Tarot Birth Cards: Wheel of Fortune/Magician

Over the next year I am going to be blogging about Tarot Birth Cards, what they mean and how we can work with them. I use the system of Tarot Birth Cards developed by Ruth Ann and Wald Amberstone of the Tarot School (www.tarotschool.com). Using the Seeker’s birth data (month, day and year), pairs of birth cards are defined. (For more information, and to calculate your own Birth Cards, go to http://tarotschool.com/Calculator.html.)

Please note: Karyn Easton and I have a project being published by Schiffer Books in fall of 2011 – my book, “Keys To Empowerment”, and Karyn’s deck, the “Tarot Lovers Tarot”. Karyn has a Birth Card calculator up on her site, where you can also view her incredible deck (it really is!) – http://paranormality.com/tarot-birth-card-calculator.shtml.

A special thanks to Leisa ReFalo, www.tarotconnection.netwho developed the Birth Card Calculator, and graciously gave us permission to use it.

Note: As of January, 2011, this has been broken down into two separate projects, but I will still be using the images from the “Tarot Lovers Tarot” in my book.

Our first pair of Birth Cards are the Wheel of Fortune (Key 10) and the Magician (Key 1). Some of the associations for these cards are:

Wheel of Fortune
Astrological Sign: Jupiter
Keywords: Destiny, a fortunate turn of events, progress, adapting to change, resistance to change, a negative turn of events.

Magician
Astrological Sign: Mercury
Keywords: Power, new project, new phase of life, new beginning, skill, confidence, self-reliance, intelligence, energy disrupted, lack of will, lack of focus, delusions of grandeur, unreliability, trickery, indecision, poor self-image.

The theme for this lifetime is accepting what fortune brings you versus creating your own destiny. It is through this lens that the Seeker views both the opportunities and the challenges brought into their path. We can choose to do personal work with our own Birth Cards, we can use Birth Cards in conjunction with a reading for a client (place their birth cards, drawn from a deck other than the one you are reading with, above the spread(s) laid out for them). The spread(s) are then read through the lens of perception of the Seeker’s Birth Cards. As added value, a reader could give their client scans of their Birth Cards, along with a short write-up about them. Readers can also use the Birth Card system to better understand other people in their own lives (family, co-workers, friends etc.).

The key to bringing balance to any lifetime is that of understanding how and where your Birth Cards are operating in your life. The Wheel of Fortune is all about the cycles of life, death and rebirth, cause and effect, destiny and fate. Represented here is spiritual evolution. Is the Seeker able to detach from the people and things of their life and move on? Where and how are they needing to do so? What have they initiated in their lives that they are waiting for others to react to or build on? Remember – what was begun on the Magician’s path comes full circle here.

The Magician holds the keys to creation – he brings the energy of Spirit down into the earthly plane. His caveat – As Above, So Below. He represents the power of creation, and the ability to manifest. He balances his elemental tools to produce the vision that he sees in his mind. The Seeker here shows discernment, the ability to tell reality from illusion. They also have the ability to analyze and problem solve. The Seeker needs to ask themselves how they view the person or issue they are faced with, and what they want to do about them.

In this lifetime there will be a need for the Seeker to understand the cycles of life, and where they are in the cycles of life. Are they at a beginning, or an ending? What needs to be released so that they can move on? Or are they in a place where they are visioning and manifesting? Their Birth Cards hold the key to their story at any point in time. As readers, we help them use this key wisely.

Images from the “Tarot Lovers Tarot”, Karyn Easton, 2008, paranormality.com

© January 2011 Bonnie Cehovet

Around The Tarot World – January 2011

Sharing my writing links from the month of January, as well as interesting goings on in the Tarot world. Enjoy!

Recent posts:

http://bonniecehovet.wordpress.com/2011/01/30/tarot-birth-cards-wheel-of-fortunemagician/

http://www.tarotelements.com/personal-development/tarot-journaling/

http://bonniecehovet.wordpress.com/2011/01/23/tarotin-the-landof-mystereum/

http://bonniecehovet.wordpress.com/2011/01/22/what-land-did-you-say-this-was/

http://bonniecehovet.wordpress.com/2011/01/19/full-moon-in-cancer/

http://bonniecehovet.wordpress.com/2011/01/17/tarot-in-culture/

http://bonniecehovet.wordpress.com/2011/01/14/readers-studio-2011-sharing-information/

http://bonniecehovet.wordpress.com/2011/01/11/tarot-spreads-for-iphone/

http://bonniecehovet.wordpress.com/2011/01/03/explaining-the-tarot/

http://bonniecehovet.wordpress.com/2011/01/03/capricorn-new-moon/

Fool Stop Tarot blog – http://usgs.typepad.com/blog/2011/01/the-new-year-expressed-through-the-aces.html

Tarot Elements – http://www.tarotelements.com/personal-development/meditation-on-the-new-year/

Preview of Tarot Today shows on Blog Talk Radio – http://www.tarotguild.com/profiles/blogs/tarot-today-radio-heres-a. Interesting guests, diverse topics!

Not Tarot, but I have to share – David Mensah, “Food For Soul” – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkZTK5Gicn8. Great music to write by!

Incredible book available forpre-order from the ATS – check out Emily E. Auger (editor) – “Tarot In Culture” – - http://association.tarotstudies.org/tarotinculture.html.

“Southern Tarot Symposium” – Meeting of Australian and NEW ZEALANDTarot lovers – http://www.tarot-art.com/news.html. Presenters include Fern Mercier, Lyn Howarth-Olds, Jean-Michel David, Annie Dunlop, Danae Thorp and Franchelle Ofsoske-Wyber.

ATS 2011 Tarot convention – http://association.tarotstudies.org/2011convention.html.

© January 2011 Bonnie Cehovet

Tarot in the Land of Mystereum

Tarot in the Land of Mystereum

Author: Jordan Hoggard

Artist: Jordan Hoggard

Schiffer Books

2010

ISBN #978-0-7643-3601-0

“Meditate Your Contemplation,

Contemplate Your Meditation”

from the book

“Tarot in the Land of Mystereum” is based on architect/artist/Tarotist (can we just say Renaissance man!) Jordan Hoggard’s independently published “Mystereum Tarot” (2008). Created with the vector technology found in his architecture background, the “Mystereum Tarot” showed a strong sense of (geometric) form, backed up with an intense use of color. The deck has been revised to a small extent for “Tarot in the Land of Mystereum”, primarily to take out the nudity so that the deck would be able to be used with children (or with adults that have amore conservative mindset).

The independently produced deck focused on the connection between architecture, the Magician and the High Priestess – the first spark (or inception) of an idea, and the creation (manifestation) of that idea. The Magician sparked ideas, while the High Priestess gave them form (brought them into manifestation).

There was a significant shift in thought with “Tarot in the Land of the Mystereum”. The working concept here is “Imagination Primer”. The Tarot, and the journey that is the Tarot, is meant to open the Seeker’s ability to imagine, and to develop their ideas. The Seeker is also the Guide, in the guise of the Fool. The aim is for the Seeker to develop a harmonious relationship with their ideas and feelings. Life in a nutshell!

The Seeker’s identity and personality are explored through their ideas. Jordan states that intuition and imagination are the voice and place of our inner essence. Through their intuition and imagination the Seeker learns to work with their memories, ideas and dreams. Everything comes together in the Land of Mystereum!

The deck is a traditional 78 card deck, with Jordan’s suggestion that the card back become the 79^th card. There is a reason for this – the card back (which is reversible) shows a window with a vine running across the top of it. It acts as the window into our imagination, and into our soul. (The last little thought there was mine.) Traditional titles are used for the Major Arcana, with the suit titles being Wands, Cups, Swords and Pentacles, and the Court Cards titles of King, Queen, Knight and Page. Justice is VIII, Strength is XI.

The presentation for this book/deck set is awesome! When I first saw it, my thought was “How am I supposed to store this?” That lasted for a very fleeting second! The reason for the thought is that the box is cigar-style, approximately 5 ¾” by 11 ¾” – game board size.  Well, duh! It is meant to be a game … a journey! The box is perfect! It is a flip top box, with a magnetic catch. No worries about anything falling out if it gets accidentally knocked over. The colors are the vibrant colors from the deck, with the imagery from the Hermit, the Six of Pentacles, the Ten of Wands and the Two of Swords. There are ribbons on both sides of the top, so that it does not open further than it needs to (which could crack the spine). The front features a ribbon pull to open the box. Very professional, very beautiful! Go Schiffer!

The 192-page companion book is entitled “An Imagination Primer”. The Welcome section presents the thought behind the deck, and its use as a tool to develop imagination and creativity. Each family within the deck deals with a different aspect of imagination. From the book:

“Archetypal Imagination is about the Major Arcana with big ideas.

Grounding Imagination is about Pentacles with solid things that you can touch.

Fulfilling Imagination is about Cups with flow and how you feel.

Energizing Imagination is about Wands with energy that invigorates you.

Communicative Imagination is about Swords with communication and how you interact.”

There is an exercise at the end of the Welcome section that is really very interesting. Using a rubber band, you form a circle, and then you twist the circle to form a lemniscate (infinity symbol). Jordan goes on to suggest that the center of the circle is not necessarily the middle of the circle – it is where we are on our journey, and it is that which is vibrant and alive.

There is an interesting set of questions to ponder at the very end of the Welcome section. It is suggested that the Seeker think about them before reading the book, and then again after they have met the characters along the journey that is the Tarot. Sample questions include:

“Does infinity have a middle?

What is an infinite feeling?

Is there a difference between a center and a middle?”

The cards are presented with a black and white scan, a description of the card’s energy, Entering the card (each card speaks in its own voice), and Imagination Tools. Examples of Imagination Tools are:

“ The Fool: Feel and remember natural new directions you create as you move as you move and evolve your ideas with imagination and creativity!”

“Ace of Pentacles:  I gift you the ability to sense inner inheritances as they prepare to come to light.”

“Queen of Cups: I am in harmony with my emotional and intuitive realms.”

The cards themselves are 3 ½” by 5”, and of good quality, glossy card stock. The backs I have already described. The card face has a ¼” white border, surrounding a “window” that frames the card’s imagery. The bottom of the border, and the lower 2/3 of each side of the border are orange. The upper third of the border is blue/green, and curved. The upper right and left hand corners are dark blue.

There is a white border across the bottom of the card, where it is identified. For the Major Arcana, the Roman numeral for the card is in the center, with the card title (in English, French, German and Spanish) on either side. For the Pips (numbered cards), the number is in the center of the card, with the suit name (in English, French, German and Spanish) on either side. For the Court Cards, the title is in the center of the card, with the suit name on either side (in English, French, German and Spanish).

The colors in this deck are both vibrant and intense. There is significant imagery from the esoteric world, and an interesting continuity of imagery throughout the deck. The Hanged Man and the Page of Cups are the same person. The rope that ties the figure’s hands runs through a lemniscate,with another lemniscate appearing behind the figure’s head.  The imagery of the four pillars appears in several cards – the Fool, the Lovers, the Devil, the Tower, the Sun, the Two of Swords, the Knight of Pentacles, and the Knight of Cups.

The imagery on the Court Cards is interesting: for the Queens, the figures are identical on Pentacles and Swords, and on Wands and Cups. The King shows the same figure on all four suits, while the Knight shows the same figure for Cups, Swords and Pentacles. The Pips (numbered cards) are semi-Marseilles style, in that they make use of the suit icons and limited figures.

The Fool shows black holes where the eyes appear, very much like Johanna Gargiula-Sherman’s work in the “Sacred Rose Tarot”. The Emperor is shown as a figure in the middle of a tree, while the Wheel uses watch-like imagery and astrological glyphs. The Tower shows the Fool poised over the four pillars in the upper left hand side of the card,, with the vibrations from his voice acting as the lightening that strikes the Tower.

To know the depth of this work, and the intention, I am going to share Jordan’s acknowledgment statement, from the book: “Susan B. Hale. You gave me two lithographs when I was three months old. I cherish them. They have lived with me since.”

If you want to wander into the land of imagination with intent and purpose, this book and these cards are for you. Suitable for any age group, from any background.  I see this deck as being akin to James Wanless’ “Voyager Tarot”. It opens the mind, and the soul.

Enjoy the journey!

© January 2011 Bonnie Cehovet

What Land Did You Say This Was?

I am having a great deal of fun playing with the latest Tarot release from Schiffer – Jordan Hoggard’s “Tarot in the Land of Mystereum”. I will have a review up sometime this weekend, but in the meantime,  here are some pics!

 

 

 

 

(c) January 2011 Bonnie Cehovet

It Has Come To My Attention …

A couple of things have come to my attention. The first is an excellent article,written by Toni Gilbert, on mapping your developmental journey. The article is based on Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Pyramid. The article can be seen here – http://tarotelements.com/personal-development/maslows-hierarchy-of-needs-pyramid/.

The next I am doing a total happy dance about, and that is the release of Jordan Hoggard’s “Tarot In The Land Of Mysterium”. This is a new take on his independently published “Mystereum Tarot”, focusing on acting as an Imagination Primer for children,and for the child within each of us. Schiffer Publishing has done an incredible job of presenting this book/deck set. It can be seen here – http://www.schifferbooks.com/newschiffer/book_template.php?isbn=9780764336010.

This next site is totally, irrevocably personal to me. Founded by DJ Soulswede, it presents in-depth interviews with soul,funk and R&B entertainers (primarily by DJ Soulswede), the weekly Solar Radio show (by DJ Soulswede and Nate Johnson), video interviews in Progressive Underground, along with some written reviews. Soul Interviews can be seen here – http://soulinterviews.com/home.html.

Enjoy!

 

(c) January 2011 Bonnie Cehovet

Full Moon In Cancer

January 19th brings us t he Full Moon in Cancer.  I am not an astrologer, but I do understand that having the Full Moon at 29 degrees of Cancer, at the same time that the Sun is 29 degrees of Capricorn, is significant. Not so much because of the signs, but because of the degrees -29 degrees of any sign is associated with endings and completion. I certainly hope so, because I want this to be a whole new year for me! (And for those of you going “Duh! Go do something about it then!”   – I am taking concrete actions to do so.)

Watery, emotional Cancer wants us to join the Hierophant within. I am so much better at looking at myself logically than emotionally. Having said that – Cancer is my rising sign, so I am probably going to get my butt kicked here! The good thing is that I will be required to really take a look at my inner landscape, and release that which no longer serves me well. A little house cleaning, as it were. Bring it on!

I am coming to see the need to create a balance between work and nurturing myself. (Sun/Moon Cappie – there is no play involved in life! ) I am finding that what nurtures me is defining my work, and putting limits on it. As I have a bible for each of my books, I will have a bible for my life. The Capricorn New Moon, and this Cancer Full Moon, are playing to my strengths. I can see myself clearly, and see where the changes need to be made.

Expect this Full Moon to be highly emotionally charged. Think before you speak! (Darn – What fun is that?) Issues around home, family (and those that we consider to be family) and nurturing (self and others) will be prevalent.

(c) January 2011 Bonnie Cehovet

Tarot In Culture

“Tarot In Culture”, edited by Emily E, Auger, is currently available for pre-order from the Association For Tarot Studies (http://association.tarotstudies.org/tarotinculture.html). With a foreword by Rachel Pollack, this book is over 900 pages, and includes 24 color plates. This is an incredible work, gathering together important essays from a diverse section of well known authors and researchers.

The book is divided into four parts:

· Part 1 – History and Innovation
· Part 2 – Tarot In The Arts
· Part 3 – The Art of Tarot
· Part 4 – Special Topics and Primary Sources

Articles include:

· Iconography and Allegory in Fifteenth to Seventeenth Century Trumps (Robert M.Place)
· The Greater Trumps: Charles Williams and the Metaphysics of Otherness (Joyce Goggin)
· Speculations on Cathar Imagery In Tarot (Christine Parkhurst)
· The William Blake Tarot of the Creative Imagination: Old Symbols for a New Age (Ed Buryn)

Any orders placed now will be of help in keeping the cost of the book down. I placed my intent (and my order) before I sat down to write this blog. The cost is significant – but so is the material covered in this book! I look forward to receiving my copy!

© January 2011 Bonnie Cehovet

Reader’s Studio 2011 – Sharing Information

I am so looking forward to the 2011 Reader’s Studio! A few months ago I had the thought that it would be nice for those of us that are going to share a bit of information about ourselves. If you would like to share your information, please contact me at bonniecehovet@gmail.com.

These are the links to previous submissions. Enjoy!

http://bonniecehovet.wordpress.com/2010/11/02/readers-studio-2011-are-you-ready
http://bonniecehovet.wordpress.com/2010/10/22/whos-who-at-the-readers-studio-part-2/
http://bonniecehovet.wordpress.com/2010/10/30/whos-who-at-the-readers-studio-part-3/

© January 2011 Bonnie Cehovet

Tarot Spreads For iPhone

Several months ago I was approached to write a Tarot spread for an upcoming iPhone app. I am pleased to say that the app is ready and out on iTunes – http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/tarot-spreads/id412949483?mt=8#. The app includes 50 original Tarot spreads, including the “Writer’s Block Spread” from me,  the “Tarot Elements Signature Spread” from Catherine Chapman (http://tarotelements.com), and spreads from Joanna Powell Colbert, Jessica Macbeth, Barbara Moore, Robert M. Place, Leisa ReFalo, James Ricklef and James Wells.

There are twelve variations of the three card spread, spreads varying from three cards to thirty-five cards,  six decision making spreads, eight relationship spreads, eleven celebrity spreads and one random spread.

I cannot speak to the usability of the app, as I do not have an iPhone or an iPad (I know, very far behind in techie goodies!), but I would like to show you two screenshots that will show you a little about the depth and diversity in this app:

The app, created by Nancy Hendrickson and Fred West, gives the user the ability to access unique spreads and work with them with the deck of their choice. The app is compatible with iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad. It requires iOS 3.1 or later. There are separate applications for the iPod Touch and iPhone screens, with the Tarot Spreads HD version designed specifically for the larger screen of the iPad. More information can be seen on iTunes – http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/tarot-spreads/id412949483?mt=8#.

(c) January 2011 Bonnie Cehovet

Explaining the Tarot

Explaining The Tarot -

Two Italian Renaissance Essays

On the Meaning of the Tarot Pack

 

 

Edited, translated and commented by: Ross Sinclair Caldwell, Thierry Depaulis, Marco Ponzi

Maproom Publications

2010

ISBN #978-0-9562370-1-9

I am often amazed at the material that comes my way. In the case of ”Explaining the Tarot”, I am simply in awe. This book reflects an incredible work ethic, and a true coming together of some very big names in the Tarot community. The authors express gratitude to a series of people, and I am going to include that list here: Giordano Berti, Claire Lesage, Franco Pratesi, Giorlamo zorli, and the team of the Tarot History Forum.

As the title indicates, two Italian Renaissance essays are translated in this book. One is by a known author (Francesco Piscina, “Discorso”), while the other is by an unknown author (Anonymous Discorso). The texts are deemed nearly contemporary by the authors (Caldwell, Depaulis, and Ponzi), yet they could not have influenced each other. Piscina’s bookwas published in southern Piedmont, while the anonymous book never seems to have been printed at all. It is indicated in the introduction that the anonymous essay follows the “B” type Tarot trump order, indicating that it must have been written in a Ferrarese context. Both texts address the meanings of the trumps and the suit cards from the perspective of  philosophy, religion, poetry, contemporary science and the rules of the game of Tarot itself.

Both essays address the cards as being more than a game. They view the cards as reflecting the structure of society and the meaning of life. In this respect the Tarot is then placed alongside chess, regular playing cards and dice as avenues of reflection on the human condition.

Piscini’s “Discorso” is a lighthearted look at the ordering of the trumps. It is also postulated by the authors that it may well be the first attempt to “moralize” the Tarot. It is interesting to note that Piscini was prompted to write this essay upon seeing an honored gentle Lady of the city playing the game. The “good order”  of the trumps was supposedly an indication that the inventor of the game was a”good and loyal follower of the Catholic and Christian faith”.

In their introduction to the “Anonymous Discorso”, the authors indicate several unsolved problems. The text is only in manuscript, is unsigned and undated. It is appearing translated in this book for the first time. It is of a more formal nature than Piscini’s work, and was composed to deliberately fill a void in the moralizing literature on games. The suits are related to the four “goals ”of human life – riches, arms, literature and pleasure.

The trumps are divided into two classic ethical divisions – the active life (from the Fool   to the Devil),and the contemplative life (from the Heavens to the World). The meat of the essay describes how and why the trumps follow each other in succession.

The essays are presented with the original text on the left hand page, and the translation on the right hand page. They are well footnoted and commented on, with a bibliography and index at the end of the book.

For anyone interested in the history of the Tarot, orin simply studying the sequence of the cards, this is a must read book. The scholarship is excellent, and the material is quite easy to follow. This is a stunning addition to any Tarot library.

Note: The book can be purchased directly from the publishers – http://www.maproompublications.co.uk/.

© January 2011 Bonnie Cehovet