I am sad to admit that I am not much of a gardener. My few experiments with both indoor and outdoor plants made it clear that, at least for now, I do not have the time to properly tend plants. Yet, I love helping living things grow, and I love learning from that process.

I love to notice plant behavior, and let plants be my teachers.

One plant behavior that feels informative is called ‘phototropism’. Sunflowers, and certain other plants, will turn to face the sun. If they are situated in a place where the sun is not easily available to them, their stems will twist and lean as they strive to find the sunlight.

Growing toward the light is a good metaphor for a certain way of living. It reminds me of that story of two wolves that battle within each of us. One wolf is mean, egotistical, and fearful. The other is joyful and loving. Which wolf wins the battle? Whichever wolf we feed.

Growing toward the light is the same as feeding the joyful wolf.

When we choose to grow toward the light, we, like the sunflower, turn our face to the sun. We seek out what nurtures us. We turn to what illuminates us. We keep our focus on the positive and lean in that direction, even when that causes us to have to twist and turn.

This does not mean that we ignore the unpleasant things in our lives, or that we pretend that everything is sunny when it is not. We must acknowledge what is dark and difficult. We gather strength to face that difficulty as we lean toward what is light and helpful.

Phototropic plants know that the light is always there, somewhere. They twist and turn to find that light. We need to have faith in that light as well. We must find ways to grow toward it.

The StaarCorner

We are excited that Gita Rash will be joining us for StaarCon 2022. Gita is the designer of the Mahabharata Oracle Deck. At StaarCon 2021 she shared with us this deck, which is based on an ancient epic tale.

Gita is also a tarot reader, and a gifted palm reader. Her father was well-known palm reader. At StaarCon 2022 Gita will teach a class in palm reading! We are happy to welcome Gita back to StaarCon, and to learn this important divination method from her.

See Me in the Tampa Bay Area in August

I will be back in the Tampa Bay Area August 26 through August 30.

On Sunday, August 29, from 3 pm to 5 pm we will have a free tarot meetup at Panera Bread in Lutz, Florida.

During my time in the Tampa Bay Area, I am available for private readings at my AirBnB in Wesley Chapel. I am also able to make house calls for private readings. I am happy to come to your home or office for a psychic house party.

For more information, or to make your appointment, call or text 561-655-1160.

Growing Toward the Light Tarot Spread

Here is a tarot spread that you can arrange in the shape of a sunflower. The trick is that you can use as many cards as you want for the stem, the leaves, and the petals. You may decide to use only one card for each, or many. Let your intuition guide you as you explore the ways you can grow toward the light.

Stem: Let this card, or these cards, help you understand how you need to ground and position yourself in order to be nurtured and strong.

Leaves: Let this card, or these cards, show you what feeds you and helps you grow.

Center of flower: Let this card show you how to keep your focus on what is most helpful.

Petals: Let this card, or these cards, show you the benefits you will receive as you turn yourself to the light, allow the light to nurture you, and share that brilliance with others.

Join us For Class Tomorrow

Tomorrow, Thursday, at 7 pm ET, I am presenting “Tarot Keywords and Interpretations”. This class will help you understand and remember keywords for tarot cards. Even more importantly, this class will help you use those keywords to engage your intuition and give meaningful tarot readings in any context and situation.

There are two ways to attend. If you can come in person, you can purchase a ticket on EventBrite and attend the class in my Palm City office.

If you can’t come in person, you can attend virtually from just about anywhere. Just reserve your place in class on Zoom!

Get your ticket or make your reservation and study with your tarot friends from around the world in this hybrid presentation.

The Week in Review

Did you catch my class on YouTube, “Tarot History and Why it Matters?” You can watch the replay to learn about current historical thinking about tarot, and what that might mean for we esoteric tarotists.

I was excited to join Amie Mouser as a guest on her new podcast, Behind the Magic. In honor of what Grateful Dead fans call “Jerry Week”, or “The Days Between”, Amie and I did a deep dive into my youth, and my continued love of the Grateful Dead’s music and message. You can watch the video, or listen to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

From Around the Web

This week’s offerings are all from StaarCon 2022 presenters!

Mary Ellen Collins shared a blog post called “Breaking Free from the Eight of Swords”. This is such a great synchronicity; I led a meditative exercise about this card during my workshop at The Masters of the Tarot conference.

Marion Kirk (Marion K Tarot on YouTube) shared a video about Grief and the Fours in Tarot.

Jamie Sawyer is launching the final deluxe edition of Sawyer’s Path Tarot next month!

Cards for Your Consideration

In the Waite Smith Tarot, there are two references to sunflowers. One is the Queen of Wands. Often when the Queen of Wands appears in a reading and my focus is drawn to that sunflower, I see it as an admonition to grow toward the light.

The other sunflower reference is in a card that often reminds us to grow toward the light, no matter which deck we are using. Major Arcana 19, the Sun, represents the light itself. There are many traditional and non-traditional depictions for this card. No matter the image, the Sun reminds us to find our inner light. We must face the light, we must seek the light, and we must be the light.

I particularly love the Waite image, because the sunflowers have turned to face the child, rather than facing the sun as they normally would. The child shines more brightly than the sun.

This card reminds us that we all have the potential to shine that brightly.

Upcoming Events and Tours

Card and Craft Academy

Classes presented by Christiana are available right now at Card and Craft Academy!

Christiana’s Candle Magick
Christiana’s Eleven-Card Celtic Cross
Finding Meaning in the Minor Arcana
The Major Arcana, Magical and Mundane
Practical Tarot Techniques
Psychic Tarot
Personal Tarot: Reading for Yourself
Sharing Wisdom: Reading for Others
The Meaning and Magic of Tarot Reversals
Journey Through the Major Arcana
Your Journey Through the Minor Arcana: Numbers, Elements and Truth
Tarot Beyond the Veil
Your Journey Through the Tarot Court
Tarot Stories, Trends, and Blends
Tarot Readings for Personalities and Relationships
Clarity in Every Tarot Card
Tarot Flow Workshop
Making Magick with Tarot
Fearless Wisdom Tarot Workshop

Catch up on your missed Zoom webinars and more!
cardandcraftacademy.com

About Christiana Gaudet

Card and Craft, Inc.

Christiana Gaudet

3559 SW Corporate Parkway
Palm City, Florida 34990-8152

On the web www.christianagaudet.com
Online classeswww.cardandcraftacademy.com
StaarCon information www.staarcon.com

Private telephone, Skype, FaceTime and in person readings and instruction are available by appointment.

Tarot parties at your home or office are available throughout Florida.

Call or text toll free 866-99TAROT (866-998-2768)
Palm City 772-301-0232
or call or text 561-655-1160
for more information or to schedule your event.

Agent inquiries are welcome.

Tarot Topics Newsletter
Volume 4 Issue 33
August 18, 2021