TarotBlogHop: Tarot & Tea & The Dead

A spread to contact the dead for today’s #TarotBlogHop. Blessed Samhain, y’all.

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Tea time?! This is what we get for having someone from across the pond. That darned Louise Underhill is our wrangler. Here is what she wants us to chat about.

The topic of the Samhain Blog Hop this time, is to discuss or show, via the Tarot or any other oracle, who you would invite to an afternoon tea on the Day of the Dead. What do you imagine they’d be like? What Tarot card (or cards!) would represent them? What would you ask them? What would you like to learn from them? Your “guest” can be living, or dead, but imagine them there and then represent them in a Tarot card (or more). [Tweet “A spread to contact the dead for today’s #TarotBlogHop. Blessed Samhain, y’all. “] So this is a very challenging topic for me because I can think of a dozen or more folks that I wouldn’t mind having over for an afternoon tea. Um, first of course I’d have to research what time an afternoon tea is and what one serves at a tea. I mean I guess tea and crumpets? But what exactly is a crumpet? And why are cookies biscuits? And sweaters jumpers? And flashlights torches? Well never mind the last. I can see the logical progression from a real flaming torch to a mechanical torch. But the jumper thing? Yeah, that I don’t get. But I digress which means I am totally avoiding the subject.

Gaian Tarot Guardian of Air
Gaian Tarot

I guess, since I am fixing to dive into NaNoWriMo tomorrow, I’ll go with an author. Again so many to choose from. There is one that I keep circling back to. I read her when I was in junior high and high school. Loved how she swept me out of my world into hers. Then I learned that not only was she a good writer, but she was also a lesbian. And from her pictures, a very attractive one at that. At that time my personal id was lesbian so it was very affirming to me to know that a childhood favorite author was like me. For her card, I’ll have to go with the Guardian of Air from the Gaian Tarot. She is perched up on a mountain where she can do her work, get her messages in and get them out as well. I love the intensity of this card as well. Oh, who did I invite? Why none other than JFK’s favorite author, Mary Renault. I would want to ask her about her biggest personal struggle with writing. Then the conversation would just flow. By the way, if you are doing NaNoWriMo, come buddy up with me. I’m there as TarotByArwen. And check out my to help yourself get those fifty thousand words cranked out. This time of year I have a lot of conversations with the dead–my own and other people’s loved ones. I wanted to also share a simple spread with you that you might use when you try to contact your own dearly departed. The Veil Is Thin Spread 1. Who comes to me now? 2. What message do you want to give me? 3. How can I honor your message best? I would suggest doing this in a consecrated Circle for the best results. Seek joy, y’all. Pass it on!

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Respond Or Stay Seated?

When is it time to respond and when is it time to stay seated?

[Tweet “When is it time to respond and when is it time to stay seated?”]

Fenestra Tarot Queen of Pentacles
Fenestra Tarot

#affirmation Today’s card reminds me to look forward. It reminds me to keep my seat for just a bit longer. Even when prodded and poked, I need to hold my position.

The Fenestra Tarot’s Queen of Pentacles looks out from her throne. She has a soft look on her face but a determined one. This lady has learned that to keep her home and family safe, she must make sacrifices.

Sometimes those are sacrifices of money, of time, but sometimes they are sacrifices of self.

However, she’s also learned not to make those decisions impetuously. Her vision must remain on the goals she has set for her family and for herself.

I think that we all have made sacrifices of self. I think that many of us could look back and say that some of those sacrifices might have been done for the wrong reasons.

Now I try to remain seated. I try not to leap up offering soul, heart and self until I am sure it is what is truly needed from me. It wasn’t an easy lesson–and it isn’t one I always succeed at either.

What about you?

Today’s affirmation:

I am confident. I do the right thing by considering before responding. I hold my peace to learn the truth of a thing. I am a beautiful, strong, honorable human. Loved and loving, I love each of you.

Seek joy, y’all. Pass it on.

Queen of Pentacles, Fenestra Tarot, U.S. Games Systems Inc.

What Should Religion Remind Us Of?

So I decided I would share a recipe post. Luckily I have an index of them. I also have an index for my Tarot poetry project. This recipe has a lot of sentimental energy for me. Enjoy!

[Tweet “What should religion remind us of? Cabbage? Rain? Strength? #seekjoy”]

For today’s Magic Up Your Blog challenge, our leader, Amethyst, has asked us to recycle an old blog post. This was harder for me than you might think. I am pretty vain about my writing if the truth be told. Writing as Marilu Mann or writing as Arwen, I put a lot of work into things.

So I decided I would share a recipe post. Luckily I have an index of them. I also have an index for my Tarot poetry project. This recipe has a lot of sentimental energy for me. Enjoy!

“Our religion keeps reminding us that we aren’t just will and thoughts. We are also sand and wind and thunder. Rain. The seasons. You learn to respect everything because you are everything.” ~ William Least Heat Moon 1939-

Marilu Johnston Lynch Paschall
Mama

I was blessed with a mother who wasn’t overly religious although she was a faithful woman. She grew up Catholic, then raised my sister and I in the Episcopal faith. She attended the Methodist church with her second husband while beginning her drift back to her childhood faith of Catholicism. She allowed me, albeit regretfully, to leave the Christian path without making it hard on me.

She didn’t like it. I know this. I also know that she wanted me to be happy and secure. So she didn’t make my religious choice a bone of contention. And she certainly could have. She was a strong woman from some very strong women. In my family, the matriarchs have always stood out.

Chrysalis_13SwordsSpirals
Chrysalis Tarot

My Mama had a German-Scot Mama and a Scot-Irish Papa. While her mama, my Grannilu, was not someone I remember as a good cook, Mama said there were good cooks in her family. She passed her love of starchy potatoes and stinky cabbage on to me with this dish. It’s one she found later in life.

Like her, I’m a collector or recipes. I even cook some of them. 😀 She made this for me for one of my homecoming meals and I loved it then as I love it now. Even die-hard cabbage haters will fall for this treat!

Because it’s something I closely identify with Mama, I knew this one had to be a Queen (the Empress was already taken, sorry Mama!). The Queen of Cups might seem like the perfect choice but my Mama was a sharp edged Scorpio. She was funny–brilliantly so at times and almost always pointed and sharp insightful humor. I knew her as a widow most of my life (she remarried when I was in my early 20’s).

Her friends were classy, stylish women (when they weren’t being redneck haints). She was a a classy, stylish woman and I adored her. She wasn’t the cookie-baking, soccer mom but she was the take-you-to-the-library, defend-you-tooth-and-nail mom. I’m lucky to have had the time I did with her. So she is the Queen of Swords to me.

World Spirit Tarot Sibyl of Swords
World Spirit Tarot

Queen of Swords Cabbage Au Gratin

1 head cabbage, shredded
4 cups water
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup dry bread crumbs (divided)
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 beaten egg
1-1/2 cup grated cheese (divided)
1-1/2 cup heavy cream
1/4 pound bacon

Brown bacon, set aside

Cook cabbage in water 10 minutes. Drain.

Beat egg, cream and seasonings together.

Layer cabbage in casserole pan with egg mixture and remaining ingredients,except bacon. Reserve some of the bread crumbs and cheese for topping.

Place chopped bacon on top of casserole, dot with butter and bake in a preheated 350° F. oven for 30 minutes.

6 servings

Arwen says: Mama didn’t do the bacon and I don’t either. Just a sodium overload!

I hope you will let me know if you try this. I think I’ll make some this week. If you are Catholic, maybe you’d like to light a candle at Mary’s altar for my mama. Her name was Marilu. I’ll light a candle on my own altar. Don’t let religion come between you and those you love. It’s really not worth it. Instead, share a meal and a blessing that you have friends and family who care about you enough to worry about you.

Here’s to all of us. We are blessed to have the ability to choose who we call family. “You learn to respect everything because you are everything.” Thanks to William Least Heat Moon for that.

Today’s affirmation:

Today I understand my self. I accept me for all of who I am, past, present and future. I celebrate the tears, the laughter, the good times, the bad times. I acknowledge how my family forged me. Loved and loving, I love each of you. Seek joy, y’all. Pass it on.

Decks used:

World Spirit Tarot (OOP) Llewellyn

Chrysalis Tarot, US Games Systems Inc.

Speaking of writing, my alter-ego Marilu Mann is launching a book 8/22. Want to help out? Check out how.

The Joy Challenge: Day Five

Wait. Day five of the joy challenge includes yelling at your mother???

Joy Mum White
Joy Mum

Day five is here. It’s a bit grey here in Texas, but OH the temperature. I haven’t seen 70 in the morning in ages. It’s bringing me a lot of joy right now.

Have you looked yourself in the mirror yet to say this, “I am a joy seeker. Joy finds me. I am a joy magnet.” ??

I did…sort of. I looked myself in my reflection in the laptop screen. Hey! That counts.

Tell me some little joys that have come to you. One of mine was a pair of house wrens on my back porch. One of them wanted to make a nest in the can holder on my camp chair. The other one was obviously not impressed. I laughed at their antics.

You?

Oh! Today is Tarot Blog Hop day so the monthly Tarotscopes will be up tomorrow.

Oh SHUT UP Mom! is my discussion on the Queen of Pentacles. It includes an original spread.

[Tweet “Wait. Day five of the joy challenge includes yelling at your mother???”]

Seek joy, y’all. Pass it on.

Joy Mum White, Stephanie Arwen Lynch-Poe, 2014

Revisiting: Remodeling Arwen

We talked about what it means to “choose love.” I think that this is a part of that. By choosing to cook good foods and to eat good foods, I am choosing love. more…

DarkGoddess_13CupsDay five of my wedding trip…it’s Friday and I’m a married woman.

I’m sharing some favorite posts from my Tarot & Food entries.

Revisiting: Remodeling Arwen

We talked about what it means to “choose love.” I think that this is a part of that. By choosing to cook good foods and to eat good foods, I am choosing love. more…

Get a free three card reading via email when you buy the download version of this . Offer expires 1/30/204. All readings must be claimed by 2/7/2014.

Seek joy, y’all. Pass it on!

Revisiting: Cabbage, Mama and the Queen of Swords

She wasn’t the cookie-baking, soccer mom but…

CrystalVisions_13SwordsDay three of my wedding trip…not married yet! 😀

I’m sharing some favorite posts from my Tarot & Food entries.

Revisiting: Cabbage, Mama And the Queen of Swords

She wasn’t the cookie-baking, soccer mom but she was the take-you-to-the-library, defend-you-tooth-and-nail mom. I’m lucky to have had the time I did with her. So she is the Queen of Swords to me. more…

Get a free three card reading via email when you buy the download version of this . Offer expires 1/30/204. All readings must be claimed by 2/7/2014.

Queen of Swords, Crystal Visions Tarot, USGames

Dreams, Presidents + Roses

She understood and believed in the beauty of her own dream.”] I want someone to say that about me some day.

eleanorroosevelt100940So today’s card isn’t a card. It’s a quote + picture from one of my fave sites–Brainyquote.com

And it’s a quote from one of my favorite women. Eleanor Roosevelt had an amazing way with words (or her speech writers did but I’m pretty sure it was Mrs. Roosevelt.)

One of my all-time favorite quotes by her (because is shows her sense of humor)is:

“I once had a rose named after me and I was very flattered. But I was not pleased to read the description in the catalogue: no good in a bed, but fine up against a wall.”

Snicker. Funny lady, that Eleanor.

She also chided us to remember that “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”

And isn’t that just the damned truth? With powerful words like these, she is my choice for the Queen of Swords. She knew how to slice to the heart of the matter. Her passion was for the communication of ideas.

[Tweet “She understood and believed in the beauty of her own dream.”] I want someone to say that about me some day. Maybe today. What about you?

What is your dream? Faltering isn’t failure. Stopping is. (bad paraphrase from the new Dracula series…with a Dracula who is so freaking sexy he ought to be called Crackula!)

Tell me your dreams. One of mine is that everyone who wants to write a book will be helped by my . Big dreams. Huge dreams. Amazingly beautiful dreams.

Right here.
Right now.

What about you?

Seek joy, y’all. Pass it on.

Feathers, Swords + Pens

guardian-airToday’s card is a reminder that communication comes in so many forms. In today’s world, we can phone, text, write, read in so many ways that it’s a virtual smorgasbord.

The Guardian of Air (Queen) is the woman who uses communication to her advantage. Interesting that yesterday’s card was another Queen of Air (Queen of Feathers from the Bleu Cat Tarot). We will see what tomorrow brings.

I’ve been remiss in not mentioning a Tarot app that’s out there. It’s now free and you can load it with decks (for purchase). It’s the Tarot eCards app.

I’ve got some mixed feelings about it. I love that I can have decks at my fingertips in one app. LOVE it. That’s the very best thing about it. It’s available for both Android and iPhone but I don’t know about Windows.

I am not thrilled by a couple of things. One is that the orientation is locked meaning I can’t turn my iPad into landscape mode to view it. The other is that some of the graphics of some of the decks are just not good.

I had a discussion with the owner who told me that was because of the images sent in by the artist. I have to be honest and tell you that I wouldn’t have published the decks as part of my app. The one that was the worst (and that I was told might be corrected) was the Whispering Tarot by Elizabeth Hazel. I love that little deck but on the app? I’m actually sorry I paid for it.

Other decks don’t have that problem. So check out the Tarot eCards app.

While you are checking out things, I’d love for you to visit with my friend, Jay Pryor. His 11/8 video chat is about Pronoia–a subject very close to my heart. This super short (less than two minutes) chat about the concept of Pronoia is one that I think everyone should hear.

Then, when you have more time, you can watch last night’s show. Yep, I didn’t pass out and made it through the whole hour. I did some free readings as well. I’d love to hear what you think of it. And mark your calendars for 11/18 when I’ll be doing it all over again.

Guardian of Air, Gaian Tarot, Joanna Powell Colbert

Seek joy, y’all. Pass it on!

Temper, Battles + Choice

I guess I’m committed to ending a relationship if no answer or an unsatisfactory answer comes.

BleuCat_13SwordsToday’s card urges me to think before I strike. It asks me if I know how to engage my reason before my temper. That can be a damned hard thing to do some days.

Recently an event caused a bit of a stir among my friends. I admit to have quite the knee-jerk reaction myself. But I managed to go to the source first. I asked my question in what I hope was a non-confrontational manner. Now I wait for a response.

Waiting for a response is hard. Just like our Bleu Cat Tarot Queen of Feathers (Swords) must wait for her butterfly to go out and come back, I have to be patient. I have a self-imposed timeline though. Similar to the Queen of Feathers, I will not put down my pen or sword. I won’t back off this information seeking trip.

I guess I’m committed to ending a relationship if no answer or an unsatisfactory answer comes.

And, yes, that makes me a bit sad all-in-all. But at some point a stand has to be taken. I guess only time will tell whether my Queen of Feathers will have to use her weapon or not.

In my , one lesson is on the Hero’s commitment to the journey. It goes into the idea that there is a donkey moment where the hero solidly and sometimes loudly refuses to go “all in” on the quest before him (or her). This feels like that moment to me. I have my heels dug in hoping for a better outcome than I believe is coming.

Your journal prompt for today is, “How can I choose my battles more wisely? What are my personal emotional tells that let me know I must commit to the change?”

Queen of Feathers, Bleu Cat Tarot, Schiffer Books

Seek joy, y’all. Pass it on.

Oh! Please join me tonight (or listen to the archives) for my inaugural Mistress of Mondays’ show on the ParaEncounters Network (PEN).

Masks, Tasks + Truths

Well, then it made so much sense. I mean we all wear masks, right? How many of us can say we show our true selves to all the world all the time?

FradellaAdventure_13Cups004Today’s card is from the Fradella Adventure Tarot. Once my primary reading deck and still a dear friend, this deck translates cups into masks. At first I wasn’t sure about that suit change but once I started reading with this deck?

Well, then it made so much sense. I mean we all wear masks, right? How many of us can say we show our true selves to all the world all the time?

Scary, right?

I know I don’t. I think, in a way, it’s the right thing to do. There are some things we only want to share with those we trust. Those we know won’t shatter our dreams. Those who understand how to kick us our ass when necessary but do it with love.

This Queen stands half in, half out of the waterfall. Is she taking that mask off as she retreats into her own safety zone? Is she putting that mask on as she heads out?

Journal prompt for today. “Who do I show my true self to? Who sees my true self?”

I am blessed to have more than one person in my life that can see my true self. Some of my exes who are still friends number among those people. I’m lucky that we have been able to reforge friendships and caring relationships after the rubble of the breakup cleared.

Today, I recognize that my masks are part of me for a reason. I accept that I wear many hats and many masks because I am a spiritual multi-tasker. And that’s a good thing.

Are you a spiritual multi-tasker? Want to focus in on what you can shore up or what you can let erode? Contact me today. Let’s set up a time for a Tarot conversation to help you plot your journey.

Queen of Masks, Fradella Adventure Tarot, US Games

Seek joy, y’all. Pass it on.