We live on a dangerous planet. The dichotomy is that if we are worried about what can go wrong, we become anxious and don’t function well. We need to feel safe to feel okay. Yet, we are also aware that any terrible thing can happen anytime.

Safety is a matter of degrees, and the chance of something terrible happening is never zero.

Part of the appeal of religion is that it gives us an entity we can petition to avoid harm. Yet, experience tells us that those petitions often seem to fall on deaf ears.

We use divination and common sense to help assess risk. We use prayer, magic, and wise action to help mitigate risk. In ways spiritual and mundane, we work to strike a balance that manages the dangers we face.

There are two types of risks—those of daily life and the gambles we make to get ahead.

Some people have higher risk tolerance than others. People who can gauge the benefits of a calculated risk and are willing to take that risk are often the most successful people we know. Risks can have rewards, but taking a risk is scary.

We can’t consider taking risks that could benefit us until we can manage the anxiety of life's unavoidable ‘what ifs’. We know that our spiritual practices can offer help and protection. Still, it feels unhealthy and is demonstrably untrue to believe that worshipping a deity or conducting a specific ritual will reliably keep bad things from happening.

We must believe that our spiritual practices are helpful and believe in our ability to handle whatever life throws at us.

That faith gives us the balance to create the best opportunities for ourselves, with the least amount of risk.

The StaarCorner

StaarCon 2024 AfterGlow

Join me tonight, Wednesday, May 22, at 7 pm ET in the Tea with Your Tarot Fairy Godmother Lounge for a tarot spread class!

On Saturday, June 1, join María Alviz Hernando in The Sybil’s Tarot Lounge at 5 pm ET for a session on working with oracle cards.

StaarCon 5

We are doing a few new things for StaarCon 5, including an early bird special for ticket sales! If you are a member of my YouTube channel, find your discount code in the community thread. Everyone else can use the discount code on the StaarCon website.

This special is available for a limited time, so get your tickets now and save!

What We Learn About Risk from the Fool

The Fool is arguably the most important card in tarot because the Fool represents each one of us on our journey through life.

While several cards in the deck can discuss risk, The Fool most clearly offers a spiritual philosophy to help us understand the risks inherent in life.

We typically see the fool getting ready to step off a cliff. We cannot see what lies beneath the cliff, nor how big his leap will be. The Fool is unconcerned with his circumstance's risk or danger. His countenance is merry and unbothered.

The Fool is ready to meet his fortune, good or bad. The Fool has a level of faith in his journey and himself. He does not need to know what lies ahead to be confident in his next move.

So often, in divination, we are focused on what lies ahead. When we can get a precise prediction, or even a clue, of the near future, we are more able to be prepared. Yet, every tarot reader knows that the future is sometimes unpredictable.

The Fool teaches us that we do not need to know where the road will take us to prepare for the journey; we only need to stay in faith and meet the journey with a sense of adventure.

The Week in Review

If you are a member of my channel, you can watch the replay of our members-only live stream about tarot and self-care.

Last evening, we had an enlightening livestream class on structuring questions in tarot readings. Don't miss the chance to watch the replay of The Magic of the Question Tarot Webinar and enhance your tarot reading skills.

From Around the Web

Counterfeit tarot decks are a massive problem in our community. I was happy to see this blog post from Ladybug Tarot, which explains how to spot counterfeit decks and why we must be concerned about this unfortunate trend.

I found this 2017 tarot spread test drive from Theresa Reed. The spread looks good for figuring out risk management issues.

I just discovered the blog of Yetta Snow, Present Day Tarot. Her most recent post, Tarot Reading for the Self-Employed, is terrific.

Making Magic

We often talk about protective magic, magical spells meant to protect us from misfortune. Most of us grew up with superstitions about protection, like throwing salt over our shoulders or not walking under ladders.

How much can magic protect us? It is impossible to know for sure. Many of us decide that we should do everything we know how to do. If it works, great. If it doesn’t, at least we tried.

For example, I always like to perform protective magic on my car and family members' vehicles. This can involve putting an image of Raido, the ‘travelers’ rune’, or an image of the tarot Chariot in or on the vehicle.

Another facet of protective magic is what we refer to as ‘psychic protection’. This is particularly crucial for those who engage in readings or identify as empaths. Psychic protection is a practice that involves meditation, visualization, and intention. We might also incorporate using stones, candles, or incense to amplify the protective energy. This shield of psychic protection helps us maintain our emotional and mental well-being in the face of external energies.

Even color can be protective. Energetically, black is considered the most protective, which is why we think of witches wearing black.

We all know that sometimes we cannot prevent difficulties. However, basic protection magick is simple to use. On an energetic level, we know that protective magic can keep us from absorbing energies we don’t want or need. Perhaps protective magic can keep other unwanted energies away as well.

Upcoming Events

Weekly YouTube Events

Monday 9:30 am: Your 3-Card Weekly Reading

Thursday Noon: Tarot Topics Newsletter Recap

Friday Noon: Your Friday Weekly Wrap-up

Saturday 12:30 pm: Saturday Psychic Sampler

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!

cardandcraftacademy.com

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
TikTok @christianagaudettarot

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 are 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 Appointments Online

Schedule online at https://christiana-gaudet.as.me.

Agent inquiries are welcome.

Tarot Topics Newsletter
Volume 7 Issue 21
May 22, 2024