Reflection: Styles of Collaboration

I pulled these cards this morning and discovered a whole new perspective on the Judgement card. I usually think of Judgement as taking an honest look at oneself, making amends, seeking forgiveness, a calling or awakening, or some kind of "coming out." Today, next to the Three of Pentacles and the Five of Wands, both,...

Reflection: The Moon

Yesterday I got a chance to catch part of Caroline Casey's radio show, The Visionary Activist, on KPFA. She interviewed Sandra Ingerman about her new book, How to Heal Toxic Thoughts: Simple Tools for Transformation. At the end of the show, Ingerman told the following story, which she includes in her book: A boy says...

Reflection: The Empress and the Ivy

The other day, my friend Carole and I pulled into a parking space near one of our favorite restaurants, Joy Meadow. When we got out of the car, Carole pointed to a hardy bamboo bush infested with ivy and said, "Look at that! The bamboo and the ivy are at war!" I think of Carole,...

Reflection: Finding The Star in the Painted Desert

  When I was in grad school, my friend Cody and I took a cross-country road trip to deliver our friend, Susan, to Syracuse University, where she would begin her new life. For me, it was a long ride home without her. I was morose and irritable. At the end of a particular 12-hour day...

Reflection: The Devil and “A Passion for Clothes”

Inspired by The Fairytale Tarot, which illustrates 78 different fairytales from around the world, I revisited my anthologies of Jewish folktales. I found the story, “A Passion for Clothes” by Y.L. Peretz to perfectly reflect the theme of The Devil Card. The Devil card can symbolize playfulness and fun, the appreciation of material and sensual...

Reflection: The Ten of Swords and Acupuncture

The Ten of Swords is probably the most gruesome card in the deck and is certainly more disturbing in its imagery than the Death card. Swords in tarot represent our mind, and this poor guy is being pinned down by his many weighty thoughts. James Ricklef in his book Tarot Tells the Tale refers to...

The Emperor, Strength, and the King of Swords: A Reflection on Assertiveness

I drew these three cards today: The Emperor, Strength, and King of Swords: Now isn't this a picture of assertiveness?! At the center of the reading is the Strength card, illustrating a woman who uses a gentle, compassionate touch to tame a beast. To the left of Strength is The Emperor, the archetypal father who...

Reflection: Knight of Cups and Death: The Romantic Idealist and the Existentialist

I was delighted when this pair came up in a reading! I had never noticed the similarity before. The Knight of Cups—Now isn't he dreamy?! Watch out! He'll sweep you off your feet and talk you into quitting your day job in order to pursue your fantasy of becoming a novelist—or a professional tarot reader....

The Magician: Getting Things out on the Table

While doing a reading for my friend, Carolyn, The Magician card turned up. When I asked her to describe the card, she said, "Getting things out on the table." This is by no means a traditional interpretation of the card, but it works for me! It is the Magician's table, which fascinates me most about...