New Year

I would like to wish you all a wonderful, happy 2009. I would like to thank everyone who has stopped by, said hello, left a comment, sent me an email, brightened my day with humour, and introduced me to new blogs, websites & places and in turn new friends - thank you for listening to this space, and I hope I see you all back this coming year!

Merry Christmas

My goodness, my goodness,
It's Christmas again.
The bells are all ringing.
i do not know when
I've been so excited.
The tree is all fixed,
The candles are lighted,
The pudding is mixed.

The wreath's on the door
And teh carols are sung
The presents are wrapped
And the holly is hung.
The turkey is sitting
All safe in its pan,
And I am behaving
As calm as I can!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Have a magical Christmas!

Splutter...

Just a quick blog to let you know I haven't left to some hot, sunny destination but am curled up in bed nursing fevers & coughs. Needless to say the podcasts will be completed - post cough!

How are all your christmas plans going? Ready and relaxed or panic-ing!!?

Never worry about the size of your Christmas tree. In the eyes of children, they are all 30 feet tall.

Salutation to the Sun

Although in the throws of winter...there are still the beautiful days of glittering frost & sunshine...ahh bliss.

Technology Bites

This week I am about to add some podcasts to the blog.
I am recording frantically!
Covering various topics like:

Am I Psychic?

Death & The Devil

History of Tarot

and much more...

Assuming my voice doesn't give out I'll have these online this week...

Any topics you would like covered I am open to suggestions!

Learn the Tarot Practical Workshop (January Dates)

17th-18th January 2009

This 2 day workshop will teach you:
How to interpret the Tarot cards, learning the meanings in an easily understood format.
Learn the journey of The Fool and how to ‘tell the story’ of the Tarot.
How to use the Tarot as a tool for counselling and healing.
How to use the Tarot for self-help and enlightenment.
Learn to use Tarot spreads and how to design your own.
Learn to develop questions and give clear and confident readings.
Develop and explore psychic and intuitive messages using a variety of meditation and visualisation techniques.
Learn to understand and get clear messages from a reading.
Through a selection of exercises students will explore the Tarot to create a deeper awareness of the cards and there uses.
There will be lessons on how to work in a professional capacity and how to deal with problems that can arise.

All students will be provided with a Tarot deck that they may keep, workbook and access to course podcasts, lectures and other resources. We aim for all students to have at least 4-8 Tarot readings during the workshop. The students benefit from being taught by a professional Tarot reader, who will share skills and knowledge on how to practise the Tarot in a professional capacity.The group is usually between 8-10 people, resulting in a relaxed and friendly environment.
The course is suitable for beginners and for those who have an knowledge of the Tarot. For those who work in the holistic arena the Tarot can add another dimension to their work.

The 2 day workshop costs £200.00
There is a £40 non-refundable deposit payable on booking to secure your place. Payable either by personal cheque or Paypal. The remainder of the course fee is payable in cash on the day.

For more information please email me: courses@mooninacloud.co.uk

Tel: 07905 946259 (normal mobile rates apply)

The workshop will be held at:The Cairn Hotel, Windsor St, Edinburgh
Map
How to get there:Waverly Station is a short taxi ride or 15 minute walk to the Hotel. There are frequent buses to and from all areas stopping on either Elm Row interchange or London Road (see Lothian Buses for times etc).

2, 3, 4 of Swords

Two of Swords

The Two is holding the world at bay. The crossing of the heart allowing no emotion through, similarly the blindfold to stop involvement with people and their emotions. The fear and anger are in balance, leaving the figure tense between them. In a reading this can be a very positive card showing us that we maybe able to hold the turmoil at bay whilst the clarity of the swords helps us see through the problems. It can show us that we have strength, but the lesson is to remove the the blindfold and learn to accept love and emotions. Anger and fear are not ultimately useful tools to us.

This state can make us rash and prone to anger and resentment. If the balance is upset then it is easy to become overcome by problems.

Three of Swords

Heartbreak, sorrow, pain...not the most promising start! True sorrow can teach us to move beyond it, let our hearts know truth and become strong. Knowledge and comprehension give us great strength, we need not fear. Grow and transform these pains into love and accpetance.

Be wary that the healing doesn't beomce blocked. Do not push the hurts away and try to forget them, this weakens us.

Four of Swords

The Four is withdrawal. Sometimes this is through our inability to function in the world, and understand the people around us. Other times, withdrawal is important to rest and allow us to grow stronger to win over our problems. However, it is often outside energy that is needed to help bring us back into the world. Sometimes people need to reach us and shake us out of our retreat and at others, situations will.

The Winter Suit

In tarot circles there are many conflicting views as to what suit is attributed to each season.

I think it is often wise to work within the deck you are using, as the artist has often coloured appropriately.

However, if it is not overtly clear then I usually go with:

Cups: Summer

Pentacles: Spring

Wands: Autumn

Swords: Winter

And with that I thought I'd spend the next posts exploring the Swords, for a nice winter theme!

Ace of Swords

Aces are the essence of the suit, the core, the root. They are clear and untroubled by complexity, perhaps they can be seen as the ideal, the standard for which to aim.

They can come at the beginning of the suit e.g ace through king. Or as Waite uses them from the king counting down to the ace. From worldly status and responsibility to spiritual clarity and truth.

The Ace of Swords is like ice water being splashed in your face! It is intellect. Cutting through emotions and illusions, you gain true perception and truth. We need the Ace to balance the emotional intuition derived from the Ace of Cups. How can we take action and use our strengths if we cannot think clearly?

The Ace of Swords can remind us to keep a grip on reality. And not to allow illusion to colour our vision. Often we need this Ace to put things into perspcetive. Relationships may seem more intense than they really are, emotions can be violently flowing through us. Understanding the balance that the Ace of Swords brings, can helps us control these impluses.

Count Down

It's the 1st of December and the count down to Christmas begins.
To start things off I thought I'd share these amazing tarot cards with you.

"This is an original Wooden Tarot Deck fashioned by a true old world artisan and based on the artwork of the Christmas Greeting Cards used in the 1910's and early 1920's. Each item is painstakingly made by hand. No two are ever exactly alike. "

These are definately on my wish list. What cards are on your wish list?