Do The Hustle Tarot Spread

This is me in my flares
ready for the Tarot Hustle ;)

I rarely share YouTube videos on my blog, but the one you're about to see has blown my socks off, so you better watch it, too ;)

It's been created by Carrie Paris for World Tarot Day (25th May), and I discovered it on Jordan Hoggard's Google+ page today.

I never thought it was possible to combine Tarot with a dance move, but it works! And the spread is just fantastic.

Don't delay any longer, get groovy with the Tarot Hustle, and let me know what you think ;)

Enjoy!




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Raising your Vibrations with Tarot

© J. Ahrendt

The latest buzz phrase that keeps popping up on the internet is "raising your vibrations". I rarely fall for new age pseudo-speak ("cosmic-dimensional" and "self-harmonisation" make me laugh), but this one I love.

It simply relates to the energy and vibes we all radiate, and we can certainly do something about those on a down-to-earth, practical level.

Don't underestimate how your presence can affect other people around you.

Even when you put on a brave face at times of adversity or try to cover up emotional turmoil by keeping up appearances, on a subconscious level negative vibes such as anguish, fears, sorrow, resentment, low self-esteem, suppressed emotions and insecurities can be picked up by others. This can have a detrimental effect in relationships, at work, when you go for an interview... Learn to be aware of your vibrational level and nurture it to make things work for you.

Raising your vibrations means increasing positive energies you are sending out into the world. It is very much rooted in the spiritual realm, tuning into your soul and inner wisdom to boost qualities such as confidence, self-worth, optimism, grace, contentment, humility and unconditional love.

How can you raise your vibrations?

Here are just a few suggestions to get you started:

• Think positively
• Encourage others
• Be less judgemental
• Become more tolerant
• Practice forgiveness
• Clear negative emotions
• Show compassion
• Become more aware
• Live in the present
• Practice gratitude
• Let go of attachments
• Take time out to relax
• Meditate
• Take responsibility
• Empower yourself

Sometimes we are unaware of the energies we radiate, and when we do recognise being at a low point, a little nudge with the Tarot (or Oracle cards) can help lift you up again.

Ask the Tarot:

1. What is my current level of vibration?
2. What can I do to raise it?
3. How can I maintain it?

For this little sample reading I have used the Sirian Starseed Tarot:

Sirian Starseed Tarot © Patricia Cori 2012

1. Two of Crystals (Two of Pentacles)
I'm getting good vibes from this image: a man is standing by the sea holding two beautiful crystals in his hands. He is looking up at the blue sky. The elements of air water and earth are present in this image; it is a harmonious mix. This card describes the vibrations of someone, who is in tune with nature, but is also aware of the need to create balance in their lives; perhaps a choice to be made or ways to figure out how to integrate them  Creating this balance isn't always easy, and that can show occasionally in the energies that radiate from this person.

2. Five of Orbs (Five of Swords)
The juggler in the image doesn't realise (or care about) the two orbs that lie broken on the ground, yet he keeps on juggling in a remote spot on a little rock by the sea. This image suggests the need to pay more attention and care to communication, choosing words wisely and looking at the bigger picture. Perhaps the juggler feels superior in some way, but this attitude only isolates him. Avoiding battles and opt for cooperation instead will raise vibrations. Focus on creating a win-win situation in a conflict rather than trying to win at all costs.

3. Abundance (The Empress)
Maintain and even further raise your vibrations with the constant flow of love; love for others and for yourself, self-care and nurturing others, feeding and harnessing your creative talents and forces, being in tune with the natural flow and embracing the beauty that is present in the here and now.

Why not try this spread today to raise your vibrations? Or you can order this reading by visiting my email reading page and request the 3-card reading.

Warmest wishes,

Christiane


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A Message from the Ten of Swords

"Rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life." 

J. K. Rowling

Affirmation: Now that I have nothing more to lose, I am free to start again. 

For more inspiring quotes and affirmations for each card please check out my ebook Empowering Messages from the Tarot

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Learning Your Life Lessons Tarot Spread

Morgan Greer Tarot  © US Games 1993

During our lifetime, our experiences teach us many lessons: we make mistakes, we get things right, we observe other people and learn from them. We travel, work, build relationships, acquire knowledge, meet challenges and experience change.

Sometimes we need to stop and pause to remind ourselves of the lessons we have learned so far and how they can be of use to us at a particular time. If we don't, then we may end up making the same mistake twice or get stuck in a rut.

For this purpose, I have designed the following spread.

Each card in the Tarot (and even oracle decks) offers a life lesson that is personal to you. Meditate on each card you have drawn - what are the lessons you need to remember and make use of today and in the future?

Take your time but be concise. My sample reading is below:

1. Life lesson I need to apply in the Present
2. Life lesson that sustains me
3. Life lesson I learned in the Past and is still relevant today
4. Life lesson that protects me
5. Life lesson I will need to apply in the near future

1. 4 of Swords - Having regular breaks from work and busy situations does wonders for creativity, physical and mental health. Never let others determine when you can rest and recharge. Take time out when you need it, and this is what I need to do in the present.
2. 7 of Pentacles - Don't expect overnight success. Putting in my best efforts with patience over time will eventually bear fruit. Everything I care for deserves my full attention and nurture at all times. This lesson sustains me at any time I feel insecure, have doubts or have to define my priorities.
3. 3 of Wands - Don't be afraid of new beginnings and the unknown. I have experienced many changes in my life, and I shall move forward with trust and optimism on my new life path ahead.
4. 2 of Cups - Love! Building and maintaining harmonious relationships, developing mutual trust, tolerance and understanding even at times of uncertainty and change. Unconditional love and rising above anger, resentment and limiting attachments protects me from severe heartache and long-term bitterness.
5. 5 of Pentacles - I need money to pay my bills and make a modest living, but I also know that money doesn't necessarily make me rich. Life's riches are often found elsewhere. I need to be more aware of the little things that enrich my life and look out for them every day. Limiting my desire for material possessions will help me through lean times whilst still feeling content.

What life lessons have you learned and how does the Tarot help you apply them? 

Warmest wishes,

Christiane

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Feeling Alive

Magical Mermaids and Dolphins Oracle
 © Doreen Virtue 2003

I've been trapped in the house for the last five days by the snow. My car was hopelessly stuck in the nearby cul-de-sac; it's one of those useless cars with front-wheel drive, so it just didn't want to budge.

Today I decided I had to get out to go to the gym and do some grocery shopping. Needless to say, the car was stubbornly staying put on the snowy/icy surface of the road.

I had to get a shovel and dig it out. Gasp!

After a week of feeling cosy and comfy at home, I threw myself at the mercy of the adverse UK weather conditions. I even contemplated digging my car out - I've never done that before in my life!

To cut a long story short, I started off half-heartedly and wanted to give up after five minutes.

But a little voice told me not to give up, and I kept on digging and trying to move the car, got hot and sweaty along the way, but also more determined not to give up. By then, I was digging for victory.

And in the process I started to feel alive.

I realised that during the last five days I was just a little too comfy in my little bubble at home.

I needed a moment like this to wake up and feel my whole body move and work and sweat. Hell, I was on the way to the gym, and this dig was my warm-up!

I felt alive, because I had to overcome a challenge I've never had to deal with before. In the past, it would be  a job I'd pass on to the man in my life, but not today.

It took me half and hour and two Jehova's Witnesses (bless them!), who gave me the final push and set my car free.

It felt like waking up from a slumber, and I'm now thinking that we all need something every day that will make us feel alive.

No need for it to be anything out of this world; just an ordinary task or situation, which is experienced mindfully and consciously. 

The card above from Doreen Virtue's Mermaids and Dolphins Oracle has come up as a message regarding my experience today - a lesson learned, and it makes sense:

I was nearly giving up and going back into the house, but I decided not to quit. So many people give up on what they want to achieve without realising that with a little more effort they were just about to make it.

Sometimes you just need to hang in there a bit longer and keep going.

What has made you feel alive today? 

If you feel you need to get out of apathy, routine or even out of your comfort zone, why not ask the Tarot:

What can I do today to make me feel alive? 

Use the cards to encourage you to live life to the full. And please do let me know how it works for you. I'd be thrilled to hear from you.

Warmest wishes,

Christiane

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Developing Your Intuition

Tarot of Quotes

As children we tend to rely very much on our instinct rather than knowledge and practical experience. But over time we are gradually conditioned by society to base actions, thoughts and feelings on evidence and logic.

Now is a good time to remember the importance and power of intuition; when you have to make a split-second decision, you will most likely follow your instinct rather than logic and reason.

Using your intuition is also an important skill when reading the Tarot. You may know lots of different meanings for all the cards, but which one is relevant in each reading you do depends on your intuition.

How intuitive are you?

There are some key rules to identify your current level of intuition:

1. You recognise an object with very little time to see it properly, usually less than a second.

Try flicking through magazines and recall afterwards the images you noticed. You can also look quickly at group photos of friends and family and identify afterwards specific people you noticed.

2. When you look at clouds, many images come to your mind.

Making creative associations through this kind of openness help you to generate new ideas and insights.

3. You can take in a scene quickly and recall details.

Look at a crowd scene and then look away. Ask yourself questions about details, perhaps individual actions, clothing, weather, surrrounding area, buildings etc. If your intuition works well, then you are not aware that you take in all this information. It all works 'automatically'.

How can you improve your intuition?

There are a few universal principles to help you develop this skill:

1. Become an expert

The more you know about a subject matter, the sharper your intuitive sense will be. So, the more you practise and read about tarot and absorb the information, the better your readings and accuracy will become over time.

2. Pay attention to your feelings

Don't ignore that inner voice telling you that something is not quite right with the person or situation you are dealing with. Let go of trying to find 'evidence'. Instead just act according to how you feel.

3. Trust your intuition

Relax; it's not easy to reduce the input of a conscious mind, but regular exercise will help you improve. Start a journal; record your dreams, don't doubt the validity of the messages that come through to you; be conscious of your environment and tune in. Try pulling a tarot card at random and without hesitation come up with an instant message from the universe for yourself. Avoid censoring your thoughts; in that moment you stop using your intuition. If nothing comes up, pull the next card. Keep going until something 'clicks' in your head and ideas start trickling.

4. Stay Healthy

Keep your energy clear; meditate, eat wholesome foods, get active and sleep well. Regular fresh air activities will help you clear your head from distracting thoughts and become more receptive to more useful messages when they come through.

5. Observe the Moon Cycles

The full moon is a powerful time for receiving intuitive messages. At this time also pay particular attention to your dreams.

Enjoy developing your intuition. After all, learning to trust your instincts will help you make the best decisions when stuck at a crossroads.

Warmest wishes,

Christiane

PS: One of the best ways to develop your intuition is to learn the Tarot and start reading for yourself and others. Wherever you are in the world, you can enrol on my Online Tarot Course at any time and enjoy dedicated 1-2-1 tuition via email. Explore your personality and see the world from a new perspective with the ancient art of Tarot.

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Cropping Tarot Decks

Sirian Starseed Tarot © Patricia Cori 2012

I've got a new hobby: cutting up Tarot decks! Well, not really cutting them up (perhaps in the name of art or madness I will do that at a later stage...), but removing the distracting borders of the images. 

In the photo above you can see my first victim: the Sirian Starseed Tarot, which had an irritating white border (check out my review of this deck with a "before" picture). 

What do you think?

If you haven't thought of cropping Tarot decks before, and you are considering it now, then go for it! I know it takes a little courage to start cutting your beloved cards, but trust me, you will like the result, especially if you own one of the following decks:

1. Crowley's Thoth Tarot

2. Druid Craft Tarot

3. Pearls of Wisdom Tarot

4. Wildwood Tarot

5. Vampire Tarot (see the cropped images in Lisa's post at Love Dove Tarot, and enjoy her interesting Tarot spread too!)

and of course the Sirian Starseed Tarot as above.

All you need is a paper guillotine and a corner cutter.

Are you a seasoned cropper? Get in touch and let us know of your successes as well as disasters. Which decks would you like to trim next? Let us know! Are you a beginner and wonder if your deck is suitable? Ask me before you mess it up :)

Changing your standard deck to borderless images can have quite an impact on your readings and offer you new perspectives.

Go on, have some fun and be creative :)

Christiane

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Inspiration - Healing Yourself

“It is precisely because we resist the darkness in ourselves that we miss the depths of the loveliness, beauty, brilliance, creativity, and joy that lie at our core.” - Thomas Moore, Dark Nights of the Soul

The deepest wounds we all carry are locked in our subconscious. Deep memories and subtle impressions; unfinished experiences, rooted in the past.

The pain from those wounds comes to revisit, to block and paralyse us in the moment called now. We all know it comes without warning: "Why am I feeling this way... I didn't mean to do that... I don't know what made me say that."

Healing does not mean finding and treating every single inner scar which sends its message to haunt us.

It means

going even deeper

past those wounds

beyond those distant memories and recordings of unfinished business

to the core of our self

to the heart of our spirit

where we find the light and warmth of our own core qualities of love and peace.

They are eternally present within us; they are what we need to heal all our inner wounds. That's why this kind of deep healing is called spirituality and not therapy. (thoughtfortoday.org)

"The wound is the place where the light enters you." - Rumi

In your darkest moment, when the pain seems to become unbearable..embrace it and nurture your determination to rise into the light again like a phoenix from the ashes.

Warmest wishes,

Christiane

Transform your life this year: 

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Zodiac Card of the Month: The Star

The Star is associated with the zodiac sign Aquarius. If Aquarius is either your sun, moon or rising sign, then the Star is one of your zodiac cards.

As a sun sign card, the Star may reflect your conscious, expressive, outward, open personality; how you engage with people and the world around you.

As a moon sign card, the Star reflects your unconscious, hidden, blocked personality traits, instincts and emotions; you feel them within.

As your ascendant (or rising sign), the Star reflects how other people see you, especially when they first meet you. Your ascendant shows your natural, habitual, instinctive and spontaneous reaction to new people and situations. First impressions!

Personality Traits associated with the Star: 

Positive: independent, progressive, rational, original, inventive, witty, humanitarian, intellectual, visionary, innovative, self-expressive

Negative: impractical, cranky, detached, erratic, unpredictable, argumentative, sarcastic, rebellious, unemotional, idealistic, indecisive

The Star/Aquarius Life lessons:

• living within boundaries and structures without limiting vision and self-expression 
• combining idealism with reality 
• achieving mental and spiritual enlightenment through knowledge and understanding 
• learning to balance self-discipline (Saturn influence) with the need to be a free spirit (Uranus influence) 
• be willing and determined to be a pioneer, even if standing alone, for the greater good of humanity 
• focus on the needs of the collective without neglecting those of the individual 

The following Aquarius correspondences also relate to the Star:

Element: Air
Season/Timing: Winter (January 21 - February 19)
Ruling Planets: Saturn and Uranus (also associated with the Devil (Saturn) and the Fool (Uranus))
Stone: Aquamarine
Key Word: Independence
Key Phrase: I Know


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Will I ever find Love again, and if yes, when?

Cosmic Tarot, Norbert Lösche © 1988 F.X. Schmid

A few years ago I worked for a celebrity psychic providing text readings, and every day I logged in to answer people's questions, the ones that came up most often and every day was "Will I ever find love again?" and "When will I find new love?"

First of all, I take every question seriously, regardless how ridiculous they may sound to some people. For me, behind every question there is a human being wanting / needing some answers, so I'm happy to answer these questions here for you, in order to save you some money.

You see, there is no need to pay a Tarot reader to tell you whether you will find love again and when, because the answer is always the same (or similar):

Yes, of course you will find new love, and it will come at the right time.

No ethical Tarot reader in the world would say "No, you'll never find love again, and you'll be miserable for the rest of your life." :)

However, as an experienced Tarot reader I can sense so many more hidden issues and angst in a question, which need to be addressed in order for my standard positive answer above to become reality for you. This is where a Tarot reading would be helpful to look at your specific situation and work out how you can overcome the issues you are facing.

If you are asking yourself right now, if and when you will be happy in love again, then you may be:

• recently suffered a relationship break-up
• insecure and suffer from low self-esteem and self-worth
• lack confidence (or your confidence has been dented by a break-up)
• still haven't got over a relationship breakdown that happened a while ago
• still thinking about what happened in the past and about the ex
• comparing new potential lovers with your ex
• worry about the future; needing reassurance
• feel lonely and depressed
• thinking too much about stuff you cannot control
• missing out on fun, excitement and adventure in the present
• perhaps even engage in mindless, hollow sexual encounters without loving attachment

Which of the above points can you identify with? Which ones are holding you back from moving on?

Each one of them can be resolved by taking positive action, for example:

• talk to friends about your situation; they will support you in your time of grief; also check out helpful advice on the internet
• treat yourself to new clothes that make you feel good; have a massage, spa treatment etc., spend time with good friends
• socialise to make new friends without seeking a relationship; don't put pressure on yourself to find the man/woman of your dreams wherever you go, instead enjoy light conversations and laughter
• explore why you cannot get over your last break-up; perhaps it was messy, hurtful and you thought you'd spend the rest of your life with that person, and then your dreams were shattered..you will need to work on acceptance, letting go for good and healing. Check out my tips on how to recover from a break-up and turn a crisis into a transformational journey
• every relationship is unique; sometimes it's not love at first sight, and it takes a little while to realise what a person can offer. Be open-minded.
• the future isn't cast in stone; there is no control over it. Even Tarot cards and crystal balls cannot tell you exactly what will happen. Really. There, I said it. Embrace the future whatever it may hold.
• loneliness is a sign that you need to get out more. Social activities will help. Meet new people. If you don't have many friends, then you can make new ones in your local area through social sites like City Socialising and Meet-up. 
• make each day worthwhile and enjoy the present; live consciously and mindfully; do something each day that makes you feel good; try new activities / sports etc. you've never done before; be spontaneous; take care of yourself (physically, emotionally, spiritually)
• set high standards and values you adhere to; you never need to go with second-best. Be patient; enjoy some flirting and friendship, but save intimacy for the one, who really rocks your boat and shows s/he's keen to offer you a fulfilling relationship 

Be honest with yourself and take action to feel happier and more content with the situation you are in right now. The more content you are with the here and now, the more you tackle the underlying issues of your insecurities and doubts, you will no longer ask these questions, and suddenly your new love pops into your life without warning, when you least expect it.

Warmest wishes,

Christiane

PS: The image of the Seven of Cups from the Cosmic Tarot reflects very aptly a sense of desperation, clinging to the past or unfulfilled dreams and emotional insecurity. LWB keywords: "A man lies on the floor, tortured by restless dreams. Meaning: Illusion, daydreams, ruin, imagination, delusion, illusionary success, testing of wishes and fears, productive power of fantasy, dream-work."

Transform your life this year: 

Tarot Readings - Insightful guidance when you need it 

Learn Tarot - A magickal, inspirational tool for life

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