Tag: tarot

Tarot Etc. Thursday No. 25

It’s bizarre to think I did the No. 1 post in this Thursday series in January 2022, scattered them up to September of that year, then did no. 24 in March of 2023. It seems like so long ago! Some new decks have come to me since then, most recently a fascinating deck from Jim: Cheryl Kelleher Walsh’s Aqua Summersus Underwater Tarot. Above are bits of the Major Arcana cards to give you a sense of how beautiful the photography is. Yes, those are photos, not paintings!

Walsh shoots her portrait models underwater, and in 2019, she decided to create a Tarot deck using the same technique. The models she discussed the concept with were eager to claim which cards they wanted to represent, and they then created their own costumes, along with designers and a headpiece maker. They did all of this while dealing with pandemic precautions in 2020, including safe distancing, masking, and each model bringing their own safety person.

The results have an ethereal beauty that dazzles me, and I also like many of the things Walsh says about the project, including her explanation of how she uses the deck, which aligns with my sense that Tarot is a good tool for self-reflection and examination:

Walsh: I constantly strive to better myself as a person and an artist. While I deeply respect Tarot card readers and their unique abilities, I am not a Tarot card reader myself and recognize that connecting with the cards is a personal experience that varies from individual to individual. As the creator of this Tarot deck, I poured my creative energy and positive intentions into it, but I understand that it is ultimately up to each user to find their own connection.
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For me, Tarot cards serve as prompts that inspire me to explore different aspects of my life and journey. They encourage me to delve deeper into areas that I may have overlooked or not considered fully, ultimately leading me to personal growth and self-improvement.

I look forward to getting to know this deck. Thanks, Jim!

Mood: Monday

The Fool
1997, acrylic on canvas
©Rolf Eichelmann, artist, Germany

Happy April Fool’s Day, and happy birthday to our friend Geri! I hope her day is full of mischief and celebration, if those are what she seeks.

Are you in a foolish mood in honor of the date? Did you know that Mercury goes retrograde today? I hope that planet doesn’t toy with you.

Today, instead of shenanigans, I have the first section of the seventh book in the Neverending Saga to edit: around 82 pages, so that I can pass it to my two readers for comments and criticisms. Then I’ll shift from this brooding character’s point of view to a more lighthearted character–lighthearted FOR NOW. Can’t be fiction without conflict!

Song Challenge: Day 30

From MJ Cullinane’s Urban Crow Oracle deck.


Today’s challenge–the last one!–is “a song that reminds you of yourself.” I’ve said Dan Fogelberg’s song “Scarecrow’s Dream” is my theme song since the first time I lay in front of the stereo and listened to the words in the late 1970s. In comments under this video on YouTube, someone says, “Thank you, kind spirit, for all of your wise words.” I will forever now think of Dan Fogelberg as “kind spirit.” And I, too, thank him.

Thank you, too, for sticking with me for the month, especially when/if you commented or shared your own artists and songs for the challenges. If I helped you remember some favorites of your own, I’m glad.

Seldom seen
A scarecrow’s dream
I hang in the hopes of replacement
Castles tall
I built them all
But I dream that I’m trapped in
The basement.
And if you ever hear me calling out
And if you’ve been by paupers crowned
Between the worlds of men and make-believe
I can be found.
Plans I’ve made
A masquerade
Fading in fear of the coming day
Heroes’ tales
Like nightingales
Wrestle the wind as they run away.
And if you ever hear them calling out
And if you’ve been by paupers crowned
Between the worlds of men and make-believe
I can be found.
Garden gate
An empty plate
Waiting for someone to come and fill
Scarecrow’s dreams
Like frozen streams
Thirst for the fall
But they’re running still.
And if you ever hear me calling out
And if you’ve been by paupers crowned
Between the worlds of men and make-believe
I can be found.

Happy Caturday!


I don’t have cats, but in solidarity with those who do, I thought I’d dedicate part of today’s post to cats. Mainly because Debby gave me this cool Haunted Cat Tarot deck for Christmas. Any particular card you’d like to see?

When I took her to an appointment earlier in the week, I took this coloring book with me.

I’d already torn a page out of it at some point, and I decided to color that one. But I wasn’t sure how to color it, so I looked up various wild cats and found this one to inspire me.

Here’s how it turned out.

What I do have is dogs. The other day, after a frantic round of digging, which she isn’t supposed to do, Delta apparently found somebody’s last marble.

It’s all cleaned up and put with the other marbles now.


Meanwhile, Anime had dental surgery yesterday morning, and she’s had a miserable two days. She started drinking water again sometime around noon today, and this evening, she took some meatballs (canned dog food rolled around her regular meds and her pain med). She’s finally stopped dripping blood from her mouth and is overall a lot more comfortable tonight. Through it all, she’s been very sweet and stoic, so clearly it wasn’t her last marble Delta found.


The tree has been stripped and all the ornaments and decorations have been put away.

Except we have to find the bin that has the box that my vintage Holt Howard angel goes in. Meanwhile, I posed her with an appropriate old Southern novel that I haven’t read in decades and probably should read again.

Sometimes when I get really busy, I forget to eat. When tonight’s light meal of a BLT, half an apple, and some potato chips seemed ridiculously good, it occurred to me that I’d only eaten yogurt with the water and coffee I drank today. It was a good sandwich, though.

Tarot Etc. Thursday No. 24

It’s been a while for this category, but thanks to my birthday and Timothy, I have some new stuff to share. Like this coloring book.


Some of the sketches are Tarot cards. Others are just really cool celestial sketches. Or character-type sketches like this one.

I’ve noticed on some people’s posts of coloring pages on Instagram, they put something over the page to keep people from being able to just blow it up and reproduce it. The pencil is my way of trying to respect copyrights, too.

In addition to the beautiful coloring book, Tim gave me this Jacqui Oakley deck, perfect for a Jane Austen fan like me!

I picked The Magician card to share, with its description.

King of Clubs/The Magician: Skill. Jane Austen makes magic with her pen at her writing desk, using her prowess to begin something new.

Of course I believe writers are magicians, creating galaxies, worlds, beings of all kind, and stories. So many stories. I’ll have more to say about stories later in another post.

I did get some good writing done today, finishing one chapter and beginning another. I forgot to listen to music, though!

Crows on my mind

Had some drama with my website again last night as I was closing down. Seems to happen frequently these days, so I’m glad for their 24/7 customer support, but I’d be even gladder if whatever is causing these problems would be found and become a distant memory.

I had a bunch of home business stuff to take care of this morning, so I’m not getting started writing until after noon. My problem with this character is I KNOW the ultimate resolution of his story arc, but I’m not altogether sure how to get there. Since he likes to think of himself as having characteristics of a crow, I took out MJ Cullinane’s Urban Crow Oracle deck for fun.

I pulled Distance, Risk, and Balance. These happen to all be important elements of the character’s life, so I figure the message is that as long as I write him true to who he is and was created to be, we’re all good regardless of where my thoughts may be straying.

CDs are in the changer because I’m in the library, with dogs (like Eva) taking turns hogging the fire. Tonight before I stop, I’ll post my day’s playlist (assuming the site cooperates).

I hope good actions, good feelings, and tech cooperation are part of your day.

ETA: Today’s playlist. A lot of CDs. Maybe some were not as long as others, because it doesn’t seem like I got an abundance of writing done while all these played. (Of course, I also left them playing while I ordered a few household items and prepared and ate dinner.) I think I can bring the chapter to an end by the time I go to bed. The next chapter should be more fun and faster.


Lana Del Rey, Lust for Life and Norman Fucking Rockwell; The Doors, Waiting For The Sun; Eagles, Their Greatest Hits and Hotel California (my other Eagles albums were drowned and some have been replaced with albums); Steve Earle, Guitar Town (Steve Earle is so talented; this one is Tom’s, but I really like it); The Escape Club, Dollars and Sex; Melissa Etheridge, Yes I Am; Your Little Secret, Breakdown; Lucky, and Skin. Tom’s the bigger Melissa Etheridge fan, but I like her, too.

Tarot Etc. Thursday No. 23

Continuing to send all good thoughts to those in Florida recovering from Ian, including an artist I know through social media who can’t get back to her home, in a city where the extent of the destruction isn’t yet known.

It’s been a while since I did a Tarot Thursday because I finished sharing all my various decks. However, you may recall that I have a couple of books from Adam J. Kurtz that I’ve featured on here before.

I knew that in 2018, Adam used a Kickstarter campaign to create a simple, fun Tarot deck using his unique approach to art and illustration, but I was trying NOT to get more decks, so I never ordered it. In September, Penguin reissued the OK Tarot: the Simple Deck for Everyone.

This time, the offer was too good to pass up, and I really like supporting Adam’s creativity. If I ordered from an independent shop, I’d get a scarf/cloth that could be used either to lay out readings or wrap the deck or tie around a dog’s neck, if any of my dogs would put up with such shenanigans. (They won’t.)

I opted to order the deck from Adam’s OWN local store, and by doing so, my box was signed by him. So I got the scarf, extras like a couple of free stickers, and the deck itself.

This is a deck that is, as Adam intended, Brimming with hope and good energy… [and] avoids depictions of race, religion, or gender to help YOU focus your intention, find clarity, and remember that even if things aren’t perfect, they’re still going to be OK.

The cards have simple meanings for the reader to decipher on his or her own terms. Kelsey Anderson provided the card interpretations that are in the accompanying booklet. She’s a spiritual counselor and an advocate of using spiritual tools for self care.

I’d hoped to do a reading so I could feature the deck today, but since I’ve mostly spent this week in bed trying to sleep my way through being ill, maybe another time, like when I have a character who needs direction. Meanwhile, the cards are tucked safely away among the boxes that house all my decks of tarot, oracle, and related cards.

I’m not perfect; but I’ll be okay. Thanks, Adam, for the reminder.

Photo Friday, No. 817

Current Photo Friday theme: Arranged

Today, I arranged cards from a couple of decks to see my characters as archetypes based on animal energy. Then I also started matching them to archetypes from Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung’s list of twelve that includes Innocent, Ruler, Creator or Artist, Sage, Explorer, Rebel, Hero, Magician or Wizard, Jester, Everyman, Lover, and Caregiver.