Tarot
When we’re Out of Options
Humans have a hard time with seeing things without putting them in categories. Things are good or bad, sacred or profane, The physical world can be seen as a place that distracts us from our important spiritual work. Looked at from the traditional Christian perspective, we are created, live a brief time on earth, then spend eternity somewhere else – where, based only on what we did while on earth. On the other hand, many cultures see time as more cyclical, and reincarnation is spiritual recycling. We come to earth, learn lessons, die, live some time elsewhere, review the lessons we learned, then come back for new ones (or sometimes a do-over), on and on until we may join with a mystical 0ne. (There are other theories. I guess we won’t know for sure until we get there, and maybe not then.)
But I prefer the idea that the physical and spiritual worlds are blended and equally important. Certainly there is ample evidence that there are other beings out there in parallel worlds that intersect with ours, and some of them seem very eager to hop into our bodies if we give them the chance, (ghosts, loa, ancestors…) to enjoy eating, drinking, dancing, (smoking, screwing,…). This supports the theories that the physical world is a place that makes it possible for us to do things we can’t do on the non-physical planes, and interact with the many other beings who also live here. Spiritual paths that see the physical world as a manifestation of divinity certainly see the natural world as a positive, wonderful place, as spiritually valid as the non-physical plane.
It can also be an uncomfortable and dangerous place, and sometime we have to deal with those aspects of it. Some say that these are the situations we have chosen to learn certain lessons that we need. Certainly when the situation constrains us, we have to focus on what is most important, something we wouldn’t choose to do when given a wide range of comfortable choices. Sometimes our choices are so reduced we don’t have any choices left except how we’re going to deal with the lack of choices. Like a corset or a cast on a broken limb- circumstances sometimes make us stay in a position we wouldn’t otherwise be in. But I mention those images because sometimes, the position, however uncomfortable, is just the one we need to be in.
For those of you who know the Tarot- think of the meanings of the four and seven of cups. (if you don’t read Tarot, look at the images and draw your own conclusions from them.) With the seven of cups we are spoiled for choices, it can even be immobilizing because we have so many to pick from; in contrast, with the four of cups, we are left wondering if we trying to reach for a new option might put what we already have at risk. Having choices is not always beneficial.
So when we are in one of the periods of our life when our choices are reduced or absent, we still have the ability to learn, benefit, and heal from the situation. If nothing else, we may be more appreciative when we get a few more, if humble, options. We may have learned valuable skills and perspectives that will serve us later in life. Or, we may come through the crisis transformed, as so many who go through near death experiences do, with a whole new view of reality. Whether physically, spiritually, emotionally challenged, the greatest lesson usually is some form of help each other when you can.
Speaker Spotlight: Lois Fitzpatrick
Lois is a woman of many talents. She is an accomplished sewer, crocheter, beader, machine-embroiderer, tarot reader and teacher. Under the name “SewMagical”, she ran a sewing-related website for several years, answering questions, posting articles, and writing project tutorials .She was a regular contributor to the electronic newsletter published by a site selling machine embroidery designs.
She is currently the owner of an online store called Magic Cat Designs (http://www.etsy.com/shop/magiccatdesigns) where she sells handmade jewelry and sewn items.
She has been sharing her knowledge of sewing and crafts for many years, starting in high school when she taught a classmate how to use a commercial sewing pattern to make a skirt. Other classes taught have included macrame, hand embroidery, crochet, and calligraphy (not to mention the ones on tarot, scrying, and divination ethics!).
Her thoughts on the variety of interests she has? “One of my favorite quotes is “The universe is full of magical things patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper.” There are so many wonderful things out there just waiting to be found, and I want to find them and share them!”
This year she will be teaching Making Magical Motifs in Hand Embroidery.
Panel Spotlight: Unusual Tarot Spreads Panel
Do you read Tarot? Do you use or create spreads? This panel will be sort of a round table discussion- come with questions about how different spreads serve different queries. We will run the panels that fill first.
We may start with one, three or Celtic cross spreads, but as we use Tarot cards for decades, many of us develop different spreads and techniques for different purposes. A panel full of experienced practitioners will probably share many useful and unique spreads. If there’s time we may talk about how one develops a spread for a special purpose.
Constraint as Discipline
Sometimes we have a lot fewer options than we’d like to have. Sometimes it’s down to simply survive or not. Other times we just don’t have any options we like, or, as so beautifully depicted in the Eight of Swords Tarot card- we don’t know what our options are, but we’re pretty sure they are all bad, and we aren’t able to do anything anyway.
In a case like this, horrible as it is, our path can become crystal clear: when Houdini was in his water escape tank, I doubt he was worried about how many people were in the audience, or whether he looked good in his costume. His entire focus was on unlocking the locks, and getting out of the trap before he needed to draw a breath.
Some of the situations we get into are powerful “learning opportunities”… that we wish we never had. Looking back, sometimes we are grateful that they happened, or at least grateful for what we learned from them. Certainly, it would be better to have the knowledge and wisdom without the misery. But in the real world, sometimes that’s what it takes to learn the big lessons. Some say only hitting rock bottom makes you decide to do what’s needed to fix your problems.
In this human life, we find ourselves in some pretty bad situations, and have to learn to focus on what we really need, and what we need to do. Assigning blame is pointless, the disaster may be something you set up for yourself when you incarnated, it may be the natural result of some bad decision you made earlier, or it could be that you’re in the wrong place at the wrong time, and simply have to learn to deal with that. When the same sort of things happens over and over, it seems more likely that this is a “cosmic clue-by-four” trying to teach you something.
I am reminded of when we first meet the character Chaucer in the movie A Knight’s Tale. The down-on-their-luck heroes are surprised to meet someone in worse shape walking along the road, stark naked. They ask him what he’s doing. He responds: “Trudging. You know, To Trudge? The slow, weary, depressing, yet determined walk of a man who has nothing left in his life except the impulse to simply soldier on.”
The lesson may not be deep, but simply to survive long enough for the next opportunity to improve the situation. We can be beaten by it, or we can survive, and move on. At least it’s hard for it to get worse at that point. (I know- never say that! The gods sometimes have a weird sense of humor.) We may not have consciously manifested this lesson, we may not enjoy it, it may not be part of our “life’s plan”, but we can learn from it.
If you were literally in the 8 of swords, what would you do? Try to cut your bonds with the sword to which you were tied? Call for help? In times of disaster, sometimes all you can do is try to figure out one thing to change to move out of the situation. It’s highly unlikely you’ll ever be tied to a sword, but the images in Tarot convey feelings with which we are all familiar. That’s why we use divination when our brains freeze up and we can’t think of anything else to try. It gives us one more tool to cope. One tiny thing to change. Sometimes asking for help is the thing we really needed to do.
This is part of why we have themes for CTCW, each year it gives us one thing on which we can focus, this year dealing with needs rather than wants, and like so many forms of art, being required to work within those limits often pushes us to discover things we would not have found had we not been forced to work within those limits. We may not like it, but it can be good for us.
Vendor/Reader Spotlight: Luna Hacker and Heathermoon Enchantments
Back again this year- Luna Hacker will be reading Tarot (as well as teaching workshops).
Luna Jean runs Heathermoon Enchantments, and as well as doing Tarot & Bone Readings, will bring a sampling of items from her shop including tarot cards, Incense, Smudge, hand-crafted jewelry etc.
Heathermoon Enchantments is a home-based Witchcraft and Conjure Service business. She’s been a practicing Witch for over 20 years, and resides in the picturesque Hudson Valley, NY.
Heathermoon Enchantments offers
Authentic Magickal Wares include such items as hand-crafted Conjure
Oils, Candles, Mojos, Amulets, Smudge Kits, Magickal & Reiki
charged Bath Salts and Ritual Waters; as well as high quality Herbs
& Curios, to name just a few.
Luna Makes Enchanted Jewelry such as Earrings & Bracelets that make great gifts. All these items created by Luna are made during the correct moon phase and
are charged in love and light in Sacred Ritual Space.
Check out her website and call to make sure that she’ll be bringing the stuff you are hoping to see! www.heathermoonenchantments.com
Looking for other services or have special needs? Just ask!
You don’t have to wait until November! Luna is a gifted professional psychic who offers Intuitive and Spiritual Psychic readings over the phone, Skype, and in person. She has regular clients from all walks of life who reside all over the world. All readings are kept confidential.
Privacy is important to
Heathermoon Enchantments! Your confidence is kept. No information is
shared. All purchases, spellwork, readings, and healings are kept
confidential.
www.heathermoonenchantments.com
and Facebook Psychic Luna Hacker
