Before Us
Concept illustration of a family tree.
The word ‘before’ can mean at least two different things. When we speak of time, ‘before’ means in the past. When we speak of the present, ‘before’ means what is in front of us.
At this time of year, our thoughts often turn to those who came before us – our ancestors. We might wonder what past generations would think of what we have before us – the difficulties we face that can seem insurmountable.
Many people find comfort in the stories of their ancestors. The problem, of course, is that not all of our ancestors were admirable people. In mediumship, I have learned to believe that, after leaving this life, people find healing and become better than they were. Regardless of their actions in life, our ancestors are available to us now in spirit for wisdom, support, and guidance. In recent years, primarily due to the ground-breaking work of Nancy Hendrickson, we tarotists have been using tarot to learn about our ancestors and work with them in deeply spiritual ways.
We have all heard the admonition that if we do not remember our history, we are doomed to repeat it. Yet, history is a tricky subject. Whether political, cultural, or familial, history is often misrepresented, misreported, and misremembered. Primary source material can be helpful as we try to make sense of the past.
As children, we are often told things about ourselves and our families that we need to unpack and revisit as adults. If we fail to reprocess these beliefs, we often struggle to have healthy relationships. That’s because many of us were taught to respect people who truly were not worthy of that respect.
In tarot spreads, there is very often a position for the past. I have wondered if it is necessary to consider the past in every tarot reading. Yet, as the expression goes, we didn’t just fall out of a coconut tree. Wherever we are and whatever we are doing is happening in the context of all that came before us.
To understand what we are facing now, we must understand what has come before us and how we got here. Divination, research, and asking the hard questions help us do that.
Understanding our history, personally and collectively, is a spiritual matter as well as a fact-finding mission. Yet, we also must deal with shameful aspects of the past. Sometimes, we minimize and deny. Other times, we hyperfocus and catastrophize.
We must find a way to understand and speak of the past clearly and honestly without fear of shame. Only then are we able to create our best possible future.
The StaarCon 5 Imagining of Pixie Arcana. Art and composition by Stacey Williams-Ng, backgrounds by Animix.
The StaarCorner
StaarCon 2024 AfterGlow
We will open some new lounges this fall in advance of StaarCon 5. Watch this space for announcements!
Mark your calendars for Sunday, October 20, at 5 pm, when I will present a special workshop in my lounge about best practices for teaching and learning tarot.
I know that people are still enjoying the recordings of presentations. The year-long AfterGlow gives us a real opportunity to immerse ourselves in our presenter’s offerings.
StaarCon 5
We are excited to offer a digital divination art show at StaarCon 5. We are collecting images from artists and publishers. These images will be displayed on a large screen in the StaarCon Marketplace, which is open to the public.
As card readers, we find art inextricable from our work. Celebrating our artists has always been a primary goal of StaarCon. Make sure you visit the digital art show at StaarCon 5. If you are an artist of divination tools and want to have your work displayed, please send your images!
Mary Ellen Collins telling a story inspired by Ciro Marchetti's tarot art at StaarCon 2024.
Close-up of hands holding a tarot deck.
Ancestral Healing in the Cards
Many tarot cards can discuss the need for ancestral healing and assist us in ancestral magic.
Of course, the Empress and Emperor can be parents, and the Court cards can all be family members.
The Ten of Pentacles is a card that speaks of generations, legacy, ancestors, and progeny.
The Six of Cups speaks of the past.
Any time you perform a tarot reading, regardless of the question or topic, it is possible that generational and ancestral concerns may appear in the cards. It may be loved ones in spirit who want to say hello or traumas of the past that are the root cause of current problems.
In tarot, as in life, to understand where we are, we need to understand how we got here.
Tarot for New Seasons Members-only Livestream on YouTube - September 30 @ 7 pm.
The Week in Review
Voting in the World Divination Association Awards ends September 29. Please vote for me for Best Tarot Reader and Best Divination Teacher.
I had a fun time teaching tarot at Mandel Library in West Palm Beach on Saturday. I am usually there once a quarter, but because of the way the calendar worked this year, I will be back to teach another free tarot class at the library on Saturday, October 26!
Did you catch last night’s class on YouTube Live, Problem People and Tarot? Watch the replay!
If you are a member of my YouTube channel, join us on Monday, September 30, at 7 pm for a members-only livestream.
From Around the Web
Check out these tools for ancestral divination and magic from La Panthère Studio.
Facinghistory.org offers help in teaching history, but it is also a great website for anyone who wants to consider their personal or cultural history more deeply.
Christina Ricci has created the Cat Full of Spiders Tarot Deck!
Hands pointing to a picture in a photo album.
Making Magic
Much of the magic we do is healing magic. Much of what we must heal is generational trauma. Can the very ancestors who are the architects of our pain help us heal?
I believe so because of the power they receive and cultivate after leaving this life. I think we can even call on the spirits of the very people who hurt us in life for help in healing if we feel moved to do so.
In our society, we often discuss breaking generational patterns. When we heal from generational trauma, we create something better for those who will come next.
I also believe that when we do our work to heal our generational wounding, that healing energy travels to our ancestors as well as to our progeny.
Global Tarot Circle on YouTube Live - October 2nd @ 7 pm.
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
Card and Craft Academy will close on October 15th and reopen soon at christianagaudet.com!
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!
Opening Ceremony with Christiana Gaudet at StaarCon 2024.
About Christiana Gaudet
Card and Craft, Inc.
Southeastern Tarot Artists and Readers, LLC.
Christiana Gaudet
3559 SW Corporate Parkway
Palm City, Florida 34990-8152
Coming soon! Locations in Port Saint Lucie, West Palm Beach, and Stuart, Florida!
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 39
September 25, 2024
Christiana Gaudet Your Tarot Fairy Godmother banner.
