Finding the Meaning

We are always searching for meaning, in a lot of different ways. In the big picture, we search to find the meaning of life.

As spiritual people we seek an understanding of ourselves and our existence on a deeper level. Often, we do this through divination, study, prayer, and meditation. These are all good ways to explore our inner world, the outer world, and the world of spirit.

Yet, we can also find spiritual meaning and understanding in our mundane day-to-day interactions.

That is because, by nature, we are spiritual beings having a human experience.

That means that there is spiritual meaning, and an opportunity for spiritual growth, in each and every encounter and activity.

We also seek meaning in the communication we have with others. We wonder what someone meant when they said or did a certain thing. Sometimes we jump to an untrue or unfair conclusion because we don’t understand someone’s communication style.

When we study tarot, we first seek to find meaning in the cards. Then we use the cards to find meaning in life. We do this in a couple of different ways. In the study of tarot, we find that the lessons inherent in each of the cards help us find meaning in life. In divination, we are able to find answers to specific questions. This can bring us to new understanding, and new meaning.

The spiritual adage ‘as above, so below’ has many applications. One important understanding of this expression is that we can find spiritual meaning in the mundane world. We can also use spiritual tools and spiritual thought to help us find meaning even in the most mundane aspects of our lives.

The StaarCorner

In the first StaarCast since StaarCon, Amie Mouser and I share some stories, laughs, and thoughts about the first-ever StaarCon, and what will come next for the StaarCon community.

You can watch this episode on YouTube, or find it wherever you get your podcasts.

Join Us Tomorrow for a Tarot Class about Personalities and Relationships

There is still time to sign up for tomorrow evening’s tarot class! Tomorrow, Thursday, at 7 pm EST I will present ‘Tarot Reading for Personalities and Relationships’ live on Zoom.

How do tarot cards speak of people, their personalities and their relationships? How can we use tarot to better understand ourselves and each other?

In this class you will learn how to give helpful relationship readings and couples readings, and how to determine the nature and needs of an individual simply by understanding the cards that appear for them.

This class is appropriate for readers of all levels of experience.

Class fee is $37.50. Register now!

What Does This Card Mean?

So often tarot students, and even experienced readers, will struggle to find the meaning of a tarot card. Here are a few things to do when you are not sure what a card is trying to tell you.

First, look for how the card speaks to the context of your question, or the spread position. If you are working with more than one card, how do the other cards influence the card in question?

What do you see, and how do you feel, when you look at the card? What comes to your mind?

Say the name of the card aloud. Often this will bring the card into focus for you.

Think about everything you know about the card. Sometimes this will help you make the connection you need.

Look up the card online. There are so many references, blogs, and videos for tarot cards on the internet. You might find something there that makes sense.

Remember that, in a reading, a card can mean more than one thing at the same time.

If you need to, draw another card to clarify the card in question.

The Week in Review

This week I presented a free class on my YouTube channel, “Love in the Cards”. This class is about the way we use tarot in relationship readings. You can watch it in archive!

Each week I do at least four live broadcasts on my Facebook Business Page. Visit me there and hit ‘Like’ so you can be notified when I go live there next. You can also see the archived videos of my past broadcasts there, and on my YouTube channel.

From Around the Web

I love this article about self-discover and tarot from The Lily.

From the Llewellyn blog, a sweet Magic Broom Tarot Spread from Pamela Chen.

Here is a Daily Check-in Tarot Spread from Little Red Tarot.

Cards for Your Consideration

In the search for meaning, I consider each of the seventy-eight tarot cards essential. Beyond that, I consider the study of more than one tarot deck helpful. When we see different traditions of tarot, and the perspective of different artists, we have an opportunity to find greater meaning within each card.

There are other card decks of divination we can consider as well. While Lenormand and Kipper speak of mundane circumstances and situations, they can certainly help us understand our journey through life.

Oracle cards of all types are designed to help us as we seek meaning and understanding.

When it comes to our need to find meaning in life, the more tools we have, the better!

Events and Tours

Connecticut and Tampa Tours Resume Fall 2021. I will be providing online alternatives to our usual schedule of in-person meetings until social distancing is no longer prudent.

Tarot Topics Newsletter
Volume 4 Issue 7
February 17, 2021

A Review of Angel Tarot Cards

Angel Tarot Cards
Doreen Virtue, Radleigh Valentine, Steve A. Roberts
Published by Hay House
Review by Christiana Gaudet

After a few months of fussing and fuming about the disingenuous promotions Hay House has used for the new Doreen Virtue Angel Tarot Cards, I am finally holding the deck in my hands. No, I didn’t break down and make the purchase. If you are wondering why, see my blog post on the topic. 

However, I do believe the Doreen Virtue Angel Tarot is a legitimate contribution to the tarot corpus, and I am glad a friend lent me her copy so I could give it a legitimate review.

Angel Tarot Cards (yes, that is the official title) looks like a typical Doreen Virtue oracle. It is oversized, printed on very sturdy stock and packaged in a lovely box with a small but substantial booklet. Because of their size and sturdiness, the cards are a bit hard to handle, but lovely to behold.

The deck is a standard 78-card tarot deck in many respects. The artwork is gorgeous, but there are few visual clues in each picture about what the card might actually mean. Never fear, there are interpretations written on each card. There is no need to actually intuit or study anything. This is a boon for new tarot readers or for those who want to use the deck as a simple, easy oracle. 

I like many of the written interpretations on the cards and in the booklet. Virtue and I agree that every tarot card can have an uplifting meaning. The punctuation on some of the interpretations summons my inner grammar police. The interpretations are a mishmash of full sentences and key words, but each thought is punctuated with a full stop. Apparently, angels find no need for complete sentences or proper punctuation. We can’t really blame the deck designers for this; many other oracle creators are guilty of the same lazy crime against the English language.

The Major Arcana cards are each illustrated with an archangel. The cards bear the traditional number at the top. Each Major Arcana has a name, although many of the names have been changed from the traditional Major Arcana designations. Under the Major Arcana name is the name of the angel, then the illustration. The written interpretations are at the bottom.

In this deck, Justice is card eight, and Strength is card eleven.  The Fool has been renamed as “The Dreamer.” Major Arcana five (Hierophant) is called “Unity,” twelve (Hanged Man) is called “Awakening,” thirteen (Death) is “Release,” fourteen (Temperance) is “Balance,” fifteen (Devil) is “Ego”, sixteen (Tower) is “Life Experience” and twenty (Judgment) is “Renewal.” The rest retain their traditional names.

I am comfortable with changing the traditional names of Major Arcana cards. In the five hundred year history of tarot some have already been changed. The Hierophant was once the Pope, for instance. I like Lisa Hunt’s replacement of “Chains” for the Devil, and Eileen Connolly’s “Transition” for Death.

I think Virtue’s “Release” for Death is brilliant. I also like “Ego” for the Devil. I think “Life Experience” for the Tower is shallow, and “Unity” for the Hierophant is simply wishful thinking.

The assignment of an archangel for each Major Arcana is very interesting, and will be helpful to those who work with archangels, or want to learn more about them. Following in the footsteps of Kris Waldherr and some other modern tarot designers, this is a great example of what I like to call “archetypal assignment tarot.” The question is, how well do the archangel choices reflect the standard Major Arcana archetypes?

The “Unity” card (Hierophant), is represented by Archangel Sandalphon. Sandalphon is one of the few archangels who was once a mortal man. This makes sense for the “Pope” archetype of Major Arcana five. The Pope is a mortal man who is also God, or God’s representative on Earth. Sandalphon’s responsibilities include prayers, personal ascension and Earth. To me, this seems like a very good fit.

The High Priestess is represented by Archangel Haniel. Haniel is feminine, and associated with grace, intuitive development, and finding our divine essence. Again, this seems a perfect fit.

After studying the archangels and the Major Arcana cards with which they are assigned, I feel the designers of this deck really did their homework. One problem with archetypal assignment decks is the assignments sometimes feel forced. In Angel Tarot Cards, the assignments make sense, and feel natural.

My only real complaint with the Major Arcana in this deck is the loss of the “Fool’s Journey.” I would be fine with the “Dreamer’s Journey.” But here, there is no journey at all. Instead, there are simply twenty-two archangels, each with a beautiful picture, a strong archetypal association and a powerful message. For many, this will be enough.

For me, the concept of card zero (Fool or Dreamer) as the star of the show and the representation of each of us on our journey through life is critical to developing a full archetypal and allegorical understanding of tarot.

The Minor Arcana of Angel Tarot Cards uses the elements instead of the icons. This is not an unusual switch in modern tarot. The Earth cards have green borders and are illustrated with faeries. The Water cards have dark blue borders and are illustrated with mermaids. The Fire cards have dark red borders and are illustrated with dragons. The Air cards have light blue borders and are illustrated with unicorns.

The Court of the Minor Arcana is quite traditional, with ranks of Page, Knight, Queen and King. The interpretations include the possibility of the cards representing people, energies or predictions.

I have a problem with mixing archangels with unicorns, mermaids, dragons and faeries, especially since Virtue has made a living of presenting the angels as actual beings rather than mythological beings. Does this mean she thinks unicorns and mermaids are actual beings as well? Many people do, but for me this demotes the archangels to mere mythical beasts.

Clearly, Angel Tarot Cards would not be my first choice for a personal or professional tarot deck. However, the artwork and deck quality are stunning. The deck honors tarot tradition in many ways, and will be a great tool for folks who want to learn tarot, or who want to learn about the archangels. It is evident that a great deal of work went into producing this deck. That work has resulting in a strong tarot deck that many people will cherish and enjoy. Angel Tarot Cards is a valuable offering to the tarot community, and may serve to bring new tarot enthusiasts into our community.