Hey Diva, Your Understudy Would Like a Word

Remember when Sebastian Bach was fired from Jesus Christ Superstar before the show in Columbus Ohio? If the multiple standing ovations received by his understudy were any indication, attendees did not miss the lead singer of Skid Row one bit. What's this have to do with the Tarot? Keep reading, my reasoning will reveal itself.

Tarot provides insight into our psyche, shedding light on those areas in our lives where self-improvement is possible, but let's shift gears a little and discuss how Tarot can build confidence and creativity via the therapeutic role-play. Frequently, corporate trainers, therapists, even friends will suggest role-play as a means to grow. Visualization is amazing for creating new habits, I'm certain I've talked about it before. I know I'll talk about it again.

This isn't “Fake it till you make it.”

Sure, there is a level of fantasy and pretend going on, but more than this there's the stepping outside of oneself, adopting a new perspective, and experiencing the sensation of the strange unknown which is often so paralyzing. Have you ever met someone that sticks in a horrible situation simply because it's the one they know best, and the idea of something different is overwhelming? Are you one of those people?

How about a show of hands for all the readers who follow some sort of script as part of their career. I see some telemarketers and customer service reps out there. Yes, I've counted all of you that answer the phone with, “(Name of Company), how may I direct your call?”, there's lots of you! 

The point I'm trying to make is you're already familiar with the concept of role play. You're following a script, after all, doesn't that mean you're acting the part of dutiful employee during business hours? Some of you might even be playing the role of devoted spouse. Just think of the rewards if you weren't playing these roles half-heartedly! But let's not go to extremes; I'm looking at you co-authors of "The Rules", creator of purity balls, and members of Obedient Wives Clubs (past, present and future). Be reasonable.

  
Want to make life more interesting? 

Play out the rest of the day as if you were the person capable of wielding the Ace of Swords. According to the Arthurian Legend Tarot, that individual was Sir Galahad. Noble, brave, decisive, mental prowess, these are just a few of the keywords often associated with the Ace of Swords. Not a bad start, eh?

How would Sir Galahad play the part of you? You may find, like Sebastian Bach, folks like the understudy better. I suppose you could pepper your conversations with “ye” and “thee”; expect funny looks and suggestions for professional consultation. What I really mean is, how would you behave if you were decisive, clear thinking, filled with the sort of mental prowess that caused people to stop and listen to your insightful wisdom? Try it, with any card you happen to draw*, share your experience in the comments below.

*Sure, this takes a moderate knowledge of the Tarot to put yourself into the mindset of whatever card you happen to draw; don't forget all those tarot related sites just waiting to provide a deeper insight to the meaning of each card. There's always Crowley's Thoth deck, beautiful imagery and handy titles like Valor, Debauchery, and Satiation will get your brainstorm brewing.  

Dull Knights and the Bounty They Bring

A few years ago, a friend of mine told me the best gift she could give me was the gift of independence. Okay, so it required finding an apartment within my budget when I had no more to my name than a dollar and a dream, but she was right. It's been a long, rocky road, fraught with one economic pitfall after another, but the wisdom of today's card has made the path not only manageable, but also rewarding in ways mere finances could never satisfy.

Some folks find this image disturbing, others take a look at this guy and find his demeanor comforting. How is it for you? Five years ago, I'd look at this card and heave an almighty groan of despair. These days, when the Knight of Disks works his way to the top of my deck, I smile and invite him to stay a while. I suppose it all boils down to how you interpret his message:

   You reap what you sow

Let me rephrase for all those folks in the “if you ain't making dollars, you ain't making cents” corner:

     Get a job + Go to work = Collect Pay*

*This equation works for any manner of personal “currency”, not strictly financial. Want the payout to be in the form of quality time spent with the family, make the following adjustments:

Get a Job Rent a movie + Go to work call the family together = Collect Pay quality time

If you're out there screaming, “you make it sound so easy!” then you understand why this Knight is often met with such disdain. His sensible, deliberate methodology is such a slap in the face to us die-hard optimists adhering religiously to a minimal effort/maximum payout philosophy. At least we can rest easy knowing this knight won't try to sell us on weight-loss scheme that works while sleeping; no short-cuts or snake-oil tactics for this guy. 

When it comes to sticking to tried-and-true methods, this knight is so reliable he's often misrepresented with labels such as: stubborn, dull, even boring. Let's be fair, he also brings desirable traits such as industriousness, patience, and enduring strength to the table, and with traits like these I'll put up with a bit of boring. Besides, nearly every time someone's called me stubborn about something, I was more of the mind that I was just plain passionate. This is the sort of difference of opinion and self-assessment the Knight of Disks is accustomed to.

Sure, he's not flashy. Compared to other Knights in the deck, this one is firmly rooted, with a gaze so fixed upon the horizon his features are but a blur. It's not the Knight himself that demands attention here, but the overall message of him as a factor in his surroundings. This knight understands that the efforts of today impact the manifestations of the future, this same holds true for his approach to health and diet. He's not pausing to lord over his domain, rather he's stopping to replenish the machine which is his body, he's enjoying the rewards (grain) of his efforts (cultivation of the fields), while training his eye towards building upon this success.

When the Knight of Disks shows up it's a good indication that health and finances are a hot topic. Perhaps a business deal is looming on the horizon, or a legal endeavor will finally be settled. The thing to remember here is you get out of it what you put into it. If your finances aren't in order, straighten them out. If you're financially secure (share your tips with me!) then you may want to consider ways to make your money work even harder for you. For those of you who fail to see the connection between health and finances, please share in the comments below the secret to showing up for work while dead.

If you would like to know what message the Knight of Disks has for you, be sure to book a reading!

When Traveling Through the Dark, Remember Your Light

I have a recurring dream. Oh, sure, it's not always exactly the same, the details vary, but the underlying theme is the same; I reside within a house within a house, and I love it. A secret garden, if you will. The décor is always peaceful, the overall feel is that of a sanctuary, and I get a certain sense of comfort when opening up the doors of these hidden rooms to select friends and loved ones. I love wandering these secret hallways as I make my way towards my inner sanctuary, and get downright cranky if I find other people dwelling there without invitation.  Does this mean that I long to live in a house with secret passage ways and hidden rooms, so I can sneak off when I need an oasis? Maybe. I'm sure my friend Rose could provide greater insight, she's a dream interpreter after all. I have a feeling she'll tell me this dream is symbolic of a need for introspection, peace and solitude. Contemplation of this dream would certainly lead to some insight and wisdom, and that is the message which today's card brings.

The hermit is the universal symbol of contemplation, creativity, introspection and the wisdom which comes from experience.

Swathed in the burgundy robes of wisdom and insight, the Hermit wanders alone, equipped with only his lantern of truth and integrity. Desiring only authentic and meaningful encounters, he prefers to keep his distance from society at large, shunning the idea of consuming simply for the sake of competition with one's fellow man. To the Greeks, this man was known as the philosopher Diogenes the Cynical, best known for carrying a lantern in the daytime in his tireless “search for an honest man”. The term “cynic” derives from the Greek word for dog, which is symbolic of the Hermit's steadfast loyalty to those who are truthful and authentic, and his equally tenacious denial of anyone else. What's important to note here is that the Hermit depicted on this card is not holed up in some cave, bedraggled and motionless; instead, we see him moving, traveling and actively searching for those authentic encounters which give rise to creativity and deeper meaning.

Speaking of dogs, notice our hero is not completely alone in his journey. Acting as his traveling companion is Cerberus, the three-headed guardian of the underworld. One of the dog's heads is looking backwards, representing the need to examine past situations when choosing our present and future paths.

At the heart of the card, we discover the lantern's true light source - the sun. Symbolic of growth, creativity, collaborations, and renewal, the sun spark at the center of the lantern indicates the creative spark which the Hermit has vowed to protect. 

The Orphic Egg and the Spermatazoon symbolize the Hermit's ability to give rise to new physical and spiritual forms. The distance between these two symbols is deliberate, as it indicates the Hermit's ultimate desire to facilitate growth and illumination, while also ensuring that the union is significant, authentic and meaningful. Anything short of that which is desired results in the Hermit preferring to be alone. All of these symbols are set against a backdrop of a billowing field of wheat, signifying the old adage that we reap what we sow. From this we can infer that the Hermit will not plant the seed of wisdom into any mind or heart unless it promises to result in a rich harvest. As a sage and source for insight and wisdom, the Hermit holds a key to the secrets of the universe, sharing this precious knowledge with just anyone weakens its significance; therefore, our central hero carries the ultimate burden of choosing who is worthy of this information while ensuring he's operating from a place of integrity and authenticity.

I'm thrilled to report our world is filled with many figures who embody the Hermit archetype, it's wonderful to know that our hero of the day has been able to find enough authentic and meaningful relationships that we are able to still benefit from his wisdom. You may even recognize aspects of the Hermit within yourself from time to time. Specifically those days when you just want some time alone so you can think in peace and clear the clutter from the clogged corners of your mind. You may even recognize the Hermit in the eccentric individual, or private counselor, you seek for guidance when it comes to the deep, dark secrets you don't share with your immediate circle of friends. 

When you find yourself slipping into a Hermit phase, as we are all prone to do from time to time, embrace it! Take a walk in the evening, go out and get the mental space you require in order to shed some light into those darkened recesses of your mind that are crying to be examined. In short, do whatever you need to do in order to achieve the peace of mind you desire.

For those of you who would like to know what further insights the Hermit has for you, please schedule a reading. Now let's open the floor for discussion, what's your preferred method for seeking peace of mind when your inner Hermit comes calling? I'm looking forward to hearing from you!

Difficult Life Choices, and the Luck of the Draw

Dear Rachel,

I am rather conflicted about my choices when it comes to the little embryo inside of me. Is adoption whats best for the trio of us involved?

Love your die-hard fan,

Katey

Dear Katey,

Before I get into the nuts and bolts of your reading, please let me first commend you for your bravery. It can't be easy to ask such an emotionally vulnerable question to begin with, especially in an open form such as this. The decision you're facing is a difficult one, regardless of circumstances. Rest assured, I promise to give you an honest answer as tactfully as is possible. Ultimately, however, the choice you make is your own. I can only offer insight based on what the cards reveal, you are responsible for the final decision of what you feel is best for you, your unborn child, and your family as a whole. That being said, let's get down to business.

Because you haven't said who the third person is making up the “trio”, I'm going to first talk about the father. That's who I see fleeing the scene, at least (Knight of Swords). I also see his departure was rather abrupt, much like your whirlwind romance and the discovery of your pregnancy. So, here you are, with a child you don't know yet, but already love, and no father to stand by your side during the experience. With him out the door, it's a glaring realization that you're going to be raising this child on your own; a constant reminder of how quickly things can change in the blink of an eye.

Looks like you've got experience in this department.

You've been through this before, this isn't your first try at raising a child on your own, against all odds. In which case, this the other person making up this elusive “trio” could be your other child. If you recall, that stormy affair brought its own happy ending (Nine of Cups). Folks were angry, disappointed and all the other erratic emotions that send up your “everyone is angry, and this is supposed to be a loving environment” alarms. This is a time when you want and need support, but the feedback you're getting is contradictory. I see you have weathered similar storms in the past, this experience is nothing new. Give yourself some credit, when it comes to overcoming supposedly insurmountable odds, you've proven yourself wrong in the past.

If your Mind, Body and Spirit formed a Motown trio, do you think they'd call themselves The Supremes?

For argument's sake, let's say this unspecified “trio” you mentioned is your Mind-body-Spirit connection. When all the chaos of your environment is quiet enough for you to listen to these three in unison, what kind of music do you hear? In the center of this spread we have Art, representing the fusion of opposites. This is alchemy at its finest, even though it takes a great deal of practice, and some failures along the way. It's not easy to take two things which are seemingly opposite and create something wholly new and wonderful from the union.

Looking to the future we have a the Swords representing Mind, it's no surprise you're contemplating all the possible outcomes of your situation, good and bad. Holding firm in the past, you'll see the Cups giving a emotional argument on behalf of Body; the emotions you associate with the first time you held your child are providing a hefty anchor.

What's your intuition telling you? 

The Artist within, representing your Spirit is working hard to be heard, wanting desperately to take a seemingly impossible situation and transform it into something stronger and stable. What if the paradox that's struggling for transformation is you, and this situation you're in is the kick in the pants you needed to figure out what you truly want to achieve in life? Next, what has to happen to shift your gears and bring your mind, body, and spirit into unison?

I can't give you a final answer, Katey, because this is the kind of question which you must ask yourself.  I only hope the insight I've provided will help you come to a decision that you know is the right one. 

Dear Rachel,

I have a concert I'm preparing with 2 other women singers for October 15th. None of us has come right out and said it, but we've hinted at feeling a very positive vibration, and we all feel doors are already opening even as we are just preparing. Is this destined to be an auspicious occasion?

Jean C.

Dear Jean,

Congratulations on this exciting endeavor! October 15^th is just around the corner, and though it will be here before you realize it, I see all of your careful planning and practice will pay off nicely.

The buzz amongst your group is apparent, it's gone unmentioned directly because none of you wants to rush ahead blindly. Even as you're all trying to keep your heads on straight and not get ahead of yourselves, you have a very nice balance of forward momentum (Knight of Wands) paired with the insight and wisdom which can only come from life experience (Queen of Disks). To complete this lovely landscape is the arrival of the "Success" card (Six of Disks).

This is destined to be an auspicious occasion indeed! You can expect the success of your concert to create a positive buzz around you for the next six months, especially if you continue to balance your excitement with strong work ethic. Though you may not see the money start pouring in immediately, you will receive enough positive feedback and a clear enough measure of your success that you will be encouraged to keep making a joyful noise.

I look forward to hearing all about the concert!

When In Need Of Comfort, The Empress Suggests Rice Pudding

Once upon a time, a naïve young man set out on a great adventure, unbridled by a fear of the unknown and excited about what lay around the next bend. In spite of his excitement, many called him a Fool for setting out with little food, less money, and no map or destination in mind. His road was rough and rocky, but each new experience was met with curiosity and enthusiasm for Life's many mysteries. Our adventurer did not stay alone for long, along the path our hero encountered a traveling circus and decided to take in a magic show. That juggler sure could juggle, and that silver tongue of his moved just as fast! You know what they say about a fool and his money being soon parted? Just the same the experience proved beneficial, our hero received a valuable lesson and was the better for it. Now equipped with a cautious mind for potential dangers, but still fearless about what may come next, our hero soon crossed paths with a mysterious woman. Rather than taking offense at being met with such caution, this Priestess was thrilled to see our hero relying on his intuition, and rewarded him with directions to the castle where he could meet the Empress. Weary from his journey, penniless from his encounter with the Magician, and dirty from sleeping on the floor of the Priestess' cave, our adventuring fool collapsed at the gate of the castle and soon after found himself nursed back to health by the Empress herself...

There's a beginning, middle and an end to the story of the Major Arcana, and I will gladly tell it in full at a later date, for now I want to focus on the gentle woman who nursed the Fool in his time of need. The Empress is the image of the quintessential woman. She is the embodiment of the maternal archetype, bathed by the magnetic and feminine energy of the Moon. Within the realm of Mythology and psychology she is more commonly called The Earth Mother, Demeter, Venus, the Anima, as well as yin energy. She holds in her hand a lotus blossom, to remind us of the importance of approaching life from a place of love and wisdom. Her arm is curved in a way to suggest she is ready to give and receive love in equal measure, from a place of comfort and trust. At her feet you'll find a swan surrounded by its nursing young, and a shield depicting a double phoenix. Both the swan and phoenix are symbols of transformation (from ugly duckling to beautiful swan, the phoenix finding rebirth through flames), and are used here to demonstrate the sort of internal and external transformation the Empress nurtures with her wise and loving embrace. She brings a message of balance and harmony, stressing the importance of taking care of ourselves and being cautious to not over-give or become pushy when there's something we want. Whenever we have an emotional involvement in something, it's natural to want to focus a great deal of love and attention on that task and can easily overlook our own needs, or push too hard to eek out progress at an unnatural pace. Which is why the Empress tries to teach us the value of balancing Love and Wisdom.

What's this mean in a practical sense? I'm a novice in the sphere of blogs (a lot like the Fool I mentioned earlier, and more on him in later articles), but not when it comes to Tarot and a host of other talents. Over the years I've wracked up a series of successes, the majority of which have been relatively effortless. Is this to say that I find this step into blogging, and the expansion of my Tarot reading to a global market, to be unsuccessful? Not in the least! In fact, it's going very well, I'm seeing measurable success and it's exciting, I just want to reach out to more people, faster. I know it's unrealistic to think I'm going to have a global following overnight, but I like to shoot for the moon so I can at least wind up among the stars. Because the results aren't manifesting nearly as quickly as I would like, the appearance of the Empress as today's card is important as a reinforcement for what I know in the back of my mind: success will come through patience and loving effort, but not from pushing too hard or becoming exhausted by pooling all efforts in one direction.

What can you do when the Universe is telling you to slow down, but still you're anxious to see some results? Put a little bit of the Empress' wisdom and nurturing ways to work, and try your hand at my rice pudding recipe. In less than an hour you can have a sweet bowl of measurable progress and renewed faith in your abilities to make good things happen.

Rachel's Rice Pudding – yields several servings of tasty goodness in about 30 minutes.

3 Cups Milk

2 Cups Water

1 Cup white rice (not instant)

¼ - ½ Cup sugar (to taste, and honey can be used as well)

1 teaspoon ground cloves

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 teaspoon cinnamon

Combine milk, water, clove and rice in a medium saucepan and stir over medium-low heat. Stir constantly and stir slowly. Use this time to catch up with someone you love and tell each other jokes, and somewhere in the next 15 minutes you'll notice the liquid starting to warm up. Enjoy the warmth of the steam tickling your wrist, this is an hint of the soul-warming to come when you taste the first spoonful of finished pudding. Make sure to take deep breaths of the clove scented milk too, isn't that wonderful? Once the liquid begins to simmer, you've got another 15 to 20 minutes before it's ready, and this is really based on your preference. If you like your rice to have a little bit of tooth to it, stir for 15 minutes, if you like it softer and creamier, shoot for 20 minutes. If you get to the fifteen minute mark and its thickening up quickly, but you want the rice a bit softer, splash in another ¼ cup of milk and go back to that slow, relaxing stirring. When you've reached your desired consistency, add in the sugar, vanilla and cinnamon and give it another two minutes over this medium-low heat. Serve warm.

After trying this recipe, please let me know how it turned out for you, and if you happen to hear an especially funny joke (or horridly bad pun) while cooking the pudding, please share that too! For those of you who would like to take advantage of my limited time offer of readings for $20.00, please visit my website.

You're a Shining Star, No Matter Who You Are

"Self confidence is the key to the universe." -Carrol Wrackley

The key to the universe. Imagine the ramifications of that comment for just a moment. With confidence, limitless possibilities of personal achievement become available. Those things once thought beyond reach become more than the stuff of dreams. Even better, this tapping into unlimited potential is not an impossible task. Oh, it can seem daunting if you don't know the steps towards gaining confidence. Then there's the ever-looming threat of becoming overly confident to the point of arrogance, which seems to be more heinous than low-confidence in the minds of many people. Maybe the real setback is not the tools and steps necessary for building confidence, but the unlimited possibilities of options available once confidence has been established. Having several options and avenues available is much better than none at all.

Several cards within the Tarot speak of the importance of self-confidence, but none quite so clearly as the Star. The imagery alone speaks of being a conduit for divine influence and then manifesting this divine persuasion in our daily lives. Ponder the relaxed posture of the woman as she tilts her cup of divine light in her right hand, lets it flow through her body then releases it through the cup in her left hand. So confident is she in her connection to the divine that she doesn't even need to look at the cup in her left hand to ensure that this light is reaching its destination. Even as she balances lightly upon the crystallization (translation: manifestation) of her achievement, she looks relaxed, but not the least bit arrogant. Demonstrating the lesson that even as we gain confidence, we must also ensure we do not delve into the realm of false confidence, over-confidence, or snobbery; it's a delicate balancing act which takes practice.

So how does one go about gaining self-confidence? The consensus suggests taking minor risks and reaping the benefits of those small risks turning into small successes, others say daily affirmations are the trick to improving self-esteem, and still others insist there is no quick and easy fix because an individual needs to create a structured road map to navigate from the point A of low confidence to the point B of self-assurance. This last option sounds more like a confidence crusher rather than a confidence builder, but then I've never been one to sit idly by and accept that there's only one way to tackle an issue. Personally, I think if the idea of making positive, lasting changes is daunting in your waking life, you should sleep on it. Literally. I'm serious, put your subconscious mind to work for five minutes a day and you will notice the benefits in just one month. If that won't boost your confidence... well, I'm not about to be a Negative Nelly. Because in all honesty, putting your subconscious to work will not only improve your motivation, and emotional intelligence, but also increase your level of happiness. The perfect recipe for building self-esteem, right?

My friends, I now reveal to you the three step (five minute) process of improving confidence subconsciously.

Step One: Before bed each night, take a minute to make a request of your subconscious. My advice is to start small and make it open ended. Asking your subconscious to reveal ways for you to become a Hollywood mogul might be a little bit ambitious at this stage. I have a lot of great things to say about the power of the subconscious mind, but “miracle worker” is not one of them.

Step Two: Take two minutes to visualize yourself actually able to do this thing. Whether it's getting the motivation to eat healthier, or volunteer more often, you must visualize yourself doing the request you've asked of your subconscious. For the sake of argument, let's say you've decided to ask your subconscious for assistance with selecting a healthier diet. Now visualize yourself preparing food, eating and enjoying that food. Don't do this halfway, really visualize the taste, smells, and texture of food. Yum!

Step Three: Take these last two minutes to visualize how you will feel when you actually accomplish this goal. How do you feel when you taste and digest this meal? Energized? Satisfied? Full? Less sluggish? Whatever it is you want to achieve, imagine that you already have accomplished this goal and let that emotion sink in. Then, go to sleep and let your subconscious to the rest of the work.

Trust in your subconscious' vast resources and allow it to do its thing, its goal is to improve your life. Will you see results overnight? Probably not, but that's because some level of action is required from you. You might not leap right into a healthy dining routine, but keep visualizing this change and start making baby-steps as the weeks progress. Then, about two weeks into your visualization routine, just go for it. By that time you should have established enough emotional support behind your goal that the transition is almost effortless. By creating emotional momentum you also create motivation to see your goals through to successful completion. Successful completion of goals builds self-confidence. Greater self-confidence builds motivation to attain larger goals, and the cycle goes on and on.

Consider this your homework. Establish a goal for yourself and use subconscious techniques to create emotional momentum, then report back to me with your discoveries.

If you would like to book a reading with me, please visit my website.

Is Your Spiritual Awakening Keeping You Up At Night?

Feeling a bit restless lately? Sleeping habits changed? Prone to weeping one moment, laughing the next? Worried that the big job you're chasing after may not be the job of your dreams? You're not losing your mind, you could be having a spiritual awakening. Join the crowd. (Even though you may be feeling all alone in crowds these days, which happens to be another of the signs of spiritual awakening.) Restlessness, odd sleeping habits, wacky emotions, and feelings of isolation sound like a recipe for illness and depression, don't they? Good thing an underlying sensation of curiosity and excitement are motivating you to take a look around at the world and where you fit into the bigger picture.