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

Jupiter: The Gigantic, Giving, Goof

Greetings, Gifted Reader!

Did ya miss me? Apologies for not appearing here last week, but this blogger has moved to a biweekly format. From now on, look for us keeping you in the know with our metaphysical musings on an every-other-week basis.

Since last we connected, Gypsy Stars has been experiencing her own Jupiter Retrograde disappointments. How has Jupiter been treating you?

As you may know, Jupiter’s generosity is legend. Here is a big fat, jolly planet that lives to give. Jupiter also loves to laugh and because of his naïveté can be a total dork. Due to his hedonistic tendencies like over-imbibing and overeating, Jupiter is also the quintessential partier slash playboy. In Ifa, Obatala is sometimes compared to Jupiter. Children of Obatala wear white, are considered chaste and holy, and not allowed to drink alcohol. Obatala, it is said, created humans. But as he sat in heaven, making people of clay then blowing them down to earth with his breath, he thought he’d have a shot of palm wine to make his work go faster. In fact, Obatala thought he’d have several shots. Soon, he became so tipsy that he accidentally began breaking off the arms, legs and even the heads of the unfortunate earthlings; sending them to earth as disabled and undeveloped.

Discipline, boys and girls, is not Jupiter’s forte either. In the case of retrogrades, Jupiter will often take back what he gave you in abundance while he was in direct motion. Because Jupiter is in Aries now, generally (because it will differ for each individual), we’re looking at issues dealing with ego, personality and the physical body. For instance, if you have Aries Ascendant, Jupiter Retrograde over your First House could be that time when you lose weight. On September 8, Jupiter will be retrograding his way backwards into Pisces while both Venus and Mars enter Scorpio! Okay, I think I’ll sit this one out in my Gypsy Stars cave. Scorpio is intense and with both Venus and Mars in it, you can expect lots of fireworks or firearms going off in personal relationships.

Switching subjects now, a lot of people often ask me for advice about how to attain mental clarity. First of all, stop ingesting dead animals. Seriously. Although it’s a good way to stay physically healthy, too, not eating putrid carcasses is also a way for you to avoid taking in any residue negative vibrations. An animal in its last moments of life, realizing that it’s dying, is fighting hard to live. That is what you’re bringing into your psyche—fear, helplessness, and the overwhelming pain of loss. Check out most Eastern religions like Buddhism and you will note that priests do not eat dead animals, for a good reason.

Once you’ve gotten to that point (and I’m not saying to do it overnight), be sure you’re always well hydrated. Drink lots of water and natural non-concentrated juices. If you have a juicer, excellent. For tea, I stick with genmai (green with brown rice bits) and if I really want to open my chakras, I use gotu kola, which is made from elephants’ favorite leaves. Drink gotu kola regularly and you will never forget. If you don’t already practice yoga, try it for both the physical rewards and meditative qualities.

After you’ve gotten yourself physically conditioned, create a place in your home where only you alone can always go. That will become your altar space where you will meditate and ask your higher consciousness, gods and/or goddesses, spirit guides, or whatever you look to for guidance, to assist you with a clearer, calmer mind.

Another time, I’ll give you some ideas of what to put in your altar space.

Above are some of my fave photos of the psychic vibes surrounding Santa Monica, a city chock full of ghosts and legends. For instance, a statue of Saint Monica stands on Ocean Boulevard and Wilshire. It’s reported that Ms. Monica was beyond consoling because her son, the future St. Augustine, was a drunkard and womanizer. Monica cried every day until her tears formed a pool near downtown Los Angeles where Spanish explorers landed. Seeing the spring of water there, they decided to name the area Santa Monica (not to be confused with present-day Santa Monica located at the edge of the Pacific Ocean). As Fate would have it, the city of Santa Monica is Sagittarius which means it's ruled by generous, jovial Jupiter and the same sign that my Moon (home) is in.

That’s me at the top in my favorite Santa Monica cemetery on 14^th Street followed by a shot of Zoltar, the famous psychic living on Santa Monica Pier. Drop in a coin, and voila! Zoltar will tell you whether or not that knuckle-headed boyfriend will call you with an apology, or if your lottery ticket holds the winning combo.

Santa Monica:

http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/ETg2kS_IzOmjWBsbCmiLUw?select=0lYxCJnAOA6DTjO29ZNx8w

Zoltar:

http://wiki.worldflicks.org/boardwalk_on_the_pier.html#coords=(34.009438,-118.497154)&z=19

http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM5B56_Zoltar_Santa_Monica_Pier_California

And, don't forget our T*zing t-shirts at http://www.cafepress.com/t_zing and George Patton's book about his great Uncle Herman, a famous magician during the Harlem Renaissance.

Remember, you can 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

Abracadabra: Magical Moments With George Patton And Black Jack

Greetings, Gifted Reader! As promised, a special guest is featured on this week’s blog.

George Patton is a professional stock market technical analyst, founder of Patton Capital Management, and a registered investment advisor currently living in Orlando Florida.

He’s also the author of Black Jack, a book about his great uncle Herman who was a famous magician. However, Patton's main character is his aunt Eva, who was only 17 when she met Herman and became his assistant. A small time ingénue who fell in love with Herman (already famous when they met), Eva was propelled into superstardom along with her man as they became part of the Harlem Renaissance.

Besides a focus on the world of magic, the book also addresses the Jim Crow laws of segregation during that time period. Written from Eva’s point-of-view as a survivor, the book starts with her and ends with her. Black Herman died mysteriously onstage in 1934 while Eva continued to rise with resplendence as she had been conditioned to mentor the following generations of her family. She passed away this year at age 111.

Q: So, George, do you believe in magic?

A: I believe there is more in this world than meets the eye. As for the mental manipulation of matter, I think that is possible also. That there are unseen powers that can be beseeched to do your bidding, definitely, but there is always a price.

Q: What inspired you to tackle a project that involves heavy research about history?

A: Love of history. Love of family. Learning about my family history was fascinating especially since no one had spoken Black Herman’s name in my household in forty years, believe it or not. When you research your family history, you learn about yourself. The choices they made prepare the fertile field for your development. Also, my heart leapt when I saw my great aunt’s name in a history book.

Q: How long did it take you to write the book?

A: The better part of a year. But I was seemingly aided by inspiration from beyond. Suppositions I made early on were revealed to be chillingly accurate. Once more, facts were uncovered. I say that this fictionalized version is closer to fact than even I imagine.

Q: Do you think that Black Herman based his work on African techniques that became Hoodoo in America?

A: Yes, in the beginning of his career and back then his audience was mostly semi-literate Southern blacks who were heavily steeped in these traditions passed down from slave times. Herman provided shows based on African Hoodoo to entertain and empower just as his talk of hailing from Zulu tribes—the fiercest warriors in existence--were meant to empower and embolden.

Q: Do you know of any black magicians working today? 

A: Yes. I have corresponded with some during the marketing of my novel and some of them have been very supportive. Among these are William Puckering “The Magic of Puck” at www.puckmagic.com, and the “Dean of Black Magicians” Donald Camp who thanks Black Herman for giving him ‘mystery’. Also, there’s Teddy Lee of White Plains New York, the “Mortician Magician”.

Q: How do you feel about Las Vegas magicians? Are they helping to keep the world of magic from fading? Where are the Johnny Carsons of today?

A: Syndicated TV continues to air specials featuring magicians and they’re unmasking them. But no matter how many tricks are debunked, the public still wants more. Magicians and others in touch with the occult will always prosper during tough economic times. Black Herman’s business was largely unaffected by the Wall Street crash of 1929. He was quoted as saying that the day after the crash shouldn’t have been called “Black Tuesday” but “White Tuesday” because “our people” didn’t have stocks or bonds to worry about losing. In fact, initially, Herman and Eva were busier than ever because people needed an entertaining distraction and the comfort a great magician could provide.

Q: Do you know any magic tricks?

A: No. I prefer to be the audience; to sit back in amazement, tantalized by clever conundrums. 

Q: Any last words?

A: Yes. A professor from Chapel Hill in North Carolina has recently written a novel about a fictional Negro magician. It turns out this man was neither a Negro nor a magician. He was just a white guy who makes a deal with the devil. This characterization besmirches my family’s honor and my great uncle’s memory. I think it’s heinous.

Abracadabra!

Look at that, Gifted Readers. By George, it’s George’s book!

Leaving you with good luck, light and love;

Gypsy Stars

Cardinal Climax And Metaphysical Mixing

Welcome back, Gifted Reader!

Someone pointed out that while last week's blog noted that Saturn ruled Saturdays, it omitted its sign-- Capricorn. That wasn't intentional; it was because the focus was on it being Saturday or Saturn's Day.

The one thing you'll soon discover about Gypsy Stars is that we're all over the metaphysical map. So, while writing about an Astrological event, we might also add something about an Ifa goddess of the Yoruba deities--like Oshun whose character traits are very similar to the planet Venus. Let us digress. In Astrology, we say that Venus rules "all moving things"; in particular, love and money. Venus is beautiful and she loves beauty. Well, the goddess Oshun is also physically lovely. And, while Oshun is a seductress, she also possesses a genteel manner. In either case, feminine idealism is at its zenith.

But back to the nature of this blog. The name Gypsy Stars came about because the word Gypsy felt intuitive and attached to cards, like Tarot; while Stars refers to the Astrological elements that makes up our studies of the occult.

Speaking of Astrology, our group of Astrologers meets monthly and today we had a meeting. After our leader passed around Natal charts for the U.S., we discussed the Cardinal Climax. Because this blog is not meant to cover highly technical aspects of Astrology, let's just say that our consensus was that the next few months are going to be on the difficult side. The Cardinal Climax involves several planets--Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Pluto--all in Cardinal signs (Aries, Libra, Capricorn) and all within a few degrees in forming an opposition (Aries, Libra) and a square (Pluto in Capricorn). Pluto in Capricorn often predicts meltdowns (Pluto) in government (Capricorn). And, Uranus always brings the unexpected. Mars is violent and rules war and warriors. You already know that Saturn is a harsh taskmaster. That leaves Jupiter, who is often presented as benevolent. But Jupiter is also excessive and can be overindulgent.

It will be really interesting to see what this grouping of planets is going to bring about in the near future.

Meanwhile, do check back next week as we present our very first guest, George Patton, author of Black Jack--a book about his great uncle who was a magician during the Harlem Renaissance.

You can also friend Gypsy Stars and like The Urban Goddess on Facebook. And, please visit our online store, T*zing, at CafePress.

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

Welcome To Gypsy Stars!

Greetings Gifted Reader!

This blog space will be your oasis when the Universe feels so hostile that you just can't quite figure it out. Chances are that when you're experiencing a bad time, it's just another square or opposition aspect forming between two major planets transiting your Natal chart. This, too, shall pass. But, meanwhile, you want to know what's going on and that's why Gypsy Stars is here; to help you understand.

To begin with, let's take a quick look at today's planetary movements. This is our special day for launching this blog site and it's looking good! True, it's Saturday or Saturn's Day--generally, a day that portends delay. Saturn likes to take its slow time and make you learn your lessons the hard way. But there's also an Aries Moon, good for starting new projects in the public eye. And, Aries is fast like fire.

Earlier this morning, Mars (ruler of Aries) conjoined Saturn (ruler of Saturday). Conjunctions work well because it means that although two planets can get on each other's nerves, in this case they decided to work in harmony. Mars is about making things move and Saturn is about giving them structure.

We also had a trine aspect between the Sun in Leo (fixed fire sign) and the Moon in Aries (cardinal fire sign), so it's a good time to get started on something new.

Got that? Today's operative action word is S*T*A*R*T.

And, that's our very short lesson for today, gifted readers. Each week, we'll return to post more metaphysical tidbits so check back soon. In the coming weeks, we'll be discussing Astrology again as well as chakras, clairvoyance, crop circles, ESP, Lemuria, magic, mysticism, Numerology, the occult, Pleiades, psychic phenomena, shamanism, spirituality, Tarot, telepathy, UFO's, yoga and more.

We'll also feature products offered by artists in this community.

Meanwhile, you can check out Gypsy Stars' artful products for the metaphysically minded at the T*zing online store at Cafe Press. Soon, Gypsy Stars will have a Facebook fan page for you to "like" as well. And, we will be offering personal readings.

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