past this disappointment and will harbor a lot of hurt for a long time.

In the heat of the moment, whatever assurance I may provide, some clients just wouldn’t want to look at the brighter side of things.  My gripe is that, whatever challenges and disappointments one may face, the universe will never let anyone face it alone and without an option.  One do have a choice to look up from one’s footsteps from time to time, to view the sunrise.

Day 9 - What card do you pull the most often? Why do you think that is the case?

I do pull the 5 of Cups reversed quite regularly for my clients. This is quite expected when often, they visit me for a Tarot reading when they are not able to get past an issue that has caused them a lot of pain. 

For myself, I pull a card du jour every day as a matter of practice since the day I formally learnt to read the Tarot cards.  

Lately the card that showed up more than twice last month was the 7 of Cups.  Usually, I might get a little worried with the presence of the card as it may signify confusion in my many choices.  I wasn’t though.  Deep within me, I realize that amidst the various challenges ranging from the skepticism that I face daily as a Tarot reader and the challenges that I have in juggling commitments between time with my family, time with my Tarot clients, and time with my day job, this card was explicitly telling me to follow my bliss.  

 I have got a deep sense of fulfillment whenever I read the Tarot cards for my clients and an even deeper sense of fulfillment when I have chosen to support the Children’s Cancer Foundation with part proceeds from my Tarot consultation fees.  In my day job, I realized that my skills as a Tarot reader and numerologist have helped me to manage interpersonal relationships within the office.  With skeptical friends and family members, honestly, I found my bliss when my hubby became my biggest fan and advocate.

Day 10- What card best represents you/your personality (or, is most often pulled to represent you in a spread)?

Definitely, I identify most with the Queen of Wands.  She’s an embodiment of Fire energy, very much aligned to the astrological sign of Leo which governs me.  She will never shy away from a challenge, and embraces life with a lot of passion and energy.  She rides the rough with determination and confidence, and is never afraid to get out of her comfort zone.

I am generally full of passion for anything that interests me.  With Tarot, the fire in me just burns like an olympic torch.  I can talk about it incessantly and would enthusiastically pursue further knowledge to hone my Tarot reading skills.  I am not afraid of the skeptics around me, who constantly ask me where I've parked my broom.  I love my clients, and am very proud that my Tarot reading skills have helped so many along their respective journeys.  I am even more proud that the proteges whom I mentor, have also been reading quite proficiently.

 Incidentally today, I picked the Queen of Wands as my card du jour.  I guess the Queen was urging me to take up this 30 day Tarot challenge as a way to revisit my journey with Tarot.  This had significance for me, particularly as in the coming few days, we will be celebrating Yule which symbolizes the return of Light into our lives.  Tarot brought me light, and through me, I hope Tarot has also brought light to my clients.

The Next 20 Questions

Hmm…by this Day 10’s topic, I am starting to feel like I am getting interviewed!.  I am so proud of myself for completing 10 questions in 1 sitting though.  It helped that tonight, the hubby has got band practice, the son is on the phone with his girlfriend, I have completed a few email Tarot readings and the only thing I have to entertain me now are re-runs of Law & Order on TV.

So for the next 20 questions,  Slow Poke Jo can slowly and steadily take my time with these questions while enjoying the blog posts of fellow Tarot bloggers on this challenge.

About The Writer:
The writer of this blog post is a marketeer by trade, and a tarot card reader by accident. She was awarded a Certified Professional Tarot Reader qualification from the Tarot Certification Board of America (TCBA) and was recently certified as a numerologist in Singapore. A member of the American Tarot Association (ATA) and the Tarot Association of the British Isles (TABI), she is also endorsed as a reader for the Free Tarot Network and is a mentor for the ATA.   She can be contacted at www.facebook.com/SunGoddessTarot or www.sungoddesstarot.com








1 comment:

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