Meditation: How To Create Your Altar Space

Greetings, Gifted Reader! 

How are you handling your life these days? Are your night dreams helping you to maneuver this often complicated path we’ve been thrust upon by Karma? Or, perhaps you find that meditation provides you with the answers you seek.

Meditation doesn’t have to be some lengthy, formal ritual, you know. If a few minutes in silence helps you to focus and solve your problems, you can certainly call that meditation.

Included in the advice I give to people seeking answers to questions through Metaphysics (Astrology, Tarot) is to meditate in front of an altar space. In turn, I’m often asked to describe what should be a part of that space.

To begin with, everything depends on the type of person you are.

Some people are into traditional religions, others are agnostic. Some people are tied into their own cultural heritages, while others seem to embrace rituals that are not handed down by their own ancestors.

So, first identify those beliefs that are most important to you. For me, personally, it’s a mix of Japanese Shinto and West African Ifa. Therefore, I like to place objects from both religions onto my altar space.

My first sacred space is near my front door. There, I place a coconut representing Papa Legba (see last blog entry), he of 21 paths and communicator to other Ifa deities. Next to Legba (or Ellegua in Santeria) is the Legba (Rada) card from the New Orleans Voodoo Tarot deck (see ad below). New Orleans is one of my favorite cities, and I’ve read that the Fon of Dahomey ended up there, as well as in Haiti.

Next to Papa Legba is a framed photograph of Japanese actor Fukuyama Masaharu in costume playing Sakamoto Ryoma in the current NHK taiga drama, Ryomaden. Ryoma was a merchant-class samurai who rose to prominence when he helped topple the Tokugawa Shogunate in order to unite Japan and rid it of its class system. Okay, so Ryoma is not quite Shinto, but he seems like the perfect communications helper to Legba as he is a major hero in Japan. Remember, whatever works for you is what you need. If looking at a picture of an actor playing Ryoma (with a samurai sword) evokes a sense of power for me—let’s say, I’m fighting a particular legal battle, for instance—then, that’s fine.

Besides my door altar, I also have a meditation space where I do my work. Since I like bright colors like neon pink and turquoise--which would suggest the deity Oshun, although my spirit mama is Oya whose color is purple—I use a cloth in those particular shades. However, when I want to bring Oya to me, I use a purple cloth and 9 eggplants, or plums. But be careful if you’re calling Oya. She is the goddess of sudden storms, and I’ve experienced her unexpected lightning and thunder in the past.

If you’re the peaceful type, you’ll want to use neutral or pastel colors. If you need something more electric, by all means choose red and black for Chango or purple for his wife, Oya. Everything depends on the type of energy you want to draw to yourself. It may be meditation, but sometimes meditation requires action and in those times, you should attempt to attract something strong.

Add whatever objects to your altar that you think will help you focus on your problem. If you recall, Astrologer Linda Goodman put photos of troubled loved ones on top of purple plates. If you know someone who needs your help, put their picture on your altar along with your wishes for them written down. If it’s about love or money, add 7 oranges or tangerines, or 7 pieces of pumpkin drizzled in honey.

Again, whatever resonates with you is what will work for you. If you have a traditional religious background, definitely decorate your altar space accordingly. Is there a particular figure like Buddha or Krishna that makes sense for you? What are the special candles, flowers, foods, or incenses that they like? Use your intuition and try different arrangements if one of them doesn’t work.

Once you have your altar the way you like it, simply sit in front of it (on the floor is best), breathe deeply and close your eyes. Go to the part of your mind that is still, yet focused, and ask for the resolution of a particular problem. Stay in this state as long as you need—usually half an hour or less. When you “awaken”, you should have your answer. Or, more likely, the answer will awaken you.

Good fortune to you, and drop me a line to let me know how it worked out.

Above are photos of me at a New Orleans café, in front of the House of Voodoo in the French Quarter, and at Marie Laveau’s mausoleum at Saint Louis Cemetery #1 with a friend.

Until next we meet, remember to friend us on Facebook and like The Urban Goddess. Lest you forget, we also have T*zing t-shirts for you at http://www.cafepress.com/t_zing

Leaving you with good luck, light and love;

Gypsy Stars

FYI: How To Get A Tarot Card Reading

Greetings, Gifted Reader!

As my friend George Patton likes to say, we’re living in a time of turmoil propelled by tumultuous events. However, you don’t have to feel overwhelmed by surrounding circumstances. Even if the world around you seems to be spinning out of control, you can still get a handle on your own life through a Tarot card reading. If you have the money and time, I suggest Astrology for a more in-depth analysis. But, that method takes much longer to get down to the nitty-gritty while Tarot can hone in on one specific area quickly.

What’s the best way to get the best Tarot card reading? Well, for one, try not to read the cards while the reader is doing it. So many times in the past, I’ve noticed people trying to read the cards as I lay them out in a spread on the table.

“What does that one mean, ‘Confusion’?” they’ll ask pointing to the card that reads ‘Confusion’.

Without considering the context of the entire spread, they will indicate first one card and then another asking me all the while, “What does that one mean? ‘The Chariot’? Am I’m going to travel? ‘Love and Desire’? Does that mean I’m in love?”

I then ask if they want a reading or if they want to learn to read Tarot cards. Because if they want to learn to read for themselves, it’s going to take more than the 10 or 20 minutes we’ve set aside for the reading. Just explaining what a few cards mean can take awhile. After all, there are 78 of them in most Tarot decks. Further, learning about only one or two cards can be pretty meaningless because the spread works as a unit.

As for the style of Tarot cards to use, there are so many these days and I own a dozen different decks. Personally, I prefer the Egipcios Kier deck (see below) although I wished the artist had made the Egyptians look a little more, well, Egyptian. Still, these cards speak to me on an intuitive level and after nearly 20 years of using them, I can glance at a spread and quickly assess what is going on with the person I’m reading.

When you get a Tarot card reading, you should go with an open mind. Please do not be afraid. No professional reader should ever be the bearer of really bad news. Even if I see something horrific in your reading, I will try to deliver the information in a caring and concerned way.

You should also have some idea of what you’d like to focus on. Think of meeting with a reader as being similar to going to a doctor or therapist. Would you say to your physician, “Hey doc, guess what’s wrong with me?” Or, do you think it’s more effective to say: “Doctor, I’ve been having a lot of stomach pain, but the rest of me is just fine.” Now, your doctor can focus on the part of you that needs healing the most.

Of course, every reader is going to be different, but I like to move things to the forefront by asking outright if the person has any particular questions. That way, the spread will come alive immediately for me. Sometimes, that magic moment happens regardless of the person’s question, but it’s still good to have a focal point.

I’ve actually had people ask me, “Should I tell you who the evil woman is that you’re seeing holding me back on my job?” Of course you should. This is not a guessing game or about hiding information between the cards and the reader. The sooner we can pinpoint your problem, the sooner we can come up with a resolution.

My favorite spread is called the Ten Card Spread. The first card I lay down represents the Questioner and the second card crosses them. The next one goes behind the Questioner card; the next one, below it; the next one, in front of it; and then, above it. To the right of the Questioner, I lay out four cards representing the future and spelling out the answer to the question. The first one, once again, represents the Questioner, then, environmental factors; emotional state; and, final outcome.

I also suggest an interactive approach for best results. With me, you don’t just have to sit quietly and listen. You can interject information like, “Are you sure that’s my husband you’re seeing and not my young lover?” Sometimes, a card like the Fool represents someone youthful like your young lover, and sometimes it represents someone naïve like your gullible husband that you think you’re fooling with your affair.

So, there you have some suggestions about the best way to get a Tarot card reading. Stay tuned as we bring you more metaphysical moments every other Saturday.

At the top, is a snapshot of me holding Papa Legba who sits at my door. Yes, I use a coconut to represent the Trickster who decides who I will and will not communicate with--among other things. Legba or Ellegua has 21 paths and enjoys rum, cigars, candy and chewing gum. The naughty boy will not allow you to communicate with the other loas or orishas if you don’t go through him first.

Speaking of communications, dreams are a wonderful way to be in touch with your higher consciousness. That’s me, above, daydreaming about my mother’s dog dreaming.

Remember, we have T*zing t-shirts for you at http://www.cafepress.com/t_zing

And, don't forget to friend us on Facebook and like The Urban Goddess, too.

Leaving you with good luck, light and love;

Gypsy Stars

Ellegua, Legba and Mercury

Greetings, Gifted Reader!

Apologies for the delay this week, but Gypsy Stars had a party to attend on Saturday and missed her own deadline. That, plus Mercury Retrograde was the culprit for things falling apart.

By now, most people who read their daily horoscope have some sense of what Mercury in Retrograde means. For decades, popular Astrologers rarely discussed it and now that they do, it seems a lot of the general public has a misunderstanding of the effects of this planetary phenomenon.

Personally, Gypsy Stars has heard from some lay folks that this configuration is the worst thing that could happen as miscommunications abound and nothing is settled. While that's somewhat true, there are times when things going wrong turn out to be blessings. Think of Mercury Retrograde as a rest stop on the long highway of life and you'll be just fine.

First of all, let's take a look at the planet itself. Here's the guy responsible for communications, basic education, siblings and short-distance travel; thus, neighborhoods. In the religion of Ifa which is incorporated in Santeria and Vodoun, the deity Legba or Ellegua is highly representative of Mercury. As the Trickster,  he has 21 paths so he's quirky and changeable. In Ifa, you must first petition Legba or Ellegua to ask him to open the doors to the other deities in order to fulfill your desires. If he likes the ebbos (sacrifices) you offer him, he just may let you enter. You can think of the planet Mercury in a similar fashion since he is all about the way we think and speak. When Mercury is in Retrograde motion--meaning he appears to be moving backwards as he slows his speed--that's the time when our thoughts and speech also retract themselves. That's why mail gets lost, voicemails are garbled, emails are never delivered, etc. They occur to gives us a chance to stop action on something, retrieve it, and rethink it before releasing it again.

Since this particular Mercury Retrograde is in the sign Virgo, it's an ideal time to analyze Sixth House activities--or matters of health and employment. Virgo is also about "service to others", so reconsider what you give away so freely.

Use this time wisely. If you have a Natal Mercury Retrograde in your chart, you're already backtracking regularly. For the rest of you, remember this is an opportunity to reassess and resolve an issue that continues to confront you.

To learn more about Legba, read Jambalaya by Luisah Teish pictured below. Remember, we have t-shirts, too. And, don't forget to join us on Facebook!

Leaving you with good luck, light and love;
Gypsy Stars