List of Decks as of April 2011

Just to keep track of my collection, I'm posting my list of decks here:




More than 20 decks... I think it's a bit too much. The fact that 80% of the decks were bought in 2008 is somewhat perplexing. I'm not planning to become a hardcore Tarot Deck collector, so I don't plan to buy much more. I actually want to study and use them all, and goodness knows studying even just one deck takes up a LOT of time.

I came up with the Legend system to help me prioritize my studies as a beginning tarot reader. First, I want to nail down the basics with the light pink colored decks. Then to further hone my intuition while still being grounded in the basics, I plan to use the dark pink colored decks. For a real all-out intuitive study where I have to figure out most of the meanings myself (as they aren't traditional in the strict sense of the world), I have the burnt orange cards.

That said, I still have a few decks on my Wish List.

1) Shadowscapes Tarot
2) Tarot of the Magical Forest
3) Tarot of the Sweet Twilight (planning to get this if I spot it at FB)
4) Golden Tarot by Kat Black
5) Alchemical Tarot Renewed
6) Lunatic Tarot
7) Victorian Romantic Tarot

Non-tarot:
8) Victorian Flower Oracle (Magic Realist Press)
9) LoS Lenormand Oracle
10) Piatnik Lenormand

However, I'm not in a hurry to get these decks and at least a couple are Out Of Print. I even consulted the cards with a quick Yes-No reading last time when I was in FB Rockwell and saw 3 lovely boxed decks (The Fairy Tale, Mystic Faerie, and Wizards Tarot) all of which I was fond of but not crazy about. In normal circumstances, it would have been an impulse buy. Aside from saying No, the Tarot told me to work on my existing decks first and foremost!

During the coming vacation (Holy Week) I'm planning to take up a new divination system (Lenormand) using the Sylvie Steinbach book which I've had for a couple years now but never got around to studying. I'm excited! I'm hoping this could open up my intuition more. It's a different system from the Tarot.

Read more...

Action, Structure

I love the 8 of Wands in the Robin Wood deck. It just fizzles with energy. You could practically see those wands traveling at supersonic speed to the far reaches of space.

Relating to myself, though no sudden messages came to me, I was much busier today than I usually am. Though I remain a bum, I was better inclined to action: I did interpretations for at least 3 people, labored over a curriculum draft, cleaned the sink and the bathroom. For the curriculum, I was trying to achieve structure and order.

In the literal sense of quick communications and establishing order though, these cards point to what happened with my boss this morning. His MNL-HK-NGO flight was suddenly changed by the airline to an earlier flight, which displeased him greatly. As expected from a Japanese, he is unsatisfied with these random changes and insists on structure, order and sticking to schedule. He wants to dispute with Cathay regarding cancellation charges but it seems the airline refuses to refund. He could even be the Emperor himself (though personally I see him as the King of Cups).

Read more...

handling tasks with mastery

My soul and personality card came up - 9 of Pents. Indeed I've been self-assured today, and better in control of myself than usual. I did feel the Knight of Wands' energy-- I was busier at work today than I usually am for weeks at a time.

Interpretation: handling sudden projects and stresses at work with skill and mastery.

My cards make more sense today. Probably because I had a clearer, blank(-er) mind doing the shuffle and draw compared to yesterday.

------------------

Seeing these cards so close together, it's kinda scary how the Knight's horse seems to be charging and as if he was about to trample over the Lady in the 9 of Pents (whose back is turned and oblivious!). It's almost a commentary on how I the precarious hold I have on my lazy, always-in-a-hurry self and my ego.

Read more...

Stuck between the Devil and the Knight

I don't know how to relate this to my life on this day. The Devil is from the Major Arcana, so it must be a powerful card. My day was smooth a new and exciting project came out of the blue at work -- I was expecting Wand cards to appear.

The Devil is about being chained--stuck-- willingly. This must have been going on for quite a while. The Knight of Pentacles is capable of extreme effort, but his many plans and ideas could also be stuck in limbo, stubborn as an unmoving mule. (That's what struck me as I look at the card). So maybe I'm letting myself be stuck in a rut? Which rut? My gazillions of awesome plans that never make see the light? I haven't actually thought much of these things today and in fact am hyped up to make the curriculum plan for our upcoming Japanese class tomorrow. Maybe it's a warning not to get stuck!

This card combination warrants deeper introspection.

Read more...

Miscommunication/Misunderstanding

My theme for the day: miscommunication/misunderstanding

Interestingly, I initially thought I was channeling my former classmate's situation (he was having difficulties with his girlfriend due to some misunderstanding and was considering breaking up). We had just been chatting about it before I drew these cards. But I asked the cards about myself on that day, and there certainly was no heartbreak or difficult decisions. I had a great day at work. It was then I realized miscommunication and misunderstanding were the recurring themes. (Twos implied 2 sides, 2 persons). I had botched up a phone number, a manager had misunderstood data, I had trouble understanding my boss and relaying the information to a manager. And then to cap it all off, my old classmate asked me advice about his relationship which I quickly diagnosed as a simple error of communication.

Read more...