Is the Struggle Real?
If you spend any time on social media (and who doesn’t?), you are familiar with the phrase “The struggle is real.” We often use this phrase ironically to discuss our first-world problems.
At the tarot table, I see people struggling with problems ranging from mild inconveniences to life-impacting tragedies.
Sometimes we worsen our problems by struggling against them when a struggle isn’t helpful.
When we are struggling to handle something, it can be an essential step to figure out what we are really struggling against and if the energy of struggle is helping or hurting us.
Sometimes we struggle against things we have no choice but to accept. Other times, we may perceive a struggle that exists only in our thinking.
Our ability to struggle with something difficult and come out the other side is a testament to our human strength and resilience. Our tendency to create unnecessary obstacles and rise to fights we can’t win weakens us and worsens the struggle.
This calls to mind one of my favorite helpful sayings, generally known as The Serenity Prayer.
Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
The courage to change the things I can,
And the wisdom to know the difference.
Written in the 1930s and adopted by Alcoholics Anonymous in the 1940s, this prayer offers a clear choice and process for any situation.
Sometimes a struggle is necessary, and we must struggle until we prevail. Other times we need to surrender to the circumstances. There are other times our struggle is entirely in our imagination.
Whatever your struggle is this week, leaning into serenity, courage, and wisdom will help get you through.
The StaarCorner
“You should have a sound bath at StaarCon!” This was a suggestion from my daughter about six months before StaarCon 2023. I could not figure out how that could work logistically, but it sounded like a good idea. Just a few weeks later, I received an email from Jenny Stafford of Resonate Sound Healing asking if we would like a sound bath at StaarCon! We figured out the logistics and prepared to be the very first tarot conference to offer a sound healing session.
Just a week before the conference, Jenny discovered she would be unable to attend. StaarCon presenter Michelle Barrie was able to step in and offer an amazing sound bath in addition to her other conference responsibilities. People enjoyed the sound bath so much that we realized we must offer a sound bath session every year. For StaarCon 2024, an Oracular Intentions Sound Bath Meditation with Jenny Stafford is on the calendar! (Michelle Barrie will also return with an exciting Lenormand presentation).
At StaarCon, we are excited to bring together a wide variety of modalities for divination, healing, and magic. Please make your plan to join us!
Serenity Prayer Tarot Spread
I have always loved the Serenity Prayer. Yet, in all the years I have been a tarotist, it never occurred to me to create a tarot spread inspired by the Serenity Prayer. Let’s remedy that now.
Lay out the cards in any pattern that feels right.
Card One: This card represents something in your life that you must accept and cannot change.
Card Two: This card gives information about what can help you accept this.
Card Three: This card gives insight into the serenity that both engenders and results from this acceptance.
Card Four: This card represents something you can change and need to change.
Card Five: This card gives information about what can help you make that change.
Card Six: This card reflects on the courage that both engenders and results from this change.
Card Seven: This final card speaks to you of your journey toward wisdom.
I performed this spread and found it very enlightening. I hope you have the same experience. Please let me know!
The Week in Review
Did you catch our YouTube Tarot Harvest Gathering last night? If you missed it, please watch the replay!
If you are local to Palm City, please join us at Panera Bread this Sunday at 4 pm for our monthly tarot meetup.
From Around the Web
It is fun to poke around and find old articles and blog posts that are still brilliant today. Check out this post from 2021. StaarCon presenter Maria Alviz Hernando gives us Tarot Meanings for the Age of Tinder.
I love it when tarot appears in fiction and popular culture. From Book Riot, we have an article on The Use of Tarot in Fiction.
There is a lot of discussion of gender in society. There have always been a lot of ideas and discussions about gender in tarot. I love this personal essay from Them, How Tarot Helped Me See Myself Beyond the Gender Binary.
Creation and Divination
Something virtually all creative people struggle with is finding creative inspiration. Further, some people need help identifying how their creativity is expressed and ways to pursue that.
Tarot is a perfect tool to help with both dilemmas.
We can ask the cards for general inspiration by simply asking for a topic or idea and pulling a card or two.
Writers can ask more specific questions for plot or character development. Fine artists can ask more specific questions about style, color, and technique.
Those struggling to identify where their creativity lies can ask questions of the cards like, “What is a creative talent I possess?” “How can I explore that talent?” “What activities would help me discover my creativity?”
Use tarot to help you discover and explore your creative talents!
Upcoming Events
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
Tarot Keywords and Interpretations Workshop
Tarot Spreads Tools and Techniques Workshop
Tarot for Magic and Mediumship
Tarot Communication for Clarity and Depth
Weaving the Tarot Reading Story
The Elemental Major Arcana
Minor Arcana Numbers, Elements, and Truth
Personal Healing with Tarot
Create and Interpret Custom Tarot Spreads
What the Court Cards Want You to Know
How Spirit Speaks Through Tarot
Catch up on your missed Zoom webinars and more!
About Christiana Gaudet
Card and Craft, Inc.
Southeastern Tarot Artists and Readers, LLC.
Christiana Gaudet
3559 SW Corporate Parkway
Palm City, Florida 34990-8152
Email cgaudet@cardandcraft.com
On the web www.christianagaudet.com
Online classes www.cardandcraftacademy.com
StaarCon information www.staarcon.com
YouTube @YourTarotFairyGodmother
Instagram @christianatarot @staarcon
Private telephone, Skype, FaceTime, Zoom and in person readings and instruction are available by appointment.
Tarot parties at your home or office are available throughout Florida.
Zoom parties and group instruction available almost everywhere!
Call toll free 866-99TAROT (866-998-2768)
Palm City 772-301-0232 x102
or call or text 561-655-1160
for more information or to schedule your event.
Schedule online at cardandcraft.10to8.com.
Agent inquiries are welcome.
Tarot Topics Newsletter
Volume 6 Issue 31
August 2, 2023