Empowering Our Dreams

We are going into a new year, with the energy of new beginnings and new dreams. The first step in the process of bringing anything into our life is to experience it as a conscious thought. The next step is to dream it – to see our thought in our mind, in living color, and in as much depth and breadth as we can give it. This is not always easy to do. I was just offered a peek into a wonderful program – a program that I want to share with you.

My friend Joanna Powell Colbert is offering a free workbook on dreams,making plans and setting goals. There are more goodies that Joanna will be giving away as an introduction to her first class in her new online “school” – The Gaian Soul Learning Grove. Her first class will be an extended version of one of her most popular workshops – “Empower Your Dreams and Visions With Tarot”.  Here you learn how to manifest your dreams in a supportive environment.

 

For more information –    http://www.gaiansoul.com/2010/12/time-to-dream-time-to-vision/.

 

(c) December 2010 Bonnie Cehovet

Tarot Reversals

Note: This article was written several years ago for the Aeclectic Tarot site. I think that it might still be of interest, so I am presenting it here.

When I first started reading the Tarot, I did not read with reversals. I still don’t. However, I do use Elemental Dignities, and I take a close look at where in the spread a reversed or ill-dignified card is appearing. The point here would be that the reader needs to have some method of determining what the quality of the card is, and what part that plays in the reading.

A reading is a snapshot, a moving picture showing the energies in the Seeker’s life at a specific moment in time. Each card in the Tarot carries a specific type of energy, which combines with the other cards in the reading to create the overall energy of the reading itself. Each specific type of energy manifests itself in myriad ways, from the “oh so positive” to the “oh so negative”. How the Seeker deals with the energy depends on whether they know that it is there, and what their reaction to it is (based on past experiences with this type of energy).

Position within the spread:

I pay a great deal of attention to the position that the reversed/ill dignified card is in, and how that position is defined. Is it in a position reflecting the past? Then this energy is something that the Seeker might be moving away from. Look to the card of the present to see if the Seeker is actually moving away from the energy, or whether they either do not know how to release it, or are deliberately holding on to it.

Is the reversed energy in the present? Look to the past to see the history of the energy, and to the future to see how the energy will manifest itself if not further actions are taken. Reversed energy in the present to me is a very pivotal energy – it cannot be ignored, it needs to be addressed. Look to the surrounding cards to see how it is manifesting in the Seeker’s life.

Is the reversed energy in the future? Look to the present to see what can be done to circumvent the reversal in the future. What needs to be paid attention to? What cannot be ignored? Reversed energy in the position of the future is, for the most part, not written in stone. (If the reversed card is a Major Arcana card, then the Seeker, by definition, has less input into resolving it.)

Reversals defined:

It is easy to define a reversed card as carrying the energy that is the exact opposite of the card in its upright position. This works, to a degree, but is not always true. This view also limits how a reversed card can be seen, and the role that it might play in a reading.

In “Learning the Tarot”, author Joan Bunning defines the energy of an upright card as energy that is available to be manifested, so be put to work in the Seeker’s life. It is an active energy. She defines the energy of a reversed card as energy that has not been fully developed, that may be incomplete, or even unavailable.

The focus for Bunning is on energy cycles, which she defines in the following manner:

* Early-phase energy is just beginning. It’s not yet developed, but it’s growing. It’s moving towards full expression in the future.

* Mid-phase energy is strong and developed. It’s clear, immediate and obvious in the present.

* Late-phase energy is on the decline. It’s losing power and clarity. The energy’s full expression is in the past.

Mary Greer, in “The Complete Book of Tarot Reversals” defines twelve specific ways in which a reversed card may manifest its energy:

1. Blocked or resisted – blocking/resisting the urge to work with a specific energy
2. Projected – something that you are seeing in someone else
3. Delayed, Difficult, Unavailable – something from the past, or the near future, or something you are having trouble with
4. Inner, Unconscious, Private – inside you, part of your internal self, rather than existing in your external world
5. Releasing – being willing to let go of things that are not necessary, or that need to change
6. Breaking through; Overturning; Refusing; Changing Direction – being in the process of breaking free of the energy depicted
7. No/Not; Lacking – the cards may be asking you not to identify with the energy being shown
8. Excessive; Over – or Under-compensating – either avoiding specific energies, or overindulging in them
9. Misused or Misdirected – using the energy of the card in an inappropriate manner
10. Redoing, Reconsidering, Reviewing, etc. – an energy may need to be worked with again, actions may need to be redone
11. Rectification – If you have a reversed card that you really wish was upright, use this as a wake-up call to get something done.
12. Crazy Version – Finding a bizarre way of doing what the upright card indicates, but not being too serious about it.

For myself, I do see the energy as moving in cycles. I do believe that every card holds a full spectrum of manifestation, and that the energy of each card is affected by the surrounding cards. Following are some of the ways that I see reversed energy as manifesting itself: (1) blocked energy (whether blocked by the Seeker, or by their circumstances); (2) mirroring – energy that is actually the Seeker’s, but that is being projected on someone else; (3) unavailable – energy that is needed, but not currently there; (4) unconscious – something the Seeker is not aware of; (5) energy that is incompletely manifested; (6) shadow – energy that acts to catalyze shadow issues within the Seeker.

Reversals in a reading:

A reversed card in one of my readings would get instant attention, because it would be a minor miracle! I orient my cards upright, so a reversed card would be the proverbial Divine tap on the shoulder for attention. (I view cards that fly out of the deck while being shuffled in the same manner – they are important to the reading.) If you consciously wish to read with reversals, then orient a certain percentage of your cards in the reversed position before shuffling.

I lay out my spreads face up, so that I can get an overall feel for the reading before I begin interpreting it. Look at what the percentage of reversals is in any given reading, and to their orientation (past, present, or future). Are the reversed cards primarily in the Major Arcana (which will have a longer lasting impact), are they in the Minor Arcana (which have less impact,

In “Learning Tarot Reversals”, Joan Bunning talks about “mismatches” – where the orientation of the card does not meet the expectation of the Seeker. All readers will eventually experience this – where their client (the Seeker) is in total denial about one or more of the cards in the reading. Frustrating, but it is up to the reader, in the course of the reading, to try to help the Seeker become more aware of what is actually going on in their lives.

Court cards, in the reversed position, talk about not connecting well with the people in our lives, or not connecting well with certain parts of ourselves. Here we also need to look at the issue of whether the Seeker is making certain decisions, or taking certain actions, because of the influence of someone else in their life.

Looking at what suits the reversals are in also opens a door to understanding the Seeker’s issues, because it gives an indication as to what specific area of their life is being affected. It may be emotions and relationship, it may be in communications, it may be in their ability (or inability) to acknowledge and put to use their innate skills and abilities, or it may have to do with their everyday life/environment.

Interpreting Reversals:

In “Learning Tarot Reversals”, Joan Bunning presents a template for interpreting reversals that I feel addresses them well, and is easy to follow:

1. What’s the cards energy? 2. What’s the context for this cards energy? 3. How strong does this cards energy feel to me? 4. Does my feeling (step 3) match the cards actual strength (orientation)? 5. What is the energies phase (reversed cards only)? 6. Is this a repeating energy? 7. Are there any opposing energies? 8. Is the cards energy part of a group? 9. What do I want to do about this energy?

When reading for others, we want to keep an open dialogue, to ask the Seeker what they see in the card, where the energy is manifesting in their lives, and how the energy is manifesting. Once this has been determined, the reader and the Seeker can work to find ways to bring resolution into the Seeker’s life.

Examples of reversed cards in a reading:

Note: It will help in understanding these examples if you take out your deck of choice, pull the cards in the example, and place them in the same pattern. I am reading from the Morgan-Greer deck, which shows the traditional Rider-Waite orientation of the figures and symbols within the cards.

Star – Queen of Swords (r) – Temperance In the Morgan-Greer deck, these three ladies are all facing forward, indicating that the energy is taking place in the present. Book ended by very gentle, positive energy, the reversed Queen gives an immediate impression of anger, and of stubbornness. This Queen has been offered an opportunity, or perhaps several opportunities, in her life, and has chosen to adamantly ignore them. This is a clear and conscious choice. A healing would be effected in this Seeker’s life by determining whether the reversed Queen was someone in their life playing the role of naysayer, or whether this is an internal voice. This is where dialoging comes in handy! I give the Seeker my interpretation of the cards, then together we work on where they see this energy in their life, and what they want to do with it.

Wheel of Fortune

Nine of Wands     Tower (r)

The first example was deliberately drawn from the deck, this one was drawn at random. The first thing that we note in this reading is that all of the energy indicates change. The Wheel of Fortune reflects cycles – past, present, and future. Nine of Wands addresses the Seeker’s creative nature, where his/her passions are, what he/she feels the need to defend, and where their endings and new beginnings lie. In the Morgan-Greer deck, the figure on this card is oriented to the past. The Tower represents abrupt, sometimes violent change, and change that, in an upright position, the Seeker has little control over. Look at the energy between the Nine of Wands and the Tower. The Nine of Wands is oriented to the past, to whatever the Seeker felt they needed to protect. In its upright position, the Tower could represent the loss of what the Seeker was trying so diligently to protect, and loss in a very unpleasant manner. Reversing the Tower changes the abrupt nature of the energy of change within the card, and gives the Seeker a sense of control over what is going on. There is no longer a crisis situation going on, and the Seeker may very well be resisting the chaos around them. As a reader, do not be fooled by the reversal in this card. Dialogue with the Seeker to see where this energy is coming from, and what the Seeker needs to do to resolve it, so that it does not sneak back into their life, suddenly appearing full blown to blow things to smithereens! One note here is that the Seeker may indeed need to release something from their life, and that the current reversal of this card is simply showing that their will is, for a time, being dominate. The nature of the Tower is that the Seeker’s will is never dominate in the end! Here we are looking at a modified Celtic Cross spread. I choose the cards at random, and set the reversals before the cards were drawn.

5 (r)

4    1, 2 (r)    6

3

1. Magician
2. Knight of Wands (r)
3. Queen of Cups
4. Empress
5. Emperor (r)
6. Four of Cups

There are a few things that we want to note at first glance: three out of six cards are Major Arcana, two our of six cards are Court Cards, and two out of six cards are reversed. The two cards that are reversed are both essentially people cards, and contain strong, active male energy. The reading starts on a high note (the Magician), and ends on a low note (the Four of Cups).

The Knight of Wands in the Morgan-Greer deck is oriented to the right, or to the future. In this reading he is sandwiched between the Queen of Cups (who faces the left, or the past), and the Four of Cups, which shows a face, masked in greenery, that is facing the right, or the future. The Knight and the Queen are facing away from each other – it is as if they are each denying the existence of the other. This Knight is certainly not showing his best face. In this position, energy of the Knight could represent someone being very superficial, or someone taking risks that are not well thought out.

The Emperor reversed shows the Seeker in the present. There is a lack of structure in the Seeker’s life, and they may not be making the best decisions, or taking the best actions, for themselves, or for those around them.

Each of the cards in this reading is essentially a “people” card. It is for the reader to recognize that this is a difficult time for the Seeker, and that the Seeker needs to look at where the voices of these people are coming from (within themselves, from the environment around them, or from specific people in their lives). The Magician tells us that the Seeker does have the skills and abilities within him/her to deal with the situation, while the Four of Cups says that of the Seeker doe not take some action to bring about resolution to these voices, that they are going to end up dealing with depression.

Developing personal definitions:

It is important when learning the cards to work with some form of Tarot journal. In it, both upright and reversed meanings of the cards, as they appear to the reader, are developed. Note that I said “as they appear to the reader”. It is of great value for a student to write down their impressions of a card, or a reading, and then to refer to book meanings, or the meanings that others have developed. Recognize that for both upright and reversed meanings, there is a large range of what can be. Where the energy is manifesting in the Seeker’s life, and how, is determined by the spread itself, and the meanings of the different positions.

There are no wrong answers here! If something does not make sense, start a dialogue with the Seeker, and see how they feel about the card, and where the energy is manifesting in their life. If you are reading for yourself, ask yourself these questions!

The use of reversals is a wonderful tool of empowerment. It adds depth to a reading, and can be used to show the “way out”, or the resolution to the Seeker’s issue(s). Know that there are no wrong answers here, and understand that the Seeker will sometimes adamantly refuse to admit that a glaring energy is anywhere near them! In such a case, although as readers we know that it is indeed there, we might say something to the effect that the energy, while near them, is perhaps something that has not yet manifested in their life. Save face, and give them a way out.

Something else that can be done here is to look at cards whose energy balances the energy of the reversed card(s). The added cards represent energy that the Seeker can bring into their life in some manner, on a conscious level, to counteract the energy that is currently manifesting. For example, the resourceful energy of the Queen of Pentacles might be helpful when the Magician is drawn reversed. The disciplined energy of the Nine of Pentacles might be helpful when one of the Knights is drawn reversed. This is a good place to let go of the defined meanings of the cards, and have the Seeker go through the deck and pull out the cards that he/she intuitively feels will be helpful.

These are but a few suggestions for dealing with reversed cards. Each reader will develop their own method(s), and their own meaning(s). Reversals give the story of the reading depth, and offer clues as to where the obstacles in the Seeker’s life are, and how they are manifesting. Dialogue with the Seeker will help develop resolution.

References:

Bunning, Joan. www.learntarot.com/less17-htm.

Bunning, Joan. www.learntarot.com/ltr.htm. Learning Tarot Reversals. Red Wheel/Weiser, Inc. 2003.

Greer, Mary K. The Complete Book of Tarot Reversals. Llewellyn Publications, 2002

© Bonnie Cehovet

The Secret of the Tarot

The Secret of the Tarot -

How the Story of the Cathars Was Concealed in the Tarot of Marseilles

Author: Robert Swiryn

Pau Hana Publishing

2010

ISBN #978-061530438-0

The history of the Tarot is quite an interesting one, and one that is often traced by the imagery in the cards. In “The Secret of the Tarot”, Swiryn attempts to show that somewhere along the line the Marseilles Tarot (a specific style of Tarot that has its roots in early Italian decks) may have come to carry the story of the Cathars, a thirteenth century sect of religious heretics.

In his preface, Swiryn notes that in his opinion, the Marseilles Tarot carries what he terms a classical look, as opposed to more modern decks, which he feels have drifted away from historical authenticity. In his personal studies on medieval history, Swiryn began to recognize connections between historical characters and events of this time period and the images in the Tarot cards. He goes on to say that he feels that both the story of the Cathars, and their spiritual message, seemed to have found a place in the cards. The thesis he formed was that a person, or group of people, found a way to use the Tarot of Marseilles as an instructional vehicle to preserve the story of the Cathar persecution by the Roman Catholic Church and the King of France.

What Swiryn presents here is the story of the Cathars (a look at the Albigensian Crusade, the subsequent Inquisition and the fate of the Cathars), and the supposition that this story is concealed within the Marseilles Tarot imagery. The book is in two parts: the first part covers the history of the Cathars through the lens of the Roman Catholic church, the medieval Languedoc and the Counts of Toulouse, the Cathars themselves, the Albigensian Crusade and the development of the Tarot. The second part covers the twenty-two Major Arcana of the Tarot, and attempts to look at what the creators of the Marseilles Tarot had in mind when they designed their cards. Through the lens of historical context, Swiryn attempts to show the connection between the spiritual beliefs of the Cathars and  the imagery in the deck.

A great deal of research has gone into this book. People familiar with the Tarot world will recognize names like Robert O’Neill, Stuart Kaplan, Michael Dummett, Paul Huson, and Alfred Douglas. The specific Marseilles Tarot that is used throughout this book is the Nicholas Conver deck. Other illustrations are used to show the symbols and imagery used during this time period, such as a stained glass of the Virgin Mary in Majesty from Notre Dame de Chartres, the bell tower at St. Sernin, and the martyrdom of St. Sernin. These are all reflective of the times that the Cathars lived in.

Would it have been possible for the story of the Cathars to be imbedded in the Marseilles Tarot? On the surface, yes. Cathars could have worked amongst the artisans that cut the wood blocks for the Tarot cards. Probable – no. And if the story of the Cathars was embedded in the cards, it may have been done after their time, by someone else, to simply keep their story alive.

In Part 2, where the cards are presented, the connections that Swiryn makes between the Cathars and the Marseilles Tarot images are, in my opinion, tenuous at best. Tenuous, but worth considering. In the Lovers he attempts to make the case that the imagery was significantly altered from older decks to give it new meaning.

For example, Swiryn surmises that just as the two figures Lovers card in the Visconti-Sforza Tarot are generally accepted to represent the two families, the three figures in  the Lovers card of the Marseilles Tarot may point to historical  figures within the Albigensian story. He posits that the third figure may represent  the French Regent (Blanche of Castille), intervening between Raymond VII (the middle figure) and Beatrice (the younger woman on the right). Another theory presented here is that the Marseilles version of the Lovers was sometimes referred to as the Two Paths, with the figure on the left representing the institutional church, and the figure on the right representing Love.

There are many other instances of information that is offered from a slightly different viewpoint than is generally considered. At the least it is interesting, including the thought that if Cathar history has been encoded in the Marseilles Tarot, that it was done hundreds of years after the demise of the Cathars, perhaps by Cathar sympathizers that were involved in the printing of the decks.

“The Secret of the Tarot” is written on a level that makes it readily understood by all levels of Tarot student. Between the footnotes and the bibliography, it is easy to see where Swiryn is referencing his material, so that anyone interested in following up with studies of their own may do so. There is one minor glitch, in that Robert O’Neil’s e-book “Catharisn and the Tarot” was inadvertently left out of the bibliography, but it is acknowledged in Swiryn’s footnotes.

For anyone interested in the history of the Cathars, in the Marseilles Tarot, or in Tarot history, this is a book that I would recommend. The ideas presented here may not be universally accepted, but they do offer food for thought.

© December 2010 Bonnie Cehovet

Winter Solstice/Full Moon In Gemini

For the first time in close to four hundred years a full lunar eclipse took place on the Winter Solstice. (The last time this occurred was in 1638.) The complete eclipse lasted over seventy minutes. I did not see it here, because I was working. I know that friends in the UK were having a hard time because of the fog, but I have seen some excellent photo’s that were shared over the Internet. A great video of the event can be seen here: http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/lunar-eclipse-2010-takes-place-tonight/story?id=12439971.

Note: On January 4^th, 2011, we will be experiencing a Solar Eclipse in the sign of Capricorn.

The Winter Solstice is the time of the longest night and the shortest day of the year. It is a celebration of the Sun (light) returning, but also a celebration of the earth going fallow for the winter, regrouping for the planting of seeds in the spring.

Along with the Winter Solstice we are also celebrating a Full Moon at 29 degrees of Gemini. This indicates a sense of completion. Gemini’s ruler, Mercury, is currently retrograde. This is the time to gather together everything that has come to us information wise since the previous New Moon, and use it to transform our lives. Specifically, we will be reevaluating our beliefs and the values that we hold dear. This is a time of inner reflection, but not a time to over analyze, or over-intellectualize our emotions.

Be very aware of all communications – verbal, written, and through the Internet. Think not only about what you are going to say or write, but about how it will be received. Try to add some humor to the occasion – to not be so serious. It is a time to release that which no longer serves you well.

Brenda MacIntyre (Medicine Song Woman) channeled the following message for this solstice:

“The return of t he light if beginning with the Divine Feminine – Grandmother Moon. We are having a FULL LUNAR ECLIPSE on the night of the Winter Solstice.

Tonight, when Grandmother Moon disappears behind the shadow of our Mother Earth, her light will return with a very new energy.”

© December 2012 Bonnie Cehovet

 

Just Discovered Animoto!

Thanks to Mary Nale and Anna Burroughs Cook, I just discovered a wonderful marketing tool from Animoto - videos that I can actually do!  The template is easy to work with, including three elements - images, text and music. You put these three elements in, hit the go button, and the software makes t he video for you! You can also goback and edit – which I had to do a couple of times with mine before I discovered how to mix the images and text together. Next project -figure out how to move mp3′s from my hard drive to the Animoto site! The directions are simple – but my laptop will not cooperate!  ;-)  

What this post is really all about is Anna’s video. This was her first attempt, and one that I found worked really, really well!   It is all about her book, “Tarot Dynamics”, and the reading techniques that the book promotes (can we say “intuition”!). Here is he link to her video – please watch it, and let her know what you think! http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=148988455151320

(c) December 2010 Bonnie Cehovet

Fortune Stellar

Fortune Stellar –
What Every Professional Tarot Reader Needs To Know

Author: Christiana Gaudet
Jupitor Gardens Press
2010
ISBN #978-0-9830904-4-1

“Fortune Stellar” is meant to act as a guide to individuals who are contemplating reading the Tarot as a business. The book is set up as eight easy lessons that help the individual reader create a Tarot business that reflects them, their beliefs, and their needs. The lessons include: (1) Structuring Your Tarot Business, (2) Your Professional Code of Ethics, (3) Structuring A Professional Reading, (4) Difficult Clients, Questions and Cards, (5) Growing As A Tarot Reader, (6) Mentoring and Teaching, (7) Appearances and Performances and (8) Fostering Acceptance In Local Communities.

In her introduction Gaudet talks about using the Tarot to make a difference in people’s lives. She places emphasis on the Tarot reader becoming a representative for Tarot to the community at large, indicating that Tarot readers by necessity need to inform themselves of Tarot’s history and culture. She also notes that in some of her discussions she refers to the word “magick”, spelled with a “k”. Gaudet defines this as the process of setting intentions and manifesting will through spiritual means.

Each of the lessons include an exercise that will help put the information shared in each chapter to use in the reader’s practice. Four of Gaudet’s students (that have moved on to become readers themselves) are featured as they work through the exercises to provide an example of how to work with this information.

Subjects covered by Gaudet are developing vision and mission statements, branding, marketing, setting fees, third party reading, reading for charity, comprehensive versus custom spreads, client dependency, continuing your education as a reader, mentoring and teaching, and interacting with the community.

Interspersed throughout the book are short essays on different Tarot topics, including Hermes Trigmegistrus and Court de Gebelin, Pythagoras, Interpreting the Court Cards, Tarot and Kabbalah, Types of Tarot Decks, Interpreting Reversals, and Tarot In Popular Culture.

There is an appendix covering contact information for Tarot organizations, conferences, on-line Tarot resources, and a recommended reading list.

The book was well thought out, and well presented, but I felt that it needed to be more in depth – both the lessons and the essays. I also felt that information on how to read the Tarot should not have been included in a book that was directed at readers who were considering going professional, or professional readers looking to take their business to the next level. It will be of use in setting a direction for readers to go in forming their own business, but it is only a starting place.

© December 2010

To Drink The Wild Air

To Drink The Wild Air -

One Woman’s Quest to Touch the Horizon

 

Birgit Soyka

Parendum Books

2010

ISBN #978-0-9830398-0-8

A lifetime quest for most of us is that of figuring out who we are, and what our path in life is meant to be. In other words, we are searching for that which will make our lives authentic. This is what this book is all about – the life story of a woman who knew that she was meant to follow a certain path in life – that of adventure. Whatever her life included, there must be adventure.

Born and raised in Germany, Soyka came from a traditional family. She was the “wild child”, the non-conformist. At an early age she became infatuated with motorcycles, with the open road, and with motorcycle racing. She served an apprenticeship in retail, but her life was motorcycle racing and long road trips on motorcycles with friends. She never entered the retail world, instead she worked for a motorcycle magazine in Germany. One of her jobs there was testing new motorcycles.

At the age of twenty-five she moved to the United States, to work and to race motorcycles. She was the only female breaking into a challenging, male dominated field. It was a time when she experienced many injuries, financial issues, homelessness, and the threat of deportation. She married an individual that was also interested in racing, but she left the racing world behind her and went into the corporate world of business.

Soyka addressed working in the business world much the same as she addressed competing in the world of motorcycle racing – she loved the adventure and challenge, and was highly competitive. She loved and lived for new experiences, living and working in the United States, South America and Europe. The changing economy, and the changing structure of her company, brought her career burnout – waking up in the middle of the night with anxiety attacks, no longer respecting the people that she worked for, or the company itself.

Through her marriage, divorce, and close to twenty years with “The Corporation” (Soyka’s name for the company that she worked for), she retained her sense of humor, her sense of adventure, and her sense of self.  On a vacation in Alaska she comes to the realization that to save herself she needs to leave the company that she works for and seek other challenges.

Her recovery from career burnout, and from other physical issues, takes time. In the end, she recovers who she is, and what is important to her. She recovers her authentic self. The manner in which Soyka writes gives the reader several levels to connect to. On the base level, she is describing things that have happened to her throughout her life. On anther level, she is sharing her emotional reaction to the people and events around her. On yet another level we are seeing her core values, and how they are reflected in her decisions and actions.

This is an excellent book for anyone that wants to see first hand how to find your dream, and live your life to the fullest.

 © December BonnieCehovet

Review – SoulInterviews.com

A little over a year ago the Soul Tracks site (http://soultracks.com) came to my attention. Following one of their links, I was introduced to one of the best music industry interview sites that I have ever seen – Soul Interviews (http://soulinterviews.com), founded by DJ Soulswede (Souly).

This is a non-profit site, with the individuals that volunteer for it working their own “day jobs”, and willingly sharing their love for and knowledge of the soul music world. DJ Soulswede himself comes from a musical family. In the mid 80’s he suggested to the manager of a local radio station in Sweden that he air a show dedicated to soul music. Thus the one hour show “Soul Power Radio” (later known as “Soul Food Radio”) was born. The show featured Soulswede’s own unique selection of soul and funk music. The show received a lukewarm welcome, at best. At worst, he received threats while on air, and had to leave the station by the back door.

He also did an interview for a very well respected show on The Swedish National Radio called Soul Corner, interviewing Robert “Kool” Bell and Dennis “DT” Thomas of Kool & The Gang. He interviewed other artists, including Tyrone Davis, BeBe & CeCe Winans and Mitch McDowell of General Kane for his own local radio show. Soulswede was a young man interviewing known artists who came to respect him for his vast knowledge and deep love for the music. For Souly, music is all about credibility, about honesty and a strong melody. This shows through clearly in his interviews.

 Other team members include Armand Tulumello (Astral22 - songwriter, producer, music journalist and label founder),  DJ Funk-O-Nots, She Kent (artist and writer, Book and DVD recommendations), Gabriel Rich (Starchild 7 – Senior Writer  Music Recommendations), SoulCuts (Music Recommendations), Katharina Rumpf (Junior Write, Music Recommendations), Carter Burnette (Editor of the Soul Chronicle), Chris Campbell (Editor of Progressive Underground), Nathan Johnson Jr. (Head of A&R/Production/The SoulInterviews Show), Simon Phillips (Webmaster), Deardra Shuler DEA (Editor of Music Pastures), Louis Johnson (Special guest interview with Al McKay), and Tanisha Jackson (Contributing Writer).

Connected with this site is Sky Digital Channel 0129 and Solar Radio (http://solarradio.com). The show is heard on Sundays at 9 pm EST in the United States, and Monday at 2 am GMT in the United Kingdom. There is an extensive archive of shows on the Soul Interviews site. The show airs for two hours – the first hour of the current show (11-29-10)  includes music from Sunshine Anderson, Mo Pleasure feat. Maysa, Bashiyra, Nathan Watson and Eugene Wilde. The second hour is classic hour, with music from Freddie Jackson, The Isley Brothers, Chris Jasper, Mikki Bleu and more.

Current interviews include the following:

Note: Each interview is in audio and text format.

Kendrick Jackson – http://soulinterviews.com/interviews-archive/577-kendrick-jackson-swe.html

Chris Jasper – http://soulinterviews.com/interviews-archive/573-chris-jasper-swe.html

Demetrius Price – http://soulinterviews.com/interviews-archive/569-demetrius-price-swe.html

Rena Scott – http://soulinterviews.com/interviews-archive/563-rena-scott-swe.html

Lenny Williams – http://soulinterviews.com/interviews-archive/556-lenny-williams-fon.html

Darnell Kendricks – http://soulinterviews.com/interviews-archive/530-darnell-kendricks-swe.html

Will Downing – http://soulinterviews.com/interviews-archive/517-will-downing-swe.html

 Keith Sweat – http://soulinterviews.com/interviews-archive/463-keith-sweat-swe.html

Both Indies and major labels can be found on this site. It is a tremendous resource for soul music, and to get to know the individuals involved on a very personal level.

 For updates on interviews, please subscribe to DJ Soulswede on Face Book – http://www.facebook.com/pages/DJ-Soulswede-Interviews/167270233306541, or follow him on Twitter – @SoulInterviews. He can also be found on Solar Radio – http://www.solarradio.com/djsoulswede.aspx.

 © December 2010 Bonnie Cehovet

Resource Numbers For The Holidays

December is a very busy month, and one that is, for the most part, focused on home, family, and tying up loose ends from the previous year. It is a time of tradition – family tradition, religious tradition, and cultural tradition. It is a time of memories past, and memories in the making. It can be a time of celebration, but for many people, it can also be a difficult time.

 With the holidays (starting even before Thanksgiving), come stress and different levels of depression. We may be working with these symptoms within ourselves, or we may we working with clients that are exhibiting this behavior. It is important as readers that we have tools to work with stress and depression, and that we have tools (and resource numbers) that we can gift our clients with.

 It is a good idea to develop a list of local resource numbers for clients that live within your own area, as well as a list of toll free nationwide numbers to give to clients that live outside of our local area, or in a different state. I would suggest the following nationwide toll free numbers:

 Child Help 800-422-4533 Helps child abuse victims.

Stop It Now! 888-773-8368 Helps child sexual abuse victims. 

National Center For Victims Of Crime 800-394-2255 Helps individuals, families and communities.

National Domestic Violence Hotline 800-799-7233 Helps victims and offenders.

National Alliance On Mental Illness – 800-950-6264 Helps Individuals, families and professionals.

Child Find of America 800-426-5678 Helps parents reporting lost or abducted children.

Child Find of America – Mediation 800-292-9688 Helps parents with abduction, prevention and child custody issues.

Girls and Boys Town National Hotline 800-448-3000 Helps boys and girls n trouble.

National Center For Missing and Exploited Children 800-843-5678 Helps families and professionals (law enforcement and social services).

National Drug Abuse Hotline 800-622-457 Helps individuals and families.

National Suicide Hotline 800-784-2433 Helps Individuals and families.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 800-273-8355 Helps families and concerned individuals.

National Runaway Switchboard 800-786-2929 Helps runaway and homeless  youths and families.

Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network 800-656-4673 Ext 1 Helps rape an incest victims.

Relief For Caregivers 800-677-1116 Helps parents or professionals caring for children with disabilities or terminal illness, or child abuse.

Substance Abuse Hotline  800-262-2463 Helps individuals and families.

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas, and a Joyous Holiday Season!

(c) December 2010 Bonnie Cehovet

Excerpt From NaNoWriMo 2010

(This is an unedited version of the second chapter of my opus for NaNoWriMo 2010. It is in the mystery genre. Enjoy!)

Chapter 2

I think that somehow, we learn who we really are and then live with that decision.
~ Eleanor Roosevelt (1884 – 1962)

The man standing in front of the window was quite distinguished looking – just over six feet tall, with dark gray hair and green eyes. He held a drink in his hand as he gazed out over the city. Had she recognized him? He thought that part of his life was over, that his footsteps had been thoroughly erased. It was all so long ago … a memory that had grown very hazy. He was a different person now, living a different life, and he very much wanted to keep it that way.

“James, are you alright?”

He turned to look at the elegant woman seated in the wing back chair. She wore a pale gray silk suit, with gray pumps. Her blond hair was brushed back from her face, falling softly to her shoulders. “Do you think that she recognized me?”

“Would it matter if she did? All that was a long time ago. There is no path leading from then to now.”

“Nickie, there are always paths. We might not see them, but they are there. Some of them are paths of no return.” James glanced at his watch. “Are you ready? We should be leaving soon, if we hope to get to the gallery on time.”

“Yes, I am ready. The limo should be here in about five minutes. At this time of day, we have plenty of time to get to the gallery.” Nickie stood up, and walked over to James, laying her hand softly on his arm. “We aren’t even sure that what we are looking for is going to be there. It could be just another wild goose chase.”

“I don’t think so. The details have been too specific, and we do know that experts were flown in from Asia, and from France. Heinz Reichman was seen in New York City, boarding a flight for San Francisco. With heavy hitters like that around, we need to act swiftly, but with great prudence.”

Nickie sighed to herself. She and James had been married for twenty years, and had worked together for five years before that. He was cultured and articulate, qualities that she appreciated. They had built up thriving art business, doing private consultations and mediating private and estate sales. Their base had been New York City for all of this time. Six months ago James had decided that it would be beneficial to divide their time between both coasts. It really didn’t matter to her – she had no living family, and they had no children – but she had a strange sense of foreboding, an inner sense that all was not as it seemed to be.

Picking up her black clutch purse she joined James, and they rode their private elevator down to the lobby, where their limo was waiting. Their driver, Jackson, was standing by the car, He opened the door as they approached. Nickie smiled at him as she slid into the car. James had a quiet word with Jackson, and then joined her.

The ride to the gallery was short, and silent. It was a companionable silence, one built on having lived together for many years. James always needed this time – the time before entering a gallery, or a party – to get his thoughts together. Once he stepped through the door, he was his suave, charming self. He was highly respected, both for his knowledge of the art field, and for the manner in which he carried himself.

James handed their invitations to the assistant that greeted them as they entered the gallery. Yolanda Garvey was a thirty-something with a quiet grace about her. She had been with the gallery for the past ten years – ever since she graduated from the University of ***** with an MFA and an MBA. Being able to address both sides of the art world gave her a very competitive edge with their clients. She smiled at James, nodded to Nickie, and mentioned that Heinz Reichman had already arrived. James thanked her, and moved forward with Nickie into the open gallery.

It was easy to tell who was there to see and be seen, and who were the serious collectors. Sometimes those lines were blurred. Directly ahead of them was Janine Mantee, the picture of elegance in a slim cream colored satin dress with sapphire earrings and a sapphire pendant. She was wearing cream colored **** heels, and carrying a cream colored **** clutch purse. Known primarily as a top designer of high-end women’s apparel, over the years she had unassumingly put together a premier collection of *********. Few people, other than close friends and fellow collectors, knew about her collection. She was a very private person outside of business, with residences in both San Francisco and New York.

James had a suspicion that she be branching out, that she was also here tonight to view the prize – a 13th century jade figurine that had recently, and very quietly, come on the market. Only a select few would be viewing the statue, and they would be doing so privately, in the gallery’s Jorge Engle room. Ostentatiously an elegant private viewing room, it was actually a state of the art vault, humidity controlled, with the latest state of the art security features. Knowledge of this room was limited, entrance into it even more so.
James nodded at the waiter, accepting glasses of Chardonnay for Nicki and himself. They walked around the gallery, sipping wine and viewing the collection being presented – dreamscapes from up and coming artist Asher Constance. Done in pastels, the work was haunting, filled with shadows of things not known, where form flowed into form. James and Nicki had been drawn to his work as soon as they saw it, and had several premier works in their private collection.

Yolanda Garvey appeared at James’ side, indicating that Pierre Michel, the gallery owner, was ready to see them. They walked to the back of the gallery, and entered the private corridor. Softly lit, with light blue silk covering on the walls and light gray carpet, there were two ornate oak doors on the left hand side, one of which opened into a well appointed conference room, with the other door opening into a viewing room with cream colored walls, a cream colored rung, a rose sofa and matching chairs. Recessed lighting focused on the seating area, with separate lighting on the wall across from it. There were end tables next to the chairs, and a coffee table in front of the sofa. The walls were plain – no artwork, no statues. There was a low table across from the door, with a simple flower arrangement on it.
The first door on the right-hand side of the corridor lead into Pierre Michel’s office. Yolanda opened the door, stepping back to allow James and Nicki to enter. The gallery owner rose from behind his teakwood desk, walking around and extending his hand to James.

“My friend, I am so happy that you were able to be here tonight! I know that you will not be disappointed. How are you adjusting to life in San Francisco?”

“Pierre, I would not miss this viewing for anything in the world! I could not believe it when we got word from you that you would be representing the figurine. We have heard whispers over the years, but there was never anything to prove its existence. If the province is there, this is a remarkable find.”

Pierre turned to Nicki, kissing her on both cheeks and holding her hand in his. “Nicki, you are just as lovely as ever! I was very happy to hear that you and James were buying a home here in San Francisco. You will make a wonderful addition to our little community.”
Pierre walked over to the bookcase and pushed an unseen button. The bookcase soundlessly moved to the left, revealing a steel door with a keypad to one side, and a camera slot above it. He stated his name, keyed in an access code, placed the fingertips of his right hand on the pad, and looked into the camera slot. The steel door slid open, and he walked into the room beyond, Nicki and James following him. An unseen camera filmed them coming into the room, and then continued filming them. Any guests in this room were aware of the camera, just as they were aware that there was no audio, so that their discussion were absolutely private.

The walls were walnut, with no artwork on them. As in the other viewing room, there was a table along one wall with a flower arrangement on it. The rug in this room was a pale cream. To one side of the room was a sofa, flanked by two deep chairs. There were end tables beside each chair, with a coffee table in front of the sofa. The wall facing the seating area was blank.

From a small table in the corner to the right of the door Pierre poured three glasses of ****** wine, taking two of them over to Nicki and James, who were seated on the sofa. He picked up an elegant plate of hor douevres from the small table, offered them to Nicki and James, then set the plate on the coffee table in front of them.

“What we are going to be looking at is a perfectly maintained example of jade from the 12th century Song dynasty in China. It is a figurine of a Buddha, measuring approximately five inches by three inches. The Song dynasty is famous for its jade figurines, and there are several notable examples in museums such as the ***** in *****, and the ***** in *****.

The figurine that I am showing you has a province that has been authenticated – it belonged to a private individual in China, and was brought by the family to the United States. It was retained in their family for many, many years. The last of the direct family members recently passed away, leaving instructions that the estate was to handle the figurine as it saw fit. Representatives from the estate made the decision to sell the figurine at private auction. They wish to remain anonymous.

Because I am fairly well known both in the art world, and the world of antiquities, I was asked to handle the sale. The first thing that I did was to authenticate the province of the figurine. This was done to my satisfaction. I have a copy of the paperwork here for you to take with you.”

Saying this, Pierre opened the leather folder at his side at took out a thin sheaf of papers, handing them to James. James nodded his head, folded the papers and placed them in his inner jacket pocket.

Pierre slid open a hidden panel in the end table next to him, and clicked a button that brought a wide screen TV down from the ceiling. He clicked another button, and a photograph of a jade Buddha appeared. Several more photographs followed, showing the figurine at different angles. It was a perfect specimen, with no observable flaws.

“Now it is time to see the real thing.” Pierre clicked to retract the TV screen, walked over to the wall and touched one of the panels lightly. It slid open, revealing a column with a climate controlled viewing chamber seated securely on top. In the middle of the chamber, resting on a black cloth, was the jade figurine. Soft light surrounded it from all sides, showing it off to perfection.

Nicki and James stood up from the sofa and walked over to join Pierre. Nicki held her breath – this was an incomparable find!
James turned to Pierre: “This is absolutely incredible! A once in a lifetime find! I take it that you will be doing private bidding on this, as usual?”

It was policy for Pierre to show the artwork that he was brokering privately to individuals that were interested. He then held a private sale, with the bids coming in either by phone or by computer. Both his phone lines and his computer were well safeguarded. To date, there had never been a problem.

“Yes, the bidding will be private. I will be holding it in three days, and will be sending registered letters with the code for the phone number and the link for the invitation only Internet site.”

The three of them shook hands warmly, and went back into Pierre’s office. As if by magic Yolanda appeared, and escorted them back into the main viewing room. They smiled, thanked her, and walked out of the door to their waiting limo. As they pulled out into the traffic, James addressed the driver: “Jackson, were you able to verify that information for me?”

“Yes, Mr. *****, I was able to do that. Hans Reichman arrived on United Airlines flight %%% from La Guardia at 3 pm this afternoon. He is staying at the ##### #####, His reservation is for a week. He was met at the airport by an Asian gentleman who drove him to his hotel.”

“Thank you, Jackson.”

“You’re welcome, Mr. *****” Jackson was used to these requests. His actual skill set was not as chauffer, although he could play the role well. He was a computer expert, well schooled in using the computer as a tool of inquiry. He could find out anything about anybody, in the blink of an eye. He was quick, and he was discrete. He had been with James and Nicki since they left the Company.

(c) December 2010 Bonnie Cehovet