Mrs. Piper & The Society For Psychical Research

Mrs. Piper & The Society For Psychical Research

Author: Noralie Robertson, Varla Ventura
Paranormal Parlor – A Weiser Books Collection
Weiser Books
2011
eISBN # 978-1-61940-006-1

Weiser Books currently has two paranormal digital book collections – “Magical Creatures” and “Paranormal Parlor”. I just found out about this, and find them to be incredible offerings! “Mrs. Piper & The Society For Psychical Research” , by Noralie Robertson, was originally published by Scott-Thaw Company in 1904, in New York.

To this day we see both people and organizations who’s sole purpose in life is to “debunk”, or prove false or fraudulent, those who serve as mediums or channels. The story that unfolds in this book concerns a Victorian medium by the name of Mrs. Piper, and a fifteen year study of her sittings conducted by the Society For Psychical Research. In the editor’s notes it is remarked that the paper being presented, by French critic M. Sage has been “slightly abridged” by the translator, in order to reduce vagueness and remove material that was superfluous to the understanding of Mrs. Piper.

The introduction is by the President of the Society, Oliver Lodge. He notes that the investigation of Mrs. Piper, which began in 1887, was the most thorough made under the auspices of the society. Already know tot he Professor of Psychology at Harvard, she was brought tot he attention of the British Society by Dr. Richard Hodgson. The material contained in this book came from a book written by a French writer, M. Sage. Lodge states that he had some misgivings about an English translation before it began, and felt that those misgivings were warranted after he saw the translation. As they were intended in the original version, there was harmony in the work. In the English translation, they appear less appropriate.

The objectives of the Society are stated, which are (and I paraphrase here): (1) an examination of the nature and extent of any influence of one mind upon another, other than through recognized sensory channels, (2) the study of hypnotism and mesmerism, and the alleged phenomenon of clairvoyance, (3) a careful investigation of an apparitions coinciding with some external event (if strong evidence warrants), (4) investigation into alleged phenomenon such as extra-human intelligence, (5) collection and collation of existing materials bearing on the history of these subjects. The aim at all times was to do so without prejudice. It is also noted that women were accepted into this society with full status!

Mrs. Piper was an American medium who hosted,amongst others, the entities of a French doctor (Dr. Phinuit), a young man by the name of George Pelham, and Rector. She lead a normal life until she developed a tumor, at which time her husband’s family encouraged her to visit a spiritualist medium who gave medical consultations (J. R. Cocke). It was he who detected her ability to become a medium, and encouraged her to do so.

There are stories within stories in this book. On the surface, it is a gathering together of the accounts of various people from the Society that arranged sittings for Mrs. Piper, and recorded the proceedings: who was asking the questions (I.e who the sitting was for), the control (entity) that presented themselves, how Mrs. Piper went into her trance, what entities from the other side wanted to be heard, and how Mrs. Piper came out of the trance. The controls are commented on, as well as the accuracy of the information that was brought through.
It seems that one of the issues was getting names correct – there might be several names that ‘sounded alike” before the control came up with the correct name. The questions themselves were phrased in such a manner as to not provide a hint of the answer that was being looked for.

One very interesting thing was commented on that I was not aware of, and that was that two entities could enter the host at the same time. One spoke verbally, the other wrote through the host’s hand. There were operating on completely separate levels.

Other interesting information came out of this study, including the fact that the entities that come through the host have specific views about those of us on this side of the veil. We see them in a certain way, and they see us in a certain way!

I liked what was presented here. It helps that this material covers a fifteen year study, so we have some clues tot he character of the medium (Mrs. Piper), as well as to the entities that came through. If you are at all interested in mediums, mediumship, and the method by which they are studied, then this is a good book to add to your library.

© October 2011 Bonnie Cehovet

Vampyre – A Tale

The Vampyre -

A Tale

Author: John William Polidori, Varla Ventura

From the Magical Creatures Series

Weiser Books

2011

eISBN #978-1-61940-001-6

Every day brings me something new about the digital publishing world! I was totally surprised when I was asked by Lisa Trudeau from Weiser Books if I would like to review one of their digital books. Actually, she asked me if I wanted to review two digital books – one from each of the new paranormal digital book collections that Weiser Books is developing – “Magical Creatures” and “Paranormal Parlor”. I found this to be very exciting, and so I said yes. In the process I found out that there is a special Adobe reader (free download) for digital books. How far digital publishing has come, and how far I have come! When I first started reviewing e-books, I found it difficult going. I did develop a process for doing digital reviews, and am feeling much more comfortable with it.

“The Vampyre – A Tale” was originally published by John William Polidori in London in 1819 (Sherwood, Neely and Jones). Note that this book was published some seventy years before Bram Stoker’s Dracula!

The cover for this edition shows a sepia print of an aristocratic gentleman holding a rose up to the side of his face. Very spooky from the get go! The presentation here is not just the story – several of Polidori’s short writings are included. There is a short note by Polidori referencing a very well known gathering at a lake house outside of Geneva in the summer of 1816, with guests that included Lord Byron, Percy Bysshe Shelly, Mary Wollstonecraft (Shelly), her sister, and Polidori. Lord Byron handed out pen and paper, with instructions to write ghost stories. The groundwork was laid here for some incredible writing, including Mary Shelly’s “Frankenstein, A Modern Prometheus”, Percy Shelly’s “Fragments Of A Ghost Story”, and Byron’s “Fragment Of A Novel”, which became the basis for “Vampyre – A Tale”.

A note from Varla Ventura cautions the reader that this is a gruesome, fearsome tale. It is a creeping of shadows from Polidori’s mind to that of the reader … forevermore.

“Extract Of A Letter From Geneva” gives the reader a great deal of background information about the area surrounding Geneva, the houses, who lived in them, and the emergence of women as a force in the writing world. He also speaks of how Lord Byron interacted with the people around him – which was really very strangely.

In the Introduction, the foundation is put down for the superstition upon which this work is based. It was considered to be It was relatively common in the east, especially amongst Arabians. It came intot he Greek mythos after the advent of Christianity, and took its present form after the division of the Latin and Greek churches. There is a very interesting account from the London Journal in March of 1732 of a case of vampyrism in Madregya, Hungary.

The story of the vampyre thus begins, with the description of a nobleman who stood apart from others. His face was a “deadly hue”, which caused him to be invited to all of the parties being given, simply because he was different. Also because of his “winning tongue”.

Enter a young orphan gentleman (with one sister) by the name of Aubrey. He was handsome, wealthy, and very much a romantic. Aubrey met the gentleman of the “deadly hue” (Lord Ruthven), and proceeded to turn his story into a romantic vision. Upon finding out that Lord Ruthven’s affairs were “embarrassed”, and that he was about to travel. Aubrey convinced his guardians that it was time for him to do “the tour”, Upon learning of this, Lord Ruthven asked Aubrey to join him,which he did.

Aubrey noted several things about Lord Ruthven, not the least of which was that he gave freely to the idle and the vagabond, but not to those who were virtuous, but in reduced circumstances. However, it was soon seen that the money given had a curse on it – those who received it came to a bad end. Lord Ruthven also sought out vice in all forms, with the thought of joining in. He was cruel by nature, and had a poor influence on those he became involved with.

In Rome, Aubrey received letters from both his sister and his guardians. His sister was gracious, his guardians were insisting that he immediately leave the company of Lord Ruthven, due to his lack of character. Circumstances surrounding Lord Ruthven’s attentions towards the daughter of his hosgtess cause Aubrey to do just that.

Aubrey found his way to Greece, where he met a young girl who fascinated him, and told him tales of vampyres. Out in a storm, he was faced with such an energy. He was rescued, but the young Greek girl died. Aubrey then fell into a fever,cursing Lord Ruthven. To his astonishment, when he came out of the fever, Lord Ruthven was in the same house, and had taken care of him during his illness.

Aubrey proposed to Lord Ruthven that they travel tot he parts of Greece that neither had seen. On their travels, Lord Ruthven is killed by bandits. Aubrey then returns to England, to his ancestral home, to live with his sister. It was also time for his sister to be presented to society. Who should appear at his sisters coming our but Lord Ruthven! Aubrey was bound not to tell the story of Lord Ruthven’s death, so what was he to do!

Aubrey took his sister home, and shut himself up. His condition deteriorated rapidly, to where he was walking the streets like a beggar. After a time, he realized that he had left his friends in the company of Lord Ruthven, and he returned to society. Aubrey’s guardians placed aphysician in the house with him to take care of him, as his mental state was not good. After a year, his mind begins to get better. He learns that his sister is to marry the Earl of Marsden. Upon talking to his sister, he sees a locket at this sisters throat. Opening it, he finds the image of Lord Ruthven – the man she is going to marry. Aubrey’s sister does marry Lord Ruthven, and Aubrey dies. Having warned his guardians about Lord Ruthven being a vampyre, the hasten to save his sister, but are too late.

This is a nicely pieced together story about not just the loss of innocence, but the deliberate destruction of it. Lord Ruthven affects everyone he comes into contact with in a negative manner, including the romantic Aubrey. The writing perhaps reflects its time – a great flow of words, a distancing from the reader, and a lack of attention to specific details. However, I did enjoy the presentation, and the story itself. It was perhaps too short, but it was interesting.

The character of Lord Ruthven – cold, yet aristocratic – is the stuff that stories are made of! He is a monster, but he is also smart and sophisticated. The vampyre mythos seems to take second place to the evil within, to the lack of moral anything. Great reading! I would not mind attending one of these evenings at the lake house!

© October 2011 Bonnie Cehovet

Scorpio New Moon

 

 

October 26^th brings us the New Moon in Scorpio. A New Moon is all about new beginnings, the start of new projects, of being open to new ventures. Sooooo, what energy does Scorpio bring into this mix?

Some pretty passionate energy, I would say. We need to be aware of all of the resources that we have available to us … the people that we know, the experiences that we have had, the skills and abilities that we came into this lifetime with, the finances that we have available to us. Then we need to use focus and intent to put these resources to work for us.

 

Where is our attention best placed on this New Moon? On ourselves. Yes, we need to place our attention on ourselves. More precisely, we need to look at the areas we feel out of control in. We may be looking at financial, emotional or communication issues, or perhaps some other shadows that are holding us back. The process is to define the issue(s), embrace them, then release them.

 

After we do this, we need to take a look at what is missing from our life. And I do feel this is a second step – release the old, to make room for the new. Identify the black hole, identify what is missing, then act to bring that into your life. This is a time when we can make changes on both the physical and spiritual levels that will move us forward.

 

What is your life’s purpose? Do your thoughts and actions fit your path? Are all of your selves (mental, physical, spiritual and emotional) in alignment? Bottom line …. are you an important person in your own life?

 

© October 2011 Bonnie Cehovet

 

Princes & Ogres

Princes & Ogres -
Integration of Psyche and Soul

Author: Don Mordasini
Millennial Mind Publishing
2011
ISBN # 978-1-58982-825-4

Part of what life is all about is the connection between our psychological and our spiritual lives – how inter-dependent they are, and how we are co-creators of them. Mordasini is an interesting person – someone who has risen to the tops ranks of two totally non-connected professions. For many years he acted as a stock broker, eventually becoming Vice President of Dean Witter and Co. At mid-life Mordasini “hit the wall” both as a stock broker, and in his personal life. He then went on a psycho-spiritual quest that lead to him becoming a psychotherapist. He has trekked the Himalaya’s, studied ancient scriptures, and actively studied under the guidance of his spiritual teacher in India.

The primary mode of communication in this book is that of story-telling. Drawing on several different cultural and religious traditions, Mordasini weaves quite a story for his readers. His primary objective is to help his readers to reach their fullest potential. He notes that we have the potential to achieve our dreams, but that unconscious thoughts and emotions act as barriers to prevent us from achieving our dreams. These thoughts and emotions are the “ogre”, because they guard the entrance to the treasures within us.

Mordasini believes that we can accelerate our personal growth by blending the best of modern psychology with ancient spiritual wisdom. In this book you will find stories and poems from the Hindu, Buddhist, Christian, Judaic, American Indian and Islamic traditions, as well as the Desert Fathers. These are teamed with vignettes from modern times – stories that relate to Mordasini, his clients, or people that he knows. This makes it very easy to place the wisdom to work in the “real time” of the reader’s lives.

The format of this work follows a very easy to comprehend route: Mordasini first addresses how as individuals we perceive life, and how our perceptions shape our reality. He then moves on to how the Ego fear’s self-created changed (change that we bring about as individuals). And then into the infinite potential of the Self. We look at the Ego’s balancing act, and how to protect the ego from trickery and deception. Mordasini addresses raising our consciousness as individuals, the road to ultimate Good, and the reality of balancing Ego and God.

I found this book to be well researched, and well written. The stories and vignettes amplified the meaning of the concepts that were being discussed, so that the reader could see them on a “real life” basis. Anyone, from any cultural background, would be able to read this book and put it to work in their life.

© October 2011 Bonnie Cehovet

Full Moon In Aries

 

I absolutely love October! Tuesday, October 11th, brings us a Full Moon in Aries. Full moon, witches, goblins, pumpkins – woo hoo! (Yes, I had my Halloween decorations up before the end of September!) This Full Moon, as do all Full Moons, will mark the culmination of efforts that we started on the past New Moon. Specifically, Aries energy focuses on things like letting go of blocked emotions, and leaving those more child-like impulses behind. Forget your chronological age – we all have these little impulses, and we need to (a) be aware of them, and (b) not let them influence our lives too much.

If you want to honor the warrior energy of Aries, do so in a manner that shows respect for yourself, and for those around you. Patience, my Aries friends, is the keyword here! Learn to compromise (diplomatically), and know that what you want will come to you if you are willing to wait. Sometimes running after what you want will mean that it takes longer to manifest in your life.

Know that with the Full Moon in Aries opposite the Sun in Libra, that this time is focused oin relationships. Relationships of all kinds. Aries little assertive self brings us just that – focus on self, and the ability to assert ourselves. Libra, on the other hand, is all about balancing the scales, about creating win/win situations, and doing so in a gracious manner. Clearly, this is a situation of self (Aries) versus other (Libra).

Things that we might want to ask ourselves at this time:

1.What am I looking for in my relationship with myself?
2.What am I looking for in my relationship with others?
3.What seems to be out of balance in my relationship with myself?
4.What seems to be out of balance in my relationship with others?
5.How can I best balance my relationship with myself?
6.How can I best balance my relationship with others?
7.What do I need to know about relationship overall?

Warning: blatant self promotion! A very powerful tool for working with relationships is that of our Birth Cards. More information can be found here: http://www.bonniecehovet.com/?page_id=125 .

© October 2011 Bonnie Cehovet

Tokens of Light

Tokens of Light -
66 Paths for insight and prediction
according to the Hebrew Alphabet

Author: Orma Ben-Shoshan
Artist: Orma Ben-Shoshan
Independently Published
2011

“The “Tokens of Light” is a powerful tool
that will help you attain insights about the course of your life,
for consultation and prediction according to the cosmic DNA.“
from the book

Orma Ben-Shoshan is the creator of several metaphysical products, including the “King Solomon” oracle cards, the “Wheel of Wisdom”, the “72 Names” divination cards, as well as amulets for love, health, success and protection. Her latest work, the “Tokens of Light”, is based on the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet, which are seen as the principle forces that compose the universe. Used as a tool of divination, the letters represent the directions and attributes that are currently affecting the Seeker’s life.

The set comes in a beautiful lift top box, containing 68 cards (66 reading coins and two extra amulet coins, for blessing and protection), a cloth bag to keep the reading coins in, and an 86 page interpretation booklet. The two amulet coins are meant to be kept with the Seeker, and not included in the readings. The Blessing amulet contains the priestly blessing for protection and fulfillment of your wishes. The Protection amulet contains letter combinations taken from the “72 Names of God” that will help bring balance and success to all areas of life.

The Reading Coins are two-sided – on the front side is the coin number, with the a Hebrew letter underneath it, along with a serial code to which the Seeker’s answer relates. On the back side is an illustration, done in a circular format to match the card, that acts to reinforce the card’s message.

The Interpretation Booklet describes the 22 Hebrew letters as channels through which divine abundance flows into the universe. In essence, the power of the creator is being realized in the material world. The letters carry their own unique spiritual and energetic attributes, and vibrational energy. Ben-Shoshan does a very good job of describing the 22 Hebrew letter, and how they comprise the kabbalistic “Tree of Life”. She also goes into the Book of Creation, the 32 Paths of Wisdom, and how they relate to our everyday reality.

In developing the “Tokens of Light”, Ben-Shoshan chose three different aspects of each of the Hebrew letters to compose a system of 66 definitions. The Seeker will be able to see the relevant directional forces in their life, and also will be able to determine the actions that need to be taken to resolve them. The premise here is to preserve the flow of cosmic energy through life, and not to resist it.

There are six different questions that the companion book lists as questions to ask the tokens (coins). I would personally take these as a place to start, rather than having them place boundaries on what I could ask. They are as follows:

1.Why is … (this or that) happening tome, and what do I do in order to improve the situation?
2.In what direction will my affairs develop, and what should I do in order to get the best out of the circumstances?
3.What should I do in order to solve a particular problem?
4.What is the nature of the person/affairs that influence my life at this moment?
5.What is the result that I should expect? Will … (this or that) happen?
6.When will … (this or that) happen? Is it a long or short process?

The LWB presents each of the 66 coins/tokens as text only. The significance of the letter, and the quality carried into the Seeker’s life is discussed. It is advised not to ask the same question twice in the same reading session. If clarity is needed, another coin/token is to be drawn. It is also advised not to ask “undefined” questions, just to test the system. Vague or irrelevant responses may be due to lack of focus on the part of the Seeker, or the Seeker is not meant to have the answer at this time.

Ben-Shoshan discusses the use of one through four coin spreads, working with dates and timing, Yes/No answers, reading for other people, and refreshing (clearing) the coins/tokens.

An example of how the coins/tokens are presented would be coin/token 48 – Ayin III (Enslavement To Matter). In relation to the letter, Ben-Shoshan writes: “With the letter Peh, the 17th letter, God created planet Venus and Wednesday of the week, its gematric value is 80. Peh is associated with the earth element, and connects between Sefirat Gvurah (strength) and Sefirat Hod (splendor). In Tarot it is attributed to Tower card.” In discussing the coin/token, Ben-Shoshan notes that it refers to enslavement, power and exploitation. The Seeker is working with something that is beyond their powers, and is frustrating.

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I really enjoyed working with all of the coins/tokens. Several them stood out for me: 17 (Vav II) – bridging, meditation and arbitration, with its really cool image of an individual kneeling on a walkway suspended in the air, and card 50 (Peh II) – fertility, openings and blossom,, with its image of a lovely flower, with a face almost hidden in the lower right hand side of the card, caught my attention. Then there was card 62 – Shin II (involvement and pertinence), with its image of what appears to be an intruder binding a sleeping couple with ribbon. Coin/token 52 – Tsadi I (to take a stand) shows an individual with his head appearing to be wrapped in bandages.

Coin/token 43 – Samech I (completion and closing) shows the imagery of an individual being carried (seated) on a stretcher of some type, releasing small boxes into the air. Coin/token 21 – Zayin III (Making a living with spiritual knowledge) shows the image of an individual on what appears to be a rooftop, reaching out to an image to his right.

The images are done in a fantasy fashion, with depth of muted color, blending in to a colored border that surrounds the image. The imagery is comfortable to look at and read with.

I loved working with this oracle – it can be read on its own, or in conjunction with another oracle or Tarot deck. No previous knowledge of this system is necessary to get good readings.

© October 2011 Bonnie Cehovet

Tea Leaf Fortune Cards

Tea Leaf Fortune Cards

Author: Rae Hepburn
Artist: Shawna Alexander
U.S. Games Systems, Inc.
2011
ISBN #978-1-57281-670-1

Reading tea leaves – how much more esoteric can one get! One might expect to find this in a quaint little tea room, or perhaps in a Harry Potter movie, but as an everyday part of life … something that we can all do? Not without years of training, and a very will developed intuition and imagination. In reality, Rae Hepburn did have years of training … from her father, who studied Oriental and Indian metaphysical philosophies. Her father invented games for her when she was a child, games that were based on intuition. One of their favorite games was absorbing energy from another person’s aura and interpreting it. Her Hepburn learned to go with her gut feeling, bypassing the logical processes of the brain.

Hepburn learned tea leaf reading from an Aunt. Hepburn’s friends were eager to learn tea leaf reading,and asked her to compile a list of images and their meanings. The list that she compiled was daunting – 500 images, and their associated meanings. Seeing that memorizing this list could be rather over-whelming, Hepburn decided to develop a set of cards that would serve the same purpose as the images in the tea leaves.

To make the list more manageable, Hepburn concentrated on the images that appeared most frequently, eliminating the ones that rarely appeared. She also eliminated symbols that duplicated the meaning of another symbol. The cards are round, so that the resemble a teacup. A personal thought here is that round cards can also convey degrees of meaning (as part of a circle of 360 degrees).

The deck and companion book come is s sturdy cardboard box, with a cover t hat lifts up, but not completely off. There are two sections for the cards, along with a gold bag to place them in so that they can be mixed and drawn for readings.

The 98 page companion book begins with a history of tea and tea leaf reading, then moves into the actual manner in which tea leaves are read from actual tea. I found this to be both complex and fascinating. I also found myself thanking my lucky stars that I was going to be reading from a deck of cards! This section also gives an example of one type of Tea Leaf reading – Reading For The Coming Year.

Three methods are presented for using the Tea Leaf Fortune Cards – (1) The Coming Year, (2) The Coming Week, and (3) Astral House Pyramid. The suggestion is made that the reader use the Coming Year reading first, so that the Seeker’s long term energy has time to be absorbed. I am fascinated by this method, as the reader ends up with four cards for each month, which are then interpreted together. One card is drawn for each month, then the cards are remixed, and the next round is drawn. Quite interesting!

For the coming week, seven cards are drawn, mixing the cards between draws, with the Seeker concentrating on what is going on in their life. The cards are read as a whole, as a story, rather than as individual days.

The Astral House Pyramid begins with the Seeker picking an Astral House card that represents the area of their life that they want to know more about. Underneath this card are placed three lines of cards – two cards in the first line, three cards in the second line, and four cards in the third line. Each line represents things that could happen within that number of days, weeks or months.

Sample readings are presented for each of the three spread types.

The card symbols are presented in text only. As an example, I have chosen Bat:

“Bat: Take care – enemies are working against you. A bat flies out of its cave under the cover of darkness, hunting for prey. The querist should beware. The bat is warning you to take extra care in what you say and do. Enemies are hiding in the dark, ready to strike at the first opportunity.”

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The cards are round, 3.25” in diameter. There are 182 Symbol Cards, 12 Month Cards, and 6 Astral House Cards (Love, Marriage, Success, Career, Wealth, and Happiness). The backs of the Symbol cards are red, with the words “Tea Leaf” written on a black banner in the center of the card. The backs for the Months of the Year are purple, with the words “Months of the Year” written on a black banner in the center of the card. The backs of the Astral House cards are green, with the words “Astral House” written on a black banner in the center of the card.

The Symbol card faces show the name of the symbol across the topof gthe card, with the image for the symbol in the center, and keywords in small letter across the bottom. The Months of the Year card faces show the name of the month across the top of the card, with an associated image in the center of the card. The Astral House cards show the house name across the top of the card, with an image in the center of the card.

The imagery in the cards is presented in a very gentle, “Currier & Ives” type manner, circular in nature, to fit in with the card itself. The edges blend into the card, rather than standing out against it. Symbols are diverse, including Angel, Apple, Axe, Bat, Bread, Butterfly, Candle, Claw, Harp, Nest, Older Man, Older Woman, Torch, Wheel and Wreath. I found the depth of symbols to represent life and its issues and situations very well.

Anyone, from any background, could read well with these cards. It is a fun system to work with, but it is also accurate. (My readings did reflect what was going on in my life, and my clients lives.) Whether reading the cards for pleasure, or looking for specific answers, the Tea Leaf Fortune Cards have wonderful insight to offer!

© October 2011 Bonnie Cehovet

Tarot Leaves

Tarot Leaves

Author: Beth Seilonen
Artist: Beth Seilonen
Schiffer Publishing
2011
ISBN #978-0-7643-3903-5

“Tarot Leaves” follows a traditional 78 card Tarot format, retaining the traditional titles, with Strength at VIII and Justice at XI. The suit names are Wands, Cups, Swords, and Pentacles, with the Court card titles of King, Queen, Knight and Page. The deck is formatted around the shapes of Apple, Birch, Maple, and Oak leaves, with the imagery of each card held within each leaf, which acts as a “window” into the card. Images are overlapped within the artwork to reveal hidden meanings.

Seilonen grew up in rural Maine, with the ability to wander through woods filled with pine, cedar, and evergreen trees. The trees became her teachers, and her connection with Spirit. This very gifted artist has brought this feeling of enchantment to this deck. The imagery and use of color combine to bring out the essence of each card. Some of the imagery is traditional, some is not.

The deck and LWB (Little White Book) come packaged in one of Schiffer’s lovely magnetic lift top boxes. I love the secufre closure of the lid, and the fact that small ribbons on either side keep the top from over-extending when opened. The heavy cardboard box insures that the deck will be prote4cted for many years to come.

The LWB is 96 pages, and is soft bound (as opposed to the looser style of literal white pages). There is a short introduction, then each card is presented with a black and white scan, and a short discussion of the qualities that the card carries. The reverse meaning is listed across the bottom of the page, but I literally cannot read them, as they are dark print against a dark gray strip.

At the end of the LWB two reading templates are presented – one for a Three Card Spread, and one for a Seven Card Spread.

The cards are approximately 2 3/4” by 4 1/2”. The card backs have a gray border surrounding a colorful inset of leaves against a black background. The backs are reversible. The card faces show a white outer border, surrounding a thinner gray inner border. For the Major Arcana, the card names are written across the bottom of the card, with no numbers. The Pips (numbered cards) show the number and suit, all in text, across the bottom of the card. The Court cards show the card title and suit across the bottom of the card.

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The imagery in each card is two-fold – the form of a leaf that acts as a background for the card images, and the card images themselves. The colors used are soft pastels, which (for me, anyway) makes it hard to discern the imagery within some of the cards (unless looked at very closely). Symbols seem not to meant to stand out, but to meld together. The Magicians tools are on his table, but the Magician himself is not obvious. The primary figure in the Empress is a woman looking out at the reader, but if you look in the background you will see the symbol for the feminine. The High Priestess carries the imagery of the moon, as well as the white and black pillars, but you (almost) have to look for them. I did like the imagery at the third eye.

Strength shows a beautiful cat’s face peering out from the middle of the card. The King of Swords is ensconced in the clouds, wearing a yellow headband, with a sword coming down from the clouds in front of him. The Ten of Swords shows a figure in the middle of the card, surrounded by ten brown figures at the ten points of the leaf. The Four of Cups shows three upright gold cups, and one upright lavender cup. The Three of Pentacles shows three pentacles along the side of a leaf, with what appears to be a paper and pen to the bottom and left hand side of the leaf.

There is some traditional imagery throughout the deck, including the symbol on the Hierophant, the wheel on the Wheel of Fortune, the Hanged Man hanging from one foot, and the two cups (vessels) on the Star.

While this is a beautiful deck, and one that lends itself to meditation and journeying, it is not a deck for someone looking to learn the Tarot. The artwork is awesome, and it could certainly be offered to clients as a choice of reading decks, if the reader felt comfortable with it, but the reader would need to be familiar with the card meanings. This deck could also be used to good advantage in comparative reading, when one deck is used to perform a freading, and the same cards are drawn from a second, different deck to gain further insight.

© October 2011 Bonnie Cehovet

Woodland Wisdom Oracle Cards

Woodland Wisdom Oracle Cards

Author: Rev. Frances Munro
Illustrator: Peter Pracownik
U.S. Games Systems, Inc.
2011
ISBN #978-1572-816916

The fairy and elf energies presented within this book were brought to Rev. Munro through his guide. Each energy was described in detail, including their personalities, colors associated with them, and how they should be portrayed. The author and her husband asked to be guided to right person to illustrate this deck, and were lead to Peter Pracownik, who not only has a great eye for detail, but a wonderful understanding of mythological and Earth spirits.

In her LWB (Little White Book), Rev. Munro talks about how to use this deck. There are 29 cards – 24 Green Working Wisdom cards, and 5 Gold Power cards. Three cards are selected from the Working Wisdom cards – they represent the main meaning of the reading. One card is drawn from the Gold Power cards – this card reinforces the power that the Seeker has to move forward.

Emphasis is given on the number of cards in the deck (29), and the ratio of the cards (24/5). The numbers 2 and 9 when added together come to 11, which is a powerful and magical number (a Master number). The number 5 is seen by the author as a significant recurring number in many religions.

In doing a reading, the Seeker is encouraged to go with their feelings, as opposed to interpreting the cards in a logical manner. The Seeker is also encouraged to make the cards personal to themselves by asking for a blessing on them. (A sample blessing is shared, but the Seeker could very well make one up to suit themselves.) Rev. Munro encourages anyone who will be using the cards to ask for a blessing on them.

Setting sacred space before doing a reading is also discussed. A very specific manner of working with the cards is suggested. A reversed card is said to indicate an important message. If two cards are picked together, it is suggested that both cards are relevant, and should be kept.

Each card is presented in text only in the LWB. The cards name, along with a short description of the energy, a wisdom saying from the energy involved, and what the energy means in the Seeker’s life is presented.

At the end of the book two sample readings are presented, so that the reader will get a sense of how the cards might be interpreted.

The card backs show a white border, surrounding a light green base color. In the center of the card is a “circle within a circle” of winged characters, surrounded by a border of mushroom-like images. The backs are reversible. The card faces show a white border, with a green banner at the bottom of the card, which carries the card title in black letters. The artwork is very woodland/fantasy, with strong colors and winged Fairies and Elves.

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Some of my favorite cards include Elfin Duke (one of the five Power cards), who is seen standing in the forest, a buck on his left hand side, and red topped mushrooms surrounding him. This energy works specifically with the heart chakra.
The Elm Tree Elf is seen kneeling in the forest, singing. He spreads elm leaves to stimulate growth where the forest is barren. The Fairy of Dawn Awakening is seen standing in a red dress, with a red sky behind her. She is a gentle, loving spirit. The Fairy of Evening Dusk is seen wearing a white dress, sitting on the ground, with her arms raised to the night sky. She brings a calm energy to the close of the day.

The Fairy of Golden Light is seen hovering in mid-air, in front of a white unicorn. She is called the unicorn’s friend. The Leprechaun is seen seated in the forest. He works to bring goodness tot he world. The Spirit of the Mighty Oak shows an Oak tree, with the tri-part symbol of the moon superimposed over it, a butterfly flying in front of it, and a white dove hovering over it. He brings order and joy to all who need it.

I found this a fascinating deck to read with – one that could be used by anyone with an open heart and open mind to the nature spirits.

© October 2011 Bonnie Cehovet

The Playing Card Oracles

The Playing Card Oracles -
A Source Book For Divination

Author: Ana Cortez
Illustrator: C.J. Freeman
U.S. Games Systems, Inc.
2011
ISBN #1-57281-522-1

By their numbers, suits, and pictures,
The Cards communicate
And begin to tell their story
Each time we shuffle Fate.
CJF

This is a highly unusual book – a collaboration between father and daughter, following the father’s interest in playing cards, and playing card imagery. But it is more than that. Through the imagery in the cards (a deck (the Picture Book of Ana Cortez) using the father’s imagery was published, and is available through the daughter’s site – http://anacortez.com/ ),and through his extensive study of playing cards, an incredible divination system is presented here. There is one caveat that Cortez states in the very beginning of the book – this is not a Tarot deck, and is not derived from the Tarot in any way. It is a distinct voice of its own. (Note: It is also distinct from other versions of divination with playing cards.)

This is the source book for reading with the 52 cards of the Playing Cards Oracle. The deck serves as a fixed lunar calendar, which Cortez emphasizes when she states that she does not do timing beyond one year – i.e. beyond the innate timing of the cards. The work of the artist, CJ Freeman, evolved over the years. He drew and redrew the cards, with “The Picture Book Of Ana Cortez” being his third complete volume of work. It is recommended that the reader work with the book in pieces, and practice, practice, practice!

In Part 1 the reader learns about card symbolism. The 52 cards are associated with the 52 weeks of the year, the four suits with the four seasons, and the 13 cards in each suit with the 13 weeks in each season, and the 13 lunar cycles in each year. Adding up t he numbers for the cards in each suit comes to 91, the number of days in each season. Adding up the numbers of the cards in the deck comes to 364, the number of days in the Fixed Lunar Calendar.

The colors in the old decks are explained by Cortez to represent the three essential phases of spiritual evolution: black representing fermentation and repentance, white representing transcendence and pardon, and red representing suffering and love.

The numbering of the deck is listed with associations for each of the nine single digits, along with their positive and negative expression. One is Self, Two is Self and Other, Three is Manifestation, Four is Foundation, Five is Crossroads, Six is Harmony, Seven is Challenge, Eight is Fortification, and Nine is Final Challenge.

Each of the four suits (Diamonds, Hearts, Clubs, and Spades) is listed with the following associations: Magical Name, Element, Direction, Season, Phase of Life, Principle Body Part, Compatible Suit, and Key Concepts. Each suit also presented with a short discussion oh how it exhibits itself in life, followed by a lovely poem by CJ Freeman. Poetry and stories from Mr. Freeman are interspersed throughout the book, and are a great joy to read. Aside from his wonderful artistic sense, Mr. Freeman has an incredible ability to see with his heart and soul. He is one of the world’s great teachers.

Each card is presented with its magical name, a black and white illustration, the key concepts, a discussion of the card,and a story written by Mr. Freeman. By going into myth we see the power behind the cards. An example of key concepts would be the following, for the Ace of Diamonds: “potential for communication,speaking and writing; a strong sense of self and a person’s own individuality, the ego; the will to do, to achieve; spiritual values and transformation; an engagement ring, a diamond”.

While the Ten’s might be considered part of the Pips, or numbered cards, in this system they are considered the first of the Court Cards. Referred to as the Ladies, they do many things, not the least of which is restoring gender balance to the Court Cards (the Jack’s are male, the Queen’s female, and the King’s male). They also act as a natural counterpart, or partner, for the Jack’s. In a reading, A Ten and a Jack might be seen as representing a young couple, or partnerships that carry the characteristics of their respective suits. Alone, the Ladies can represent a younger female, or an older female who is young at heart.

The numbering continues on for the Jack’s, who are assigned the number 11. Jack’s are seen as young males, who are very fun loving and adventurous. As with the Ladies, they have a strong drive for independence. As with the Ladies, a Jack alone can be seen as either a young man, or an older man displaying younger personality traits.

Queen’s carry the number 12. They are seen as mature females with a lifetime of experience behind them. Each carries the confidence of her respective suit, and can represent either an older female, or a younger female exhibiting the traits of an older female.

King’s carry the number 13. They are seen as mature males, with nobility and stature. Their strengths are defined by the nature of their respective suits. Kings normally represent older men.

Towards the end of the book Cortez discusses preparing for a reading – creating sacred space, clearing the deck, connecting with Spirit and shuffling. Turning the cards over is important in this system – they are turned over side to side, as with a book, rather than being flipped over end to end. The template presented for reading is a four card template, with different spreads (The Present Spread and The Cat Spread).

Within this system the positions within the spread take on associations with parts of the body and the elements: Diamonds/Fire/The Head, Clubs/Air/The Throat, Hearts/Water/The Torso, and Spades/Earth/The Feet. Each position is discussed, which moves into the next chapter, which addresses suit partnerships, suit voids, generating suit energies, and working with the colors and numbers.

In Part Three Cortez presents the world of geomancy – the figures, formats and planetary rulers. This section absolutely astounded me with its depth of information! (Information that was developed by Cortez’s father, CJ Freeman.)

Part Four talks about connecting with intuition, grounding, and reading the cards for yourself. In this section Cortez presents Reading For The Seasons, which goes on to dissect the Reading For The Seasons, and working with the Mystic Square. (This is her father’s work.) A sample reading puts this information into perspective.

Book Two consists of essays, notes, and commentary on The Playing Card Oracles by CJ Freeman. Mr. Freeman goes into significant dates in history for the playing cards, missing pieces of the playing card puzzle, and the Little Book of Secrets. He also addresses the elements, fortune telling,and the Card personalities.

This is an incredible book, representing an incredible divinity system. Read with an open mind and open heart, try the system out, and see what you think!

© October 2011 Bonnie Cehovet