If you want to learn Tarot then you have to wait until someone gifts you a deck. If you purchase it yourself you will have bad luck! Ha! That is not true. Have you ever heard something like that before? I purchased my own deck and later heard about how it was bad luck but I don't believe in superstitions. I had a strong urge to have a Tarot Deck and learn what it was all about and everything has turned out just fine. Now if you have been thinking about a deck, get one. I suggest you start off with a Rider Waite Deck because it is the one most commonly referenced in books and on websites when looking up meanings and many decks use a lot of the same symbolism of the 1910 publication. To get started I suggest you: Get a tarot deck Get a journal Schedule time to work with the deck for about 5-15 minutes every day (first thing in the morning worked well for me) Pick a card (random or in order) and journal first thing that comes to mind Look up meaning, write down what resonates Consider the card through out the day Here are some of my favorite self study resources: LearnTarot.com It's free! It lists descriptions of all the cards and includes a free course to get you started. The New Tarot Handbook by Rachel Pollack. Her book Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom is more well known and in depth but I prefer short and sweet. The Tarot School, get on their Tarot Tips mailing list for esoteric insights. Also to find out about their Tarot Salon (going virtual) and the annual Readers Studio Tarot Conference. The Fools Dog tarot Apps for both iPhone and Android. If you want to have tarot on your phone. These are the best apps out there. The best part is you get the whole deck and book for easy and quick reference for about $3.99. If you are not ready to make a financial commitment commitment download the Tarot Sampler otherwise I suggest you start with The Classic 1910 Tarot. The Tarot Lady Theresa Reed has a ton of information on her website and she does daily Tarot, Transits and Tangents Live videos on Instagram, she has two podcasts, and she is the author of multiple books, including Tarot No Questions Asked: Mastering the Art of Intuitive Reading, and so much more! These are my Favorite decks: Smith-Waite Centennial Tarot Deck in a Tin by US Games Systems - This is the deck that is used as a reference in most books and is widely used as an example. Gaian Tarot by Joanna Powell Colbert Tarot De St. Croix by Lisa de St. Croix Alchemical Tarot by Robert M Place The Motherpeace Round Tarot Deck by Karen Vogel and Vicki Nobel Do you have a tarot deck? Which was your first one? Did you buy it yourself? Was it a gift? What is your favorite deck? How do you use tarot? Tell me all about it.

The moon has now gone round the zodiac and returned back to Pisces. This time is known as the dark moon and the balsamic moon. It encourages introspection, meditation, and divination. Pisces is a mutable (adaptable to change) water (emotions and intuition) sign. The dark moon phase is a good time to review the intentions set at the new moon then take a few moments to reflect how you felt this moonth. Acknowledge both when you were up/positive/happy/grateful/peaceful and when you were down/negative/sad/worried/anxious. Doing this exercise can help you gain clarity towards the things you want to invite into your life vs the things you want to banish. Also, this practice can help you avoid those negative feelings by noticing the early warning signs when they are coming up so can take steps to nip them in the bud. In addition to doing this at the dark moon this is something you can practice at the end of any cycle such as when you are leaving a job, ending a relationship, or when a birthday is coming up. Ritual Time Set the mood, light some candles, or adjust the lights in your home to invite in a feeling of warmth, safety, and comfort. Light some incense or put your favorite essential oils in the diffuser (I like to diffuse, palo santo, eucalyptus, and cedar). Take out your favorite crystals to keep you company and brew up a cup of tea (or make yourself your calming and soothing beverage of choice). Burning and Banishing Herb Craft Things you will need: Fireproof bowl (or pot) Bay Leaves (or paper) Sharpie or Pen Matches or candle The Ritual Write out things you wish to banish on the bay leaves or paper. Be specific, for example: “release fear about X” “banish limiting belief about X” instead of "fear" or "limiting belief". Limit this to 10. Take the Bay leaf (or paper) and light with the flame from the matches or candle, saying out loud (or quietly) what you have written. For example: “I hereby release all fear about X”, or I banish limiting beliefs about X. I no longer need the lessons that these feelings, things, or circumstances would teach me. If I haven’t already, I commit to learning these lessons in a way that allows clarity, conviction, and expansion of my heart". Drop the leaves onto the fireproof bowl or pot, and visualize the attachments dissolving into the ether. After you are done banishing these energies, invite a peaceful vibe back into your space by putting on some music you can dance to, doing a little shimmy shake, and expressing gratitude for all that is well and good in your life. For most potent results do this BEFORE the exact time of the New Moon in Aries on Sunday, April 11th at 10:31pm ET. New Moon in Aries circle is coming up on Monday April 12th at 7pm. Sign up and join me in community for a moonth, a season, or the full year.

The moon started her new cycle in Pisces today at 5:21 am ET. The time of the new moon is when the Sun and Moon meet at the same sign and ask us to take initiating actions such as planting seeds of intention. Each NEW MOON offers an opportunity to take charge of our lives by tapping into the potent power in the cosmos to solidify our intentions, goals, and wishes. When the New Moon is in Pisces there is a collective need to commit oneself to a dream or ideal and work towards it realization. Pisces is a water sign which corresponds to emotions, feelings, and intuition. The water image for Pisces is the ocean and I like to think of the iceberg model where 10% of the iceberg (the tip) floats above water and 90% is hidden beneath the surface like our feelings, emotions, and intuition. Pisces Tarot Cards The Moon card represents Pisces in Tarot. The most mystical sign of the zodiac. It is comfortable in the deep waters of intuition and spiritual transformation. It is changeable and reveals itself in bits and pieces and can also hide the darker side of its nature. In the Gaian Tarot, The Moon card says "I am in harmony with the waxing and waning of my emotions and intuition" The moon phases in the image represent the moonthly cycle of decent and return aka waxing and waning or ebbing and flowing. Neptune the planet of spiritual and inner psychology is the ruler of Pisces and in Tarot is assigned the Hanged Man Card. Both Neptune and the Hanged Man are associated with surrender and letting go to bring out a change in perspective. In the Gaian tarot, The Hanged Man is known as The Tree says "I find serenity in surrendering to the great mystery" (or God, or the Universe, or which ever word resonates with you). The leaves in the image represent old ideas, beliefs, memories, and teachings that have outlive their usefulness Pisces Rules Over: Imagination Internal Happiness Emotions Spiritual Awareness Inner Peace Compassion Deception Use the list above to set your Pisces influenced intentions, goals, and wishes. It is best to keep your list to 10 or less. Also, as the moon waxes, becomes full, and wanes go back to your intentions, goals, and wishes and refine them until they are crystal clear. Come back to YesSpiral Moonth blog to read about the phases as they come up. Pisces Moonth Spread What is the seed (foundation) of the Moonth in Pisces? What begins to grow as the moon waxes in Cancer? What peaks as the moon becomes full in Libra? What do I let go of as the moon wanes Capricorn? What is the seed (foundation) of the next moonth in Aries? (use this card as card number 1 next moonth). Pro Tip: Take a picture of your spread and notes to keep on your phone for quick reference throughout the moonth. Share your spread on instagram with the hashtag #moonthlyspread I created a Sun and Moon in Pisces Workbook which covers everything here plus much much more, click the link to visit the shop. Alternatively, download free a mini version of the workbook in the gifts area. Next up in the Pisces Moonth Cyle is the Waxing Moon in Cancer on Sunday March 21st. New Moon Circles are opening up again for the Aries Moonth. Click here to see more information.

The moon has now gone round the zodiac and returned back to Aquarius. This time is known as the dark moon and the balsamic crescent moon. It encourages introspection, meditation, and divination. Aquarius is a fixed (stabled and reliable) air (thoughts and logic) sign. The dark moon phase it is a good time to review the intentions set at the new moon (if you have extra time review other moonths as well) then take a few moments to reflect how you felt this moonth. Acknowledge both when you were up/positive/happy/grateful/peaceful and when you were down/negative/sad/worried/anxious. Doing this exercise can help you gain clarity as to the things you want to invite into your life vs the things you want to banish. Also, this practice can help you avoid those negative feelings by noticing the signs of when they are coming up so can take steps to nip them in the bud. In addition to doing this at the dark moon this is something you can practice at the end of any cycle such as when you are leaving a job, ending a relationship, or concluding a year of life. Ritual Time Set the mood, light some candles, or adjust the lights in your home to invite in a feeling of warmth, safety, and comfort. Light some incense or put your favorite essential oils in the diffuser (I like to diffuse, palo santo, eucalyptus, and cedar). Take out your favorite crystals to keep you company and brew up a cup of tea (or make yourself your calming and soothing beverage of choice). Burning and Banishing Herb Craft Things you will need: Fireproof bowl (or pot) Bay Leaves (or paper) Sharpie or Pen Matches or candle The Ritual Write out things you wish to banish on the bay leaves or paper. Be specific, for example: “release fear about X” “banish limiting belief about X” instead of "fear" or "limiting belief". Limit this to 10. Take the Bay leaf (or paper) and light with the flame from the matches or candle, saying out loud (or quietly) what you have written. For example: “I hereby release all fear about X”, or I banish limiting beliefs about X. I no longer need the lessons that these feelings, things, or circumstances would teach me. If I haven’t already, I commit to learning these lessons in a way that allows clarity, conviction, and expansion of my heart". Drop the leaves onto the fireproof bowl or pot, and visualize the attachments dissolving into the ether. After you are done banishing these energies, invite a peaceful vibe back into your space by putting on some music you can dance to, doing a little shimmy shake, and expressing gratitude for all that is well and good in your life. For most potent results do this BEFORE the exact time of the New Moon in Aquarius on Saturday, March 13th at 5:21 am ET. New Moon in Pisces circle is coming up on Saturday March 13th at 7pm.

I started following the moon 5 years ago with a monthly tarot spread which I now like to call my moonthly tarot spread because it happens on the new moon each month. As time went by I became curious and added more aspects to my moonthly ritual as I answered the questions: where is the moon? What astrological sign is it in? What does that astrological sign rule over? How does it affect me? One of the first things I noticed about the moon was it appeared unpredictable to find in the sky. The windows in my apartment face east and every day the Sun comes up in the east in the morning and sets in the west in the evening. The moon on the other hand seemed to be out at random times. Have you noticed its out during the day, evening, night, middle of the night but its unpredictable to know when it will be out? This spiraled me to stalk the moon and a bit of research taught me the moon rises in the east and sets in the west every day like the Sun but, unlike the sun it rises and sets at different times throughout her cycle. Here is the moons orbit method: · New Moon rises at sunrise, is at its highest in the south in the middle of the day, and sets in the evening like the Sun. · First Quarter Moon rises in the middle of the day, is at its highest in the south at sunset and sets in the middle of the night. · Full Moon rises at sunset, is at its high in the south at midnight, and sets in the morning at sunrise. · Last Quarter Moon rises in the middle of the night, is at its highest in the south at dawn, and sets in the middle of the day. I like to use the WeMoon calendar to keep track of the moon monthly. I also use the app iLuna because it notifies me when the moon enters a new sign and when the moon is void of course. I also like the app The Moon: Calendar Moon Phases because it provides the moonrise and moonset times and has a calendar showing which astrological sign the moon is in at any particular time. The new moon is always in the same sign the sun is currently in. For example, today is August 15, 2020 and the Sun is in Leo until the 22nd of August and the new moon will be in Leo on August 18th at 10:42pm EDT. This is why I focus most of the attention on the astrological correspondence of the new moon and set my intentions around the sign where the new moon is. Another aspect that got me spiraling was what sign is the moon in at any particular date and time. I already knew the new moon is in a new astrological sign every moonth like the Sun. However, unlike the Sun which stays in an astrological sign for about a month, the moon is FAST. It moves around all the signs every two or three days giving us the flavor of all twelve astrological signs every moonth this is when the apps come in handy. When I first started following the moon, I started with Joanna Powell Colbert’s Gaian Tarot’s New Moon Spread #2. If you don’t have the Gaian Tarot, I highly recommend it, the cards are focused on nature and community and the book that accompanies the deck provides insightful meanings, affirmations, questions, and spreads to use in your own practice. Over the years, when I started sharing my moonthly ritual in a circle of friends I simplified the New Moon Spread to five cards: 1. What is the seed (foundation) of the Moonth in sign? 2. What begins to grow as the moon waxes in sign? 3. What peaks as the moon becomes full in sign? 4. What do I let go of as the moon wanes sign? 5. What is the seed (foundation) of the next moonth in sign? (use this card as card number 1 next moonth). One thing that I like about this spread is that each moonthly spread cycles into the next month connecting them in concentric circles as we spiral through life. After all that, you may still be wondering what is a moonthly circle (mostly known as a new moon circle)? A circle is an indigenous practice of sitting together in deep sharing and listening in community. In my moonthly circles we come together virtually on zoom on the day the moon starts a new cycle - the New Moon - (once pandemic times are over I will host in person circles again) and we review the attributes of the astrological new moon, what the astrological sign rules over, we set intentions based on the astrological sign, and we use tarot or oracle cards to create a framework to keep us on track to manifest our moonthly intentions. We also share our personal insights as one of the magical aspects of being in a community circle is that what comes up for one may be a shared theme around the group or may have a significance for others in the group, so sharing is an important aspect and what happens in the group stays in the group. You can sign up for my Moontly Circles here. If you rather not meet in circle or the timing does not work for you (the moon is new different days each moonth) I have two alternatives for you: 1. you can download my Astrological moonth workbook in my shop 2. You can sign up for a new moon interactive one on one workshop to review the astrological sign, set intentions, and draw cards for the moonth, tip you can also utilize this service with a group of close friends at a time that suits you best. I look forward to circling with you and I would love to hear what your moonthly rituals are. If you don’t have a ritual, what made you interested in the moon? In the meantime, I wish you many blessings and manifestations under the energy of the moon.

This is a great time for reflection, meditation, and introspection. It is a time to review the intentions set at the beginning of the moonth and reflect on where you stand. It is a great time to let go of the old and tired things in order to make space for new and exciting beginnings. The moon is currently back in Sagittarius, where we started this moonth. Sagittarius is all about expanding the horizons of the mind through higher education, personal quests, and adventure. Sagittarius Rules Over: Quest for Truth: Religion, Prayer, Places of Worship, Honesty, Frank Communication Natural World: Connections to Nature, Intuition, Peace of Mind Freedom: Spontaneity, Adventure, Positive Expectations, Exploration, Foreign Travel Law: Attorneys, Lawsuits, Ethics, Morality, Conscience, Court Proceedings Optimism:Faith, Friendliness, Good Luck, Generous Spirit, Gallantry Higher Education: Mentors, University, Philosophy, Answers & Solutions Carelessness: Shortcuts, Excesses, Extravagance, Assumptions, Blunt Communication Health: Hips, Liver, Sciatica, Thighs, Upper Legs Take a few long deep breaths. On the inhale visualize your intentions manifested. On the exhale visualize yourself releasing the things that no longer fit in the life you visualize for yourself. Continue for a few minutes until you feel ready to answer the questions below (or just pick one question or if you know what you want to release skip the questions). Use your Intuition or pull some Tarot/Oracle Cards 1. Is there anything holding you back from your quest for truth, from connecting to nature, or anything in the Sagittarius list referred above? 2. Are you holding on to excess, extravagance, or assumptions? 3. What are you willing to let go of? Now it’s time for some Burning and Banishing Herb Craft Things you will need: Fireproof bowl (or pot) Bay Leaves (or paper) Sharpie or Pen Matches or candle The Ritual Write out things you want to banish on the bay leaves or paper. Be specific, for example: “release fear about X” “banish limiting belief about X” instead of "fear" or "limiting belief". I would limit this to 10. Take the Bay leaf (or paper) and light with the flame from the matches or candle, saying out loud (or quietly) what you have written. For example: “I hereby release all fear about X”, or “I banish limiting beliefs about X" Drop the leaves onto the fireproof bowl or pot, and visualize the attachments being broken. After you are done banishing these energies, invite a peaceful vibe back into your space by putting on some music you can dance to, doing a little shimmy shake, and expressing gratitude for all that is well and good in your life. (It is a good idea to replace what has been banished with gratitude. For most potent results do this BEFORE the exact time of the New Moon in Capricorn on Wednesday 01/12/21 at midnight ET. New Moon circle is coming up on Wednesday January 13th at 7pm ET.

The moon started her new cycle in Sagittarius yesterday The New Moon intention setting energy is potent November 14th - Nov 16th Each NEW MOON offers an opportunity to take charge of our lives by harnessing the potent power in the atmosphere to solidify our intentions/wishes. Get your tarot/oracle cards and journal ready I suggest you get use a specific journal for your moonthly intentions and tarot spreads. This makes it easier for you to refer to in the future. Sagittarius: Quality: Mutable Dispersing enthusiasm Motto: I seek Astrological House: 9th Expanding the mind. Broader viewpoints through travel, spirituality, religion, philosophy, and higher education. Skillful Application: Understanding, Visionary, Wise, Hopeful Unskillful Application: Condescending, Deluded, Excessive, & Restless Planetary Ruler: Jupiter rules our potential. It is where we can expand. It is known as the greater benefic - the bringer of good luck and fortune. It represents our quest for truth and self knowledge. Sagittarius Tarot Cards * Temperance: Sagittarius * Wheel of Fortune Jupiter * Knight of Wands Fire of Fire * Eight of Wands Lord of Swiftness * Nine of Wands Lord of Great Strength * Ten of Wands Lord of Oppression Sagittarius Rules Over: Quest for Truth Natural World: Freedom Law Optimism Higher Education Carelessness Sagittarius Moonth Spread What is the seed (foundation) of the Moonth in Sagittarius? What begins to grow as the moon waxes in Aries? What peaks as the moon becomes full in Cancer? What do I let go of as the moon wanes Libra? What is the seed (foundation) of the next moonth in Capricorn? (use this card as card number 1 next moonth). Pro Tip: Take a picture of your spread and notes to keep on your phone for quick reference throughout the moonth Share your spread online with the hashtag #moonthlyspread Podcast Hidden Brain recently posted a podcast called Minimizing Pain, Maximizing Joy to help one come up with strategies to cope with hardship and I thought it was very Sagittarian and helpful at this time. Have a listen and comment to let me know what you think. https://omny.fm/shows/hidden-brain/minimizing-pain-maximizing-joy Next up in the Sagittarius Moonth Cyle is the Waxing Moon in Aries on Tuesday December 21st

The moon became Full in Gemini today at 4:30am ET. The Full Moon is the climax of the moonthly cycle because it is at it's brightest and can shine light on the deepest parts of ourselves that we can't usually see. It is a powerful time for looking within, healing, shifting blocks, and shedding the past. Gemini is an Mutable Air sign ruled by Mercury planet of communication. Mercury also rules over Virgo which is the waning moon card coming up next. He affects what we say, our thoughts, and media tools such as computers and phones. Gemini can be witty, clever, fun, and inquisitive when she's skillful and she's sarcastic, gossipy, moody, and two-faced when unskillful. The Lovers - ruled by Gemini - are kindred spirits who speak the same language and share their thoughts and ideas openly and freely. Their love can be platonic or romantic, working together to connect two points of view and experiences to any situation. The Magician - master of space, time, and cosmic energy is ruled by Mercury. He is a channel for transformation and change. He is able to tap into the power of the Universe to manifest his own realty. The Knight of Swords - the fire of air - is skillful, brave, polished, and always ready for an adventure. He loves to exchange ideas and communicates with style and wit. Take out your journal and tarot/oracle cards It is a good time to revisit your New Moon Spread and reevaluate the intentions you made during the new moon. Are your intentions taking root into your daily life? What does the Full Moon in Gemini card say to you now? Does your initial impression still stand? Has anything changed? Any new insight in hindsight? Gemini rules over motion and activity including transportation and during the Gemini New Moon earlier this year I made the intention to start driving again soon and shortly after I was able to get a car and have been driving ever since! The Magician's power of manifestation and the Knight of Swords' brave and adventurous spirit was at work to turn my driving dreams into a reality. Look back at your notes from the Gemini New Moon (in May) and review those intentions. Have you manifested any? If you have, great! If not, is it something you still want? Is it something to revise or cut out with the Knight's of Air's sword? It is also a good time to shuffle your deck (or use your intuition) and ask: Do I have a tendency to be sarcastic, gossipy, moody, or two-faced? How can I best share my ideas openly and freely? What in my life needs healing or shifting? What is ready to manifest in my life? Full Moon Ritual - Charge your Spiritual Tools The light of the Full Moon amplifies everything with the energy of manifestation. This is why many coven's meet on the full moon to perform their magical rituals. Take out your crystals, rosaries, tarot, and oracle decks (etc) and cleanse them with the scared smoke of sage, cedar, copal or whatever you have on hand. The important thing is cleanse with the intention of clearing energies from the tools. To charge your spiritual tools take them outside where they can get the energy of the moon (a window sill will also do). For each spiritual tool state your intention and add something like "I invite the light and manifestation power of this Full Moon to bless and amplify this spiritual tool so it may serve its highest good. Blessed be." In the morning offer a prayer of gratitude to the moon and your spiritual tools or its potent new energy. Next up in the is the 3rd Qtr Waning Moon in Virgo on Monday December 7th at 7:36pm.

The dark moon is when no sunlight is reflected on the moon towards the earth and it is not visible in the sky. This occurs two or three days before the New Moon arrives. Figuratively speaking, this is the time of death before rebirth of the moon.. This is a great time for reflection, meditation, and introspection. It is a time to review the intentions set at the beginning of the moonth and reflect on where you stand. It is a great time to let go of the old and tired things in order to make space for new and exciting beginnings. The moon is currently back in Libra, where we started this moonth. Libra is all about beauty, equality, egalitarianism and cooperation. Libra Rules Over: Partnerships: Marriage, Agreements, Sharing, Interdependence Fairness: Balance, Equality, Negotiation, Counseling Harmony: Peace, Beauty, Art, Decorations Teamwork: Collaboration, Cooperation, Team Identity, Supportive Relationships Sociability: Tact, Diplomacy, Affinity for Others, Getting Along Refinement: Luxury, Elegance, Pampering, Good Taste, Grace Loss of Self-Identity: Co-dependency, Appeasing Behaviors, Indecision Health: Adrenal Glands, Buttocks, Diabetes, Kidneys Take a few long deep breaths. On the inhale visualize your intentions manifested. On the exhale visualize yourself releasing the things that no longer fit in the life you visualize for yourself. Continue for a few minutes until you feel ready to answer the questions below (or just pick one question or if you know what you want to release skip the questions). Use your Intuition or pull some Tarot/Oracle Cards 1. Is there anything holding you back from (partnerships, creating harmony, getting along with others, or any other Libra thing refer to list above)? 2. Are you holding on to co-dependency, appeasing behaviors, indecision? 3. What are you willing to let go of? 4. What is no longer working in your life? 5. What are your self-defeating thoughts/beliefs that have to go? Now it’s time for some Burning and Banishing Herb Craft Things you will need: Fireproof bowl (or pot) Bay Leaves (or paper) Sharpie or Pen Matches or candle The Ritual Write out things you want to banish on the bay leaves or paper. Be specific, for example: “release fear about X” “banish limiting belief about X” instead of "fear" or "limiting belief". I would limit this to 10. Take the Bay leaf (or paper) and light with the flame from the matches or candle, saying out loud (or quietly) what you have written. For example: “I hereby release all fear about X”, or “I banish limiting beliefs about X" Drop the leaves onto the fireproof bowl or pot, and visualize the attachments being broken. After you are done banishing these energies, invite a peaceful vibe back into your space by putting on some music you can dance to, doing a little shimmy shake, and expressing gratitude for all that is well and good in your life. For most potent results do this BEFORE the exact time of the New Moon in Scorpio on Sunday 11/15/20 at 12:07am ET. New Moon circle is coming up on Sunday November 15th at 7pm ET.

The moon is waning/third quarter in Leo today. It is also the day after the media projected Joseph Biden is the next president of the United States! The announcement is a Leo thing to do as it loves to be in spotlight. Leo is a fixed fire sign, it is generous, has charisma, and loves drama. As Theresa Reed says in Astrology for Real Life "the High Vibe is dramatic, bold, glam, loves to rule, exuberant, exciting, regal, generous bighearted, affectionate, and loyal. The Low Vibe is overly dramatic, self-centered, egomaniacal, prone to flattery, bossy, vain, demanding, unreasonable, and overbearing." The tarot cards associated with Leo are: Strength: Represents courage, Self-discipline, and Determination. The energy is generous, warm, dramatic, optimistic, honorable, frank, and energetic. The card emits a sense of fearlessness. The Sun Our source of light and life energy. The sun represents our ego and the self. It symbolizes confidence, self-esteem, willpower and purpose. It suggests vitality. King of Wands Fire of Fire Embodies the energies of Strength and The Sun by being Confident and Courageous and a source of inspiration. The waning moon is a good time to reflect on the course of the moonth. During this particular moonth three quarters of the year have also passed us by and is a good time to start reflecting on the year 2020. It is certain this is an unusual year. Many of us have lived this year differently than any other year. It has changed many of us. As you look back over the events of the past year (if you are not ready, reflect on this moonth), think about yourself, your place in the world, where you were when we started, and where you are today. How have you changed? Where in your life have you grown stronger? Did the plans you made at the beginning of year (moonth) become a reality? What plans did you abandon, and why? How did you meet the challenge or embrace the surprises that 2020 brought you? What is the emerging theme of 2020 for you? Next up is the Dark Moon in Libra on November 13th.

I'm just back from my fourth annual Readers Studio hosted by The Tarot School's Ruth Ann and Wald Amberstone in New York City. The Readers Studio is a conference of about 250 of the worlds most renowned Tarot readers including Rachel Pollack, Benebel Wen, and Ethony. The conference runs from Thursday through Sunday and is its packed with masterclasses, celebrity readings, study groups, tarot incubators, merchants and much much more. This year included a Divination Day where Rana George author of The Essential Lenormand: Your Guide to Precise & Practical Fortunetelling taught a class on Lenormand, Heatherleigh Navarre a psychic, medium, and teacher of tarot, mediumship, and psychic development taught a class on Crystal Ball Divination, and Carrie Paris who holds a Masters Degree in the Cultural Study of Cosmology and Divination from the University of Kent taught a class on Charm Casting and Tarot. All this on just the first day! We had three masterclasses. The first one was taught by Ethony, tarot reader and oracle deck creator, and Headmistress of the Tarot Readers Academy on 13 Tarot Muses whom she described as archetypes of the types of readings that are most common. The second was taught by George Koury who has taught alongside Rachel Pollack and Mary Greer taught us his Peter Pan Reading to connect one with their life purpose. Finally Sasha Graham taught us her Seven Sacred Cornerstones of Constant Magic. As usual I barely got any sleep as the days started early at 8am and ended late at 11-ish pm. I did not have to do all the activities but I didn't want to miss out on anything and I didn't want to miss the chance to connect with the tarot community. My favorite part of the Readers Studio is that all the masterclasses take place in one room. Everyone tarot master and novice all sit in one room and and read for each other. There are no egos at the Readers Studio. I also look forward to the Foundation Reading where we pick a partner to do a reading with on Friday and then revisit the same reading with the same cards on Sunday with our newly gained reading knowledge. I'm always amazed at how much depth is added to the reading after just three days. I'm looking forward to RS20.

The dark moon is when no sunlight is reflected on the moon towards the earth and it is not visible in the sky. This occurs two or three days before the New Moon arrives. Figuratively speaking, this is the time of death before rebirth. This is a great time for reflection, meditation, and introspection. It is a time to review the intentions set at the beginning of the moon and analyze where you stand. It is a great time to let go of the old and tired things in order to make space for new and exciting beginnings. The moon is currently back in Virgo, where we started. Virgo is about analyzing, discriminating, and functioning efficiently. It rules over: Physical Health: Diet, Exercise, Healing Work: Career, Jobs, Work Projects, Structured Routines Creative Organization: Orderly Spaces, Detailed Oriented, Efficiency & Planning Discrimination: Analysis, Critical Thinking, Focus, Discernment Service: Willingness to Adapt, Practical Helpfulness, Conscientiousness Excessive Perfectionism: Worry, Criticism, Blame and Judgement, Workaholic Health: Bowels and Intestines, Constipation & Diarrhea, Digestion,Solar Plexus Read the questions below and sit with them a moment. Take a few long deep breaths. On the inhale visualize your intentions manifested. On the exhale visualize yourself releasing the things that no longer fit in your life. Continue for a few minutes until you feel ready to answer the questions below (or just pick one question or if you know what you want to release skip the questions). Use your Intution or pull some Tarot/Oracle Cards 1. Is there anything holding you back from (exercising, going after that job you want, or keeping an orderly home, etc. Virgo thing)? 2. What are you willing to let go of? 3. What is no longer working in your life? 4. What are your self-defeating thoughts/beliefs that have to go? Now it’s time for some Burning and Banishing Herb Craft Things you will need: Fireproof bowl (or pot) Bay Leaves (or paper) Sharpie or Pen Matches or candle The Ritual Write out things you want to banish on the bay leaves or paper. Be specific, for example: “release fear about X” “banish limiting belief about X” instead of "fear" or "limiting belief". I would limit this to 10. Take the Bay leaf (or paper) and light with the flame from the matches or candle, saying out loud (or quietly) what you have written. For example: “I hereby release all fear about X”, or “I banish limiting beliefs about X" Drop the leaves onto the fireproof bowl or pot, and visualize the attachments being broken. After you are done banishing these energies, invite a peaceful vibe back into your space by putting on some music you can dance to, doing a little shimmy shake, and expressing gratitude for all that is well and good in your life.