Temptation Enters

Today's card is Temptation...and I'm pretty sure I know what it is referring to in regard to my Weekly Card....each morning I'll try and put up the daily card and then I will come back and type it up in the evening...because since I am going to be "overwhelmed" this week at work...I need to get there early!!!

Okay I'm going to approach this card a little differently and then tie it into the weekly draw.

I'm going to first think about the number fifteen...reduced to 1 +5=6....so Six....a path the seeker must tread....yes that works...Temptation is always a path...with the first little tingle of temptation one must decide whether to venture down the path or not. Blogged about this before...whether someone can be viewed as the tempter or if we are all our own tempters. While primarily it is an inner conflict within ourselves I do believe that people prey on others' weaknesses at times and lure them into things.

Element: Earth (things are grounded, things are stable) Surprises me that Temptation is the Earth...grounded and stable? Hmmmm...I would think of it more as changing and growing. Well I suppose that in the sense that it is a common and core inner conflict for all of humankind...it is stable.

My Lesson: "There are lessons to be learned from the things that tempt us and in doing so we will be changed forever."

For each fairy tale I am "picking" a personal lesson to learn from the tale so for Bluebeard, I picked the above. For in the story, the woman discovers an awful truth because she is tempted to discover what is behind the locked door, and in doing so her life changes.

So let's put this together with the Weekly Card..Ten of Wands. The Weekly card indicated being overwhelmed or heavy burdens. So far very accurate for the week...add to this the Temptation card...and we have Fire + Earth...they strengthen each other but are neutral. So sort of cancel each other out.

So let's look at it another way...Ten plus six....Ten is completion...something for me will come full circle this week...it will end or be completed...maybe an actual project or a way of thinking or maybe I'll just say..."I'm done with it." Six is a path the seeker must tread...this make me think it is more the idea that I have to come to terms with the responsibilities of the job as well as a coworkers "method" of dealing with people.

Meanings: overwhelmed + controversy/dark forces.....This week will be overwhelming and intertwined will be some dark forces or controversy surrounding work. The "temptation" will be to either shut down and avoid working..."escape" or to "buy into" someone else's agenda.

I'll be back tomorrow with another card to add to the spread.

My Week Ahead

This week...I am going to outline here on Once Upon a Time my Weekly/Daily Draw as it occurs along with daily thoughts about the cards...it works like this...tonight (Sunday night) I draw a card for the coming week...this is my weekly card and provides the center or the crucial aspect of the week. Then each day I draw a card for the day...and record it along with how it relates to the week. The goal is to look for patterns and ask questions. It sort of ends up being an eight card spread that takes place over the course of 8 days. You also record how many you get of each suit, any major arcana cards and duplicates of those also. Okay on to the card.

Oh dear...Ten of Wands...honestly I was hoping for something a little more upbeat...but no "draw overs". So I'll go with it.

Ten of Wands: Heavy burdens, over whelmed, overextension (I'm thinking this pertains to work)

Wands=Fire...Things are moving. Things are changing.

Ten = The end, completion....hmmmm

Fairy Tale: Rumplestilskin...we all know the tale...guess my name!!! And boy does this fit...a work project that is constantly changing and NO ONE really knows what is what and it's like shooting in the dark to guess.

Art: The girl is kneeling with the trail of ten wands partially around her and then at her back. They are glowing., lighting the room, while that little Rumplstilskin leers in from the door....Here hands are clutched as she hopes for a miracle to save her.

Tomorrow I will post the next card in the series of draws and how it may relate to the Weekly Card.

VI The Lovers?

Well for the Sunday Daily Draw I have The Lovers.....hmmm this is one to ponder for a bit...(this is the last card in my Weekly Draw/Journaling activity)...The card for this week was The Ten of Cups....and each daily card is examined to see how it relates to the weekly card...for this post I am just looking at the Lovers card by itself.

The Lovers:

Element is Air (Thoughts and Ideas) Furthermore Air is "There are problems" (not sure if this applies in a one word draw but I include it here for your reflection.)

VI: If you consider the 6...."a path the seeker shall tread." hmm just showing it to think about.

Traditional Meanings: (general) Love, harmony, meaningful relationships

Fairy Tale Tarot Meanings: Committment/Relationships "The power of the union of animus and anima."

Fairy Tale: Jorinda and Joringal: The lovers happen upon a wicked sorceress who casts a spell on Joringal turning her into a nightingale and turns Jorinda out into the world to wander aimlessly without his love. After a vision and a magic flower, he is able to save Joringal and imprison the sorceress.

Well...let's see....I will say....There are problems with thoughts and ideas concerning meaningful relationships/love/harmony. It is a path I shall tread. Well...yes that does fit right now....

When I first saw the Lovers card for today...I thought....no no no...that doesn't "fit" at all because I thought of the love/harmony aspect of the card. There's a sitution going on with a family member that is kind of the opposite. It is affecting me. But when I add in the element aspects....it helps the reading make sense...I'm not saying I am 100% correct in this and it's hard with just one card but I am beginning to learn how other aspects...such as numbers and especially the elements can help clarify a reading.

THANKS TO TAROTEON and TAROT ELEMENTS for all of the information that I am trying to learn and weave into my readings....but I need practice, practice, practice. Honestly if you haven't checked out these two sites...do it....there's a lot of "stuff" there and it may seem overwhelming but just pick one or two things to try and you will see the depth and clarity it will add to your readings.

The Places This Pig Can Take You!

Okay...sometimes a day just unfolds and you start to wonder if you are reading about fairytales or if they are actually happening in your life....like is that the Big Bad Wolf hovering behind my car....just waiting for me to emerge from the house so he can pounce on me?

I woke up at 4:45 this morning to go work out and when I grabbed my phone I happened to notice I had a text from a friend of mine in another country...it was a distressing text that was sent at midnight...well sometimes I am up late but not recently since the 5 am workout started...anyway...no way I can reach him by text at 5:00 to check on him...soo off to the gym and then back home to get ready for work...sigh...since I'm distracted I get on the computer and grab the Fairy Tale Tarot deck. Card for the Day...Three of Pentacles...I'm like...what the heck??? How is this little piggy going to help me?

Three of Pentacles:

Pentacles: Earth (Physical Pursuits/Work/Create/Finance)

Earth: Things are grounded. Things are stable.

Three: Shows things growing (a cartomancy meaning...included for reflection)

Traditional Meanings: (general) Reward for skills or abilities, approval, success through effort.

Fairy Tale Tarot Meanings: Creativity, Planning..."Utilize your creative skills to implement a plan."

Fairy Tale: The familiar Three Little Pigs. With the big bad wolf...lurking...hmmm

Art on Card: This little card has the third little pig lugging those bricks...but looking happy and productive while the wolf lounges in the background...I notice he is building his house at the end of a path or road. It feels like a "whistle while you work" scene...hate to mix fairy tales but there you go...he is "creating"...he is productive but always there in the background is the wolf...STARTING to sound like my morning huh!

So I go to work pondering my card...well if nothing else it got my mind off other worries. Then when I got to work...I started talking to someone about something or the other...and they said I should create a "dream" board...and then that lead me to the vision board idea...and the next thing I know I'm ripping everything off the bulletin board that hangs above my desk and planning to make a vision board...

As far as my friend...things are not 100% okay...it's like the Three Little Pig card again...there is still a wolf lurking but for now things are STABLE....remember the whole earth aspect. And that Three?...things growing...well my vision board is growing and so are the possibilities.

Which Fairy Tale Character is Poe?

OUR NEW POLL.....WHICH FAIRY TALE CHARACTER IS POE!!!

The last poll results are in and Bill Gates is the Brave Little Tailor...Focus on your job and look for ways to streamline your skills.

Yes a resourceful tailor who increases his standing in both wealth and position through his clever ways and gullible people....hohohoho...gullible people....reminds me of computer software with upgrade after upgrade after upgrade....oh dear...didn't mean to get into a rant...

NEXT POLL UP: Which Fairy Tale Character is Edgar Allan Poe?

My Card for the Week: Ten of Cups

Image ©Copyright 2009 Lisa Hunt & Llewellyn Publications. Used by Permission.


What a great card for my weekly draw. This week I will draw a card everyday and see how it relates to the Ten of Cups (my weekly card). This allows me to make connections between cards, as well as, see a pattern develop over the week.

Ten of Cups:

Cups: Water, Emotions and Feelings

Water: Things are not moving. Things are staying the same.

Tens: The end

Ten of Cups (general): A happy family, true friendships, lasting happiness

Ten of Cups (Fairy Tale Tarot) Dreams Fulfilled, Peace

Fairy Tale: The Girl Fish, a story of greed and selfishness which turns to adventure and goodness until finally rewarded in the end. The girl, becomes a fish and ventures out to recover a stolen corwn. In the end she is transformed to her lovely adult self and marries the King and they live happily ever after!!!

As a weekly card this one seems good but not sure how it will all transpire...I can see the emotions part...things in life have been a bit of a roller coaster lately...what I don;t get is the Things are not moving...unless it means the things I am worrying about...aren't really going to change...which in this case might very well be a good thing...The Ten as the end...I feel like it is saying...the end of worrying or maybe just HEY listen...things are not moving, they are staying the same..THE END...sort of like an emphasis or exclamation point! I like the words...happy family, dreams fulfilled etc. The story itself, might actually play out in life....someone who is sort of stubborn and wants their own way, spoiled but then discovers what it feels like to be of service to someone else......in the end winning true happiness.....interesting. We shall see.

A Commercial Break...Tarot Elements

Earlier I did a post comparing the four Queens in the Fairy Tale Tarot. If you are interested in exploring further the differences between Queens in tarot decks I would highly suggest you travel over to Tarot Elements and read the wonderful information about the Queens. Not only does it explore the differences between Wands, Swords, Cups and Disks/Pentacles but it further divides the meanings down into when the card describes a person, an event, or inner processes. It is a wonderful resource. The post is one in a series, so be sure and check out the additional posts on the Knights and the Pages. There's a lot of information but it is user friendly.

Don't Forget to Vote

There's one day left in the Which Fairy Tale character is Bill Gates poll....You can find it in the sidebar to the left....so scroll down a little and vote....please!!!

P.S.....Yes, I know I should have included the Big Bad Wolf...as a choice...but hey...it's Fairy Tale Land here!!!

That Six of Wands

I just can't get that Six of Wands out of my mind (and okay I'm avoiding cleaning house too) BUT it is just stuck in my head, along with how it would make a great image on a SoulCollage card. With other images also...I know not what yet....but along with the creation of a soul card ...you also write a description as part of the process...usually answering some questions...I suppose sort of like a "card interview"....since I wrote earlier about a deck interview. Here are some musings on the image from the Six of Wands...it would become part of a collage...(dang it...I'm going have to get another deck to do collages with....off to put it on my wish list)...Anyway....the questions are asked to the part of the "soul" that this soul card represents...as of now...I only know that my soul card will include the Six of Wands...but will have other images as well....

Who are you?
I am the one who defends you. I am the one who fights dragons for you.. I am the one who does not tire of defending you.. I am the one who is always there as a protector, a defender, who will never cease in my loyalty to you. I am the one who knows you are worth the fight. I am the one who throughout your life will let you shine but will stand ready to be the "warrior" should the need arise.

What do you have to give me?
I give you courage in life. I give you safety and security. I give you the knowing that life can not defeat you. I give you the power to travel life's path and feel confident.

What do you want from me?
I want you to know that fear can only exist if you let it. I want you to know that my strength can overcome any obstacle. I want you to see the beauty in life, to rejoice in your dreams and to know victory is at hand.

Is there anything else you have to tell me today?
You are a woman, part of a strong and wise circle. We are courageous in ways that men can only dream about. We have many things in our heads, minds, hearts, and souls. We are the bearers of life, intuition, and ancient wisdom. I am here to make sure your path is clear and safe, as you journey toward your destiny. Remember it is a well traveled path, followed by many since ancient times and into eternity.

Edited to Add: I suppose this soulcollage card would be my "warrior" card. There are all kinds of others both part of the Committe Suit and the Council Suit. So in essence the Six of Wands would become part of the soulcollage card that represents the "part of me" or "the archetype" that is "The Warrior." Hmmm off to ponder ideas for the card...it is a 5 x 8 size card...hmmm....lots of dragons would be nice...hmmm.

Daily Draw: Six of Wands

Image ©Copyright 2009 Lisa Hunt & Llewellyn Publications. Used by Permission.

Well....it's the Six of Wands AGAIN....interesting. I sometimes draw the same card two days in a row or sometimes multiple times in one week. I suppose it's either telling me: YOU AREN'T LISTENING! or is something that I REALLY need to pay attention to.

So it was yesterdays card and before I drew today I was looking at the image and thinking about how if I bought another deck, this would be a really great image to use as part of a soul collage card BUT I shuffled the deck really good and I drew from the middle of the deck....and it's the Six of Wands again. Time to look a little closer...

Wands: (Fire: action, energy, passion)

Fire: Things are moving and changing. (Note: Fire and Water are enemies)

Six: Shows a path the seeker shall tread

Six of Wands (general): Good news, success, victory, helpful friends

Six of Wands (Fairy Tale Tarot): Victory, Success, Triumph "Victory is at hand."

Fairy Tale: The Prince and the Dragon, After a long journey and many hardships, the Prince fights the dragon for many days before his victory.

Ooooohhh....seems this is a VERY nice card to draw. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it is accurate. I will say that in my life perhaps it is reflective. Things seem to be changing, calming down and perhaps heading more in a direction I would consider "victory". Not on a level with "fighting a dragon." but still in a postive course.

Naming the Nameless

I will write about why the Fairy Tale Tarot reminded me of the older post. The way we experience emotion in our lives and the way the emotions both make us who we are and have the potential to make us question who we really are.

The Fairy Tale Tarot reminded me of the earlier post, Life is Like Landing on the Hudson because of the wide range of emotions experienced by the passengers on the plane and the similar range of emotions that can be evoked by both the cards and the fairy tales.

When one is “introduced” to a new deck, there is a thrill of new adventure or the beginning of a journey just as the passengers on the plane experienced. Anticipation and possibilities await, whether it’s a business trip or a vacation. The same is true of a deck. (Although I must say…some decks are better “flights” than others.) Then, of course, there is confusion, just as the passengers struggled to understand what was happening on this flight of terror, the Fairy Tale Tarot may create some confusion as one struggles to understand the cards and the messages they are sending.

Now let's think about the fairy tales themselves. They provide snapshots of every human emotion imaginable. They are like mirrors reflecting fear, sadness, loss, terror, wonder, joy and relief, as well as, hundreds of other feelings. These stories evoke in us deep emotions, and these very emotions and how we experience them are what makes us who we are. For example, the strong silent type, the whiner, the Pollyanna, etc.

People have been being described by their emotional states since the beginning of time. But to me the really interesting aspect is HOW these same emotions, the ones that shape who we are and how we face the world....can challenge us at our core, can give us such pause that we take off in new directions and discover new things along this journey of life. It is this aspect that plays out in the Fairy Tale Tarot, for the art, the stories, and the way we use them in our lives encourages a deeper understanding of self. It is in the questioning that we grow.

And just like the people on the plane, we have to decide if the "shock" of our life experiences are going to leave us paralyzed and stuck in a plane filling with water. Or if we will move forward in the moment and let a "calm" sense of purpose settle over us.

In some ways the cards provide this calm sense of purpose. They give us a framework for considering more than just this world but the inner world also. It's hard to explore something that has no name. And the soul, our inner world, our personalities, our emotions, are illusive...they are nameless. The Fairy Tale Tarot allows us to give them a name.....Tatterhood, The Sorceress, Hok Lee, The Snow Daughter, Coyote, and many, many others. They are all reflections of us. Are at the very least pieces of a puzzle. A Puzzle called SELF.

So don't be shy, step right up...out onto the wing of the plane, if you will. Don't stay behind in the useless plane with water seeping in around your feet. With the confidence of the Summer Queen, assert yourself. Bring warmth to the seasons of your life. Pick up the deck and introduce yourself, one card and one story at a time.

Fairy Tale Based SoulCollage Cards

This is a soulcollage card of the divine child from KaleidoSoul
This card is part of the Council Suit. When I happened upon this site a year or more ago, I was immediately intriqued and wanted to work on the cards but life and time and all of that just sort of put the project on the back burner. Well, I'm inspired again by the possibility of making them fairy tale based. Even if I end up using other images...which I probably will...having at least a fairy tale element in each one...

I have been wanting to make soul cards for a long time now...last year I start collecting "pictures" that "spoke to me". They are still sitting in a box...then all of the sudden today...immersed in fairy tales such as I am...I thought I could use fairy tales as the materials for my soulcollage cards. They would be the perfect images for at least two of the suits....The Council Suit and the Committee Suit.

There are four suits: The Committee Suit (inner voices/parts of self). The Community Suit (those that support you...family, friends, pets, and author or singer who has touched your life) The Companion Suit (your animal totem, seven, one for each Chakra) and The Council Suit (archetypes, dream figures that guide you)

I'm not sure where to get the fairy tale images...I was thinking perhaps old books from garage sales or second hand shops...I gasp at the thought of using the cards...but IDK...I might order a deck to use as part of the soulcollages...hmmm...something to ponder. BUT I did take a first step....I ordered the mat board...precut in 5 x 8 size...which is the suggested size. I'm getting excited about this...and let me say...I am not really an artist....but this is about more than art...it is about connecting with yourself in deeper ways. What a wondeful way to while away the cold winterevening, which will be upon me before I know it. AND of course the first one I shall work on will be The Sorceress....my own soul card...

Quote from Inner Surprises:

"The Council Suit of a SoulCollage® Deck is made up of archetypes and spiritual guides. This suit represents the mystical realm of beings and spirits who are unseen, but observed by the soul. Archetypes are universal themes that have been always active in our lives. This suit usually contains a Death card, and a Fool card."

Life is Like Landing on the Hudson

The post below I wrote and originally posted on another blog of mine on January 26, 2009. I share it with you here because of some parallels the experience (Landing on the Hudson) has with using the Fairy Tale Tarot....for now I will leave you with the original post...and later I shall post my thoughts comparing the two experiences.

The recent landing of a plane on the Hudson River without any loss of lives was amazing. So amazing that it made me think about the array of emotions the passengers experienced during that short 3-5 minute flight. Over the course of just minutes people experienced anticipation, confusion, fear, sadness, loss, terror as the "Brace for Impact" message sunk in, wonder that they were still alive, panic as they realized the icy waters were an extreme danger, hope at seeing the light of day, and joy and relief at the sight of approaching rescuers.

And then it didn't take me long to realize that those emotions...that constantly changing array of feelings are often experienced during life. Life is like landing on the Hudson River. There are many times in life that we ride the same plane full of emotions. Times in our life when we dip from extreme joy to profound despair, whether it's over the loss of a job, a death, or the complications of a relationship that we treasure but do not know how to fix. Life is like landing on the Hudson.

And just like the people on the plane, we have to decide if the "shock" of our life experiences are going to leave us paralyzed and stuck in a plane filling with water. Or if we will move forward in the moment and let a "calm" sense of purpose settle over us. Experiences in life, the way our families interact, our beliefs about life, and our own emotional turmoils shape our ability to move forward. Often we do not recognize the significant impact our relationships with others have on our ability to manuveur that plane down for a safe landing. The most important element in our lives is unconditional love and so many people have no one providing it and no idea what it feels like.

Without someone who truly cares for us and accepts us, it is pretty hard to land the plane of our life in the Hudson without fatalities. Life is like landing on the Hudson....the range of emotions can be terrifying but it is in the way that we handle those aspects of our lives that can make all the difference in a safe landing or a crash that ends our lives.

In a future post I will write about why the Fairy Tale Tarot reminded me of this older post. The way we experience emotion in our lives and the way the emotions both make us who we are and have the potential to make us question who we really are.

My Soul Card Part 2 The Sorceress

Owdscrat left a question on my first post about the mention that this card can mean "lack of patience" I had printed some pages off the internet and have been using them to learn more about the cards. It lists upright and reverse meanings so perhaps it is a mistake from that source. I hope it does mean patience...makes me even happier with my soul card!! That's why I LOVE comments...they help me correct any errors in thinking/knowledge, give me more to ponder, and inspire me to think in new directions.

So I looked at the Sorceress Card in the Once Upon a Time book....Key Words: Intuition, Secrets, Mysteries. "The Sorceress can help you become more connected with the universe." Hmmm as my soul card it would be my purpose through all the lifetimes...very cool...I love it! I like to think that perhaps in some of my many ramblings....someone might gain a small bit of insight or help....so I suppose that might fit.

It's sort of strange because in this story the fairy mother also leaves her human children and returns to the lake in much the same way the "seal" in the Sealskin fairy tale does. (Queen of Cups) But this story doesn't haunt me the way the seal one does. In the Sealskin the fairy comes away as deeply longing for the true essence of herself.....to be who she really is...and I suppose that speaks to me. It is such a core emotion/condition for many people.

In the Lake Maiden, I'm actually a little unclear of the self imposed rule of the husband not striking her three times..it wasn't like "hitting"...that I would understand...but it was one of the parts of the story I found puzzling. Here the Lake Maiden set clear boundaries, they were broken and she left. But it was her choice. Perhaps the fact that she had a choice made the difference in feeling. While the Seal longed for her underwater home...she really never had a choice. The fisherman stole her sealskin so she could not return. Also at the beginning the Lake Maiden chose to go with the man, not so with the Seal.

NEXT TOPICS:

My Personality Card: Justice
Comparing the Kings
And any other thing that strikes my fancy...here in fairy tale land.

Fairy Tale Memories

Since I'm becoming so immersed in fairy tales, I swear I see a fairy tale connection in everything in life...so I wanted to offer an idea for getting kids to talk. I work with middle school kids and mostly they talk a lot but well...in some situations they ramble on without much insight. Well they are middle school age....but it's really a time in life to start developing some insight.

Well, way back when....a long time ago....I started using this idea, can't remember where it came from.

Me: "Hey you know you remind me of Alice in Wonderland....you know that book?"

To which they typically roll their eyes and say, "yeah".

Me: "Well, there's a part of it that reminds me of you."

More eye rolling but they usually lean forward and start to at least look a tad interested. Then when they say, "What part?" I know I've hooked them.

Me: " Well, why don't you guess."

Then no matter what they guess..."Oh I bet it's cause I'm always late like the White Rabbit." or "Hmmm probably because all the teachers say "off with his head" Or whatever.....I always say...

Me: "That's exactly right...have you always been like the ___________(white rabbit or something that fits) or "That's exactly right, do you always evoke that response from others?" They are always "exactly right" no matter what they pick.

And then the conversation is off with a little leap and it can go amazing places. I use Alice because most of the kids know the story (but you can use any common story)...and with all this fairy tale stuff...well...there's some real possibilities here. Now one would mostly need to stick to commonly known stories or perhaps offer it as a bit of intrigue and say "You remind me of Tatterhood." and when they ask why or what then direct them, "It's a fairy tale, you might want to look it up on the internet." Yes the things that could happen...just like Dr. Seuss....the places you will go....

Well the school year starts tomorrow so I think I shall give it a try this year...I'm thinking the twists and turns might make it a most thought provoking year. Working with kids can be inspiring but well honestly, I'm sorry to say......a little depressing sometimes....there are many a sad tale...so the fairy tales might be just the trick to weave a little magic in life.

My Soul Card: The Sorceress

Thanks to Genna over at Aeclectic for mentioning this little gem. Finding your Personality Card and Your Soul Card.

"Add the numbers of your birth date. Any number between 1 and 22 is your Personality card. Then you add the numbers until you get to the smallest number you can get. That is your Soul card.Your Personality card indicates what you have to learn in this lifetime. The Soul card shows your soul purpose through all the lifetimes, and falls between 1 and 9. Hope that helps. It´s from Mary Greer´s "Tarot for Your Self" a very good Tarot book in my opinion." (quote Genna)

My Personality Card is 11 Justice...I'll return to write of that another day, although I've touched on this card already via my weekly draw. It's a good card I think to represent what I have to learn in this lifetime.

My Soul Card is II The Sorceress/High Priestess....I love it!!! My soul's purpose through all the lifetimes. Traditional interpretations wisdom, knowledge, learning, intuitive, lack of patience (I think I'm suppose to learn patience not a lack of it...already have that!), a teacher. Can you believe I left the Fairy Tale Tarot book at work....so I'll have to come back later and add any additonal words/characteristics from there. It is frustrating me because I can not remember the story that goes with this card...pooh...makes me wat to actually GO to work today...lol. Oh wait...the story...can't remember the name but it is the story where the fairy marries the man but tells him he can not strike her three times, and he does and she leaves and returns to the water.

Well, I simply can not think of a better Soul Card....I want to muse on this a bit today...and I'll come back and add to this post a bit later.

I The Magician

This card unlike the 0 Card feels "magical" so if Little Red represents each of us on the journey or quest through life (the actual physical person in a sense, with all their insecurities and foolish ways) than this card: The Magician represents "inner magic". That part of each of us that simply "knows" what to do, what to say, what is needed.

Wu while unaware of the true nature of the situation on a conscious level, understands it perfectly subconsciously. The dragon is that part of life that can "bite you in the butt" if you act or react without understand the core of the issue. Since the keywords are "directing energy" and "focus" I think it is highlighting the "power" that each of us have inside ourselves and speaking to the need to allow these to emerge in our lives.

The symbolism of the golden box says it best..."the key to accessing hidden powers." So in that sense the card is about possiblities. Opprtunities, yes but also the real possiblity of growth on a deeper level. So external opportunities but even more importantly inner possibilities. In a way the dragon represents that inner aspect of Wu himself, it is released in his life and has the power to transform his life....IF he recognizes it and "welcomes" it.

To me the Fairy tale lesson would be something like ..."There is a dragon inside each of us, welcome it and your life will be transformed."

New Poll Up

Which Fairy Tale Character is Bill Gates?

Jack the Giant Killer.......page 250
Hok Lee..........page 209
Brave Little Tailor..... page 279
Rumplestilskin...... page 235
Urashima..... page 114

So check out the Fairy tales and then vote in the poll for this week!!! It's a fun way to get to know the fairy tale characters!

Tarot Eon...A Commercial Break

Have you ever thought about whether you should use a significator in a spread? Have you ever had questions about how the elements play out in tarot or even just in our lives? If you hop on over to Tarot Eon you will find help with those questions, as well as many many others. Not fairy tale based but still a wealth of information about thousands of subjects. It is one of the most comprehensive web sites I visited. And I'm appreciative of the information because it allows me to weave deeper meaning and understanding into my readings, and also life in general.

Since I'm a novice, well maybe with a little embedded intuitive edge, I'm just discovering many sites of interest and so I'll be posting "commercial breaks" when I find a site worthy of exploration. Many of you "experts" may already know the sites and the info...if so please get a snack during the commercial breaks while I oooo and awww over all the intriguing stuff I'm discovering. And well, NOW you know why my friends think I'm a bit strange, because I just have eclectic interests and a thirst for knowledge. They LOVE me though, so I guess it's not all bad!!

Comparing the Queens

There are various ways to "get to know" the cards in a deck. Some decks I have devoted a lot of time to and others I have barely skimmed the surface. You can literally spend hours and hours on this. The other day for some unknown reason I got the bright idea of making single sheet copies of each of the court cards...so all four queens on a sheet of paper, all four kings and so on. So I have a black and white copy of the four together in my notebook. It was a whim, simply, nothing more. Then I thought since they were all four there together I might see how they "relate" to each other or stack up as a "group".


WANDS: Represents Fire (Actions, Energy, Passions)

The Queen of Wands is represented by the story of The White Cat. I was particularly interested in this one because in several readings I have had the impression that the Queen of Wands represented me. Sometimes I get a strong feel of this about certain cards...just like I feel the Princess of Wands represents my daughter. It consistently turns up in her readings. So I felt the time was a hand to read the tale of the White Cat.

The Fairy Tale: The White Cat was an interesting read. A father unwilling to let go of his "position" and an alluring cat that held a strong magnetic pull for the young prince. I'll be honest....the tale seems a bit simplistic...fitting for sure for this particular card but I suppose I wish there was more description of the relationship between the prince and the cat.

The Card: The book states that the key words for this card are: leadership, warm, intelligent, influential, charming. A female authority with influence. Someone confident and inspiring.

CUPS: Represents Water (Emotions/Feelings)

The Fairy Tale: The Queen of Cups is represented by the story of Seal Skin. This one sort of haunts me. In it a fisherman finds the seals (in human form) dancing on the beach and steals the skin of one and refuses to give it back as he wants to make the beautiful maiden his wife. I think this represents the extent someone will go to to cure their lonliness. For years they live together and even have children and although the maiden is fond of him she always longs for her sea home and family. Eventually she does get the skin back and tells her human children goodbye and leaves. I suppose the haunting quality comes from her leaving behind her human children. As I reflect on it it makes me realize that no matter the strong love we have for others (even our own children) we can not give up the "essence" of who we are and be truly happy. If we try to or are forced to...it will always call to us and we will never be really satisfied.

The Card: Key words for this card are loving and intuitive. It represents connecting with inner feelings. I think it represents a person who either has some strong longings or desires or who understands them very well.

SWORDS: Represents Air (Thoughts and Ideas)

The Fairy Tale: The Tongue Cut Sparrow is the story of a man with a negative and nagging wife who befriends a small sparrow who talks. As life would have it, the wife gets mad and cuts the tongue out of the sparrow and releases it. The man searches the forest until he finds his friend who is actually a fairy. They visit and rejoice in finding each other again and when the man leaves the sparrow lets him choose between a large or small box. He takes the smaller one and discovers at home that it is full of riches. The wife is furious that he need not choose the larger box and goes to get it from the sparrow. On the way home she opens it, only to discover it is full of demons. She runs back to the protection of her home and changes her negative ways.

The Card: This card represents a female who is cool, calm, and collected. She is pragmatic and not easily shakened under pressure. The key words for this card are calm and perceptive.

PENTACLES: Represents Earth (Physical pursuits, work, finance, create)

The Fairy Tale: Summer Queen is the story of the seasons. Or at least summer and winter. She chases the cold back up north to save the inhabitants from the icy grip of winter. But being kind and senisible she allows winter to return each year for a short time. She is powerful in her gentle ways but not vindictive over her "win".

The Card: This card represents someone to assist beyond periods of stasis. It is an individual with common sense and strength, someone with a gentle power who is also kind and wise. The key words for this card are earth mother, domestic concerns. responsibility, sensisbility.

Summary:

Queen of Wands: A charming woman that can influence, intelligent and warm
Queen of Cups: A woman who has/understands deep longings/desires, intuitive and loving
Queen of Swords: A calm, perceptive woman who is not easily shakened under pressure.
Queen of Pentacles: A well grounded woman, strong and sensible, kind and wise.

New Deck Interview

I got the New Deck Interview Spread and Questions from FireRaven at Aeclectic.

1. Tell me about yourself. What is your most important characteristic?

CARD: King of Pentacles: Oh this is priceless...."Summon the help of someone who can provide a voice of logic as you try to determine your best course of action." Key words: integrity, support, wealth. I think the deck is saying that its most important characteristic is that it is a vehicle for helping to determine the best course of action.

2. What are your strengths as a deck?

CARD: XVI Deception: This just gets better and better..."If we deny ourselves inner truths and pursue a life of pretense and shallow intent, we will be setting ourselves up for a fall." Key words: disaster, breaking illusions, revelation. So I think the decks stength is that it helps us identify our inner truths and helps us move away from shallow truths. It "reflects" (as I wrote earlier) just like a clear pool and we can see ourselves reflected there, as well as, catch a glimpes of "something more". Like those wings, be they parts of our spiritual self, or parts of the spiritual world.

3. What are your limits as a deck?

CARD: Three of Wands: ..."You can facilitate creative growth by remaining open to those things that will help you diversify." Key words: Energy, communication, opportunity. This card is saying that the change or growth are up to us. We direct this aspect of the process. The deck can't "make" someone change or "see". It is simply a tool for facilitating growth but openess, awareness, creativity, and change are all up to the individual.

4. What do you bring to the table -- what are you here to teach me?

CARD: Eight of Cups: ..."We can quickly get lost in the momentum of our actions without considering pause." Key words: Greed, Overindulgence, Change. This one is a little harder for me to "see". I think it is saying that it brings a chance for "pause" or a way to stop and reflect. It is here to teach me not to get lost in the hectic pace of life but to pause and seek the inner world as well as the physical world. Overindulgence in either world is not helpful but balance is the key.

5. How can I best learn from and collaborate with you?

CARD: Eight of Wands..."This may entail taking a journey and making things happen." Key words....cooperative activities, swift action, making things happen. I don't think the swift action part of this really is the message. I think the message is in the "journey". It is saying the best way to learn and collaborate is to be open to the journey, to participate in cooperative activities with others and to let things "unfold".

6. What is the potential outcome of our working relationship?

CARD: Queen of Cups..."If we learn to connect more with our innermost feelings, we may be able to sharpen our intuitive senses and psychic impulses. By harnessing these inner resources, we have the opportunities to strengthen our love and compassion for others." Key words: loving, intuitive. This is a great potential outcome...and the quote really says it all!!!!

This is an awesome activity....give it a try...!!

So The Votes In...And...

Red Riding Hood
4 (44%)
Coyote
2 (22%)
Summer Queen
1 (11%)
Snow Queen
0 (0%)
White Cat
1 (11%)
Ugly Duckling
1 (11%)
Snow Daughter
0 (0%)
Puss in Boots
0 (0%)
Votes so far: 9 Poll closed

Lisa Hunt according to this poll.....is Little Red Riding Hood...well yes I know her little profile picture is Little Red...but I voted Coyote and here's why...

In the book..." Our inner creativity has a chance to ignite into a period of renewed inspiration." Coyote is the benevolant trickster in much the same way Lisa is in her Fairy Tale Tarot...teasing us into considering new things, lurking in the pages of the book to jump out and "light us on fire" with a surprising tidbit or a new way of perceiving the world, carrying the "torch" of transformation. Much like the Coyote in How the Coyote Stole Fire.

Honestly, I think one of the most interesting part of the fairy tales is that we can see ourselves as all of the characters. Perhaps different parts of our personality, different moods, or at different stages in our life BUT we are all a part of the tales and they are all a part of us. Woven together.

It may be Sunday before I put up the next poll....hmmmm...who shall it be? This I must give some thought...I have a couple of ideas but I also need to pull some new characters from the tales to use as choices...off to read a few tales before bedtime!!

Fairy Tale Ramblings

Well I know I said my next post was going to be about Comparing the Queens...and I shall get to that. But there are just so many thoughts about Fairy Tales, the cards, the spreads, the readings and the fairy tale messages that I'm like a ping pong ball bouncing here, there, and everywhere...wow. So I thought I'd better make a list of the things I'm wanting to do and write about so they don't float right out of my mind and far far away!!!

Things to Ponder and Write About:

Comparing the Queens (Ditto the Kings, Princesses and Princes)
Different versions of Little Red Riding Hood (from other countries)
A Reading Using the Little Pigs Spread
More Lessons from the Tales
Reflecting on the Female Aspect of Fairy Tales (this is part of my study of the Inner Child cards but I want to apply it here also)

Oh ....there are more and more and more...everywhere I look there is something that ties to the Fairy Tale Tarot....this deck is a gold mine of creative inspiration and has opened up many new doors for exploration!! And of course, sometimes all I do is just sit and look at the cards....lol.

Three Little Pigs Spread

The three little pigs...gotta love them...I mean in some of the versions...the mom just pretty much kicks them out into the world...BAM...Could be seen as cruel abandonment or as a lesson in letting people grow up.

This spread has six cards. NUMBER ONE: represents the mother (benevolent or cruel). This is the beginning of the issue/situation/concern. Without this factor everything would have just stayed pretty much the same. It is that which started the tale so to speak.

Cards TWO, THREE, and FOUR are the houses of the three little pigs. Each one a possible solution or answer. The house were of differing qualities in the story, and so here too, the answers or the choices may be stronger or weaker than the others but that is a decision for the seeker to make. Card FIVE is the Big Bad Wolf representing something to watch out for, pointing at a weakness, a negative, or a possible challenge to the issue. Card SIX is a Fairy Tale message that can help the seeker in making a decision.



It lays out something like this:

CARD TWO CARD THREE CARD FOUR

CARD ONE

CARD FIVE

CARD SIX

I need to spend time playing with this to see how it seems to flow. If you try it please post a comment and let me know how it seems to work for you.

Fairy Tale Notes

Tonight I only have a few minutes to write because I'm off for the weekly Girl's Night Out...it's actually amazing how much more inspired and creative I am after a bit of fun and good conversation. Just think how Cinderella must have felt when she escaped her duties cleaning the hearth and other manner of mundane chores. Her magical moments at the castle must have been doubly so because of the dreariness of her "normal" day.

In notes for today, I'm working on another fairy tale spread to use with the cards. For some reason, I really have a lot of fun doing it. Currently I'm working on a spread called The Three Little Pigs. I hope to get it up here on the blog soon. It's a simple little choices one that could open some doors in your thinking.

Today I did not really get the opportunity to look at the cards....geeeeeee...work was hectic and things were just too crazy....hmmmm...perhaps thats why I'm feeling a bit grumpy tonight....no fairy tale fun....Well....perhaps tomorrow.

NEXT SPREAD: The Three Little Pigs

NEXT POST: Comparing the Queens

Fairy Tales From Around the World

One of the things that I am finding the most awe inspiring is the sheer number of fairy tales from all around the world. I see that one of my favorites...Tatterhood is Norwegian. I think that is another level of meaning just waiting to be explored with the Fairy Tale Tarot...of course the tales in the book aren't ALL the fairy tales in the world...good grief....I am discovering that there are thousands...and each one is fasinating to me in some regard...oh I have my favorites of course.

As I mentioned somewhere archetypes resonate with me. When I was exploring the Faeries Oracle by Froud, I spent a lot of time thinking about some of the cards and their archetypical history...Like the Dark Lady...Dark Madonna ...and other references. Not all of the faery cards were archetypes...at least that I could figure out. But many of them were. When different cultures, countries, societies, and groups of people all come up with similar representations independently of each other....I don't know...it gives me pause...there is something there. A greater scheme to things. I am finding that with the fairy tales also...Some countries have "different versions" of the same tale...like Cinderella. I just find it intriguing. it could just be based on common human experience but I am not willing to rule out that it is something even bigger.

My Daily Card

Image ©Copyright 2009 Lisa Hunt & Llewellyn Publications. Used by Permission.

My Daily Draw: Six of Swords. The funny thing is the first time I saw this card I wasn't even sure what fairy tale it was. th glass box and the little men...Snow White, of course, but the faces in the rocks threw me. In fact when I look at the card...the faces draw me more than the characters. I wonder if that means anything?

The Six of Swords=Sojourn, transitioning, reflecting on a journey

Interesting and appropriate card for me, as of late I have been reflecting a lot on the journey through life. The different aspects of how this all unfolds for the individual traveler. I'll have to give some thought on how it relates to my Weekly Draw Card: Justice.

Hunt comments that seven is predominate in the Snow White story and that seven corresponds to the completion of a cycle. In this card (the six) it is used because the cycle is not yet at completion....it represents instead, the path or journey each takes to reach the higher level. It is not done yet...there is more to accomplish...and in that regard, I think the card is telling me..."Keep moving".

I'm going to reflect on this card throughout the day...seriously...I have to get to work...or the paycheck journey is going to be OVER....there's that TEMPTATION again in my life..tempting me to play here in blog land and fairy tale country instead of getting to work.

Once Upon A Time Spread

This spread calls for you to use the 0 Innocence card as the seeker during the reading. So you would pull out the 0 Card and put it to the side. You would then shuffle the deck several times while focusing on your question or area of concern.

Then draw SEVEN cards and put them aside. Next take the seven cards and without looking at them add the 0 Innocence card and shuffle the 8 cards several times. Place them in a single row. Turn the cards over, one by one, pausing to look at the card, think about your first impression as the card comes up. When you have all 8 cards face up. Take note of where the 0 Card is in the spread.

This card represents the seeker (the person the reading is for). If the card is near the beginning then there are still plenty of things to discover, deal with, accept or move past...they lie ahead so to speak. If the 0 Card is near the end of the spread then the end of the issue is close at hand and there may only be a few things left. Regardless. you read all of the cards in the spread for insight and details.

The cards to the left of the 0 card are actions/feelings/thoughts/physical pursuits that have already taken place regarding the issue at hand. They are conscious or the seeker should at least be aware of them on some level. The cards to the right of the 0 card...are yet to happen or may be unconscious factors that the seeker has not discovered yet. It's like a fairy tale story map with the seeker as a character in the tale.

Court Cards can be interpreted as people the seeker knows or will know regarding the issue at hand. Aces are beginnings so pay attention to them if they fall within the spread. Other cards are interpreted according to your general method of reading.

Here's an example:

Question: How will R.'s relationship with K. turn out?

CARDS: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

Card number 5 in the spread is the seeker. Cards 1-4 represent conscious things and/or things that have already happened. Note the Queen of Pentacles next to the 0 Card. This person has either recently entered the issue or is someone close to the seeker. Cards 6-8 are actions yet to take place or factors yet to be discovered or understood.

1. XV Temptation: This card represents not just temptation but shadow aspects of self that need to be recognized and integrated. At the beginning of this issue there was some denial of these aspects and perhaps someone in the situation projected those repressed feelings on someone else.

2. Two of Cups: The love in the relationship started out strong but perhaps became burdensome in dealing with emotional baggage. Somehow a balance in the relationship was achieved at least temporarily.

3. Ten of Wands: But then someone started to feel smothered and felt they were carrying a great burden.

4. Queen of Pentacles: This person entered the situation or was already close to the seeker and offered a sensible approach. There were domestic concerns and her presence helped break through some of the stagnation that had occurred.

5. 0 Innocence (This is the seeker)

6. XVI Deception This card speaks to the fact that there is some deception here...maybe even self deception...someone pretending to be happy when perhaps they are not. Or settling for less than what they desire. Only through honest evaluation is there hope for real and positive change.

7. Prince of Swords: This may represent the other person in the relationship or someone else who enters the picture. I am interpreting it in this reading as the other person in the relationship and it is saying this person needs to grow as an individual, to stretch beyond their comfort zone. This may improve the outcome and may be tied to the Deception card...they are not admitting this need quite yet.

8. Eight of Cups: This card is saying be cautious of getting caught up in a viscious cycle. Breaking the cycle will happen or needs to happen. If it doesn't happen the situation will escalate.

The Once Upon a Time spread was inspired by a spread commonly called the Churchyard spread.

Least Favorite Cards

Image ©Copyright 2009 Lisa Hunt & Llewellyn Publications. Used by Permission.

Well it wasn't as hard to find my least favorites as I thought it might be. I actually picked out five cards and then finally settled on the two that just sort of give me the willies. Haven't read the descriptions or the tales for these particular cards so this post is based on card impressions only. The feeling or mood the card seems to produce. First of all the Ace of Cups...creepy. I hate snakes. I know perhaps an unfair feeling but...well it is what it is. This giant creepy one is hovering there over the bed. The woman seems either dead or in a trance. Just helpless there on the bed. It feels sinister with a lack of control. I'm sort of one who likes to be in control so I guess this card just speaks to that.

Image ©Copyright 2009 Lisa Hunt & Llewellyn Publications. Used by Permission.

My second least favorite card is the Six of Cups. I'm not sure what is occuring in the tale but again it seems like a helplessness. The gray colors make it seem like death is at the door. Once again a place of rest (bed and bedroom) seems more sinister than it should be. Makes me think of nightmares. I'm not sure if the figure over the man is hurting or helping, which is another thing that gives me pause. That uncertainty.

I'm going to list the other three cards I took into consideration as least favorites. The Princess of Cups, Five of Cups, and Five of Wands. HMMMM...see a pattern here....looks like four of the five cards were Cups and honestly the Five of Wands is like in slot five...I just think the woman looks a little cold and sinister. I think this is telling me that I have some trouble acknowledging or accepting strong emotions and feelings. Not so much in others but in myself, perhaps. That they make me uncomfortable in some way or I distrust them.

Most people I think would think I am loving, giving and kind...(I think...lol) so I don't think this tendency is a big issue in my life but that it is something to keep aware of...not to be afraid of looking past the strong initial feeling and see perhaps deeper. I don't know...maybe there is another rason my choices included five Cups..I only looked at pictures when selecting them. Maybe it is the opposite...that I am drawn to strong emotions. If you have additional ideas I would love to hear them.

My next steps with these cards (favorites and leasts) will be to examine the tales themselves and see if there is a message or pattern there.

Fairy Tale Thoughts

Well as I wrote about yesterday....my weekly card is Justice...and believe it or not....I drew that very same card as my daily today. I can only assume that there is a strong pull to learn something from this particular card.

As Moncia wrote in her comment....it is a rather hideous story....I do feel for the poor horse who was only trying to be a good horse and got murdered for her trouble....so like in the real world where innocent bystanders are drug into things they do not even want to be involved in.

Souljourney was asking about least faves...and that's something I need to give a bit of thought to...actually I like them all so it will be a task...perhaps I will have a few minutes this evening to sort the cards and try to pick two least faves. I think there's lots of different ways to look at the faves and least faves....for example...a least fave...does it somehow touch on a shadow aspect of myself and thus gives me negative vibes....sort of like avoiding the "truth" about ones self?

Something else I did today....I took the court cards...and I put all the Queens together, all the Kings etc. Then I layed them on the copier and copied them...so that I have four sheets. One sheet is all four Queens, one is all four Kings and so forth...They are in black and white but it serves my purpose. I wanted to be able to put the sheets in my Decks notebook and look at the four together...yes I can do the same with the cards themselves..but IDK....it just came to me....so I did it...I then jotted down by each card the title of the story that went with it. I'm planning to learn the stories and see if I see connections between the Queens, Kings, etc...It's really just another way of connecting with the cards and engraining the stories in my heart.

I am doing a couple readings a day with the deck and it reads so nicely...there are so many layers of meaning and yet they all blend together nicely. I am working on another spread...need to play around with it a bit first. It is called the Once Upon a Time Spread....and I just need to work out a few kinks and then I'll share it with you here.!!!

NEXT POST: Least Favorites

NEXT SPREAD: Once Upon a Time...

Daily/Weekly Draw Justice

Image ©Copyright 2009 Lisa Hunt & Llewellyn Publications. Used by Permission.

The Daily/Weekly Draw is a little activity I have only been doing for a couple weeks. So this week I'm using the Fairy Tale Tarot. It works like this...on Sunday evening I draw a card for the week. Or let's face it Monday morning if I forget. This card is recorded as the Weekly Card and I jot down a few ideas about the card's meanings and impressions. Then each day I draw a daily card and record meanings/impressions and also include how the daily card is related to the weekly one. At the end of the week, you can record if you had any repeating cards and other observations.

So this week, I drew Justice as the Weekly Card....justice, karma, balance. I sort of think the fairy tale message is..."Don't pretend to be someone you're not or you will come to a bad end." In the story, the Princess is betrayed by her maid, who then takes her place and pretends to be the Princess. After discovery, the maid is killed as punishment. There are a lot of "lessons" I suppose could come from the tale. "Loyalty is rewarded, betrayal is punished." "Do not put yourself above your station." "Good triumps over evil."

BUT when I thought about the lesson for the story.
"Don't pretend to be someone you're not or you will come to a bad end." just popped into my head. Its doesn't capture the betrayal aspect of the story...and yet it is a common human folly. This is an interesting card and saga...I only touch on it briefly here. One thing I thought during the story was.."Why, did the Princess do as she was ordered by the maid?" To get her own water and accept the deception so easily. Hmmm....perhaps another lesson to be learned is "Do not meekly accept someone else's reality." Yes this card will need much more exploration. I think I shall find some versions of the story and read them.

One Negative

Okay I thought I better write one negative or someone will claim I am being paid by Llewellyn Publications to promote the deck/book. LOL...and it's not really a negative about the art, research or anything major.

I wish there was an index or table of contents....like at the front or back of the book....a table that showed the Card/Story/Page (where you could find the complete write up). So nothing major but if they reprint and allow revisions....it might be something to consider. I am forever thumbing through the book looking for a particular story or card. Let's just say...the book is getting well loved...like the Velveteen Rabbit.

Okay that's my one negative, so far. I'm loving the way the cards read. They are just wonderfully expressive!!

My Daily Card

I won't write about a daily card every day...can't be certain of having the time and ANY THING in abundance can get tedious....but here's my fairy tale card of the day....I'm moving from the 22 Major Arcana to the full deck....so there's still tons and tons to learn!! I really only know about half of the Major Arcana well...but the others are falling into place and I'm impatient to "play" with the rest of the cards!!

LOL...the first daily card...is Temptation....this is VERY funny.....because I just wrote about temptation in the previous post today...SO is FATE trying to tell me something...maybe it is saying...do not be tempted to move too quickly to the full deck...there is still plenty to learn here. I mean honestly...can it be a coincidence? Out of 78 cards... drawing one randomly...what is the chance of getting the VERY card I just pondered earlier...well technically one out of seventy eight chance..but I mean GEEZE....

On the other hand...maybe it is REALLY my card for today...saying STOP being tempted to "play around" all day and get busy doing some stuff....I have definately been at a stand still with home projects and other creative projects....so perhaps it is the message for today!!!

XV Temptation

Image ©Copyright 2009 Lisa Hunt & Llewellyn Publications. Used by Permission.


Here's a card that's been haunting me...well at least puzzling me for a bit now. Temptation traditionally The Devil. Well, temptation is definately the tool of "the devil" so to speak so that fits. The image itself is a wonderful rendition....at the door...deciding...enter or not....good versus evil....looking over her shoulder, just as every human I have ever observed, doing something they aren't quite sure of....or that they know for a fact is wrong. So it is not the card concept or the art that has me in a quandry. It is the tale itself.

The story is Bluebeard. The man that marries the maiden, leaves her in luxury but demands that she not open the door with the golden key. Well DUH....that's like temptation waiting to snag her!! So far so good....but here's the ironic twist (happens in life a lot)...when she opens the door she discovers the bodies of his previous wives who have not followed his directive. Gruesome. In the end, she manages to escape the fate that he intends for her and with his death ends up a very wealthy woman.

Here's where I find the paradox...the man was wrong, I mean he murdered his wives...and yet (in a way) the maiden was wrong too. She gave in to temptation and did something that she had been warned against...but in the end she triumphed. I'm trying to wrap my mind around exactly which way to go with this one....seems a paradox but maybe not. Let me delve in a bit more.

Looking at it from the perspective that temptation will exist...and ironically it can come from both good and bad sources. Well technically it comes from within ourselves but none the less, I'm just musing here. So there is temptation: do we resist it or give in?....here the temptation is created by a cruel man but actually not giving into it would have kept the maiden safe. In the dark so to speak, but still safe. So in this case was giving in to temptation good or bad? Helpful or destructive?

I guess in my mind, temptation is commonly about keeping away from things that are not good for you or at least not good for you in excess. That isn't really the framework of temptation on this card. "Opening the door can change what we know forever." (page 62).... hmmmm. In this tale, you might even say the maiden gave into temptation, discovered awful truths, and then was actually rewarded in the end. So in the end temptation has a dual nature?

Temptation's dual nature? There are times in life when giving into temptation helps us discover things that in truth we need to know. Realities that we may not find pleasant but realities that change the way we perceive life and that bring us to a different level. A reminder perhaps that temptation is found, not just in things of beauty but in things of ugliness. And then the temptor plays a role here also.

Well the very first temptor I suppose was God. I mean he told Eve NOT to eat the apple and satan encouraged her to.....and yet to me both are temptors. They just have different motives behind tempting someone. God's purpose was to protect and satan's to create havoc. In much the same way temptation still plays out today. One can tempt someone to try something new (to bring them out of their shell or broaden their experiences) OR someone can tempt someone to do something for personal gain (thrills, money, etc)

Then again WE are the temptor....it is our way of thinking and looking at the situation that makes it a temptation. For example if the maiden had just enjoyed the party and ignored the golden key. Accepting the fact that there are unknown things in her life would have prevented her from being drawn to the door. End result... good or bad? You decide. In a way...I think this story speaks also about intuition. You know, that little something that tells you something is wrong, an uneasy feeling, that pushes you to look deeper.

Perhaps the lesson from the tale is: ...There are lessons to be learned from the things that tempt us and in doing so we will be changed forever.

Multi-Leveled Readings with the Fairy Tale Tarot

***Please note...this post is not meant to provoke an argument...it is simply offered as an alternative way of looking at the meanings present in this particular deck. Take what makes sense to you and ignore the rest. I am a strong believer that meaning is constructed through our exchanges with others (via conversations, writings, experiences) and as such that is what I offer through blogging. Take Care and Be Kind...!!!!

I have mentioned several times the multi-leveled meanings of the Fairy Tale Tarot cards. Honestly, I’m still in the process of discovering this aspect of the cards myself. The exploration is in the VERY early stages and, as such, it is difficult to explain but I’m going to take a “baby step” toward doing so. I think this is especially important to beginning card readers or those that want to explore deeper levels.

As I stated in an earlier post, I am actually a novice to tarot, so I am sure “expert” tarot readers might have an entirely different outlook. Here’s how I look at “reading cards”, whether it is tarot, oracle, playing cards or the Lenormand cards. You can get caught up in “meanings”, symbolism, and become quite scholarly about readings. Nothing wrong with that, it has a certain “richness” to it that is wonderfully attractive. But in the end, it doesn’t truly matter what the “traditional” or “right” meanings of the cards are.

What matters are the connections and meanings they have for the individual reader. That is not to say that a basic understanding is not necessary…it, of course, is quite essential. There is a wonderful history to the meanings and symbolism, and it is of value. However do not let “right” or “wrong” meanings limit the scope of the readings. In fact, decide for yourself the approach and meanings and that decision will determine the way the cards “read” for you. Meaning does not exist in a vacuum or in a piece of card stock. Meaning exists in our minds and even more so in our hearts and souls.

So now, back to the topic at hand…the multi-levels of meaning (and again this is just touching the surface). The Fairy Tale Tarot cards have been produced as a tarot deck and while not completely tied to traditional meanings they do coincide. So the deck is wonderfully expressive as a tarot deck. Now let’s add another “level”. The deck can be read as an oracle, with no knowledge of tarot, simply using the rich images on the cards. The reader can simply let the images “speak” to her; the intuitive feeling about the image will provide rich fodder for readings. You can add another level, by observing and using the symbolism present in the individual cards and combining this with the intuitive reading of the card. Then let’s add yet another level and that is the fairy tales themselves. Fairy tales have lessons to teach and these can be used to produce a reading using the fairy tale message. Then of course, all of these levels can be combined with any of the others to produce yet additional levels of meaning and interpretation.

WOW…see what I mean.... multi-leveled. The cool part is that there is potential for just about anybody (with a desire)...…even someone with limited knowledge of tarot and symbolism to read with this deck. They would simply use the images and/or the fairy tale messages.

Now I can hear it already…the arguments, at least…one.... being that to fully bond and provide the best readings possible, you should fully study and know all there is to know about tarot and/or symbolism…that argument is flawed, in my opinion. Here is why. Readings are produced from a person’s knowledge and beliefs about the cards. If readings are about intuitive knowledge and skill, then whatever “framework” the reader chooses, should work. That is not too belittle tarot/symbolism scholars…there is a richness there but it is not so much the readers scholarly knowledge but rather their intuitive skill that makes a reading flow. Plus with this particular deck the "scholarly research" has already been done by the author and is embedded in the deck.

Need I remind you that there are already multiple meanings for most divination methods; Cartomancy alone has hundreds of contradictory methods of reading and interpreting. One might propose that any deck could be read as I suggest, and to a certain extent that is correct. However the images of the Fairy Tale Tarot evoke strong primal messages. Maybe they are part archetype and part collective consciousness or maybe they are just wonderful artwork full of symbolism that speaks to us on a subconscious level. Regardless of the reason, the messages are there and along with the tales themselves, they provide more than enough understanding and insight to “speak” to varied readers with all levels of knowledge and experience.

Fairy Godmothers

Since the Fairy Godmother in Hunt's deck is my favorite, I thought it would be interesting to search for fairygodmother images online. There are literally thousands of them...some rather funny cartoon/joke ones too by the way. The one above caught my eye. It's from the Cinderalla story...and yet has a different sort of feel to it.

I'm not really sure where this image originated but it has a sultry "feel" too it. It's sort of combination Indian Princess....sultry vixen....not really "classic fairy godmother".

This one has a bit of a magical feel to it..but honestly the fairy godmother looks like she is soooo old...she might need to crawl into the pumpkin and take a nap. LOL

I'll stand by my original reflections about the fairy godmother card in the Fairy Tale Tarot...not your ordinary fairy godmother but a woman of age, wisdom, experience and compassion. I think the lure of this card is the gentle wisdom of the face and yet the figure has a certain energy about it, strong and determined...not easily swayed. The fairy godmother on the card is the main figure on the card with a paler woman in the background. Since they are standing among the pumpkins I am assuming the background figure is Cinderella....but hmmmm.

When I look at the card again I wonder...well I think it is Cinderella but at the same time..the idea that it is a younger "version" of the Fairy godmother came to mind. Sort of like the pale figure is a "shadow" of what the fairy godmother was in the past...and that in fact as we age and grow in wisdom....our "past, younger self" fades but is never really gone. We still contain that younger version of ourself. Reminds me of the idea that comes to mind when people say: "they don't "feel" old"...as if that youthful part of a person's spirit is always there. Or perhaps we are both...at times Cinderella and at other times in our lives, the Fairy Godmother.

This Week's Poll

This week's poll is up....Which Fairy Tale Character is Lisa Hunt? Please look over the fairy tales and see which one you think? There is NO right or wrong answer....I haven't even decided yet...LOL...remember this is just for fun!!

Choices:

Little Red Riding Hood (0 Card)

Coyote (Ace of Wands)

Summer Queen (Queen of Pentacles)

Snow Queen (Five of Wands)

White Cat (Queen of Wands)

Ugly Duckling (XX Card)

Snow Daughter (Two of Swords)

Puss in Boots (V Card)

Take your time...enjoy the tales, reflect on their messages and then VOTE!!!!

More Reflections about My Favorites

Souljourney left a comment on the post about favorite cards that was most interesting and very useful too. She suggested that when looking at most and least favorites that one also looks at the opposite end of the spectrum. So for most favorites one should also look at the negative aspects of those cards and take note of them. Those aspects can also teach us something about ourselves. I think that is a splendid approach and once again adds another layer to examine. Thanks!!!

Little Red: Naivety, restrictive thinking, and being unaware of tricksters or pitfalls. So this card can appeal to me because it suggests beginnings and the cycle (journey) through life BUT I must also be aware of these other factors also. Actually this is sort of true of me…although I doubt one would call me naïve. I do tend to want to believe the “best” and perhaps at times I get so caught up in my point of view that it restricts my thinking.

Fairy Godmother: I suppose the “negative” aspects of this card would be forgetting to use logic at all and perhaps being too nurturing (smothering). The second part could most certainly pertain to me…and an area that I have been working on. I think of this card as the nurturer but also much more than that, as the feminine wisdom of the ages.

In my life I have found that meaning is built through both experiences and conversations. So please join me in conversation about the cards. It is really a joy as it offers opportunities for me to broaden my perspective or to examine elements that I have overlooked or just not focused on. I have so many thoughts about this deck but they are by no means the ONLY thoughts or ways of looking at it and I really gain so much from other points of view!

Princess and the Pea Spread

Image ©Copyright 2009 Lisa Hunt & Llewellyn Publications. Used by Permission.

Card One:
This card represents the Seeker or the Issue.

Card Two:
This card represents a factor/influence close to the Seeker.

Card Three:
This card represents The Fairy Tale that has the message needed for understanding or resolving the issue.

Card Four:
Represents a truth that must be believed or proven or accepted.

Card Five:

Represents a shadow aspect of the situation. Deeply hidden or unacknowledged, it is creating the most discomfort

The Princess and the Pea spread is layed out just as shown...with card one being the top mattress and card five being the bottom mattress...so to speak. I tried to tie elements of the story into the spread....for example card four is about truth or believing. That is part of the story...the need to confirm that the Princess is telling the truth.

Just for Fun: Which Fairy Tale Character is....

Hey...I thought of something...just for fun....I am going to put up a weekly poll....and we are going to vote for "Which Fairy Tale Character is___________?

I'll put up a different person each week....starting perhaps with the author herself...Lisa Hunt...and then celebraties and public figures. Well it's just an idea but I thought it might be fun...and in the meantime as we think about which character the person is... we will be making connections with the stories and the cards...No right or wrong answers of course...just a bit of fun to brighten our days!!!

And we shall be nice..right!!! No Perez Hilton hits here in Fairy Tale Land!!! Off to have some fun with friends tonight...can't blog 24/7 now can I ? LOL...I'll get the poll up later....in the meantime have fun with the cards!!

Reading with the Fairy Tale Tarot

Reading: General Life Reading
Spread: Three Billy Goats Gruff Bridge
Deck: Fairy Tale Tarot
Cards: Major Arcana Only

Card One: This card represents a beginning, a wish, something being sought. In this reading it is XIII Transformation. This is a fitting card for a general life reading and particularly for this phase in my life. Right now much of my time and energy is spent on this. According to the book: “growth from ashes” and “coming to terms with the death of what we know”. Both jumped out at me as pertaining to my life situation right now.

Card Two: This card represents the fairy tale with a message or advice for the situation. The card is XIV Temperance. Again from the book: “Inner calm and balance will follow a period of turmoil.” Holy smoke…that’s the truth. And just what I need! I think this message is telling me something that really I already know but have forgotten. Life consists of cycles and if we wait, things will right themselves again. Maybe not exactly as they were, and maybe is some way that is not 100% to our liking but definitely a resolution of some sort.

Card Three: This card is an emotional or spiritual factor supporting the bridge or needed to support it. The card in this reading is IV The Wise Old Man. I feel like it is linked to card number two and it is telling me that what is needed here is wisdom and a rational mind. Do not let emotions soar and twist around like a roller coaster. Use a lifetime of experience to calm the troubled sea of emotions and wait.

Card Four: This card represents a block or challenge, possibly hidden. The card in the reading is XII The Star. Seems an odd card for a challenge, however, in this position, I feel like it is saying: “You are blocking your own growth by ignoring a powerful factor.” That factor is developing a TRUE understanding and insight into inner dreams. These have influenced your past, present, and future. You must seek to understand ALL aspects, even the shadow aspects if you hope to meet life’s challenges.

Card Five: This card represents the outcome. It is III The Fairy Godmother. This sort of gives me pause because my line of thinking has been that I have been TOO nurturing and that balance is needed. But when I read the part that says: “move past stagnation and become more intuitive and aware” that makes sense. It is saying the outcome will be that I overcome this challenge, use my wisdom and experiences to reach a new level of calm and balance. I will still be a nurturer but in a more balanced way…using my intuition and awareness to do so. In fact, it is saying that sometimes by backing off….you are being MORE of a nurturer of an individual than by doing too much or jumping in too quickly to provide advice and such. …if that makes sense.