V: No-thingness

Osho has taken the card that is traditionally known as Heirophant/Priest and strips it down to No-thingness. No religion, no answer, no images. Just space. Terrifying? Exciting? Boring? I've felt all three when staring at this card. It goes down easier when I have an image like the priest--my religious background connects instantly to the male figurehead. The greater challenge that's presented by Osho is the not knowing. No guide, no answered prayer, just the creative fertility of space. What do we truly know? What do we truly face in ourselves when No-thingness appears?

In my readings, the number 5 represents a crossroad. In the Major Arcana, No-thingness lands right after IV: Emperor. You started as the Fool and collected wisdom, sexuality, fertility and power before reaching No-thingness. Now what, journeyer? The card that follows is VI: The Lovers--a striving for inner/outer harmony. However, before The Lovers approach, that womb-like cave calls. The blank canvas. With all of the lessons of the Major Arcana cards that came before, No-thingness calls for a moment of stillness, a breath before creation.

In the words of Osho, "...nothing is not just nothing, it is all. It is vibrant with all possibilities. It is potential, absolute potential. It is unmanifest yet, but it contains all."

Readings at Pyramid Wellness~ Friday, 7/11

I'll be giving 20 minute Tarot/palm/Rune Stone readings or 60 minute Tarot readings at Pyramid Wellness Center in Rutland, VT this Friday, 7/11 from 3-6pm. I'll then be reading at the outdoor Pyramid table during Friday Night Live in Rutland (a totally great time!!)

If you haven't met me yet, come on up for a read! You can book an appointment--or just walk in. Readings are $20 for 20 mins or $65 for an hour. If you book an hour, a recorded CD of the session will be mailed to you.

Pyramid is run by a wonderful staff and the store is packed with cool items! It's is located at 116 West St. in downtown Rutland--contact Bill at 802-775-8080 to book an appt. or click the link to go directly to the website.

See you then!!

New Town, New Phone

Hi everyone--
I've moved to lovely Saxtons River, VT and my phone number has changed. Please email me for the new #--(I'd rather not list it here because of spam).

June 20th is Summer Solstice, which is a wonderful time for a reading. Thankfully, Mercury retrograde also rights itself, so those positive message can come roaring through!

See you soon--
Sue

6 of Swords: The Burden

What a difference a suit makes! We came from 6 of Wands/Success to 6 of Swords/The Burden. As I've mentioned before, the Sword suit is a challenging one because it's all about the mind. Controlling our anxiety, connecting to psychic abilities and opening up to other points of view. And that's just the tip of the sword, so to speak.

To understand 6 of Swords, it's always helpful to know what came before: heartbreak. By the time we reach the 6 of Swords, we decided to pick ourselves up and go to a better place. You can see the man trying to climb to the mountaintop but the rooster on his back sure isn't helping! Our guy can barely keep himself upright, yet has to carry an extra party.

Yet he doesn't. The Burden are all of the "shoulds" and tyrannical ways of thinking that strip our lives of joy. Part of deciding to travel to new horizons is letting go of what broke our hearts. Letting go of the old ways of thinking, harboring, scheming. The ways of revenge or self-pity. The Warrior learns how to wield her sword wisely from pain, as well as victory. The Sword itself represents a sharp, clear mind--but our burdened hiker can't even "carry" his! He's too pre-occupied with the chattering freeloader while each step feels like quicksand.

The 4 of Swords (the card after heartbreak) gives us a time of rest and recuperation. Part of that time is dealing with the aftermath of heartbreak. If that time is ignored or wasted, the 6 of Swords becomes The Burden, though you may have the best intentions of starting over. Tarot always encourages us to deal with what is in front of us, right now, so that it doesn't come back to haunt us later.

This poem sums it up nicely: "I must learn to love the fool in me - the one who feels too much, talks too much, takes too many chances, wins sometimes and loses often, lacks self-control, loves and hates, hurts and gets hurt, promises and breaks promises, laughs and cries. It alone protects me against that utterly self-controlled, masterful tyrant whom I also harbour and who would rob me of human aliveness, humility and dignity but for my fool." - Theodore Rubin

My Interview with The Rutland Herald

Last fall I had a wonderful opportunity to talk with Rich Alcott, the writer behind the brilliant Rutland Herald column, "Talking Pictures". He also did a piece on two Pyramid practitioners--Darya (massage therapist) and Margaret (naturopath). Darya gave me one of the best massages I've ever received---and believe me, I've gone to many therapists for these tense muscles!

So, if you want to see more of what I do and how I do it, click on the links below. I don't talk quite that fast during a reading--but I hormally wouldn't read cards at 8 AM! ;)

The print version is here. The cartoon concept is genius! The video is here.

Check out Rich's personal website for other great interviews of quirky VT people. There's alot of us!

Rich wanted me to do a reading on the love life of America. Though the idea of reading for 300+ million people was slightly intimidating, I jumped right in. Enjoy!

6 of Wands: Success & Victory

Ah, the sweet smell of success. Victory. Those times when everything is right in life. The 6 of Wands (or Fire) is that pause where you congratulate yourself. Often we spend the majority of time chastising ourselves regarding past failures or longing for unmet goals. 6 of Wands says, relax. Enjoy what you've earned. Give thanks for this blessing, whatever it may be (good health, a perfect spring day, a blooming garden, easy times in a relationship). It's the feeling you get when sitting by a fire; warm and safe with lots of laughter or peaceful stillness.

Wands/Fire are all about a fiery, proactive energy that stokes you up. It burns fast and strong, like a race car. It's strength in motion but the challenge of the Fire signs is to know when to rest, when to say thank you and "good job!". It a challenge for some to actually appreciate what they've accomplished, so 6 of Wands helps encourage that natural pride in one's abilities.

5 of Wands saw us at a crossroads, pulling those pieces of our scattered energy back into some form of wholeness. 6 of Wands gets us to that "perfect" ahh moment before the stress and movement of the 7 of Wands. It's as if the card is saying, "Rest and celebrate here, because you've got an endless journey ahead."

2 of Swords: Double-Mindedness

Okay, I'll be the first to admit that being an Air sign ain't easy. As much as I love my Gemini quirkiness, we Air signs (Libra, Gemini, Aquarius) think and think and think...and then think some more. You'll know us by the smoke coming out of our ears and other orifices.

Swords represent Air signs and workings of the mind: clarity, confusion, wisdom and psychic abilities. It's creative intention before physical manifestation. Air signs are blessed with quicksilver brains and tongues. We usually have the flash of inspiration and intellect long before others. We are the dreamers and visionaries--but aren't so great seeing it through (that's what Earth signs are for!!) We can also be major control-freaks because we think we know best.

The 2 of Swords speaks of a double-mindedness. We came from a bright new beginning with the Ace (One) of Swords--the re-newed opening of our consciousness/psychic abilities. Excellent, right? Yeah, until the ego starts chattering during the 2 of Swords. "What if I make the wrong decision? What if people don't like me? I don't have all the facts, so I'll just keep analyzing and analyzing until the cows come home..." The 2 of Swords encourages us to leap into this new void, this new un-knowing that is the gift from the Ace. But we hold on to what we know or think is right/good for us, yet end up with a broken heart in the 3 of Swords.

In the Goddess Tarot, a woman sits blindfolded with 2 swords crossing her chest with the water at her back. It's the perfect analogy; she's feeling defensive and not ready to make a decision--and yet she has a choice. She can remove the blindfold but that would mean dropping her swords, or she can strike out with one of the swords and hope she aims wisely. She can also put down both of her swords, remove the blindfold and swim. She'd rather protect her heart and sit in darkness. There's a time and place for everything but she holds on until her heart breaks in the 3 of Swords.

In Osho's version, the being hanging between two cliffs wants to fly, just like the birds above but only sees the ground/death below. Trust is replaced with aching fingers. And we all can figure out where that body is going to land. However, like my former therapist loved to say, "A broken heart is an open heart" and that's where we go next. The Sword suit isn't an easy path to travel--but the richness of a still, wise mind is its gift in the end.

2 of Cups: Friendliness

Cups are all about love and relationships. They are the Water cards of Tarot and if you've ever known a Pisces, Cancer or Scorpio, you know how they love. Deeply. One of the gifts of the Water signs is their intuitive depths. One of the challenges of Water is allowing freedom and having the wisdom to not drown others in love.

I have to say, I love Osho's description of "Friendliness" for the 2 of Cups. It's love without possession, whether it's eros or agape love. The 2 of Cups speaks of union with another. In the traditional (Waite-Rider deck, etc) Tarot, there is usually a heterosexual couple holding up two goblets in a toast to their love. It's harmony, a pause in the craziness of life where two people can actually breathe together. I read the 2 of Cups with a broader perspective, not just a traditional couple falling in love. It's the yearning for a beloved and taking the opportunities in love that life presents. It could be an actual partner, re-connecting with a dear friend or family member or even little creatures! (A friend just adopted a puppy and I'm completely in love with him!)

2 of Cups is loving another without the grasping possessiveness that comes from fear. Osho describes it beautifully in the picture--two trees hanging out and dancing together; no agenda, no twisting up together so birds and other creatures can't nest in their branches. As you move towards the 3 of Cups, loving friends surround and support you in celebration.

(Oprah is offering an excellent 10 week series on staying in the present---she's discussing A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose with its author, Eckhart Tolle. It's free and each session is 1.5 hours. If you want to jump in without watching all of the videos, I suggest starting at Ch. 4. Check it out!)

Daily Quote

In the same way that you don't put the sun coming up on your To Do list, don't put creating health on your To Do list. Just appreciate yourself into the Well-being that is natural to you.

- Abraham-Hicks -

What Type of Empath Are You?

Take the quiz (with a grain of salt) to find out!
You scored as Judge

You are a Judge Empath, one who is a "truthsayer". You can tell truth from lies, good from evil. You do not tolerate wrong doing. You are a defender of the good and the innocent. You are kind and merciful but do not play foolish games. (from "The Book of Storms" by Jad Alexander at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Empaths/)

(er...I'm pretty fun, too!)

4 of Pentacles: The Miser

4 of Pentacles isn't one of those fuzzy, feel-good cards in Tarot. In fact, it's very practical but practical can be so...boring. (Remember, I'm a Gemini). The Pentacles are the Earth cards of the Tarot, one of the four suits of the Minor Arcana. And if there's one sign that knows how to work and make things happen, it's Earth signs (Taurus/bull, Virgo/virgin, Capricorn/goat).

Yet while we're working through a particularly tedious or irritating problem and things aren't working out in the way we *think* they should, the Miser creeps up. The Miser says, "I want things to work out this way because it's what I'm used to. It's what I know. I don't like change. Let me hold onto what I have because I may not have anything after this is over! Half is better than none, right? Then I can control what's left and not lose that." Yet Life or the Universe or God/Goddess (whomever) encourages us to shift and change when needed. The Pentacles cards provide us with that much needed energy, practicality and determination to change. In fact, the 3 of Pentacles says that we need to ask for guidance before attempting the 4 of Pentacles. Whether or not we ask/listen to that guidance is entirely up to us.

4 of Pentacles leads to 5 of Pentacles (a crossroads), which is all about our attitude when facing new growth. 5 of Pentacles asks whether you will be bitter or grateful as things fall away and new ideas/people come into your life. Will you feel like an outsider or embrace the exciting, scary new? The Earth signs are gifted in many ways (grounded, smart, completes projects, level-headed) but one of their challenges is to let go and not root into stubbornness (the "I know best; life is kinda cozy so I don't need to change" attitude--notice the wall around her). Even if we are not an Earth sign, we can learn from their characteristics that are reflected in the Pentacles suit.

The more we can resist becoming the Miser, the easier new opportunities can flow into our lives, especially with the approaching Spring!

#17 The Star: The Power to Dream

When you wish upon a star...

The Star card is the one for dreamers. To understand Star (#17 card of the Major Arcana), it's good to know the card before it: #16, The Tower. Tower is external upheaval, really being shattered by life and circumstance. In the Tower, you are tossed to the sharks, lose all your possessions (or what you know/believe of life) and are stripped down to nothing. So you can imagine your state once you reach The Star. You're exhausted, tired of trying, sick of weeping all night. But rather than "Woe is me", you still have that little seed inside that desperately wants to dream--in something, someone.

The Star gives you energy to dream, even if it's in a good night's sleep. It asks you to rest but remain open to inner worlds. As you can see from the card, you're still in darkness but the stars light your way towards #18 The Moon and #19 The Sun. You're finally able to lift your head and see the beauty of the Universe, though you may still feel trapped by life on earth. Star encourages your dreaming because the more you dream, the more you manifest. Tower has stripped away what is unnecessary in your life, so Star welcomes the "crazy", "unrealistic", "no-way-this-can-happen" dreams because after Tower, what else do you have to lose?

XX Judgment: Beyond Illusion

Card 20 of the Major Arcana is traditionally known as Judgment and in Osho's Zen Tarot as Beyond Illusion. It's one card away from Universe, the final card of the Major Arcana.

To be honest, it took me some time to really understand this card. There were religious connotations with "Judgment" that put me off--i.e., being judged by God for how one lived life. Since I prefer staying in the present while reading Tarot, Beyond Illusion works better as a description. The Major Arcana are the powerhouse cards of Tarot, the ones that show where you are psychologically and spiritually. (The Minor Arcana are more about daily life.) Beyond Illusion is a rebirth: you've come out of a period of transformation and darkness, slowly emerging into the light and new life. The Sun (Card 19) lights your way, infusing you with energy and brightness. The Sun and all of the previous lessons brought you to Card 20 and now you are able to walk with clearer vision towards the opportunities found in Universe (Card 21).

Judgment/Beyond Illusion says, congratulations on making it this far and being the better for it. Enjoy your new-found wisdom and courage because The Fool/Beginnings (Card 0) are right around the corner.

7 of Pentacles: Patience

This has been a long, cold winter in Vermont. I'm not a snow bunny, so it's even more difficult to bear. Sometimes I wish I had loads of money so I could hop on a plane and head to Arizona or Spain--anywhere warm! I'm starting to feel the edges of spring and want to push the days towards April. I want, I want, I want. More importantly, I want it now!

7 of Pentacles is all about patience. Pentacles are the grounded energy of Earth (and Earth signs) and the gift of staying present. The 7 of Pentacles encourages us to plant seeds and wait for harvest. That's why the image of a pregnant woman is so apt for this card. You can't push the harvest; it blooms in its own time. As a Gemini (Air sign--thinking, dreaming, flying, spinning my mental wheels), this a constant challenge/opportunity to sit in the moment, still dreaming but grounded in the now. This instant, yet knowing that the Wheel (cycles of life) continually move.

Spring equinox (March 20th) and the energy of fiery Aries will soon be here. As we sit in these days of watery Pisces, it's time to nourish our seeds of intention. That's why I encourage my clients to be very aware of what they think and dream. This is the moment before birth/blossoming, so your "baby" thoughts need as much care as possible. Waiting and stillness are the gifts found in the 7 of Pentacles, which lead us to the creative energy of the 8 of Pentacles (the "artist" card).

VII Awareness: Chariot

I use Osho's Zen Tarot as my personal Tarot deck. I've been using these cards for nearly two years and though I'm not a real fan of cards with words, the images are beautiful. If you're just learning Tarot, don't get too stuck on the captions. The cards are much deeper and complex than the particular word implies.

Choosing a daily card is a great way to learn about Tarot instead of trying to memorize different types of spreads right away. A well-rounded knowledge of each card is essential for your readings because they all fit together like a puzzle.

VII: Awareness/Chariot

The traditional name of "Awareness" is Chariot. Chariot is movement, the 7th card of the Major Arcana. When a Major Arcana card appears, it signifies your particular psychological state of the moment or where you stand on your spiritual path right now. Chariot follows Lovers (card #6), where the heart chakra hungers for total harmony but has difficulty finding it. Chariot is the movement we need to take us to Death/Transformation (Card #13). It's fast movement, like the Fire cards and it can be a challenge to keep our balance once things start to pick up. As you can see in the image, our outer shell burns away to reveal an inner baby Buddha and a blue sky beyond.

7 is a mystical number, so one of the challenges of Chariot is asking for support as you deepen your spiritual connection (in whatever form/ideology). Chariot helps to release us from stagnation and heightens our sense of what need to change or "burn" away. I don't believe that the "Universe" or whomever forces us to change but there are plenty of opportunities to grow and expand. Chariot offers us the ride...but in the words of Bette Davis, be sure to buckle up!

Chariot moves us towards Justice (card #8), the Karma card, where we face our actions toward ourselves and others. We can't become the Hermit (card #9) without facing the scales of Justice. That's why Chariot can be a scary, exciting ride--because we are headed towards our true(er) self.

It's the last day of January, so Awareness/Chariot is a perfect card that symbolizes movement toward spring, growth and rebirth. Start planting those inner seeds in these last days of winter and see what happens in a few months!

What's Up On Planet Earth?

Check out Karen's website for some trippy, "out there" messages about what's up on Planet Earth!

Even Tarot Readers Get the IChing Blues

There are times that I really don't like the answers that the IChing gives (I use the Kwan Yin Book of Changes, a feminist re-working of the IChing). But even when I try to ignore the results, it still doesn't change the outcome. Case in point: the other day I asked about a potential relationship that seemed to be heading in a positive direction. The throw indicated otherwise. Depletion, Completions and Sisterhood (Friendship) all came up. Needless to say, I wasn't happy, so I merely ripped out the page from my journal and tossed it in the recycling bin.

If only it were that easy.

Within a day--one phone call, actually--the IChing once again proved itself to be the sharp sword that it is. Right on point (ow).

This is one of the many reasons I respect the IChing. It gives me an answer, whether I like it or not. It prepares me for what my gut already knows--but may not be ready to see.

Happy 2008!

Here's to a wonderfully prosperous new year, full of love and hope! Thanks to all of my clients who made 2007 such a successful and expansive year for me. Thank you, thank you.

Some Of My Own Questions

The more I do Tarot readings, the more I realize that there are very similar desires in all of our hearts: to be loved, to feel fulfilled and secure. Do the cards help? I hope so. Yet I can't help but wonder what happens after a client leaves. Do they apply what they've seen/thought/felt? Do they walk away frustrated because life doesn't seem to improve quick enough?

The three main topics that come up in most of my reads are love, money, and career. Probably not surprising--but I wonder why it's so difficult for us to find fulfillment?

I spoke with an acquaintance who used to read cards for over 15 years but walked away in frustration. He said, "Yeah, people all want the same things--love, money, happiness--and yet they forget everything once they walk out the door." Though I understand his point, I don't share his view because I know I can't change anyone. However, I personally can relate to asking the same question (usually about love/relationships) and yet not seeing immediate results. And sometimes I don't want to do the work, which generally entails sitting still with myself. Perhaps that translates into wanting a quick change for my clients, some instant transformation or epiphany to jolt them into a better place. Yet there's no guarantee that will happen--and the cards really are a reflection of exactly where you sit in the moment. It's no wonder that some of my friend's clients walked away and "forgot"--maybe they just didn't want to see their own reflection?

The cards give me hope because no reading is so dire that I walk away crushed. It's all a matter of re-adjusting the view--and some days it's clearer than others.

Celtic Cross Spread

This is one of the most widely used Tarot spreads. My client lays out 10 cards so they can see their question/situation from various positions. I like to tell them that the spread is like climbing a tree. We start climbing and head for the top, looking down on the situation. We then go to the roots and spread out again, seeing what's passed, what we're learning and the final outcome. The reading generally takes an hour or so.

Layout of the Celtic Cross:

1st: The Question / Situation
2nd: What "crosses" you. Think of it as a gate or a wall, depending on the card.
3rd: What's above the situation
4th: The roots of the situation
5th: What's passing away
6th: What's before you as you walk toward the outcome
7th: How you see yourself now in the situation
8th: The energy you draw to the situation--helps/hinders you
9th: Hopes & fears
10th: Final outcome of situation

It's worth noting that nothing is fixed in Tarot, other than paying taxes and eventual "death". The reading all depends on your attitude and intention. For example, you could have a read (either positive or challenging) and walk out the door with a different attitude, which immediately changes the read.

Tarot is fluid and flexible; it's simply a mirror reflecting your intuition and inner knowledge. It's like a good friend who supports and warns you, all at the same time.

IChing--Kwan Yin Reads

Diane Stein came up with a fabulous re-working of the IChing called the Kwan Yin Book of Changes. She takes the traditional male viewpoint found in the IChing and transforms it into a female/Goddess oriented reading.

I've used Kwan Yin for the past year and have slowly memorized the 60+ throws. Basically, 3 pennies are thrown 6 times and produce 6 various lines that culminate in a particular reading. A Kwan Yin reading is very direct and it's advised to not endlessly ask the same question. The reading usually gives one or two viewpoints to analyze. As there is an explanation for each line of the throw, the reading can be extensive.

Learning the IChing definitely keeps me sharp, since I can't anticipate the outcome as quickly as Tarot. I love using this tool in conjunction with the Runes and Tarot because they compliment each other so well.

More on the Kwan Yin Book of Changes can be found here and a great article on why Stein used Kwan Yin as her title.

What Tarot Card Are You?

Kind of silly but fun...and the descriptions are pretty accurate for the cards.

Sessions Can Now Be Recorded

Hi everyone--

I went out and bought a great digital recorder that can easily make CDs from our sessions. Of course it's optional but I've found that being able to listen to the reading recaptures the magic of it. Writing it out just doesn't feel the same.

I will generally mail the CD within one week of your reading.

My Clients

I've met amazing people through Tarot and it's one of the best things about my work. It's such a great pleasure to welcome a client into my home and watch what unfolds: Who are they? What are they about? How can I help? I normally trust my first impressions of people because I lived in NYC and had to have defenses up; the pace was so quick that a razor-sharp intuition was crucial. But that doesn't work so well with Tarot readings. Many of my clients are nervous and scared about a reading, so that anxiety can temporarily obscure who they really are. That's why it's important for me to create a space of safety and comfort. When my clients do open up, it's like watching a flower unfold or a book being cracked. Some reveal more than others but it's all fascinating to me.

I've had incredibly diverse people walk through my door: successful 'Type A' Wall Streeters, artists, shamans, doctors, psychics, moms, teachers, various types of healers, students, overseas travelers. I've heard stories that would break your heart and dreams that make my heart sing (yes, I live vicariously through them--I am a Gemini, after all!)

When the session ends, I am usually filled with great hope (I call it "flying") because the world needs as many healers as She can get! I'm honored to have met all of you because my life continues to expand from our time together.

The Face Behind the Read

I'm a Gemini. Let's get that out of the way first. I love being a Gemini because not only is it one of the most adventurous signs, but we are blessed with an endless curiosity. It's one of the reasons I started studying Tarot nearly 10 years ago.

Like most things that have appeared in my life, Tarot was entirely unexpected. I grew up as a evangelical Christian, and I probably don't have to tell you the general attitude towards Tarot. Other than the occasional horoscope, I avoided anything that smacked of divination.

In 1998, I went on a silent retreat during a particularly tumultuous time. The retreat center was run by two nuns who gave me plenty of respectful distance, except for the day that we ended up chatting and one of the nuns handed me a circular pack of cards. She said, "Here. I think this might help you." I looked down and there was the Motherpeace Tarot deck in my hands.

I figured, hm, if it's from a nun, it must be okay with God, right?

Needless to say, that started me on the path. Obviously, I still had conflicting emotions about Tarot but my ol' Gemini curiosity kept pushing me to study. I bought the Goddess Tarot and used it for years, practicing 1 card, 3 card and then Celtic Cross spreads. I moved on to the Animal Tarot and then Tarot of the 4 Elements, one of the most gorgeous decks I've seen. For the past year, I've been using Osho Zen Tarot for my own personal reads (though I enjoy the artwork, I prefer cards without writing.)

I began to offer readings in '04 and have since read for hundreds of clients. Joseph Campbell said, "Follow your bliss" and as I read Tarot, I understand what he meant. I love to read for others. It's such a place of vulnerability for both of us.

Tarot is just one of the many mirrors I use for clarity and reflection. Rather than viewing it as a crystal ball, Tarot guides me in the now. Because really, that's all I have.