Tag: self-published decks

The Chariot in the Tarot of Quotes

chariot tarot of quotes

The Chariot is our global year card for 2014.

This year it’s all about moving forward into uncharted territory, leaving your comfort zone behind.

The emphasis during 2014 is on growth and self-development, so be prepared to make some decisions that can be seen as risky or perhaps uncomfortable.

It’s never easy letting go of what you know in favour of the unknown and pursuit of distant dreams and goals.

But this year you simply have to get off your favourite armchair and get out into the fresh air of possibilities and opportunities.

Whether it’s a business idea you want to turn into reality, sort out your love life, move home, improve your fitness or change any other lifestyle issues – make 2014 your year of progress and positive change.

The Chariot in the Tarot suggests forward movement, momentum, travelling, action, change, conquest, control, determination, overcoming challenges and victory.

Victory and achievement are within your grasp, but the Chariot is also a reminder that it won’t be easy, and you may well encounter struggle and tension along the way.

But it is exactly the hard parts of your journey this year that will help you grow and live the life you want to live.

You may need to learn to balance opposing forces, just like the coachman has to lead two horses into the same direction. This year it’s your time to lead.

You may need to develop resilience, self-discipline and determination to succeed. This year it’s your time not to give up but persevere.

You may need to learn to assert yourself and take control of situations or aspects in your life, which need resolving.

Astrologically, the Chariot is linked to the zodiac sign Cancer and the element water. There is a strong link to emotions, so you may have to learn to control negative emotions such as anger, jealousy or other aggressive impulses.

What to avoid: fear of change, apathy, impatience, recklessness

If you’d like to learn more about the Chariot and all the other cards in the Tarot, please check out my ebook The Cosmic Faery Tarot Guidebook.

I welcome your views and opinions on my cards. Please feel free to leave your comments below or just click the ‘like’ button.

Warmest wishes,

Christiane

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The Threes in the Tarot of Quotes

three of wands tarot of quotes

Three is a magic number.

Apart from using it in mathematical calculations, we encounter it every day in religion, mythology, literature, music and sport as a mystical and spiritual symbol:

  • three wishes
  • three guesses
  • three little pigs
  • the Holy trinity of Father, son and Holy Spirit
  • the three Graces
  • the three Norns
  • the unity of mind, body and spirit,
  • the Triple Goddess…
  • Shakespeare’s three witches casting spells beginning with “thrice…”
  • the three Musketeers
  • the three stooges
  • Film and book trilogies
  • initial family unit of father, mother and child
  • “bad news come in threes”
  • three chords harmony in music

There are countless more examples, but what they all have in common is a sense of completion, unity and harmony, which is reflected in all the threes in the Tarot.

Numbered three, the Empress in the Major Arcana symbolises abundance, creativity and growth, which are also inherent qualities of the number Three.

Three of Wands – initial success, growth, achievement, harmony, foresight

Esoteric Title: The Lord of Established Strength

Astrological attribution: Sun in Aries – building and expanding on initial achievement, moving forward, progress, confidence, optimism, focus on goal, taking risks, power

Interpretation: new beginnings and opportunities to expand horizon through travel, study and new ventures; building on what has already been accomplished; focus and concentrating on the bigger picture; think big; be open-minded and go for what’s on offer; become more aware of opportunities but also challenges around you; travel

Image symbolism:

Sun and light trail – showing the way, focus, energy, outlook, vision
Red, orange and yellow colours – element fire, creativity, ambition, vigour, drive, enthusiasm
Green grass – opportunity for growth and abundance

three of cups tarot of quotes

Three of Cups – celebration, community, friendships, bonding

Esoteric Title: The Lord of Abundance

Astrological attribution: Mercury in Cancer – emotional intelligence; joyful communication, fun discussions, wit, banter, cooking at home for friends, problems resolved

Interpretation: spending quality time with friends and family, helping others in a team, nurturing friendships, socialising, happy occasions enjoyed with loved ones, creative group activities (dancing, arts and crafts…)

Image symbolism:

Three naked ladies embracing – affection, bonding, mutual support and trust, innocence

Flowers – love, beauty of the moment, creative growth, passion (red flowers)
Turquoise, pink and indigo colours – element water, emotional maturity, trusting feelings, intuitive perception, compassion

three of swords tarot of quotes

Three of Swords – grief, distress, heartbreak, gloom

Esoteric Title: The Lord of Sorrow

Astrological attribution: Saturn in Libra – discord, self-limitation, lessons to learn from mistakes, loss of security, loneliness, melancholy

Interpretation: rejection, loss, setback, disillusionment, the need to confront pain or unblock emotions, pessimism, preparing for a difficult situation or event to minimise distress, a painful conclusion (e.g. of a relationship)

Image symbolism:

Cracked, bleeding heart – hurt, pain, separation, feeling torn

Transparency of the heart – vulnerability

Red and white rose – imbalance of emotions and reason

Rain – gloom, hopelessness, clouded vision
Lake – drowning in feelings and emotions
Mountains – a difficult path to healing
Grey colour – element air

three of pentacles tarot of quotes

Three of Pentacles – foundation, teamwork, development

Esoteric Title: The Lord of Material Works

Astrological attribution: Mars in Capricorn – ambition / energy to create; hard work, workaholic, labour of love (or obsession), expansion, decisiveness

Interpretation: initial completion of work, collaboration, unfinished business, long-term project, project management, building for the future, applying skills, learning on the job, maintenance and repairs

Image symbolism:

Cathedral – ambitious project, longevity
Scaffolding – work in progress

Hammer and sickle symbol – representing workers and farmers, the collective, union of a variety of skills and expertise, building something for the benefit of all, labour

Red and green colours – element earth, growth, prosperity, dedication, enthusiasm, stability

I welcome your views and opinions on my cards. Please feel free to leave your comments below.

You can view all images of my Tarot deck created so far in the Gallery. 

Warmest wishes,

Christiane

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Strength in the Tarot of Quotes

strength tarot of quotes

The lion on the image is guarding the entrance to a pub in a little village close to Hadrian’s Wall.

His posture is composed, dignified, serious and dutiful.

In typical Leo fashion (Strength is linked to the zodiac sign Leo), his presence is making quite an impact in that position.

He’s the first “thing” you notice when you approach the pub.

The lion symbolises the essence of Strength; despite his powerful physical strength, his self-discipline and control is taming the wild beast (desires) within. This lion isn’t pouncing at you any time soon!

The flowers in the tub next to the lion symbolise feminine energies as a balancing influence:

  • assertiveness (rather than aggression)
  • gentle persuasion (rather than oppressive dogma)
  • patience (rather than agitation)
  • compassion (rather than cruelty)

In a reading, Strength can indicate the need to control impulses and desires – not by force but with conviction and determination.

It can also advise to draw upon your inner calm and persistence in difficult situations, facing fears and adversity with the courage and confidence to overcome them.

Other keywords: stamina, endurance, perseverance, kindness despite tension or conflict (with yourself and others), self-mastery, willpower

Negative meanings include: weakness, self-doubt, low self-esteem, over-emotional, lack of self-discipline

Astrologically, Leo is ruled by the Sun, which symbolises the Self and the Ego.

Therefore, Strength may also ask you to explore how you can practice more self-care or, on the other hand, how you can become less selfish or self-absorbed.

If you’d like to learn more about Strength and all the other cards in the Tarot, please check out my ebook The Cosmic Faery Tarot Guidebook.

I welcome your views and opinions on my cards. Please feel free to leave your comments below or just click the ‘like’ button.

Warmest wishes,

Christiane

The Twos in the Tarot of Quotes

two of wands tarot of quotesWhile the Aces symbolise potential and new beginnings, the Twos in the Tarot relate to the need to strive for balance.

A solitary spark has evolved into duality.

Duality creates opposites and choices, which are reflected in partnerships, decision-making, planning and multi-tasking.

The High Priestess in the Major Arcana quietly watches over the Twos of the suits and influences them in a subtle way.

The underlying message of all the Twos is the need to follow your gut instinct to a certain extent in order to move forward from a perpetual balancing act.

Two of Wands – planning, risk-taking, making preparations, collaboration at work, travel, seizing an opportunity, seeking a new adventure, restlessness, investing for growth.

Esoteric Title: The Lord of Dominion

Astrological attribution: Mars in Aries – power, will, ambition, conquest, authority, courage, influence

Interpretation: a new project, a joint venture, moving into the right direction, asserting your authority, growing confidence, booking a trip, planning your next move, having a clear vision of your goal, setting priorities, taking a calculated risk

Image symbolism:

Two-forked tree – duality
Cargo ship travelling to a new destination – clear vision and purpose
River: emotions, intuition, having faith
Bright colours: fire, energy, clarity, vitality

two of cups tarot of quotes

Two of Cups – attraction, relationship, friendship, dating, courtship, harmony, cooperation, love

Esoteric Title: The Lord of Love

Astrological attribution: Venus in Cancer – love, beauty, harmony, trust, nurture, emotional exchange, commitment, marriage

Interpretation: emotional balance, personal encounters, meeting someone you are on the same wavelength with, start of a friendship, harmonious partnership in business, companionship, sexual attraction, unity

Image symbolism:

two sheep sitting side by side – friendship, affinity, companionship, mutual fondness (see also the Lovers)
grass – earth (Venus) grounded, stability, nourishment
water – (Cancer) – emotions
pink tint – it’s all rosy Smile

two of swords tarot of quotesTwo of Swords – stalemate, truce, indecision, procrastination, hesitate, defer, choice

Esoteric Title: The Lord of Peace Restored

Astrological attribution: Moon in Libra – a choice between head and heart, working out a fair compromise, balancing thought with emotion

Interpretation: immobilised by fear, ignoring a problem, trying to break a deadlock, blocked emotions; withdrawal from responsibilities

Image symbolism:

waxing moon – a phase of uncertainty, increasing doubts and insecurities, tension

water – emotions, the unconscious, the unknown, feeling out of depth

scales – Libra, the intellect, weighing up the choices, trying to ignore feelings/instinct, careful consideration

two of pentacles tarot of quotesTwo of Pentacles – adaptability, flexibility, multi-tasking, balancing the books, getting by, juggling various responsibilities, agility, fluctuation

Esoteric Title: The Lord of Harmonious Change

Astrological attribution: Jupiter in Capricorn – expansion and growth limited by restrictions; impermanence

Interpretation: growing pains associated with instability and perpetual flux; transforming energies; change, red tape, financial limitations, new goals and priorities emerge from the need to maintain balance; taking a risk is a necessity, not a choice

Image symbolism:

two coins (Euro and British Pound) – balancing opposing forces to maintain equilibrium

view of farm fields from hilltop – the world is ever-changing, keep focusing on the bigger picture; hard work pays off, but sometimes it doesn’t

murky clouds and horizon – uncertainty

I welcome your views and opinions on my cards. Please feel free to leave your comments below.

You can view all images of my Tarot deck created so far in the Gallery. 

Warmest wishes,

Christiane

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Justice in the Tarot of Quotes

Justice Tarot of QuotesOn the 22 June 1990, leading politicians from the US, UK, Soviet Union, France and Germany gathered in Berlin to celebrate the end of the Cold War between East and West.

On the image you can see the removal of the Checkpoint Charlie hut (precariously balancing above people’s heads!) and the permanent opening of the border (view the original photo at the end of this post below).

After so many years of division, communist oppression and isolation, Justice has finally prevailed and balance restored.

We all have different ideas about what Justice means; some favour the emotional notion “an eye for an eye”, others prefer fairness based on detached but careful consideration and cooperation, as expressed in the quote by the 34th US President Eisenhower.

Justice in the Tarot isn’t suggesting an eye for an eye. Linked to the zodiac sign Libra, it stands for objectivity, fairness, honesty and balance.

In a reading, Justice can also indicate legal matters, the need to be emotionally detached to make fair decisions, considering all sides of an argument with an open mind and personal integrity.

Sometimes Justice can also indicate that life isn’t always fair, and it can take a long time for Justice to prevail – patience is required.

There may also be a need to be true to yourself, do what you think is right, even if you stand alone and face intimidating opposition.

Questions to ask, when Justice is drawn:

  • How can you create balance in your life?
  • Do you need to detach yourself from emotions in order to resolve current issues?
  • What decisions do you need to make, and how do you weigh up their pros and cons?

If you’d like to learn more about Justice and all the other cards in the Tarot, please check out my ebook The Cosmic Faery Tarot Guidebook.

Warmest wishes,

Christiane

Checkpoint Charlie 1990

The Knights in the Tarot of Quotes

knights in the tarot of quotes, knight of wandsIn a recent light bulb moment I’ve decided to portray the knights in my Tarot deck as birds.

In the Golden Dawn tradition, the tarot knights are linked to the element air, so I thought birds would represent the mutable court card members well.

Knights in the Tarot suggest movement, change and travel.

They are the juveniles of the court card family – volatile, unpredictable at times, searching, on a mission, energetic, ready for battle.

Knights can represent people, events or the energy surrounding a situation.

The Knight of Wands

Esoteric Title: Lord of the Flame and Lightning.

The Knight of Wands is a peacock. The male peacock is a flamboyant bird; his feathery frock is a mix of dazzling blues, greens, specks of yellow/gold, black and greys.

He impresses the ladies with his extravagant eye-spotted tail.

If the peacock was a human, he would be an ambitious fashion designer or expressionist artist ?

Personality traits and characteristics:

Sagittarius – adventurous, confident, active, optimistic, sociable, creative, enthusiastic, insensitive, cocky, risk-taking, hot-tempered

The quote I’ve chosen for the Knight of Wands reflects his confidence, determination, enthusiasm and willingness to take risks and overcome any fears.

Knight of Cups, Tarot of Quotes

The Knight of Cups

Esoteric Title: Lord of the Waves and Waters

The Knight of Cups is represented by a swan.

Swans are elegant birds with white plumage and often found on lakes. They are a symbol of peace and tranquility.

Swans tend to be monogamous birds; swans bond with their mates for life. How romantic!

If the swan was a human, he would work in the medical profession, as a doctor, nurse or carer.

Personality traits and characteristics:

Pisces – romantic, idealistic, affectionate, imaginative, tender, loving, needy, evasive, impractical, over-sensitive, obsessive

The quote I’ve chosen for the Knight of Cups expresses his tendency to be emotionally dramatic.



He can easily fall in love with his head in a spin, and when love isn’t reciprocated, he can then fall into depression and self-pity.

In those dark moments, the Knight of Cups can write the best poems.

knight of swords tarot

The Knight of Swords

Esoteric Title: Lord of the Winds and Breezes

The Knight of Swords is a crow. These carrion birds are considered to be very intelligent.

They use tools to hunt and access food.

Crows also have excellent memory where they have stored their food.

A flock of crows is sometimes also called a “murder” of crows; this is telling us a lot about the crow’s reputation and mythology.

Crows and ravens are associated with death and the “otherworld”.

In medieval times, they were regarded as bad omens, and even today, a flock of them can look foreboding and their calls sound menacing.

If crows were human, they would work in occupations that tend to bear bad news but also require analytical intelligence such as police force and lawyers.

His mathematical aptitude would also allow the Knight of Swords to work in the banking profession. Now that offers us a new perspective on the bankers, doesn’t it. ?

Personality traits and characteristics:

Gemini – versatile, curious, cunning, chatty, sociable, lively, inventive, fickle, emotionally detached, cold, restless

The quote I’ve chosen for the Knight of Swords reflects his tendency to act quickly and decisively without deep thought or consideration.

His intentions and actions are clear-cut, sharp and to the point.

The Knight of Swords is unconcerned about anybody in his path getting hurt along the way; he’d simply call it “collateral damage”.

Knight of Pentacles, Tarot of Quotes

The Knight of Pentacles

Esoteric Title: The Lord of the Wild and Fertile Land

The Knight of Pentacles is a pigeon. These birds are down-to-earth, eat any grub they can get and don’t mind getting mucky.

Pigeons are adaptable; they also mate for life and tend to live in colonies of up to 500 birds.

They symbolise home, security and perseverance.

If pigeons were humans, they would work in outdoor jobs, farming, gardening, cleaning and waste disposal.

Personality traits and characteristics:

Virgo – prudent, shrewd, practical, meticulous, efficient, dependable, over-critical, pedantic, narrow-minded

The quote chosen for the Knight of Pentacles reflects his willingness to invest continuous effort, self-control and determination to achieve his goals.

The Cosmic Faery Tarot is available in print or as a digital copy as part of the Cosmic Faery Tarot Guidebook.

Warmest wishes,

Christiane

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Death in the Tarot of Quotes

Death Tarot of QuotesJust in time for Halloween, here’s my latest creation:

Death in the Tarot of Quotes.

This card has already made an appearance in September, when I was blogging about the Power of Transformation, but today is its official introduction.

Death is one of the most feared and misunderstood cards in the Tarot, so I thought that a dramatic image of a skeleton trying to escape from its grave would give that reputation justice 🙂

But of course when this card comes up in a reading, it very rarely indicates physical death.

The skeleton and the Autumn leaves symbolise the shedding of old to allow for new growth in Spring.

Death is all about transformation, endings, conclusions, change.

Astrologically, Death is linked to Scorpio, the zodiac sign of transformation.

At Halloween, Scorpio is the ruling sun sign.

We are celebrating endings, but new beginnings follow swiftly: on the 1st November it’s the beginning of the Celtic new year and start of winter according to the Celtic tradition.

Transformation is happening gradually.

Endings, change and ultimately transformation are no easy processes to go through.

At times there is discomfort, emotional upheaval and pain along the way. But the message of this card is that something new will emerge that is taking us into a new direction.

Death in a reading may remind us of our own mortality and therefore asks us to live more consciously.

It also advises us to embrace change as a means for growth, even if it hurts at times.

For your Halloween contemplation, you can explore what this card means to you right now in your life:

  • What do you need to let go of that no longer serves you?
  • Who or what have you lost recently you need to come to terms with?
  • How can you best adapt to changes that you are facing? These changes can be external but also physically and emotionally.
  • How can you transform anguish, loss and grief into a new sense of purpose and understanding?

Halloween is also a good time to get in touch with your dark side. Find out more in my article Meet Your Shadow.

Whatever way you spend Halloween – spooky fun or quiet reflection – have a good one!

Christiane

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