Congratulations to E. E. Austin.
You are the winner of the Conscious Spirit Oracle. :D
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07/23/2013
07/08/2013
Interview with Kim Dreyer by Tarot Dactyl
Enjoy this interview with Kim Dreyer, creator of the Conscious Spirit Oracle with interview questions by Mary McIntyre Brown (aka Tarot Dactyl).
To be entered in a contest to win your own copy of this lovely oracle, leave a comment. Share it on Facebook and/or Tweet it for an extra entry each. Leave a separate comment on this blog with the link to your share to be counted. Winners announced July 15, 2013.
MB: This is your first oracle deck, what inspired you to create it?
KD: Yes, this is my first deck. For many years friends and family suggested I do a deck, but the time didn't feel right and I wasn't sure of a theme for it. As my own personal inner journey to self unfolded, the contents of a deck became more and more clear. My own journey was inspiration - I felt I could help guide others to find their own paths, their own inner light. Show them it was possible. For months it sat evolving, germinating in my mind and heart, then one day I simply woke up and knew the time had come for me to physically start working on it. …. and so it grew from there.
MB: What did you learn from creating this deck?
KD: That it's one hell of a lot of work!! And that one has to trust one's instincts, trust your guides and the Universe. When you are working from a place of love, your bliss state, everything flows and falls into place. You simply have to show up and allow.
MB: What challenges did you encounter in the process and how did you overcome them?
KD: Time was one of my biggest challenges. I had set a rather hectic pace for myself, especially towards the end. And though physically, I seemed to find an almost inhuman energy and perseverance, when the last brush stroke was done; the final word typed and the whole package sent off to U.S. Games…. I crashed. Physically and mentally I was exhausted. It took me a whole month before I could get back to any normal creative routine. My job was done, it was time to rest.
My second biggest challenge was my ego, second-guessing me. 'Was I qualified enough to take on this challenge; Was my art good enough? (The normal things that an artist is always asking herself) But I kept ignoring it and finally it went away. And I was left in peace to continue creating.
MB: You wrote and illustrated the deck. Creating 44 beautiful images seems like a huge task in itself, what about finding the right words to illuminate the meaning of the cards? Did that come easily to you, anything surprise you during the process?
KD: Yes, it is a huge task to do both. But since a young child I have always been happier when I am able to loose myself 110% in a large, challenging, creative project. I find it stimulating and motivating. As for finding the right words - they flowed fairly easily as I have always found the wee hours of the morning the time when spirit talks to me. Many, many weeks and months of quietly getting out of bed to go sit in a quiet spot in the house to write down words which seemed to flow of their own accord onto the page, was how the insights came to me. Surprising, not really.
Each insight almost seemed to be a lesson or a confirmation of a lesson learned. And even though the work is complete I still find new insights coming through when I look at the artwork. And this is how I hope others will connect with the deck. Find their own insights through the images. For my insights are only guides and each of their journeys is unique.
MB: The deck includes Angels, Spirit Guides and Chakras, things and ideas that aren't always seen in everyday life, what did you draw upon in order to create them?
KD: I grew up in a home where the supernatural, esoteric and unexplained were part of our everyday life. As I got older I was drawn to certain aspects of this more than others. I also used to own and run an esoteric gift shop for many years and have always been interested and passionate about these subjects. My own experiences I've had through life with Angels, Guides and Chakras helped give me a better understanding in creating the artworks.
Whenever I create an artwork, I go into a very deep meditative state where I can feel the energy and presence of the subject I am painting. It's as if I am physically present painting, but mentally and spiritually somewhere else.
MB: Nature is also one of the themes of your deck, in what ways did the natural landscape of where you live in South Africa influence the Conscious Spirit Oracle?
KD: I have always loved every aspect of Nature and felt connected to it - I am an Earth sign of course. The small village where I live is surrounded by mountains and rivers and has an energy that touches everyone who lives here or visits. I tap into that energy daily for my inspiration from Gaia and the Elementals.
MB: How do you feel the deck can be best utilized?
KD: I feel that the best way (as with any deck) is to trust one's intuition when using it and allow spirit to talk to you through the images. My hope is that the guidance and wisdom I gained through my own personal soul journey of finding the authentic me, will flow through the cards and illuminate their own paths to finding their true selves.
MB: You've said the purpose of these cards is also to awaken others to their own beauty and uniqueness and to remind them that they have valuable gifts and lessons to share -- why is that important to you?
KD: I strongly believe that one can only find personal peace if one can see these things within oneself. And if one has inner peace, that is what will be reflected in their outside world. Imagine a world where we are all at peace with ourselves and others? THAT will be heaven on earth. I am blessed to be able to wake up every day and do what I love. I want that for all of humanity!
MB: What's next for you? Any more decks on the horizon?
KD: ssshh, secret………. yes. I am currently working on two decks. Another Oracle deck (but I am keeping its theme a secret for now) and for a much longer term project - a Tarot deck has been in the process of evolving since October last year.
05/25/2013
May Mystery Deck Revealed
Well you've all done great at guessing this deck. Are you suprised to learn it is the African Tarot by Marina Romito and Denese Palm.
The exuberant imagery of African Tarot draws largely on the African experience, depicted in a primitive art style. Marina Romito has reinterpreted the standard Rider-Waite images with symbols inspired by indigenous South African culture to create an accessible, uplifting deck. Evoking universal childhood emotions, African Tarot can help you explore your true inner nature.
The back design of the cards is inspired by the Shagaan culture (one of the indigenous ethnic groups in South Africa); the tortoise symbolizes the slow coming of justice.
The miniature deck is perfect for small hands.
55-page booklet includes individual card meanings as well as card combinations.
Marina Romito holds a degree in philosophy, but is primarily a seeker of greater global harmony and truth. She was born in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Denese Palm has long been involved in the field of human rights, and particularly with women’s group in rural economic assistance projects.
Enjoy a few more images from the amazing African Tarot deck.
05/24/2013
05/23/2013
05/22/2013
05/21/2013
05/20/2013
05/01/2013
#Tarot Blog Hop: Beltaine 2013
Welcome to the U.S. Games Systems Inc's stop on the May 2013 Tarot Blog Hop. The blog before us was Chloe's Inner Whispers and the blog after us is Alison's Game of Thrones. You can find the Master List at Arwen's blog. The subject was "What traditions are important to you in how you read Tarot?"
In our participation in this Blog Hop, we've developed a tradition of sharing images of one card from many decks. Who better to represent the tradition of tradition than the Hierophant or Pope?
This card traditionally shows a spiritual advisor with figures below him. He is the voice of God and/or the intercessor of the faithful. He represents traditions and spiritual authority.
Here are some images from some our decks. Which is your favorite?
Ancestral Path
Rider Waite Smith by Rider, Waite and Smith
Ghosts and Spirits
Ukiyoe Tarot
Gummi Bear Tarot
Chinese Tarot
Thoth Tarot
So what do you think when you see the Hierophant? And what are some of the non-traditional meanings for you? Do you have a favorite U.S. Games deck Hierophant who didn't show up today? Tell us about it.
04/13/2013
Mystery Deck: Reveal
Were you one of the ones who knew me right away? Did it take you a few clues? I tried to make myself hard to guess. Let me know how I did.
I am the Mystical Lenormand U.S. Games Systems Inc. ISBN 1572815345 by Regula Elizabeth Fiechter & Urban Trosch.
CLUE 1:The first thing most reviewers and users comment on is the gorgeous artwork.
CLUE 2: Each border of my cards is different.
CLUE 3: Urban is the so-called "city boy" in English speaking countries.
CLUE 4: I am considered a Petit Lenormand since I am only 36 cards. My 52 card cousin is the Grand Lenormand.
CLUE 5: The snippet show yesterday is from the front of my box as well as being the Stars card.
The winner will be announced on Monday.
Here are some of my images for you to enjoy. Click to see the larger image. Leave a comment here if you want to be included in the drawing for Monday.
04/12/2013
Mystery Deck: Clue 5
I'm the mystery deck of the week. I'll give you five clues--one for each day. I'll tell you the answer on Saturday.
Fifth Clue: I've been shy about showing you myself but I know that helps. Here's a small piece of me to share.
I'll reveal all tomorrow.
Don’t forget to guess on each day! And, of course, I am a proud U.S. Games deck!
04/11/2013
04/10/2013
04/09/2013
04/08/2013
04/05/2013
What Inspired Theresa Reed To Learn Tarot
by Theresa Reed
I’ve always been that curious child who couldn’t wait for Christmas day to arrive. I’d get up late at night just to pick through the presents under the tree and try to figure out what treasures were waiting for me to unwrap in the morning. I also had the good fortune of growing up with some very intuitive women so the psychic stuff was ordinary business in my household.
That combination is what probably is what drew me to tarot and other intuitive arts. But my doorway to tarot happened quite by accident.
As a typical teen, I struggled to figure out who I was and what my path might be. I remember taking those vocational quizzes in high school and although they gave me some general direction, those tests never answered the deeper questions. Why am I here? What path might be best? Does Doug think I’m cute? (Well, that last question wasn’t very deep but I did lose sleep over it.)
At some point, I became fast friends with a girl who shared the same interests in underground music, subculture and foxy musicians (we are still friends to this day in case you are curious). She also had an unusual mother who was a pianist and a psychologist. And she happened to have a keen interest in astrology.
One day she sat me down and laid out my astrology chart. I was blown away at what I learned! Finally, I felt I had some answers on what made me tick! This opened up a whole new world for me and I began to grab any astrology book I could get my hands on.
There was not much out there back in the day so pickings were slim. It didn’t matter - I was gung ho and studying as much as I could. One day, my parents took a rare trip to the mall and I went into the bookstore (I never cared much about clothing - but bookstores were already a dangerous addiction for me). I headed straight for the new age section to see if there were any new astrology books.
As luck would have it, there were none. But I did spy a tarot deck - the Marseilles Tarot! I remembered seeing them on some television show and decided to buy the deck without much thought as to what I’d actually do with it. (Little did I know on that fateful day that I’d be reading tarot full time one day.)
But once I opened the box and began playing around with it, I started to notice something odd happening - I felt my intuition kicking in and sometimes things would come out of my mouth simply from looking at the patterns. In other words, I picked up on tarot rather quickly. It wasn’t long before I tossed the book aside and began to read in earnest.
A few months later, back at the bookstore, I discovered the Rider Waite deck and that’s when the tarot really began to “sing” to me. The images were clear, evocative and in my teenage mind, super cool!
It wasn’t long before I was occasionally reading for friends and they often remarked at how accurate the readings were. This inspired me to keep going and keep learning. I still practiced astrology but tarot seemed to resonate more with me so I poured myself into studying it and perfecting my skills.
For me, the tarot gave me insights, direction, things to consider and ponder. It was a wonderful self development tool and a fantastic way for my introvert nature to connect with other people (I often called tarot an “instant friend maker”). How lucky I am for connecting to my friend and finding my way to tarot - which became my closest friend and ally on my life’s journey.
Theresa Reed, March 2013
Bio: Theresa Reed (alias: The Tarot Lady) is an intuitive Tarot reader, astrologist, teacher, mentor & yogi with over twenty years of professional experience, industry street cred for miles, and thousands of clients in her digital rolodex. She’s devoted to helping people make better decisions & lead happier lives — using Tarot as an instigational tool for confident, bold & emotionally-intelligent action — in life, in love & in business. She is also the founder + leader of The Mystical Mogul Movement – a mission to help spiritual + metaphysical business owners get their sh*t together, build strong + profitable empires, and experience the freedom they want + deserve. Because running your own business is HOT — and even mystics gots to pay the bills. Find her at: http://www.thetarotlady.com
03/11/2013
What Inspired Me to Learn Tarot by Elizabeth Hazel
Elizabeth Hazel wears many hats including astrologer, author, deck creator and columnist. She is the editor of the American Tarot Association's members-only Quarterly. Her book, Tarot Decoded (Weiser Books, 2004) is the first handbook of tarot dignities, and gives a wide range of techniques for expanding tarot readings using numbers and astrology. She is available for consultations. You can reach her at http://www.kozmic-kitchen.com.
When Lynn of U.S. Games asked who or what inspired them to study Tarot, Elizabeth responded with such an intriguing answer, that we asked her to expand upon it. Enjoy her very interesting response.
Elizabeth's Answer:
My hometown library was split into two sections. The kids’ books were shelved on one side of the central walkway, and the adult books were on the other side. By the time I was nine I'd read all the books in the kids’ section. The librarians wouldn't let me read the books in the adult section. All that was left was the encyclopedias. These were shelved along the central walkway for easy access.
So I read the encyclopedias. In order. When I got to "C" in the Encyclopedia Britannica, there was an article on "Cards." Most of it was about playing cards, but at the end there were some pictures of tarot cards. They seemed awfully familiar. I had to have them!
A ten-year-old kid is pretty much at the mercy of parents when it comes to shopping. Whenever we went to a store or to the new mall, I searched and searched for a deck of tarot cards. Finally I came across a magic shop. I was thrilled when I discovered tarot decks in the big glass case under the cash register. I had saved up the allowance I got for doing chores, so I could afford them. I bought the Aquarian Tarot because the drawings and bright colors reminded me of Peter Max. Yes, I was an art snob at ten.
There was a LWB included with the deck, but it was very basic. I went back to the magic shop a month later and looked at the other tarot decks. The one that really attracted me was the Thoth Tarot. The shopkeeper didn't want to sell it to me, and tried to discourage me. I haggled with him until he sold it to me. I was about eleven years old at the time. I still have both of those decks...and hundreds more.
Looking back, both the Aquarian and Thoth tarots were very recent releases in the early 1970s. Without knowing it, I got them hot off the press. I used these decks for years while learning. The Aquarian Tarot spoke to me in a more personal and mundane way. The LWB included in the Thoth Tarot was invaluable from the standpoint of learning how to actually use the tarot and the deeper meanings and attributions behind the card images. The Thoth Tarot did a better job at helping me develop a “magical mind,” delving into esoteric mysteries, dreams, and omens. It took both decks to learn different lessons.
There weren’t any tarot books available in the Midwest at that time. I had to learn through trial and error and be my own guinea pig. I kept a tarot journal before anyone had ever written about keeping one – or before I ever read a recommendation to keep one. It seemed sensible. I learned to read the future by looking backwards at spreads to see what happened to me. I created a loose-leaf notebook with pages for every card, and wrote down things I discovered about what the cards could mean, which was a lot more than either LWB suggested.
A few friends found out I could read tarot cards when I was about sixteen or seventeen. I did a few readings for them, but it was all pretty hush-hush and reluctant. I did a ton of readings in college, and there were more resources and books available there. I read Crowley’s Book of Thoth when I was around eighteen. It fueled my tank to keep going, to keep studying the tarot. I found an astrology teacher when I got out of college, and was able to fuse tarot and astrology with ease. There was no one around to suggest doing otherwise. I thought they belonged together – it seemed such a natural combination.
I had no clue that fusing tarot and astrology was unusual until I attended the first International Tarot Conference in Chicago. Janet Berres told me it was rare for people to use them together! It was baffling.
People now have nearly universal access to hundreds of tarot decks and books, websites with information, internet tarot groups and organizations. None of that was around when I got started, or at least I didn’t have any access to it. None of the scholarly books were even a twinkling in the writers’ eyes yet. I had to learn and develop tarot-reading skills in secret, because the tarot was considered a shady, black magic thing. It got a lot of disapproval. It was taboo. It wasn’t something a nice girl did (although it wasn’t as bad as having sex, it was right up there). There wasn’t any positive encouragement for studying the tarot – quite the reverse. There were penalties and warnings. Maybe this wasn’t the case in more sophisticated cities on the east or west coasts, but it certainly was in the white, uptight Midwest.
So at least for me, my early years of learning tarot weren’t just about learning card meanings and spreads. It was about weighing and balancing social approval or disapproval, of knuckling under to adult and parental disapproval, or of taking the risk of violating that particular taboo. I had to decide what was more important on my own terms. Did I have to believe everything adults told me, or should I push the limits and face censure because I disagreed with them? That’s a hard question for a teenager to answer. The pressure wasn’t coming from my peers – it was coming from adults. Did I love the tarot enough to take risks? I did, but I was canny enough to keep it very quiet, very secret. It took many years before I was able to do tarot readings openly for friends or clients.
It was a Hanged Man situation. What was I willing to sacrifice? It was more than just the time and effort to learn – it was a potential sacrifice of social approval, of being marginalized, excluded, and even banned from the company of others. It was a big struggle to keep studying, even in secret, without a teacher or any source of guidance or direction. There was no external sources of approval – only my private delight in making new discoveries. My desire to master the tarot was stronger and more powerful than the fear of sacrifice or censure.
How many people who want to learn tarot have to face that risk? Maybe some, maybe none. I don’t know. The forbidden nature that the tarot had in the 1970s has faded a lot and they’re more or less mainstream now. But there are still some places and people who disapprove, or feel that they’re evil in some way.
Perhaps the more a person is willing to sacrifice for tarot wisdom, the more wisdom can be gained along the path. No pain, no gain.
EMH
February 2013
Images used: Aquarian Tarot Fool, Thoth Tarot Fool, Aquarian Tarot Three of Rods
02/19/2013
02/15/2013
Guess The Deck: Answer Revealed
All week we've been guessing what deck I am. Were you successful? Did you know right away? What clue gave it away for you? Are you still scratching your head?
I'm the Vanessa Tarot published in 2006. Here's what US Games says about me.
Taking their inspiration from pop culture, the sassy but sage characters of Vanessa Tarot playfully reinterpret traditional female roles. With humor, glamour, and an attitude of adventure, the daring darlings of Vanessa Tarot share all their arcane secrets. This charming deck invites readers to join in the joy ride exploring life through the fanciful imagery of tarot. Presented in a keepsake tin, Vanessa Tarot includes 78 cards with 30-page instruction booklet.
"Vanessa Tarot has taken its inspiration from several areas of contemporary pop culture including female role models from the small and large screens of television and cinema, life-like fashion dolls, and heroines from comic books. In the same way that dolls encourage imaginative role-playing, Vanessa Tarot provides scenarios for examining our fantasies, fears, decisions, desires, and choices. The sassy but sage characters of Vanessa Tarot playfully reinterpret female roles, occupations, and social stereotypes from the housewife to the witch, and the princess to the scientist."
-- Lynyrd Narciso, Introduction to Vanessa Tarot
See what Dan Pelletier has to say about this deck.
The Vanessa Tarot does for illustrated pip Waite-Colman-Smith based decks, what Major Tom's Tarot de Marseille did for the Marseille version Tarots, and dragged it (the Tarot) into the 21st Century.
The Vanessa Tarot will perhaps be the most overlooked Tarot of 2007. 'Serious' Tarot folks will eschew it, many will never get past the Magician -- and will poo-poo it as a silly novelty. But the Vanessa deserves a closer look. It's nothing short of brilliant!
Let me start with the LWB -- it deserves framing. This should me the new standard for LWB's. It is well written, concise, and is arraigned by numerical value as opposed to suits. And what is said about each card -- makes sense. Some folks enjoy saying 'Tarot is a language', perhaps because such a statement eludes cogent response, However the Vanessa Tarot IS a language. Gone is the weighty esoteric symbology, leaving behind clean image concepts -- that translate smoothly into nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs and articles. Many cards easily fill encompass several of those labels.
Yes, it's a feminine deck albeit not feminist. Marketing may well relegate it to the early teen female market segment of the populations, and that’s a shame. The deck is also multicultural.
Some examples: The 10 of Wands eschews the burdening issues and displays an attitude of study -- or 'workload'. The Knight of Wands wears a parachute and stands in the doorway of an aircraft in flight. In the Four of Cups, she sits in front of the Tarot Café, while a hand enters the picture from the left offering a cup. It's tres mondo coolaroonie!
The cards measure 9.5cm x 6cm, perfect for your hands, and get this ... they come in a metal case.
This deck, and the LWB rock ...
Here are a few images from this great deck.
You can have your own copy if you like. Just go here.
Remember we are drawing a name from all comments left this week including on this post. You could win your choice of our Tarot magnet sets. Would you pick the Fool set?
02/14/2013
02/13/2013
02/12/2013
02/11/2013
02/06/2013
What's The Story (Chinese Tarot)
On our Facebook page, we often ask our fans to tell us what story three cards tell them. What do you think these three cards say? How would the reading change if you read it from right to left?
The Chinese Tarot is being reprinted in 2013. Learn more here.
02/04/2013
Tarot Blast From The Past: The Chinese Tarot
Another Tarot blast from the past, the Chinese Tarot by Jui Guoliang was first available in 1989.
Over at Tarot Passages, Joan Cole shares this review: "Designs based upon the symbolism, legends, beliefs, manners and customs of ancient China". The deck is enlivened by gods, demons and ghosts from the Chinese pantheon, such as the Heavenly Twins and the God of Longevity, and beautified by other traditional painting subjects, such as the "four gentlemen" (the plum, orchid, chrysanthemum and bamboo)."
The Tarot Deevah says: " I find it colorful, inspirational, workable, and a joy to use. "
Some reviews from Amazon offer:
"Jiu's expert implementation of flowing vibrant colors, fine lines and subtle shading resulted in 78 breathtaking mini-paintings"
"The artwork is outstanding... if you like the Asian style... you'll love these cards."
"Guoliang's renditions of Tarot symbolism in Chinese traditional style literally brought tears to my eyes."
This deck is being reprinted for 2013. Are you excited?
Check back on Wednesday 2/6 to try your hand at a three card reading with this beautiful deck.