Tarot Decks of Interest

I'm always on the hunt for interesting tarot decks and spied a few I thought to share with readers. Sometimes it's the artwork that pulls me and other times it's the subject/theme or the way the tarot meanings vary from the traditional Rider-Waite.

One of the decks is actually an Oracle deck. I'd love to know what the difference is between an oracle deck and a tarot deck? Are they the same thing, only the name was changed?

In any case, I'd be interested to know if any of my readers have one of these decks and how you like it.

Wisdom of the Hidden Realms Oracle Cards: A 44-Card Deck and Guidebook

by Colette Baron-Reid

Mystics have passed down stories of magical realms hidden from mortal sight, bridging the world of Nature and Spirit. Even before the written word, the ancients established a Divine partnership between humans and these Hidden Realms. Both agreed to form an eternal Sacred Alliance to establish harmony and balance between the material and the spiritual. The Alliance ensured that when we asked for guidance in manifesting our reality, they would help us find our way to the highest good for all. But in time, humanity turned itself away from the natural world as a source for the Divine and forgot about the realms in the Unseen realities. Religious superstition, dominance, and the power of intellect, reason, and technology became our focus; and our partnership was forgotten, so the realms faded away. As our global concerns have increasingly been more plaintive, they have returned to help us find our way home to our true purpose, prosperity, hope, and happiness.

These cards represent some of those realms and their Queens and Kings, Princes, and other magical helpers. Let the Swan Queen point the way to transformation, the Arrow Master help you reach your goals, the Sun Dancers herald your victories, and the Sacred Union speak to the depth of your longing for love. Ask and ye shall receive, for the Highest Good is their motto. If you call upon them, they will answer.

Legacy of the Divine Tarot and

Gateway To The Divine Tarot

by Ciro Marchetti

Step into a lost world from long ago . . .

A world veiled in darkness after a cataclysmic collision that stilled the earth. Millennia have passed and only humankind has survived—through the divine gift of dreams.
Exquisitely rich and magical, this new Rider-Waite-Smith-based tarot deck by digital artist Ciro Marchetti takes you into the heart of fantasy. You can use this legacy from ages past to discover what you need for your own life as it guides you toward hope, wisdom, and inspiration.

The companion guidebook, Gateway to the Divine Tarot, presents the author's interpretation of each card's significance, along with additional perspectives from experts in the tarot community, including Ruth Ann and Wald Amberstone, James Ricklef, and Leisa ReFalo.

Includes a 78-card deck, a 312-page book, and a black organdy bag.

The New Orleans Voodoo Tarot

by Louis Martiniéand Sallie Ann Glassman

The first tarot to celebrate an African-American culture, this book and 79-card deck capture both the spirit and the imagery of Voodoo's African, West Indian, and Catholic influences. Ancient and earth-honoring, Voodoo's practices take on different forms specific to time and place, but its essence remains focused on the loa--the potent spiritual forces of Voodoo that are manifested directly through human beings and their actions.

The authors draw strong parallels between the Waite and Thoth Tarots, the Kabalistic Tree of Life, and the Voodoo tradition as it is practiced in New Orleans. Just as the major and minor arcana of the Tarot represent the archetypes of the human psyche and the natural forces of our world, so do the loa of Voodoo embody the primal energies of the universe. With a variety of spreads and readings, the authors show how the Tarot can be an idea channel through which the loa exercise their powers to teach, advise, and initiate the serious student into their mysteries.

Snafu City Monday

SNAFU Baby!

Situation Normal All Fucked Up.

Monday has become my day to clear and resolve snafu it seems. Whether it's my own or a family members. The latest revolves around my late mum's early Yule and Christmas gifts to the family. I honestly did the best I could, but my sister still hasn't gotten her last gift from my mum. The item mum picked out for her apparently was out of stock and put on back order. This was back in October/November a couple of weeks before she passed away. I asked her what I should do?

She told me that sis and her hubby wouldn't be coming to visit until Thanksgiving at the end of Nov. and surely the item would be in by then. Of course, given the situation and the turn of events, they came in earlier than planned, mum passed away, and then chaos ensued trying to work out all the logistics for all that followed. The last thing I cared about or thought of was my sister's last present from our mother. But after sis flew back home and Thanksgiving passed, then Yule and Christmas, I was like "Where the hell is my sister's present from mum?"

I called and was told it was still on back order but the estimated shipping time would be January 7. Now I get a mailer card from the company saying that the new shipping date is January 27. At this rate, if they keep adding time to the shipping date, she won't get the item until Mother's Day! Argh!

I called the company to complain, and they asked if I'd like to cancel the order. I had to sit here and explained about the circumstances and how important it is that my sister get the item. That it was hand-picked for my sister by our now deceased mother.

The guy in customer service said he understood, but their hands are tied by the distributor and the manufacturer. I said I did understand (barely).

I mean I could have raised two freakin' sheep, had them 'get it on' and had a litter of lambies, shorn them, spun the fleece into wool, and knitted the f'ing thing by now! I mean, geeze.

So now we sit and wait and see if they actually send the damn cardigan or if they send another reply card telling me the shipping date has changed yet again.

Patience is a virtue I may lack. At least in this instance. Guess I better stop blogging and start watching for sheep. Ooh, spotted one! Here little lambiekins. You look like the same shade as that sweater...

Until next time~
Cass

Wish You'd Been There: Pics From Last Night's Event

Friends Robin, Randel, Leann Sidhe, and others chatting before the event.

Cassandra reading from her ebook, Cup of Fate.

 

 

 

 

Cora chatting with folks after the event and taking snapshots.

Typing One Handed

I used to be so good at multitasking. Not sure when it changed. All I do know is yesterday morning I decided to make a large pot of homemade vegetable soup. I also needed to get my vintage computer warmed up for timed writings I had planned in SL with Cora. In addition, I needed to finish laundry and a few other minor incidentals. No problema. I can handle a few measly chores while I wait for ye olde computer to calculate it's ones and zeroes.

But when you try to rush some things and multiply others, the universe usually sends you a little note saying, "Slow down nimrod. Or you'll hurt yourself." I didn't get the message, probably because I also had on my 'feel good' morning wake-up tunes blaring from my writing room. So yeah, I did some slice and dice and never with a knife. If you're gonna goof, why go for second measures? lol. I did my slicing with the ragged edge of a tin can that didn't want to cooperate with my can opener. Can you say, yowl? 'Cause I sure did! :P

I guess I'm simply trying to say (in my own round about nutty way) that while I'm still trying to complete my various stories, it's not as smooth or as fast when using one hand, your nose, and your right elbow. lol

If you get the chance and you're free tonight, stop by my book discussion and storytelling hour in SL. It should be fun since I'm on freakin' horse painkillers and saying all manner of funny shit. :P

Storytelling Event Tonight!
6-7pm SLT (Pacific); Excerpts from the book, Cup of Fate by Cassandra Curtis will be read, followed by a brief discussion with readers and fans.
Location: Elementals, http://slurl.com/secondlife/0%200%20Meleda/129/160/23

Top Ten Movies in 2010 According To Cass

I sat down and checked my naughty and nice list twice, so here are my top ten flick picks for 2010.*

10. The King's Speech

9. The Book of Eli

8. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

7. The Inside Job

6. Easy A

5. Tron: Legacy

4. Kick Ass

3. Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of The Dawn Treader

2. Shutter Island

1. Inception

*I didn't get a chance to see True Grit yet, and I had no desire to see The Social Network, so keep that in mind when viewing my picks.

What movies are on your top ten picks for 2010?

Book Discussion and Tarot Chat in the MMC's Chat Pit!

Join myself and friend Cora Zane in the MMC Chat Pit (January 3, from 8pm-8:30pm CST, and chat about everything woo-woo as we explore the supernatural in our books. Could Werekind really exist? Where are the most likely places to find mermaids and selkies? Louisiana vampires making sexy advances on you? *wink*
 
Then from 8:30pm-9:30pm CST, join us for all your tarot related questions. The first five MMC reader/fans will receive a free New Years tarot reading. Everyone who stops by the chat will be entered into a door prize that will include bookmarks and more, and a new tarot deck by Lo Scarabeo, entitled: The Witchy Tarot. This mini-deck (also sometimes known as the Teen Witch Tarot), includes 78 elegant cards showcasing some beautiful artwork.

So mark your calendars for Monday, January 3 and stop by our Chat Pit for a drink...and a bite!

Cassandra Curtis
http://cassandracurtis.com
Author of the Shifting Tides trilogy and bestseller The Midnight Effect
Amber Heat — An imprint of Amber Quill Press 

Happy New Year 2011!

Image courtesy Glitter-Graphics

Happy New Year to all my friends and readers! 

Here's hoping this year is better than last year, or I swear to god 
I may wring the year's scrawny neck! lol

Have a fun day, no matter where you are and what you do. Sláinte!