How can I get the most Life Bang for my Life Buck?

Living Tarot EXERCISE: Ask this question on your own behalf, using any deck, any layout: "How can I get the most Life Bang for my Life Buck?" Interpret the question, and the cards, in your own way, and tell us what you got.

I broke this out into getting the most from life for my body, mind and spirit, each one being one card. I used my MerryDay tarot.

Body - 8 of Pentacles (keyword Master craftsman). I've been struggling with health issues for years and this tells me to seek out a specialist in his field. There are small green dragons surrounding him, could this mean someone who also takes a more green approach and does not jump to give a prescription!

Mind - Queen of Pentacles ( keywords; composed, cultured, kind) She wears a crown of antlers and animals beckoning for me to join her. She tells me to continue my study of Arianrhod and possible seek a seasoned teacher who is gentle and not present only for her own purposes.

Spirit - 4 of Swords (keyword meditation) Surprise, surprise! I've not had much alone time since welcoming a daughter into our family and the topic has been coming up with conversations, which is typical for me. The world usually repeats what it wants me to know and do until I catch it.

I'm noticing a a strong symmetry in the visual representation of these cards, court female in the centre, males on the outside looking in, roman numerals on the outside cards. Amazing stuff, as I believe taking care of body mind and spirit as leading to truly balanced life.

I usually don't find big surprises when reading my own cards and often pull cards just for confirmation or a "nod of approval". Sometimes I wonder if it's just me projecting what I already know in my heart into the image, but the 4 of Swords blatantly tells me without "reading" into the card and changing it's intent..

The Hanging Man

The universe shuffles and without physically picking up a deck, a card is chosen for me to meditate on in this moment in life. This card seems so straight forward but each deck I own presents it in different images that only add confusion and a feeling of "too much information" I could not seem to process. What has continually amazed me with tarot is that it speaks to me in a way I understand and doesn't often present cards to interpret that I cannot grasp. Until such a time as the universe.. shuffles.



As I walk a cobbled path, in my own thoughts of anger and despair of having a life change thrust upon me, I'm angry and for the time, as unhealthy to my spirit as it is, I'm enjoying rolling around in my anger. I must let it go.. but not just yet, just a few more days I tell myself, then I promise to dig deep within my heart and find a way to let it go, leaving the old life and self behind to take this new path and grow into a new self as the world wishes. A figure hanging upside down startles me out my own thoughts and I as I shake my head I can't help but think and judge "What a fool, what the heck is he doing, does he have no pride and concern for what others think of him, hanging around like that...a grown man!?" My angered state pauses from directing inward for long enough to look at him with disdain and judgment. As I give him a wide girth and walk on past he beckons me, "I've been at this a long time, sacrificing my pride and turning my world upside down just to make sense of it all. Now it's your turn."

The hanged man, ironic how he hung just off of my beaten path until I was ready to take a second look. Holding true the unusual concept of this card, others looking at the hanging man awkwardly thinking he's just silly and has no idea while under the surface, and to those willing to stop and chat, he's got a lot to teach us if we just leave preconceptions behind. Keywords being change and sacrifice.

Since unpacking the Animals Divine Tarot I've left it aside for other decks that fit RWS and are less abstract in their images. I haven't warmed up to it as a reading deck but the images and artwork memorize me. Despite leaving it aside I remember first thumbing through this deck and finding myself drawn to the Spider Woman (the artists alteration of the hanged man). This card is an image that has stuck with me since I first gazed upon it and it is the only card in the deck that I can visualize without having to open the box and riffle through the deck to find. Unconventional as the Animals Divine deck is from RWS, the Spider Woman is an image that can create even more confusion, but the intent has a depth that others don't have. The companion book listing the symbols within the card tell it all.

"The web is a matrix of all life. Our actions have a karmic effect and can affect other lives in far-reaching ways. The stars help illuminate our progress as we contribute our own unique threads to the ever-changing design. The spider is the great Mother, our teacher, guide and weaver of destiny. A feather signifies her ability to expose truth despite our possible resistance to acknowledging it. the circular motif reminds us that life is continuous and ever-evolving. changes are inevitable."

Two of my other decks also change the image, no wonder my confusion and inconsistent ingrained recollection of the meaning of this card.

Again the Hanged Man is totally revamped in The MerryDay tarot but strikingly similar to Animals Divine. Looking closely I see the same web reappear in the top left corner and find comfort now that I understand what it symbolizes. While the man is not hanging or looking silly, he is deep within thought. The wheel behind him alludes to changes and traveling a new path. Again feathers re-emerge in this image, as in the Spider Woman! I'm amazed at how different the two cards are while the intent is almost identical. I'm still stumped on the symbolism of his feet being bound by what looks to me like an extension of the water and waves at his feet. The water heals as he exposes his sole (soul) to it's movements.







The Mona Lisa brings back the fun and playful aspect of the Hanging Fae and demonstrates that we are not the ones who pull our strings!





So I drag my heavy feet forward, heavy with anger tied to a past path made of what now feels like concrete and a path I cannot follow. Much like tipping a jar containing fine colored grains of sand, I raise my heavy feet and peer around at a world that seconds ago was so familiar and comfortable, fit like a glove..except for the too tight stitching and the fact that left thumb always felt a little too short...

As the sand transforms, pouring into new shapes as beautiful, unique and special as the last, my old perceptions change slightly, the things I clung to look harmless despite their menacing oppression, some even seem to fit into the "ridiculous" and "of course it was wrong for me". It's all clearer that my negativity of late has stemmed from holding onto to something that's no longer mine. Pining for something that now, cannot happen and is no longer my truth. Everything has changed, I need to sacrifice my old self, accept it and live in the moment I'm living.

With a whoosh I sweep back onto the soles of my feet, feeling the solid ground below me, centering me and bringing me to the exact spot in life I am meant to be in. My step is lighter as I turn to look at the way I came and am able to I look back to the person I was just moments before and know that while she can't come the whole way, she'll always be here.

I curtsey to the Hanged Man, thanking him for his powerful wisdom, apologizing for my haste in my ignorant opinion of him filled with superficial judgment because he's so odd and his background seemingly mundane. Perhaps another day I'll come back and ask him to tell me his story of how he came to hang upside down and how he knew it would help despite the awkward looks and unconventional approach.

Tarot Ritual for Change

I'm nearing the final phase of my pregnancy and the need for sleep is overpowering. Only 5 more weeks of work and trying hard to live in the moment. The future holds love, uncertainty and major ignorance or insight into what that future may hold. The past holds a foundation of contentment, acceptance and being, a theme and lifestyle I want to continue.... And then there's the aches, pains and concentration of moving around today that give me no choice but to be aware of the space I contain at that exact moment in time.

I have slacked off spiritually, but am wondering if that's my way to bring my baby into the world unbiased, allowing them to learn and choose the path that works for them. I do give thanks and find awe and beauty everyday, I have not totally become cut off from the divine. I look forward to a year off from work filled with discovery and growth... me and the new addition.

I think I'm falling for the Mona Lisa Tarot. After working with my Merry Day I found I did not feel as compelled to collect or read with other decks. The Merry day pulls me in and pops out at me. However, I'm feeling pulled to the Mona Lisa after reading there are consistencies and non linear stories within the images. Call it impulse, but I think I just may purchase it this weekend! While zooming around the internet I found this interesting tarot meditation and thought I'd document/share it.

Below is a portion of the article from Llewellyn.. linkage
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A Tarot Ritual for Change
To begin, set up your altar with a black cloth. Place an ear of corn on the left side, a beeswax taper candle in the center, and a chalice of wine or grape juice on the right side. If you like, cast a Circle. From your favorite tarot deck, remove these cards: the Hanged Man, the Empress, the World, the Three of Cups, and the Two of Pentacles. Settle yourself in front of your altar and light the candle. Take three breaths, slowly exhale, and place the Empress face up in the center of the altar. Focus on the energy of the protective Earth Mother. See a sphere of brilliant green-earth energy surrounding you and comforting you.

Continue meditating as you cover the Empress with the Three of Cups. Visualize all that is good and abundant in your life and give thanks. Think of what you have harvested in this year, what projects you have completed, and what rewards you have gathered. Enjoy the feeling and be proud of your achievements. Then, place the Two of Pentacles atop the Three of Cups. Imagine the cycle changing, and accept that life is ever-moving and that there is always more to do. Think about the things you've accumulated—ideas, concepts, beliefs, and material goods—that might get in your way as you shift into a new cycle.

At this point, place the Hanged Man over the Two of Pentacles. Envision yourself making the sacrifices necessary to open the doorway for change. Imagine what you need to remove from your life—faltering friendships and relationships, old goals that are no longer applicable. See yourself now, making changes and creating a space for new experiences and people to enter your life. Know that if you have the courage to make room, positive change will come.

Lastly, place the World atop the Hanged Man. Feel the Wheel turning, and feel the Universe responding to your call. Know that serendipity will fill your life as you let go of outworn and outdated concepts and ideas. By surfing the crest of the Universe, you flow with the current of change rather than attempt to ride against it. Now pick up the chalice of wine or juice and toast yourself, this holiday, and the spirit of change. For only by embracing the void can we hope to attract new experience.

Tarot Study - The Suits

I have seen and read (in books and online) about using the numbers on tarot cards for study by understanding common themes. Two references would be my MerryDay companion book and a book in Mary K. Greer's series. I've read it being called "Constellations". There are also references online for the art of reading with a 52 deck of cards, using suit and number, called cartomancy. The next few tarot blog entries will be about using suit and number to add finesse to your reading, the best place to start would be to understand the suits (and relate them back to a 52 regular playing deck). This may also help with the court cards.. we'll get to that after the numbers.

Look at your deck and decide if it matches the common elemental associations. Please look carefully at Wands and Swords because sometimes the elements are reversed and Air is used to represent Wands while Fire is used to represent Swords. If your elements are reversed for these two suits, your general meaning will follow element not suit. Yes, yes, not all suits are named exactly, I've put the other names below as well to help. If you come across something different than below, I'd love to hear from you!


Fire = Wands/Staves/Staffs/Baton = Clubs
The red firey tip on some decks wands brings me back to learning color. Red and Fire represent the energy and passion or fire within. Your drive and motivation to journey, to excel at work, spirit or creativity. Something you put your own personal energy into.

Water = Cup/Chalice = (you guessed it) Hearts
Water soothes and heals, it's a conduit for electric energy and connects us to the divine. The tides ebb and flow as do our emotions. Cups represents love, I see it as loving others as well as loving ourselves and the earth we inhabit along with her creatures and creations.

Air = Swords = Spade
The air carries our words to others. Words can cut like a blade. Swords are about thoughts, ideas and communication.

Earth = Pentacle/Coins/Discs = Diamonds (mined from the Earth)
From the earth we are born, from the earth minerals are mined and refined. Pentacles is of body and tangible things of this world, including money. This extends to business matters as well, I see it as business bringing in cash wealth.. or not.


Cups as water, that's a pretty easy element association, a chalice holds water. A sword slices through the air. Coins or pentacles are mined from the earth. Wands sometimes have a red (fire) crystal at the tip. I have thoughts on remembering the element if your deck has Swords and Wands reversed, but I don't want to confuse them, so I'm going to leave them out.

I use visualization to remember the playing card associations. I couldn't resist putting my association for Pentacles and Cups above in brackets. That leaves Wands and Swords, for those I have images that dance in my mind. I see a club held over a caveman's head, as if in a dream he morphs into a wizard carrying a wand, both are tools and can be held above the head to "assert" their power. I see my mom digging in her garden using a spade, she's one tough woman that in days past I could see overcoming stereotypes and looks and jeers to become a knight carrying a sword! I tell ya, I never wanted to mess with her!


My personal decks in relation to the elements
MerryDay has the suits in the following order and element: Swords (Air, Spring), Wands (Fire, Summer), Cups (Water, Autumn) and Pentacles (Earth, Winter). The pictures in the Mystic Faerie do not show seasons, only one suit story (yes, each suit has an enchanting story, bringing the fae and the deck alive) tells of a season, the one element is also not very prevelant within the images. For the Mystic Faerie: Wands (Fire, Summer), Cups (Water), Swords (no apparent element by deduction Air will suffice) and Pentacles (Earth). By deduction I can assume the Swords are air, but honestly there's nothing on the pictures to classify it. The swords are represented by thorns.. not very airy to me. My Faery Wicca deck is named from cities, I'm leaving those out to avoid confusion. My other decks are newer and will require more study later, they are very quirky in their own right and I think two work for examples to give you something to work from and relate to your own deck.


*online references include IvyRose Holistic Resources and Thirteen's Tarot Card Meanings online at Aeclectic.net .

8: Strength

Today I call on Strength.

The sun settles and begins its departure. Magic buzzes for those celebrating the coming eve.
She quietly steps through the cracking leaves,

Fingers caress the trees, wisps of energy stream from fae and tree as she passes,
Some young and full of green life, some old and stoic, both are treasures,
Energy flows from tree to fae and fae to tree,
Both are living in the moment, she whispers "Just be".

Gracefully the trees part along the path and she glides out in open space to meet a kindred spirit,
Of it's dangers and wild spirit have always been writ,
A majestic dragon, one with the earth and knowledge of ages past
In the presence of her love and understanding it basks.

She breathes deeply and centers on the fire within, a spark flutters to life, tendrils of red and orange heat begin their dance. Her heart surrounds the flame, accepting it for all that it is and all that it was. All that it can be requires her tender care and a constant awareness for balance, she cannot allow the flame to consume her. She calls upon her inner calm and tranquility to surround the flame, leaving it room to breathe.

In this clearing I've come to learn,
This quiet control of the flame of life is what I yearn,
I caress each tree as I wander quietly away,
And value, with time and desire, I will survive to see the day.