Tarot by Christiana Newsletter

January 30, 2013

Signs of Spring

On February 2 here in the United States we celebrate Groundhog Day. Did you know that Groundhog Day actually has its roots in both Pagan and Christian antiquity?

Originally Groundhog Day was celebrated as Imbolc, or Imbolg. Many modern Pagans still celebrate this holiday between January 30 and February 2. The word "Imbolc" means "in the belly." This is the Irish holiday of the lambing ewes.  By this time of year the ewes would be pregnant and lactating. This would be seen as an assurance of a year of prosperity ahead.

Imbolc is also known as Brighid's Day and Saint Brighid's Day. Brighid, or Brigid, is known both as a Catholic Saint and the Triple Goddess of healing, poetry and smithcraft.  Her rituals include a meditative journey to Brigid's forge where Brigid will transform your sorrows and burdens into something more useful.

In some cultures this holiday was celebrated as Candlemas. It was a time to light candles as a reminder that the sun would soon return.

As we end January and begin February we are equidistant between the Winter Solstice and the Vernal Equinox.

However you celebrate it, the beginning of February is a time to honor fertility, creativity and hope. No matter how cold, barren and frozen it may be right now we still know that spring is on its way.

Who is Brigid?

Goddess Brigid of Ireland was worshipped by the Celts as the classic triple goddess, sacred to poets, healers and those who worked the forge. She is pictured as a woman with fiery red hair who tends an eternal flame.

Today her rites are celebrated on or about February 1st. Modern Pagans feast, meditate, write poetry and invoke her as a healer of both physical and emotional wounds. The rites of Brigid always include a fire - a bonfire, a hearth fire or candles.

During the Christianization of Ireland Brigid was one of the most revered Goddesses. For this reason, in the Middle Ages she was syncretized with a Catholic Saint and became St. Brigid of Kildaire.

Much like Goddess Brigid, Saint Brigid was associated with eternal sacred flames and holy wells, some of which still exist in Ireland.

Also like the Goddess Brigid, Saint Brigid is the patron saint for blacksmiths, babies, midwives, creativity, scholars and poets. Catholics celebrate her Feast Day on February 1 as well. Many Catholic schools and hospitals around the world are named for Saint Brigid.

Brigid's Cross, an equal-armed cross woven from rush or straw, is a symbol of both Goddess Brigid and Saint Brigid.

Her name is sometimes spelled Brighid, and pronounced as "Bride" or "Breed".

Whether seen as a Saint, Goddess or simply a legend, Brigid's Day is a time for healing, creativity and honoring the sacred flame that burns within each of us.

Welcome the Season with the Four Aces

At this time of Imbolc, Brigid, Candlemas and Groundhog Day it is time to make plans for new growth, new ventures and new projects. Here is a tarot exercise to help you do just that.

Remove the four Aces from your tarot deck. The Aces are like sprouting seeds - they represent new beginnings in your life. Look at each Ace one at a time and ask yourself the following questions. Let your intuition bring you the answers as you focus on each card.

Ace of Cups: How will I welcome new love in my life this spring? How will I open my heart, heal my heart and become more loving?

Ace of Wands: How will I welcome new creativity and new projects in my life this spring? How will I stoke the flames of inspiration, and what will I do with that inspiration?

Ace of Swords: How will I welcome new truth and new understanding in my life this spring? What do I want to learn? What do I want to communicate? What do I want to study?

Ace of Pentacles: How will I welcome greater wellbeing in my life this spring? What will I do to take better care of my body? What will I do to nurture and grow my resources? What will I do to make my home more stable or more enjoyable?

Make sure you write down the things that come to you, and make a commitment to honor these seeds you have planted within yourself.

Christiana's Psychic Café

We are having a terrific time on my internet TV show, Christiana's Psychic Café. Last Sunday we enjoyed a great interview with Kingsley Guy and a discussion on interpreting dreams with tarot. If you missed the show or want to see it again you can find it in archive on the Tarot Topics news site.

This Sunday, February 3, is the Superbowl. For those who chose not to watch game I will be offering "Tarotbowl" on Christiana's Psychic Café. My guest will be metaphysical maven Anita Perez. We will discuss magick, divination, art and more! So get your chips, pizza and beer and join us for Tarotbowl on Christiana's Psychic Café. Simply visit the Para Encounters Network at 9 pm Eastern Sunday evening!

Your One-Card Weekly Reading

This week your one-card reading is the Page of Pentacles. This suggests an opportunity to learn something that will be practical and profitable. Now may be a good time to take a workshop, read a book or sign up for school.

Traditionally the Page of Pentacles predicts money in the mail and good news regarding finances and employment.

This card can also indicate a young child who is practical and responsible.

The Page of Pentacles reminds us that we can always learn more, do more and be better. We are always growing.

You may find great rewards in paying special attention to your responsibilities.

The Week in Review

This week Christiana wrote an UrbanSpoon restaurant review in the Dark Forest. Check out what she thought of Hop Won Dining Club and Skinny Bar.

On the Tarot Topics Community Blog Christiana uses tarot to answer a common question asked by frustrated parents. Read Why Don't Kids do their Homework?

On Christiana's personal blog, Tarot Trends, read an insightful post about the evolution of spirituality, Revolution and Evolution.

Upcoming Events

Sunday, February 3, 6 pm EST

Premium Webinar

Sharing Wisdom - Reading for Others

Tarot hobbyists, professional readers, and those somewhere in between, all share something in common. We all want to give the best readings possible to clients, family and friends.

In this online presentation, Christiana Gaudet will guide you through each step of performing a great reading. She will help you discover your personal style as a reader, and discuss some common pitfalls and ways to avoid them. She will give you insight in how to derive the most specific information possible from each reading.

For registration information visit the event listing on the Continuing Education website.

Sunday, February 3, 9 pm EST

Christiana's Psychic Café

Anita Perez joins us on the show to talk divination, art, magick and more. Anita is the co-host of the new radio show "The Alchemical Artisans Hour."

You will have the opportunity to call in to get your free psychic reading!

Just visit the Paraencounters Network Sunday at 9 to enjoy the show!

Tuesday, February 5, 7 pm EST

Premium Webinar

An In-Depth Journey into the Major Arcana - Spiritual Enlightenment

The final seven cards of the Major Arcana, cards Fifteen through Twenty-One, hold the secrets of the Fool’s Journey toward spiritual enlightenment.

This online presentation will focus on these seven important cards. Students will learn the astrological, numerological and elemental associations for each card.

Students will contemplate the lessons of these seven cards, and discover how they point the way to enlightenment.

Armed with a complete understanding of each card, students will have an easy time learning ways of interpreting the cards when reading for themselves and others.

For registration information visit the event listing on the Continuing Education website.

Sunday, February 10, 4 pm Est

Free Webinar

Love Magick

Join us for a free webinar right before Valentine's Day to explore ethics, techniques and types of love magick!

What can you do to attract a lover, heal from a broken heart or put the spice back into your love life?

Find out at this fun and exciting webinar! To join, simply visit the event listing on the Celebrate Spiritual Growth website.

Sunday, February 10 9 pm EST

Christiana's Psychic Café

This week at the Café we will have two guests. We will check in with fashionista Dominique Tate in the Artist's Corner. Dominique is the owner of BouChic, an exciting new boutique in Atlanta. She will show us some fashions from emerging designers and talk about what it takes to run an independent shop.

In our Magick and Mayhem section you'll meet Ariana Lightningstorm. Ariana is a certified Lipsologist. She is a psychic who reads lip-prints!

Don't miss the fun! Tune in by visiting the Para Encounters Network Sunday at 9.