The Tarot Channel

Tarot World Magazine - Volume 1 Issue 2

The Tarot community has finally been gifted with a quarterly magazine featuring some of the best minds in Tarot as well as fresh voices.

Tarot World Magazine overflows with information you can’t get anywhere else, including original card art, deck reviews, scholarly pieces, exclusive sneak peeks for upcoming Tarot products, puzzles, indepth interviews, thought-provoking articles and specially created spreads.

Volume 1 Issue 1 started out a bit rocky with typographical and grammatical errors peppering the otherwise solid Tarot content. However, I’m thrilled that Volume 1 Issue 2 only contains a few minor errors amid extraordinarily fascinating content. Publisher Heidi Snelgrove draws a card to determine the theme for each issue, although not all articles are topic-specific. (The first issue’s them was The Fool; the theme for Issue 2 is The Lovers.)

From Dr. Stephen Winick’s interview with Tarot’s master storyteller Rachel Pollack to Valentina Burton’s article on reading in public with a “wrangler”, we’re given one-of-a-kind insights into working with the cards. For those thirsting for esoteric waters, Issac Bradfield’s treatise on the World card/Saturn connection illuminates an astrological “window”, while Paul Hughes-Barlow’s latest offering challenges an emerging breed of Hermits to shine their light.

What's Next for Your Neck of the Woods?

Kellye Crockett--a Kingston, Ontario Tarot reader who owns the Sacred Source store--weighs in on the future of her city in this article by Frank Armstrong of the Kingston Whig-Standard:

What lies ahead for city?; Tarot card reader takes a look at what the future holds for Kingston

What's up for your own city or town or nation in 2008?  Do a reading and post your results here as a comment.

Let's get replies from all over the world!

Wishing you a happy, healthy, enlightening and rewarding new year!

Eva Yaa Asantewaa
http://mysite.verizon.net/magickaleva
http://infinitebody.blogspot.com

The Bodhi Eightfold Path of Enlightenment Spread

December 8th is Bodhi Day. 

It's the day to commemorate the enlightenment of Prince Siddhartha Gautama after meditating under the Pipal Tree for seven days and nights.  On the eighth morning he realized the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eighfold Path.  From that point forward, he became known as Buddha and Buddhism was born.

This spread is meant to focus on the elements of the Noble Eightfold Path in order help understand how a person can discipline themselves ethically and mentally to develop their wiser-self.

A good deck to try this spread with might be The Buddha Tarot.

Namu Amida Butsu!

Corrected Version of the Surfacer's New Deck Spread for Tarot and Oracles

One of life's little pleasures is getting a new deck.

Usually, when I get a new deck, I look through it, browse through the LWB or Companion Book and concentrate on if I am making a good connection with the deck.

The_Surfacer, a Tarotist from Alberta, Canada, created this New Deck Spread to use when with a new deck to get a better understanding of the deck and how you'll get along.

I'm going to go back and use this spread with decks I initially didn't really feel I connected with to see what comes out. It's kind of a second chance. :) 

The Lo Scarabeo Spread

As I mentioned in my review of the Lo Scarabeo Tarot, The Lo Scarabeo Spread by Mark McElroy is one of the best I've come across. With the kind permission of Riccardo Minetti, here is the entire Lo Scarabeo Spread for you to use and enjoy:

For centuries, the scarab has been the symbol of life, hope and transformation. This spread channels the essential essence of the scarab, helping you clarify your direction, gain insight into your situation and decide on an appropriate course of action—whatever your challenge might be.

1 (Left Foreleg) - What you want. The direction, goal or achievement that you desire, hope for, or seek.

2 (Right Foreleg) - What you need. The direction, goal or achievement that your Higher Self knows is in your own best interest.

(Compare these; the fact that what you need and what you want are represented by different cards does not always mean these two concepts are in opposition.)

3 (Head) - What you need to know. Information you have consciously or unconsciously overlooked, discarded or disregarded.

4 (Left Midleg) - What works against you. An element of your nature that interferes with progress and growth.

5 (Right Midleg) - What works for you. An element of your nature that supports progress and growth.

6 (Left Body) - What you should abandon. A belief, attitude, or approach that is not in your best interest.

7 (Right Body) - What you should embrace. A belief, attitude or approach you would do well to adopt.

8 (Left Hindleg) - The Aggressor's Path. The best possible next action for those who prefer to take matters into their own hands.

9 (Right Hindleg) - The Believer's Path. The best possible next action for those who prefer to wait to see what the Universe will bring them.

-- Janet Boyer

2008 Tarot Professional's Appointment Book

Have you ever wished for a Tarot-themed day planner? Have I got good news for you!

The publishers of Tarot World Magazine (set to debut in January 2008) are also producing a 2008 Tarot Professional's Appointment Book which you can pre-order here. They describe it like this:

A thick 232 pages, this 8 1/2 by 11 Appointment Book has all the room a professional reader needs.

It is staple bound to lay flat when opened, and includes 40 articles on all Major Arcana articles and holidays, as well 10 original spreads. Packed with useful information, the 2008 TPAB also features Monthly Tax Record information and Holidays from five religions and four countries.

They and the artwork in this annual piece make it a collector's item worth treasuring.

On a personal note, my husband Ron hand-painted the cover art (pictured above), which is imbedded with Tarot symbolism. The 8 x 10 acrylic painting is now for sale (serious inquiries can be made via email).

Also, I wrote two articles for the 2008 TPAB on The Chariot and The Hanged Man.

To insure that you get your 2008 Tarot Professional's Appointment before January, you can pre-order directly from the TWM site.

-- Janet Boyer

Tabi's Samhain Spread

Samhain marks the end of the harvest season and Celtic New Year.

Tabi, the creator of this spread, explained she created it because Samhain is the Pagan's end of year, it is a time to reflect on those who have past, but also on the coming year and the promise of what it brings.

Click here to see the spread.

This is a good opportunity to pull out decks like the Robin Wood, Tarot of the Old Path, or the Sacred Circle Tarot, which would work well with this spread and be a good excuse to study the rich celtic and pagan culture and symbols found within decks of this theme.   Blessed Samhain!!

Le Fey's Maslow Hierachy of Needs Spread

We all have needs, but sometimes we have trouble prioritizing them.

I NEED more Tarot decks, and I sometimes forget I have other NEEDS which obviously takes priority over another...and then another..and then another Tarot deck.  But hey, who's counting? :)

Le Fey, a Tarotist from West Virginia USA, created this spread based on Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs Theory.

Click on the picture above to see the spread or click here, and read about how Le Fey developed this spread on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum.

The Cosmic Poufball Spread

Sometimes people we've never met have the most profound impact on our lives, but in the smallest of ways. In this case, a tarotist, who goes by the name The Mathemagician of Virginia, USA, was inspired by the late Darell Martinie, astrologer and radio personality, to created this spread called The Cosmic Poufball.

The Mathmagician explained... I would listen to Darrell Martinie give his astrological readings for the day on radio station WBCN. I'm not into astrology, but I always enjoyed his readings which were typically a few minutes long. He'd talk about the planets, the moon, and the stars and where they were. Then he'd give the ratings for the night from 0 to 10 if you were going out, staying in, or working, and as I recall he often made a commentary on the overall night. He always closed with the words, "It's a wise person who rules the stars, it's a fool who's ruled by them." Last year I learned he'd died of cancer. In his memory I created this spread, The Cosmic Poufball. It's a reading you do for the upcoming night.

I've seen spread creations inspired in so many ways, but I found this one to be exceptionally thoughtful and inspiring in itself.  Plus, it's a fun spread. :)

Caridwen's Web Spread

The Norns are the Fates of Norse Mythology who spin the threads of fate at the foot of the tree of the world called Yggdrasil. It is said the lenght of the string is the length of the person's life; therfore, everything is set out beforehand.  In essence, everything is predetermined and interconnected through their tapestry of fate....a intersting and enchanting bit of mythology.

Caridwen's Web is spread created by Caridwen, a Tarotist in the U.K.  The spread is based on the Norns Fates, Urd (the past), Verdani (the being), and Skuld (what is to come). It's designed to be used be both macro cosmic and microcosmic to understand our positions within the web that is our universe and our place in it alongside our ancestors or, to understand a current situation.

Caridwen explains the first three positions are interconnected and in turn are connected to all other positions in the spread. All positions lead from the first three and should be read together accordingly. Then all positions must be read together as a whole.  She emphasises, The way to read the spread is to imagine a spider in the middle, being affected by the reverberations of each position as though one is plucking the web.

A good deck to do this spread with might be the Norse Tarot and Goddesses of Fate.

The spread goes like this...