Tag Archives: Introduction to Tarot

The Hermit’s Journey: How do you define success?

So many of us do not feel we are ever successful. We work and work and feel like we are getting nowhere. But doing whatever we do and doing it well IS success. We do not necessarily become celebrities or even known outside of our specialized circle, but we do well with what we have and have become.

Applaud our small improvements
Recently, I read this in Chats with the Void, a comic about existentialism: One character says: “I’m honestly scared that this mediocrity is all I’m capable of…. that I’ve peaked here as this amateur…. My few successes feel so…. small.” The Void replies: “The real terror is turning successes into failures by being unable to enjoy them.” (@chatsvoid—check it out, a wonderful comic.) If we applaud all our successes, no matter how small, we can see how far we have really come.

The Hermit card
The Hermit card shows someone standing on the top of a mountain. He is often shown holding a lantern (some have a symbol inside it that shows it is illuminating Truth). He looks back to see where he has been. If we look back to see where we have been in the past, we will see how much progress we have actually made—more than we usually think.

Looking back
I tell people who are frustrated with their progress in a project or goal to look back six months and see where they were before compared to where they are now. It would be very rare that you are not at least incrementally ahead of where you were. Success is not a matter of bolts from the blue, it is a matter of small steps leading to progress. We practice and practice and see the results over time.

We may never be big names in our professions. We may never be world famous. But we get to be very good at what we do and that is all we can strive for. Enjoy what you are doing and applaud yourself as you improve. Even if you are not an expert, you are better than you once were and that is worth being proud of.

Adventures in Tarot Cards: 8 of cups

“Something hidden. Go and find it. Go and look behind the Ranges– Something lost beyond the ranges. Lost and waiting for you. Go!” –Rudyard Kipling “The Explorer” 8 of Cups has always been a favorite card of mine. It usually (we will use the Rider-Waite as an example here) shows a person walking away from… Continue Reading

Card of the day: High Priestess

The High Priestess traditionally is the guardian of secrets. She is a teacher rather than a doer.  But if you listen, you can learn much information you can use.   Followers of the I Ching may know the High Priestess as Yin (passive) to the Magicians Yang (active.) But she is not completely unmoving. Nor… Continue Reading

Magicians vs Tarot cards

I can rarely enjoy a magic show anymore. I worked for a short time in the office of a wonderful mentalist and good friend (as well as a greatly respected mentor who helped me break into the psychic entertainment business.)  Once he twirled the stem on a pocket watch, handed it to me then guessed… Continue Reading

Picking a Tarot Deck

How do you pick a deck to use? There are hundreds even thousands of published and unpublished decks to choose from. Some people like to create their OWN tarot decks. Some decks have pictures on the Minor Arcana. some (referred to as Marseille decks) don’t. The best way to pick a deck for you is… Continue Reading

What are tarot cards?

I am sure you have seen Tarot cards and wondered about them. Maybe you have even had a reading before. I am starting a new series here of short pieces about tarot. I hope you enjoy them. For this first piece, lets talk about what Tarot is and what it is not. It is 78… Continue Reading