Volume 2, Issue 3

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Volume 2 Issue 3 Jan05

Kris Waldherr on the Lovers Path by Greyhound

It's not every day that I get to interview a wonderful artist and author... particularly one as prolific and gifted as Kris Waldherr. I have been a fan of her work ever since my first exploration into goddess literature with a book in my local library, "Embracing the Goddess Within". One of the first decks I bought for myself was the Goddess Tarot, and I have recently added the exquisite "Lover's Path Tarot" to my collection. I've always wanted to know a little about the woman behind this beautiful art and I thank Kris for sharing a bit of herself with us. Greyhound: Could you tell us how you were first introduced to the Tarot? Kris: I first discovered the tarot when I was a little girl, maybe around seven. A much older cousin, whom I regarded as infinitely sophisticated and glamorous, had a set in her studio apartment. I thought they were so interesting, so indescribably powerful, and so mysterious. In retrospect, I think she had the Rider-Waite, though I'm not 100% positive. When I
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Member Focus: Getting to know Troy By Greyhound

Troy (also known as Ilium) has been a Tarot for Life member since July 2004. In the short time hes been here, many of us have been blessed by his company in chat, he frequently participates on the message boards and volunteers for the TFL Readers Group. Hes also shared a bit of his artwork with us and we thought you might like to know a bit more about one of our friends from down under... Greyhound: How did your journey with the Tarot begin? Troy: Well, specifically Tarot came about from being interested in the spiritual nature of existence. I can't remember a time when I wasn't questioning. I did the Xtian church thing in my early teens, left shortly afterwards, was heavily into Taoist and Zen stuff (as well as socialist/ communist/anarchist philosophies). Gradually, I gravitated towards Alchemy, then general Magic/Occult studies. I had friends that read cards, so I had been aware for awhile. In my early
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Inside this issue:

Kris Waldherr on The Lovers Path Member Focus: Getting to Know Newsletter Survey Fante Di Spade Rx Using your Gift to Make a Living Seasiis Comparative Tarot How the Tarot Works Beginning a Tarot Journal

Newsletter Survey - Thanks for Sharing!

By Jimilyn
1 1 1 2 3 3 3 12 The management team of Tarot for Life would like to extend a hearty thank you to all of you who took the time to respond to our survey several months ago. We would like you to know that we are using the data to bring you more of the features you indicated were favorites. However, this doesnt mean that we will be eliminating any of the features from all future issues of The Seekers Journey. Each type of feature had enough points to assure us that there was either mild interest from several of you or a great interest from a few of you. We plan to use the features with fewer points as special features; so if you dont see your favorite feature, dont despair! We would also like to remind you that if you ever have any suggestions on article subjects, interviews, book reviews, or other topics to feel free to email any of the management team with your thoughts. Dont forget that we are always on the lookout for contributions to the Members Corner. Its not too soon to start thinking of what you may contribute to the next issue!

Want to know more about a member in our Members Focus column? Nominate em! Send an email to:
greyhound@tarotforlife.com

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*Fante Di Spade Rx
Yeah, it is a bit dark back here in the stacks, especially this section. Few come back to the northeast corner anymore. I like the smell. And here it is...look at it so rare this one volume the only known tome of the book that does not exist , the Al Azif, the book of Abdul Alhazred. It looks like the fifteenth century black-letter edition of the Wormius translation (also known as the 1472 Lyons edition with its numerous misprints and errors ). Still, so rare to find it and here, like us, hidden in plain sight. The clues lead us true. On a lighter note, I don t know if you ve seen the Housewives Tarot by Paul Kepple and Jude Buffum; it was released in late November, and is wonderful. I know you like to laugh, so I know you ll love it.
Housewives Tarotimage The Dreaming in Color courtesy of the Tarot Garden

by Dan Pelletier

Hedgehog Tarots. A little specialty house called "The Tarot Garden" is the exclusive on-line reseller for these decks...each deck is limited to a run of thirtytwo copies. The Tarot of the Four Elements by Isha Lerner and Amy Erickson is also now available. The Lovers Path Tarot by Kris Waldherr is now available (it showed up just in time for the holidays). Brilliant stuff there be sure to read the interview . The Forest Folklore Tarot by Kessia BeverleySmith, Royal Thai Tarot Sungkom Horhar in, Wsan Kriengkomol, and Verasak Sodsi (I remember seeing an early copy of this - the guards tackled me and took it back b e f or e I e s cape d) should be available early FebruForest Folklore Tarot image courtesy of the Tarot ary.
Garden

Deck by Mindy Sommers is out (and truly beautiful - elegant and breathtaking - if you ve never worked with an oracle deck before you may want to start here - powerful stuff). Also, the re-released Phoenix Tarot by Paola Angelotti is also now available. This was a single-run limited edition and sold out some time ago.

The worth the wait Medieval Cats Tarot by Lawrence Teng is now available. The gay-themed Brotherhood Tarot by Patric Stillman is due out January of Oh-Five. Look at this passage They ruled once where man rules now, summer. Where man rules now, after summer is winter, they shall rule again, and after winter And over here, Past, present, future: all are one in YogSothoth.

And as long as we are discussing the rare and the beautiful, Michael Kutzer, creator of the ultracollectible and desirable "Michael's Tarot," has reTime. Interesting view of non-time within the leased the first three decks linear concept. In April, we can expect the of his ultra-limited ediNorth American release of the following decks Hedgehog Tarotimage tion "animal" series -Dragons Tarot by Manfredi Toraldo and courtesy of the Tarot Garden (Continued on page 10) Elephant , Frog, and * Said to be the card of rumor.

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Using your Gift to make a Living by Dawn Falbe

I remember a while ago I hear a female Tarot Reader say "I dont want to use my gift to make money". That got me thinking, "Why not?". Tom Cruise has a gift for acting and I dont remember reading anywhere where he's told a movie studio, "No please dont pay me the twenty million dollars for this movie. Its a gift so Ill do it for free." About nine years ago I made a decision to turn my gifts of reading Tarot cards and Astrological Charts into a business... Heres my story in brief: The first job I had that involved Tarot was working on a psychic line. After a few months, I realized I could make more money if I managed myself. I was making thirteen dollars an hour and I knew I could charge fifty and still be better off. Soon, I added reading out of a metaphysical bookstore. I started teaching Tarot and Astrology to small groups. I turned my third bedroom into an office and began doing readings out of my home. I worked part time around my husbands schedule, as we were also stay at home parents for our son, Zak. About five years ago, I added coaching to my metaphysical practice and my income grew. My husband and I decided that I ought to work full time in my business and he became a stay at home dad. That was 3 years ago... I now have a full time metaphysical practice that includes Astrology, Tarot readings and individual coaching. I also teach a course to other metaphysical practitioners showing them how they can have a full practice and add value to their services. I work on a variety of radio stations across the country, reading on the air for morning shows. I work at large events and read for others. My dream is to assist those who want to use their gifts to create the life of their dreams, which for many of us is to help
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Seasii s Comparative Tarot

MATERIALS NEEDED: (2 2-3inch) 3-RING BINDERS WITH INSERTABLE TITLE PAGES SHEET PROTECTORS PLAIN PAPER CARDBOARD FABRIC A favorite project of mine was the creation of my own comparative Tarot binders. I used eight decks that I wanted to use as a comparison when I was doing a reading. Using more that eight would lose the instant view of the comparison and could get confusing. You, of course, could use any number less than eight and still have the one shot view of comparison. COVER: Cut a piece of cardboard so you will be able to slide it into the title insert on the front of the
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How the Tarot Works by Brian Crimmins

Introduction When the Tarot is mentioned, a number of images can be conjured, depending on your personal frame of reference or experience. Even today, there are many stereotypes and beliefs about the Tarot... The Tarot is evil and is linked to satanic worship The Tarot predicts the future and that is not our place The Tarot is an occultist tool that is blasphemous to God The Tarot inflicts bad luck on those who dabble with it The Tarot takes the personal choice out of any experience These are just a few examples, and only when you see beyond the stereotypes and misconceptions can you truly appreciate and understand the value Tarot can bring to anyone. Using the Tarot The Tarot has many uses and, yes, some do use it in their personal spiritual practices, and that encompasses a very wide range of spiritual paths and religions. It is important to know that the Tarot can be used in a variety of ways as well that include: Meditation
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was eleven, a friend had those gypsy fortune telling cards, which also fascinated me, though they didn't seem nearly as evocative as that first tarot deck. GH: How has working with the Tarot changed your life? Kris: In so many ways that it's difficult to do your question justice. First off, as an artist, creating art for the tarot has given me many wonderful opportunities for creative expression. It has granted me a forum to connect directly with people and hopefully transform their life for the better, which is incredibly satisfying. On a personal level, working with tarot offers me a mirror to my life. I often use the phrase "to see the forest for the trees" to describe the clarity offered by a good tarot reading -- working with images can be incredibly healing. GH: Do you read the Tarot very often for yourself? Kris: I've been reading for myself since I was in college. Over the years, I've noticed that I seem to have phases where I either (a) read for myself on an almost daily basis, or (b) where I read less often, sometimes only on seasonal points of the year, such as on the solstice or my birthday. Much depends on what's going on in my life, how clear I feel about what's before me. I tend to read tarot less often when I'm immersed in a work deadline, since there's usually less time for reflection. Also, I find that whatever project I'm working on often addresses my current concerns on some level, though it's not planned that way. So I'm still working with images, but they're not tarot-based. GH: What was the last Tarot book you read? Kris: The last tarot book I read was the manuscript for my friend Lisa Hunt's new deck, the Animals Divine Tarot. This deck will be published by Llewellyn soon. I was honored to write the forward for the book. Lisa illustrated the Celtic Dragon and the Shapeshifter Tarots. This is her first deck which she both illustrated and wrote. GH: I see that the novel, "The Lover's Path", is now completed. When will it be released? Kris: It will be released Fall 2005 by Harry N. Abrams Books. GH: How does it feel to have the novel finally done? Kris: It's an amazing feeling to have the novel completed -- it was almost a decade in development. I initially began to work with love stories and myths right after I finished The Book of Goddesses, back in 1996, and the project has undergone many changes as it developed into its final form, part of which includes The Lover's Path Tarot. My husband and I celebrated by taking our first long vacation in several years; we did an apartment swap in Paris, which was wonderful! GH: So much care, planning and love have obviously gone into this new deck. When did you know this set was going to be much more than a deck with a little white booklet? Kris: From the beginning Elizabeth Kerkstra, my art director at US Games, and Stuart Kaplan, the chairman at US Games, were very clear that they wanted the Lover's Path Tarot to be something special. They were the ones who suggested the full deluxe production for the set, which I think serves to support the romantic subject matter. I was thrilled by their vision, since it was one that I had fantasized in an ideal world but didn't know was possible. I also thought that, since so many of the stories and myths fea(Continued on page 5)

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tured in the deck weren't widely known, it would be more satisfying to have the book be co-published with the deck, rather than releasing the deck with a LWB alone. We all envisioned the set as something which would be very experiential and sensual, where every element would further the message of the deck, if this makes sense. We were also aided by the fact that in recent years the cost for full color printing has really come down thanks to digital technology. This enabled us to publish the set so beautifully and with an affordable retail price. I must acknowledge QP Printing who produced The Lover's Path Tarot -- they did a stunning job. GH: The book that comes with the set could easily stand on its own... Was the full color book a part of your original vision? Kris: I didn't know it was a possibility, though of course in an ideal world. . . . Again, US Games suggested it. I was more than thrilled to design the book accordingly. GH: When you're working on a new card, do you find it affects how you see things? Do you find yourself living the card as you create it? Kris: I find the overall project mirrors my life as I work on it, rather than my living an individual card. It's difficult to isolate one card as one affecting my life -- it's more often that I choose to work on a card because it's reflecting something I'm experiencing, so I'm attracted to it as a venue to work out my emotions and thoughts. Also, I usually work on more than one painting at a time, some which are related to each other, others which are not. This way, if I get "stuck" on a painting and I'm not clear what to do next, I can gain clarity and space by working on a different one. It helps to keep the creative juices flowing -- when you're working on a huge project such a tarot deck, you do what you can to aid the process, especially when there's a tight deadline involved. GH: Is there anything special you do to get into a creative mood? Kris: At this point of my career, I'm fortunate that my creativity usually flows easily for me; if it's not happening, I can usually recognize what I need to do to "please the muse." You get to know yourself and your creative process very well after twenty years alone in an art studio! If I get stuck on something, my usual plan of action is to work on a different part of the project, even if it's just for a few hours -- this gives me enough space to get the juices flowing again. That said, I do have certain ritu-

als before I begin work for the day. I like to take care of my phone calls, check my e-mail, read the newspaper -check in with the world, as it were, before I turn inward. GH: Now that the novel is finished... any projects in the works? What will you do next? Kris: I'm in the process of expanding The Book of Goddesses into a deluxe edition with additional new goddess art and text. The plan is for it to be published to commemorate the ten year anniversary of The Book of Goddesses' first publication. But my most immediate project has been in the works for a little while now: I'm currently seven months pregnant with my first child, a little girl. My husband and I are very excited. [Editors note: Congratulations, Kris! That is wonderful news...] GH: What advice would you give to someone just beginning to study the Tarot? Kris: To trust your instincts, to use your intuition. To not get limited by book meanings. To realize that a tarot reading is a snapshot of your life at the moment -- everything you need to know is in the cards, if you're willing to look with open eyes.

There is a special limited edition of The Lover's Path Tarot is available at http://www.loverspath.com. This signed and numbered edition is limited to 400 and includes an extra tarot card, art print, and a certificate of authenticity. For more information about Kris Waldherr and her amazing body of work, please visit her website at: http://www.artandwords.com. Art from The Lover's Path Tarot 2004 Kris Waldherr Art and Words. Used by permission.

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others along this journey of life, to get paid so they can live in the real world as well. I like to explain it in terms of the mortgage company and the grocery store. I would love to do readings and coaching for these people in trade for paying my mortgage and buying groceries, however, they prefer the stuff we use on this earth plane. My goal is to help those of you that are interested in using your gifts as a way of living and making a living. Over the next few issues, I will be giving you information that you absolutely must have in order to have a successful business. So where do you start? I ask my students in the Complete Metaphysical Course, "Who knows where you need to start?" I get a variety of answers and usually none start at the beginning. Thats OK, because we have not been taught where to look for the answers. The first place I recommend starting is to make a decision about what you really want your business to look like. You can start envisioning it in your head and writing it down. Write what it looks like, smells like, feels like, sounds like. Dont be afraid to be very detailed... Its a good idea to carry a journal with you, so that when you have ideas that come up you can jot them down immediately. This does take some practice but it can be done. Several of my clients started out by making collages. They cut pictures out of a variety of magazines that told the story in pictures of what they wanted their life and business to look like. This can be very helpful for those of you who are visual and creative, especially if you have Pisces energy in you, or an abundance of twelfth house planets. Set a deadline for when you want to have a written piece of information about what your business will look like. This will be a rough draft and will be molded and changed and nurtured and caressed as you move forward. At this stage, this document is very fluid as you are adding more and more ideas about what the ideal business would look like for you. For some, its working at psychic fairs, events and doing readings in person... for another it might be working with clients over the telephone only. You can think about the kinds of people that youd like to work with and what issues and areas are you can be passionate about. (For me its business.) Start to get to know yourself really well about what you like and what you dont like. Often, this can become an intense process involving your dreams and what they really mean to you. So often, we don't give voice to our dreams and heart's desires... Once you have this written in a rough format it will be time to write a "Decide Statement". Next issue I will take you through the Decide Statement and the purpose of it in your business.
Dawn M. Falbe 2005

About the author: Dawn Falbe is familiar to many of us as the instructor at the Barnes & Noble Tarot for Beginners Class. She is a former president of the ATA (American Tarot Association) and also teaches the Complete Metaphysical Practitioner course (next session due to begin on February 13th, 2005). Dawn also publishes a free monthly newsletter and is currently creating a Metaphysical Practitioner and Alternative Healers Business Development and Coaching School. For more information about Dawn, please see her website at: http://www.astrologerdawn.com or via email at dawn@astrologerdawn.com.
(Seasiis ComparativeContinued from page 3)

each binder. I used a priority mail box for about the right thickness. If its too thick it wont slide in the insert on the binder. Remember when you cut the cardboard it will be covered with fabric so make an allowance for this as well. Cut the fabric just large enough to overlap to the back of the cardboard. You dont want a lot of bulk on the backside of the cardboard. Glue the fabric to cardboard and insert them into the binder covers. Covers are done! INTRO PAGE: The intro page sets up the way the cards are put in place on each page: The deck names are placed in the order the cards appear on the pages. Left facing page: Card 1 Card 2 Card 3 Card 4 Right
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to late twenties, I was an art student at University and decided to do a Tarot deck, that was when I plunged in fully. For about three years I did nothing but read anything and everything that was vaguely related to tarot... any Tarot book, books about cards even if they had just a couple pages or maybe a chapter with their various histories. I was also studying Kabbalah, Hebrew, and language/alphabet stuff. My wife was encouraging me along the way as well. When we were first married we spent a few years almost completely by ourselves. We'd go into town once a week or less, so our interaction with other people was a rarity... both of our respective journeys really came together and we have been sharing and helping each other ever since, although now thankfully we 'go out into the world' and get to interact/share/learn/teach others. GH: How did you discover TFL? Troy: This is another of those cool things that happens when you let them. I have always known that I'm blessed, even when the 'worst' things happen... I look back I understand why it had to be like that and I'm who I am because of them, as well as all the really 'good' stuff. We got a computer from my wife's son in June 2004. (I don't know how we lived with out one now, ha ha ha.) My wife was joining all sorts of groups, so I decided I'd find me a group. Now I should say I've never really been a joiner, never got an invite to belong either, but I thought I'd give it a go. What sort of group should I join? Mmmmmmm... Oh they have Tarot things 'on the net', I'll see if there are any Tarot type groups. So I type in tarot and there is a list of a few groups some sounded a bit 'wanky'. Hmmmmm... Tarot for life... Went there read a couple of posts and knew to join. Applied. Gabba gabba, we accept you, I was in yippee and have been blessed ever since, meeting many wonderful people from all sort of places, being able to share bits of my journey with them and share bits of their journey, getting all goose bumpy just writing this. I haven't joined any other groups. (I attempted once and nothing happened, so I figured I just need to be in this group for the moment.) GH: Do you read for yourself very often? If so, what kind of situations send you running for your Tarot deck? Troy: I guess the short answer is that it goes in cycles. I'll read a lot for a month or whatever, then maybe not for a while. It generally depends on what I'm doing. When I first started out, I was doing the daily readings and weekly things more as a study aid. When I was teaching I'd do a reading for the start of the term and maybe a 'What's today's/tonight's class going to bring?' reading. I guess I tend to do readings in regard to interactions with other people, with regard to me personally. I tend to go with trusting that whatever happens is for the best, however if something comes up and I need that little bit of extra insight, I'll whip out the cards to have a look. GH: Your artwork is amazing... What inspires you to put pen to paper? Troy: I can't remember a time when I wasn't drawing... about 30 years of drawing has allowed me to get a little bit better at it, but there is always that moment of doing something and getting that 'WOW, that's good'. When that happens it's like nothing I can really describe. My inspiration? Hmmmmm... peace, love and joy, the act of just doodling or doing a 'serious' work lets me not think of anything and just draw, paint, whatever. I tend to just get so caught up in what I'm doing that you could probably set bombs off and I wouldn't notice. I mostly go with creating beauty in it's many forms. I feel there is enough depressing/morbid stuff passing itself off as Art. I'm the balance *evil laugh* or maybe not. I try to do stuff that has a meaning but can be viewed as purely visual, so that even if you don't get the esoteric in my work you can enjoy it as a picture. Some things tend to be one or the other. I try to be both. My muse is the universe, the Shekinah gives me guidance, whether it be something I see, read, think, feel or something that needs to be conveyed to other people and is best put in image form. I guess it also comes down to being one of the things that I truly enjoy doing. I seem to be encouraged by others, so I'm doing something that others (sadly a minor(Continued on page 8)

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ity) can see as being worthwhile and it makes me happy. I shall stop before I get too deep into one of my 'The Value of Art to Society' rants....but it is important, and is too often neglected for other imagined or real factors and that is all I'll say for now. GH: What is your favorite Tarot card and why? Troy: This is a real hard question... again I go in cycles. I could say that my favorite card would be the one that is relevant to my situation at the time and becomes the focus or the pictorial representation of what it is I'm 'learning' at that moment. Usually I will come across new takes on that card which will make me think and feel differently about it. To give a more definite but general answer, The Fool would be near the top. After reading a book called The Zealator, I came across the term of 'the way of the fool', which is a good title/name for the path I've been treading. Have also had a long history with 'fool cards' beginning at an early age with joker cards from 'regular' decks and the discovering of cards in odd places, discarded, etc. The Devil is also a fave, with the Hierophant and the Moon being a close second to the High Priestess. Would be extremely long to get into the whys but Moon and High Priestess are two of my most influential cards. I'm very big on the more mystical approach to things and these cards constantly tell me to continue trusting in what happens, go with what I feel/ believe/know to be true. Put these things into action ala Devil and Hierophant and remain a Fool ala Shakespeare's 'wise fools' who know what to say and when to keep their mouth shut--thats the hardest bit. GH: How did your love affair with animals come about? Troy: Not too sure... another of those 'seems like forever' things. I have always been a bit of a 'stick up for the minority' type of person and sadly the biggest minority I see are animals. A lot of people don't listen to animals so when I can, I will be their voice or more if need be. Not sure I can fully answer this one... basically they have unconditional love and trust, they constantly spread joy and are very special to share their lives with you. This is an extremely hard one to try to put into a short answer. They are just so so special and it is wonderful to share space with them, be it those that live here with us or those that live elsewhere but cross our paths and visit, or just allow us a glimpse of their beauty and show us how we should be living our lives. If only more people stopped degrading them and actually looked at how animals live, and not those that have been corrupted by humans and have had to resort to human behavior to sur-

vive, people might understand and they are the greatest teachers on this planet. GH: Tell us about the important humans that share your life. Troy: Well the most important human in my life would be my wife. We met just over 12 years ago, and even though their were some doubts on her part (the age difference thing, almost 20 year gap) we started going out together. It was maybe the first or second official date that she proposed and I accepted neither of us batting an eyelid (ha ha ha), it just seemed SO right. I moved in with her a week later and were married about 6 months after that in a winter solstice wedding. She is a working witch of 30+ years, she is a Sag. She absolutely completes me. A constant source of joy, encouragement and has shown me a love that I thought not fully possible. We both help each other on our respective paths and are still very much in love and it is always growing and becoming even more, much to the surprise of other people! I think because we married so quickly, and maybe because of the age thing, people assumed it wouldn't last. There are her children and grandchildren. Her son lived with us after our marriage for a year or so. He and I get on very well. We have a common interest in motorbikes, and even though he some times jokes about me and his mum being 'weirdoes', he is an extremely loving son and a credit to his mum. Who says single parents can't raise well adjusted kids? His partner is a very beautiful young woman who is also a Sag. Of course there is their daughter, who just turned one, and is going to be the first female motorcycle champion according to her father (ha ha ha). Due to distance and various obstacles to travel, my relationship with my wife's daughter and her children (a girl and boy) has been mostly a long distance one. My parents and sisters (2 older than me) don't really share my life, we are there for each other when needed but we are all traveling in different directions and don't have a lot of common interest. Others on their journey come into contact with me for a short while then continue on their way. My wife feels the same. It's the nature of who we are, what we do. Some people who we may not see that often are closer than those who we may see a lot. In this category, I would include many on the TFL site. Some will be brief but important encounters, both for me and them. While others I can see as being longer relationships, this is due to the directions everyone is going. Some cross paths, some are moving parallel. GH: Could you describe where you live and why you love it there?
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(TroyContinued from page 8)

Troy: We live on a one and a half acre property called "MOONCIRCLES" with an assortment of animals. Our house is nearly 90 years old. It is small and cozy. Rustic is a word that might come to mind. We are bordered on one side by a reserve (crown land). We have neighbors on one side and behind us but they are far enough away not to bother us. I do enjoy being nude when it gets too hot for clothes. There is a variety of wildlife, birds etc. There are no street lights so at night we have the best sky. My wife lives here, as well as our animals. They help me love it more. Mostly I don't like cities. Too many people. I like quiet and lack of humans, with animal visitors just making it so much better. Having said that, we may be moving! The big reason is related to the former question and my family, its strange that 'my' family is more comprised of my wife's children and grandchildren rather than my parents, sisters etc. Mainly due to the fact that they accept me as a part of their life and are interested in me, with my many facets. While I love them, it is not a intimate bond. So the little house on the road out of town may not be our home for much longer. But then again, even though we love this little house dearly we can pack up the animals and move on knowing that the real thing that makes this house our home is the occupants, animals, and humans.

Favorite deck: I like them all for different reasons (its like a "Who's your favorite child?" type of question) but I like Mantegna for it's visual beauty and sublime readings. Alchemical for it's practical consistency, always reads well . RWS for its memories of a dear friend and the B.O.T.A. deck for the grounding and motivation it gives me. Working Deck: The deck I work with the most, Alchemical Fire, swords or wands: Swords Favorite books: Terry Pratchetts Discworld series, Dion Fortune's "The Goat Foot God", Jeanne Kalogridis' "The Burning Times", Z'ev ben Shimon Halevi's "The Anointed". Favorite movies: Horror films, Sci-fi, a lot of 'cult' films, foreign films, i.e. Italian, Japanese, Hong Kong action. Razor Blade Smile would be a favorite vampire film. Dario Argento would be one of my favorite directors.

(How the Tarot WorksContinued from page 3)

Enhancing creativity Developing connection to subconscious mind Casting spells Building confidence through greater self-awareness I would like to offer up the notion that the Tarot has a wide range of uses, and how it is used is entirely up to each individual who picks up a deck and begins to explore the fantastic images that reside within... not only within the deck, but their own divine spirit. A Conduit for the Subconscious Today there are hundreds of different types of Tarot decks available. I personally use two at the present time - the Rider-Waite Deck and the Victoria Regina Tarot. These two speak to me personally and allow me to draw the greatest amount of wisdom from my Inner Voice. Each individual has to make their own choice about which deck to use.
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Severino Baraldi, and mini editions of the Celtic Tarot, by G. Gaudenzi and S. Tenuta, the Secret Tarot by Marco Nizzoli), and historical Visconti. A mini-Visconti . It s been said that La Papesse holds this very book, although it was not printed until a decade after the Visconti. Still, the myth persists. Along the linear timeline, in August I expect, Dream Cards by Isa Donelli, Luigi di Gianmarino, the historical French Cartomancy, which is a Lenormand deck documented by Laura Tuan (very cool stuff there), Tarot of the 1001 Nights by Leon Carre, Tarot of the Secret Forest by Pietro Alligo and Lucia Mattioli, and the Tarot of White Cats by Pietro Alligo and Severino Baraldi.

Newly announced releases: Revelations Tarot set by Zach Wong is scheduled for a May release, and the Animals Divine Tarot set by Lisa Hunt is scheduled for Au-

Dream CardsImage courtesy of the Tarot Garden

gust. Not a sign of decay. It s over five hundred years old and not a sign of decay, as you d expect from paper. And the thickness of the leaves they don t feel like parchment what do French CartomancyImage courtesy of the Tarot Garden you think they re made out of? Hmmm you could be correct the printing does look as though it was tattooed rather then printed. As long as we are discussing printing, I have an amusing anecdote to share . Now this is true, not that I was there, but a friend did hear it from SK himself. The Celestial Tarot was printed - however - the print job was unacceptable and the entire lot was rejected. They were told to Start over . I like that. I like that a lot. He won t sell shoddy goods. I also know the North American edition of the Gummy Bear Tarot release has also been delayed (I didn t get a reason for that one). You know this book cannot stay here, unguarded. We have to .

Lean in, pretend to look at this page - cameras and Yog-Sothoth may be watching. This is a fact: The Encyclopedia of Tarot Volume IV is at the printers. Keep in mind, if he s not happy with the results, he s not shy about telling them to do it right. So word is - it will be out this year. Binding lux to Qlippah for the Sitra Achra the translation is perhaps not so incorrect as clumsy in its attempt to occlude the truth. Mixing German, Middle English, and Latin throw in some archaic Hebrew . Interesting how the pages are numbered. The order is odd. Oh, look at what the last is page number is LXVII.

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facing page: Card 5 Card 6 Card 7 Card 8 DECK PAGES: Now you are ready to create the deck pages themselves. A small pieces of tape will hold the cards on a sheet of paper. That is one reason for the sheet protectors. The tape is easily removed to remove a deck if you desire to do so at a later time. I have placed the majors and 2 suits in one binder and the other 2 suits in the other binder. On the first sheet of paper create your title page. On the backside of the same sheet affix your first 4 cards noting the position so it matches the intro page LEFT side. Now insert this into a sheet protector and place it in the first binder. On the next sheet of paper you will place the next 4 cards noting the position so it matches the intro page RIGHT side. On the backside you start with LEFT side placement again. Place this sheet in an insert and put in binder. If you have done this correctly you should have 8 of the same card looking at you! Make sure you place the cards of the same deck in the same position as you progress through the deck. Example: If Universal Waite is in position one on the first left hand page it should be in position 1 on all the following pages. ENJOY YOUR COMPARISON! Blessings, Seasii

(How the Tarot WorksContinued from page 9)

For the purposes of this example, I will refer to the Rider-Waite Deck. Each card in the Tarot has a picture on it. That picture can be looked at two different ways. First, it could be seen for what it is. Take "The Fool" as an example. At face value, this is a man with his heels being bit at by a dog, who is just about to talk a jolly walk off a cliff. Now, the second way in which you can look at a Tarot card is to realize that there is a deeper meaning to what you see happening in the picture, there is an archetype that is represented in the imagery. Webster defines "archetype" as "an inherited idea or mode of thought in the psychology of C.G. Jung that is derived from the experience of the race and is present in the unconscious of the individual." What this says is that an archetype is a common experience or mindset that exists at a point in everyone's respective lives whether we acknowledge its presence or not. So, with that said, looking at "The Fool" again, this time at the deeper, archetypal level, we see a card that represents new beginnings, one who has faith in the process of life, and one with a child-like spontaneous spirit and approach to living. The great thing about Tarot is that I can look at a card and see one thing, as I just shared with you. However, you can look at the same card and draw from it different meanings, different conclusions. What we can draw from this is that the Tarot works with images on cards that provide a unique visual conduit to the subconscious mind. Provided we are open to what our Inner Voice has to tell us, when we reveal a card, it can become a mirror to our soul and through that encounter, we can gain greater insight into ourselves and the world around us. Our Inner Voice is Key Some call it our conscience, a "Jiminy Cricket" character who speaks to us and tells us right from wrong (and sometimes left from right!) Some refer to it as intuition, spirit, and I refer to it as my Inner Voice. It is not only my compass for thought and decision-making, it is also a guide. Now, a guide is only as good as the one listening to them and heeding their advice and wisdom. Unfortunately, in this
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modern era, we are overloaded with intellectual stimuli that it can become increasingly difficult to be able to tune in and listen to our Inner Voice. That is why before conducting a reading, I take the opportunity to clear my mind, get "centered" and focused, and tune out the "static" of the world. This not only allows me to forge a connection either with myself or the person I am doing the reading for, but it also allows a clear pipeline for images, sensations and messages to travel through so the reading can be the best that it can. Regardless of what level you are at in your Tarot journey, one thing I know for sure (at least for me) is that being able to listen to and, more importantly, TRUST, our Inner Voice, is critical to allowing the Tarot be that conduit to the subconscious that it truly can be. All that is required of us is that we pay attention, stay focused, tune in, listen, and respond to the unique communication that can occur between the Tarot and our subconscious mind. Brian Crimmins is the primary author for and webmaster of http://www.briancrimmins.com, a Tarot resource site where free readings can also be requested. Brian is a member of the American Tarot Association and is a volunteer on their Free Tarot Network. He resides in Orlando, Florida.

Beginning a Tarot Journal By Jimilyn

Tarot journals are as unique as the people that keep them. What is common to all tarot journals is that they serve as a means of going back and reviewing what one has done, learned, or observed in order to glean further understanding and insights. Most tarot readers keep some type of journal of one kind or another at some time during their study. What type of journal and how long it is kept depends upon the purpose of the student or reader. If you have been considering a Tarot journal or if you are preparing to take the Barnes & Noble "Tarot for Beginners" class coming up in February, you may find some of the following questions and suggestions useful. Your Purpose What will be your purpose in keeping a journal? Are you beginning to learn card meanings and how to read tarot? Do you want to focus on a particular aspect of reading cards such as reversals, astrological elements, court cards, or numerology? Are you working on getting more details out of your readings? These are a few examples, but only you can determine the exact purpose of your journal. It can be any one goal or a combination of goals. The purpose of your journal will very possibly determine the physical layout of your journal as well as the types of entries you make. The Journal Itself What do you want to actually use as your journal? It can be anything that motivates you to work with it or pleases the senses. Those who are drawn to technology can use web blogs, word processing programs, or other computer programs that suit the purpose of their journal. Still others enjoy the feel of pens or pencils on paper. Some people remember what they learn better with a more tactile and concrete type of journal. These people may enjoy using blank books, spiral notebooks, or ring binders. Then there are still those who find a combination appealing and have parts of a journal on the computer and parts of it written by hand. Web blogs can be easily accessed when you are away from home; keeping documents on your computer gives endless flexibility and enables you to share files easily while still printing out a hard copy for a binder; spiral notebooks are portable and easily tucked into a tote bag or briefcase and take little to no preparation; blank books give the journal a special feel; 3 ring binders enable you to add or delete sections easily and add pages within sections. If you use a 3 ring binder you may also choose to have divider tabs or different colored pages for your sections. There are even those who make their own journals and design the
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covers themselves. Anything goes. The key is to choose something that you enjoy. Do You Want Sections? If you have one goal for your journal such as to keep track of your daily draws you may need only one section in your journal. However, if you have multiple goals, you may want to divide your journal into sections. Here again, there are no limits. You can create a section for any aspect of your study that you like. You can include sections on cards, readings, daily draws, exercises, lessons, spreads, resources, organizations, thoughts, contacts, and class assignments or notes. As you get farther in your studies you may have sections on card pairs, elementals, astrology connections, timing and the tarot, court card approaches, or anything else you have chosen to study. Some of our readers are just beginning your Tarot journey and may also possibly be waiting to take the online Tarot for Beginners course at Barnes and Noble University in February. Joan Bunning, author of the course, has recommended some journal sections that prove to be helpful as you are getting started. 1. A section with a page or two for each of the 78 cards in the deck. You may make notes about artwork and card meanings for each card. 2. A section for copies of your readings and notes about them. Jot down what comes to mind as you interpret your reading. A rewarding practice is to go back over your readings periodically to see how things have progressed. You may see how accurate you really were; you may see something new that had escaped you when you did the initial reading. You will learn a great deal and gain confidence as you go back over your readings. 3. A section for your daily draws. You will record the card you draw, possible meanings, and how this card could be applied to your day. 4. A section for lessons and assignments. 5. A section for resourceslinks, books, decks, organizations, contacts, etc. 6. A section for thoughts, notes, and tips that you have and collect. Most Importantly Remember that this should be a fun and exciting journey. Do not be concerned about what is right or wrong. The only right or wrong is found within you! Trust yourself to design the perfect journal for you. Create a journal that you will enjoy and use. If you never use it because it doesnt express the type of learner or reader that you are, it will never be of any use to you. And dont forget that you can always come to the Tarot for Life group and post your comments or questions about setting up or using journals. Your thoughts and questions are probably exactly what someone else wants to know as well.

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Meet the Authors

Greyhound began reading Tarot in Oct. of 2000. Greyhound feels her natural tendency is to approach life very analytically. The study of Tarot has helped her to bring more balance and intuition to her life. She considers herself a student of the Tarot, rather than a teacher and feels confident that anyone can learn to read the Tarot if they want to badly enough. (Editor)

Seasii purchased a Universal Rider deck about 12 years ago but the timing wasn't right. Thankfully, she found both the online class at Barnes & Noble and the TFL family in December of 2002. Since that point in time, "deck fever" hit and the deck count went up. Her favorite decks change with the times... Aside from her other full-time job, Seasii works in a metaphysical shop where she is putting together the curriculum for her first Tarot class.

WebWeaver who had two decks in and out of boxes and drawers for 18 years finally found a deck and a way to learn at the end of 2002. Thanks to the internet she found the Spiral Tarot, TFL and the B&N course. She now feels she is on the road to learning the Tarot. Tarot has opened many doors for her and brought new people into her life. She is very grateful to be a part of this wonderful community.

Jimilyn, a Dallas native, had her interest in the metaphysical re-bloom sometime during 1999. It was during this time she purchased her 1st deck. She also took the first Barnes and Noble University 'Tarot for Beginners' class in August of 2001. Joan Bunning was the instructor and the warmth and encouragement she shared was just the help Jimi needed to move forward in her own Tarot journey. Jimi also enjoys doing chat readings at Tarot for Life, where being a part of a group of readers helps everyone feel more confident.

Dan Pelletier is the co-owner of The Tarot Garden. An accomplished tarot reader with over thirty years of experience, Dan has also contributed to such publications as Aeclectic Tarot and Body Mind Spirit magazine.