Live every day the tarot way
Archive for October, 2011
Halloween Spreads
01 year ago
by Angelo Nasios
in Spreads
Today is Halloween and I have put together some Halloween themed spreads for you to enjoy.
——–7——–
—-5——-6—–
3—————4
1——-8——-2
1 – The Skeletons in the Closet – The secrets you keep from others.
2 – The Rats in the Basement – The secrets you keep from yourself.
3 – The Black Cat in the Parlour – What makes your claws come out?
4 – The Jack O Lantern in the Kitchen – What, or who, would you like to carve up with a knife?
5 – The Ghost in the Bedroom – What, or who, haunts your mind and thoughts?
6 – The Spider in the Bathroom – What totally creeps you out.
7 – The Bats in the Attic – What drives you to the brink of madness.
8 – The Front Door – The way out of all this insanity
——————————————–
1. Costume: What you’re wearing for the party – the situation.
2. Trick: The shadow/the unexpected
3. Treat: The positive side/opportunities
4. The Candy Bag: What you can take home – the outcome.
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Spread is shaped like a witch’s hat
_____1
____2_3
___4_5_6
1. The Witch Herself – Significator – sets the tone for the reading, the special powers the querent has and their ability to transform energy
2. The Cauldron – something percolating in your life – the matter of the reading
3. The Spellbook – the plan, where things are currently headed
4. The Black Cat – forces that are here to assist you
5. The Skull – a message from your ancestors, advice form those who know best
6. The Broom – what you need to take your plans further
———————————————–
Morgana’s Trick or Treat Spread
……5……
..3……4..
……2…..
……1…..
1. What do you want in your Halloween bag? (what is your goal?)
2. What costume are you wearing? (what role are you playing as you work toward that goal?)
3. Tricks (what is in your control – what ‘tricks’ can you do to work toward your goal?)
4. Treats (what isn’t in your control – what ‘treats’ come to you without your effort?)
5. What do you take home? (what comes to you from this experience?)
——————————————–
Samhain Spread
——–3———6——–7
1————–4——————-9
——–2———5——–8
1. Autumn Yield (what can be used)
2. Reserve stock (what can be put aside)
3. Winter ordeal (for what to prepare to)
4. Passage between the worlds (new paths & methods)
5. The gifts of Samhain (gifts of the new tide)
6. Misterious meeting (some unexpected encounters)
7. What to say goodbye to…
8. What to remember…
9. Results/conclusion
All spreads are courtesy of Aeclectic Tarot Forum. www.tarotforum.net
Charging for our “gifts”
51 year ago
by Angelo Nasios
in Commentary
***Warning The Following Post is a Rant***
It happens, once in a blue moon I will get a direct request for me to preform a reading for free. My websites clearly points out that I charge for my services. But I will still get emails asking for a reading and expecting it to be free. It confuses me. Don’t they see the page called “services” with the price list? Or the video on my YouTube page called “$10 Tarot Readings”. Clearly I don’t read for free.
Before we go any further I want to state that I have done plenty of free readings. I was a member and director of World Tarot Reader, a free reading website (like The Free Tarot Network) for three years.
Firstly, I do not do free readings anymore is because I noticed something about free readings and what happens when you put a price on your services. You weed out the clients who are not serious about the reading. Free readings attract a large majority of people who want a reading for the novelty and for the “what the hell, it free let me get a reading”. Once you put a price tag, they think twice and only if they are truly serious about the reading they will get the reading. This is not always the case, some of my favorite readings I have done were for free. They were great experiences for me and the client. However I don’t want to read for someone who has no real question nor real issue and want a “general reading” for “whatever pops up”. These clients are not invested in the reading or the real value a reading can provide.
Secondly, there has to be some sort of exchange for the reading. Nothing in life is free, why should a reading be free? I am giving up my energy, my time, I am proving my knowledge and skill to the client. Where is their part in this process if it is free? In my eyes I am sacrificing a part of me to give the reading, the payment from the client is their sacrifice. If there is no payment there is no sacrifice/offering for the reading.
Thirdly, the idea that all readers and myself have been given a “gift” and should not charge for this gift. We should want to help others for free because its the more “spiritual” thing to do. If this was true than when I go to church ( once every year lol) I should not have to put money in the collection plate nor should I have to pay for the candles we light. Again this goes back to sacrifice & exchange. However the larger issue is the “gift”. Who is to say what I do or what any other reader does is a “gift”. If it is a gift why should we not charge? In my eyes a singer with an amazingly gifted voice makes tons of money, should they sing for free? When we say “gift” it implies we were born with an innate ability to do what we do. However for many readers and myself tarot reading is a skill & talent we have to learn through studying the cards. Just like a doctor studies medicine and then makes money being a doctor, we the readers have to study to, why should we not charge for our services?
Finally, It is simply offensive and rude to tell me or any other reader we should not charge for our services. I will respectfully say to the person who says this that they go to there boss and tell them they will work for free for now on. Oh wait but you have bills to pay, well so do I. Once Cablevision, LIPA, Verizon and everyone else stops charging me for their services and goods than I shall to.
Major Arcana symbols – Tarot in Music
11 year ago
by Angelo Nasios
in Tarot Music
How many symbols from the Major Arcana can you spot it this video?
1) The High Priestess/Death/The Moon/Hierophant/Hermit can all be spotted in the first few scenes HERE We have a woman with an owl(High Priestess), Man on Horse (death), Man holding lantern between two dogs (Moon or Hermit) A man with two keys around his neck (Heirophant)
A bit further in I see The Tower here with the explosion of the building a the falling of the man.
The Progression of Enlightenment
31 year ago
The progression of enlightenment, is the process in which the soul journeys through life seeking enlightenment by increasing the level of it’s consciousness. This process is reflected in the tarot from The Tower all the way to The World.
Before we begin we need to take a step back and look at The Devil. The Devil card is the card before the progression of enlightenment. The Devil is reflective of ignorance, which is the opposite of enlightenment. The card is dark, the background is black, the two figures are changes to a devil creature. This card is a card of addictions, being chained to something, we are ignorant of the influences at work here.The Devil is the lowest and darkest level of consciousness in all the cards. It is where Ego rules over us.
After The Devil the cards reflect an increasing level of consciousness. The main symbol which reflects this increasing of consciousness is the increasing of light in the cards. The Devil was pure darkness. And each following card light is increased little by little.
The Tower is the first card in the PoE, the striking of lightning is the spark that brings attention to our ignorance. In The Tower two figures are following from a tower being stuck my lightning. This represents the first flash of awareness. It is hard to realize that our ignorance and ego have clouded our thinking.It is an abrupt change and shift in energy that we see the results as destructive. However we are physically fine, it is our ego with is being destroyed.
The Star comes after The Tower and here the light of the stars shine down on a naked woman. The experience of The Tower has shaken us deeply that we have become “naked” or exposed. The stars brings us light to see in the night. They are faint but they allow us to know where we are and how to travel. Stars where used my sailors to travel safely. The Star is about guidance and guiding our direction. Our consciousness has moved from egocentric to having an awareness of a higher power/guiding force to life.
The Moon follows at The Star and here the light of the Moon is brighter than the stars. Darkness fades more and light is having a stronger impact. The Moon does not create its own light but reflects the light of the Sun. For whatever The Sun represents The Moon reflects the opposite. Here we see the influence of the sub-conscious, our intuition, creative expressions and our dreams. The Moon lights up the night but there is still darkness and you still cannot see things clearly and logically. Fear still comes up, your mind plays games with you. Here our consciousness focuses on our intuition and feelings. Subjective experiences. Connection to our dreams is important.
The Sun follows The Moon and here the light over comes the dark. The light of The Sun banishes darkness (ignorance/ego) and we see things clearly and logically. The Sun symbolizes enlightenment, however not at the highest level. The Sun is at a human level of intellectual enlightenment. Our consciousness here is focused on facts, and objective knowledge. However this is not enough, the soul needs spirtual enlightenment.
Judgment represents the soul’s awakening to a spiritual truth and spirtual enlightenment. The source of light here is the Angel Gabriel, which shows that the source of light is of divine origins. The souls purpose and path becomes known here in Judgment. However still here Judgment is not the highest level of consciousness. Judgment represents a personal revelation and thus personal enlightenment to ones purpose and calling. The Level of consciousness here is focused on personal revelation and understanding your purpose, becoming enlightened to a truth about yourself not known before. It is here your consciousness finds its spiritual identify.
The World follows Judgment and it is here at the end of the Major Arcana we see the highest level of consciousness. Here in The World we become truly connected with the divine. The World represents the Anima Mundi, the World Soul. In Kabbalah, the physical world we live in is called the 1%, while the realm of God (The Light) is the 99%. The 99% represents true reality, it is the source of everlasting fulfillment, joy, wisdom and perfection. Our level of consciousness has transcend the physical world and we have joined our consciousness with the consciousness of God/Divine/The Light.
Tarot In Music (Greek) Δεσποινα Βανδη – Τυχη (Luck)
31 year ago
by Angelo Nasios
in Tarot Music
Οι παρακάτω τραγούδι της Δέσποινας Βανδή μιλάει για το πώς ”τύχη” παίρνει από ορισμένους και δίνει σε άλλους. Μερικοί δρόμοι είναι ανοιχτοί και σε άλλους δρόμους σκοτώνουν. Η τύχη είναι άδικη και ευκαιρίες να μας ό, τι το θέλει. Αυτό το τραγούδι είναι ένα καλό παράδειγμα αυτού που ο τροχός της τύχηςαντιπροσωπεύει. Ο τροχός γυρίζει υπέρ μας και να στραφούν εναντίον του υπέρ.Αυτός είναι τύχη, thats μοίρα.
The following song by Despina Vandi speaks about how “luck” takes from some and gives to others. Some roads are open and other roads kill. Luck is unfair and deals out to us what it wills. This song is a good example of what The Wheel of Fortune represents. The wheel turns in our favor and can turn against of favor. Thats luck, thats fate.
Book Review – Who Are You In The Tarot – Mary K Greer
11 year ago
by Angelo Nasios
in Review
Just like Astrology has a major impact in it’s connection with Tarot and your personality, so does numerology. In ‘Who Are You In The Tarot”, Mary K. Greer decodes the digits of our names and reveals, who we are in the tarot.
“Who Are You In The Tarot” provides you with an opportunity to get to know who you are and at the same time better understand the cards by way of seeing ourselves in the cards.
Using numerology to figure out one’s cards (Birth, personality, soul, etc) is not a new concept, however Mary’s book provides us a way to finally put it all together and understand what the cards actually have to share with us.
Since this book is focused about you the reader I am going to share my experience with using this book and who I am in the Tarot. Adding up my birthday in the method shown in the book to find my “personality” card I am The High Priestess. However I do my numerology differently than the method shown here. In my way of adding I am 11/2 Justice/High Priestess. We will look at The High Priestess first. Reading Mary’s description of the High Priestess personality resonates well with it. For one she is connected with the Moon, I am always amazed when I look at a full moon. I could stare at it all night. She writes that “people talk freely to you about themselves and their worries because you are a good listener, you seem to know their inner most thoughts.” Which is a very true statement and a good thing that comes in handy being a tarot reader. She also says the “feminine qualities are highly developed, and women friends, mentors and teachers are very important to High Priestesses.” Another very true statement, I always connected well with women, in school I always prefer a female teacher/professor over males. Granted I am gay, my feminine qualities are going to be developed and females and gays go hand in hand. Non the less Mary is correct.
Who Are You In The Tarot is a fun read and very insightful. The book is packed with lots of information, do not rush yourself through it. Take your time and enjoy the journey of self-discovery via the numbers and the cards. This book is good for any reader level.
Gender in Tarot – Masculinity & Femininity
01 year ago
In this video I talk about how the cards in tarot do no reflect male or female (gender) but masculine and feminin energy/qualities. For example. The Emperor does not represent a male. It represents the masculine energy.
The Daily Reading – Learning through personal experiences
11 year ago
The daily reading is a very common practice for tarot readers. Drawing a daily card to see what the day may bring you or see what influences impact you is a great way to practice with the cards. This is because when we pull a card for each day we can then take what happens to us in the day and see how it relates to the card. It is a way of learning through direct experience. You could sit and read a book on tarot but without the experience of the card its only theory. The daily reading gives us past experiences & references to draw from when doing future readings.
I will be honest, I was never good at pulling a daily card. I a little lazy on that, but I am trying to change that. I keep a deck on my desk in front of me so I fast access to one fast. I have been pulling daily cards recently. So far the most influential reading was the one I did yesterday (10/4) where I got the 5 of Pentacles. No one likes to see this card, two poor people walking in the snow is not a card someone wants to see durning this economic recession. My first thought, oh lord will I be getting fired? I want to say that my day was very tough, problems were everywhere. The 5 of Pentacles is esoterically titled “Lord of Material Trouble” This can relate to anything in the material world, so expect anything in your surroundings that material and real to come into trouble.
Firstly this card was reflecting the present, in that it was showing my financial state (lack of money) but thankfully payday is a few days away so that will be taken care of. Secondly while at work my boss became real bitchy at me and asked something from me to be done on Friday which was extremely out of line considering the deadline. I was very close to quitting, but the 5 of Pentacles in my mind kept me from that. The rest of my day from that point went down hill. After work I went to school. While trying to find parking a girl who was backing out of a spot it my driver side (by the wheel). The car was fine but still I was hit, and my thoughts were “how much worse can the day get”. I had Psychology that night which was the highlight of my day. To cheer me up I decided to go to Barnes & Noble for a little retail therapy. As I was walking in to the store the sprinkler which were on sprayed me. More shit! A few other things poped up regarding finances but I won’t go into it.
Also I noticed that everyone is getting sick. From the people at work to people in the family and close friends, all getting sick. Something is going around, the 5 of pentacles can indicate ill health.
So how does my day relate to the 5 of Pentacles and what did I learn via experience about the 5 of Pentacles? I now relate the idea of victim and feeling victimized more so than I did before. All day I felt like a victim to The Fates, My boss, that girl who hit me and the dam sprinklers. I was the victim of bad luck and a all around crappy day. I could not wait to go to bed.
This is why daily readings are important, they show us what may happen and can help us deal with the deal. We also learn from our experience new ways at looking at the cards.
Blessings,
Angelo
Tarot for people with little patience
01 year ago
by Angelo Nasios
in Book Related
I am currently working on a e-book project. I want to have this ebook out before Tarot; What the little white book won’t tell you. Hopefully before the end of the year. Tarot Now! is meant to be a beginners book, with simple to understand tarot knowledge. Tarot: WTLWBWT is looking to be more of an intermediate book and I would prefer to have a beginners book out before the more complex stuff.
Here is the introduction so far,
You want to learn tarot and you want to learn it fast. We live in an age where everything is just about as instant as it could be. From instant meals that are zapped in the microwave, to the high speeds of the Internet sending information, media and all sorts of fun stuff to us we have become used to a fast paced way of life. When we learn something we often want to learn it fast, skipping the long and tedious years of study and practice. We just want to download the info straight into our brains like in the Matrix. Whatever needed to be learned, from Karate to speaking a language they could download the info right into the brain for instant usage. Sadly we can’t do that (yet) thankfully for my sake or you would not have to read my book.
Tarot is an art that can take a long time to learn and fully understand. But you want to learn it fast; you got a busy life or you are like me and are a lazy reader when it comes to books. You don’t want page after page of highly arcane and occult babble. You want no nonsense tarot, tarot for the regular person. You want it fast and quick. Well you got it! “Tarot Now! Understanding the tarot for people with little patience” is for you. In this book I will bring tarot to you in a simple and easier fashion that will get you going on your path of enlightenment faster than Snookie running for a pickle!
Now before I lose your attention completely and you start to check your Facebook newsfeed lets get started.
Introduction to – Tarot Now! Understanding the tarot for people with little patience
Persona, Masks and Identity
9Halloween is a time of the year when children and adults alike dress up in costumes. We change our appearances with makeup, masks and other things to change our identity. We get to become someone else. We can escape into a world other than our own. Children dress up as superheroes, monsters, princesses and other fantastical identities. Adults get to go wild and let off some steam. To quote Cady from the movie Mean Girls, “Halloween is the one night a year when girls can dress like a total slut and no other girls can say anything about it.” Once Halloween is over we take off the costumes, remove the masks and return to our real lives. Some people, however wear masks all year round.
We all wear masks in life, the mask is called the “persona”, we all show different sides of ourselves to people in social interactions based on how we want people to perceive us. The persona is the “social face”. To Carl Jung the Persona is used to impress others and or to hide our true nature.
Persona’s play an important role. We have different masks for certain life situations. Persona’s help us conform to social roles and expectations. Its role playing. However there are horrible situations were if unchecked and not balanced the persona can take over the true self.
People who hide behind a persona for much of the day come off as in-genuine. These people are what we call “phony” or “fakes”. You know what I am talking about, you have people in your family or in the workplace who are such fakes. They wear a mask to everyone, trying to promote an image to everyone. Once they clock out from work the mask comes off they flip a switch and are not the same person you think they were.
The workplace example seems to be a common thing. We all show our best face at work. However there are more extremes to the persona. When someone lives via a persona all day every day, never showing their true self to others this becomes problematic. The reason, the people who interact with that individual never get to know the real, true self of that person. True and honest friendships cannot be created. What happens is the person lives a life that is a lie. A false reality created to protect the true self, the real person behind the persona.
Astrology
The persona is an old concept, which can be found in the stars of Astrology. The first house of a natal chart is called the “house of self”, this is the home of the Ascendant. The sign that is rising in the horizon at the time of your birth. This is the house of your identify, self image and is the mask we wear when we meet people. In many ways the ascendant reveals what our social mask is. I am a Leo with a Sagittarius ascendent. One trait of a rising Sagittarius is a need to keep up their sense of humor. They manage to find humor in everything. Which is very true for me. I try to find the joke in all things and I refer to humor in times of trouble or discomfort.
Tarot
in the dream world where anyone could be anything. That may be one reason the figure in the card is blacked out, he could look like anything. The 6 of Wands could also represent the Social Face, the figure on the horse is in the public eye. Everyone is looking at him. This man needs to show the best face he can to keep people liking him. This is a card which represents praise. For someone who wants the praise to never end, he or she needs to keep up a Persona that appeal to society.
Take out your deck and lets do some self-exploration.
Ask the following questions,
What does my social mask look like?
How does my social mask differ to my true self?
What do I use my social mask for?
How can I keep my social mask in balance with my true self?
-Angelo Nasios
Live Every Day The Tarot Way