July 2013 edition

The Readings by SunChariot Newsletter

July 2013 Edition

Volume 5, Edition 7

Welcome back to the Readings by SunChariot newsletter!
 

I'm sending out all my best wishes to you for this July. I know it will be a good one for us. It is actually my birthday today as I am writing this. So for me it is also the start of a new year in my life. And I am sure lots of new and good things are coming for us both this month and beyond.

 

Where I am right now in my life is pretty interesting to me.  I am learning a lot about life and myself. And I love to learn new things. It's a going below the surface of things time for me right now. Not just accepting things are as they seem because they feel that way, but looking for the thoughts behind the feelings and if those are completely accurate. As if they are not, the way I feel will not be an accurate reflection of the situation. So lots of that going on over here right LOL

 

Lots of learning and seeing the beauty of life. I am also starting a new meditation course this week which I am very excited about. I just love meditation. And also my Tarot book is becoming more "defined" and advancing slowly but surely which is also exciting for me.

 

 

I wish you a month of July that meets all your expectations and more. And if things work out differently than you may have expected that you see the new path as a better one,

All the best this month.

Babs 

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(This Blog version of my newsletter is available to be viewed by anyone at anytime at this site. It will come out once a month, near the last Saturday of every month. But, if you'd like an e-mail reminder each month to let you know when the new edition has come up, just click here and I'll get that out to you)

Quote of the Month

A tree is no less perfect because it is a seedling. A tiny infant is no less perfect than a grown-up. It is perfection itself. Because it cannot do a thing, does not know a thing, that does not make it somehow less perfect.

 

A child make mistakes. She stands. She toddles. She stands again, a bit wobbly, hanging onto her mommy's leg. Does that make the child imperfect?

 

I tell you it is just the opposite!  That child is perfection itself. wholly and completely adorable.

 

So, too, are you.

 

--taken from the book Meditations from Conversations with God, by Neale Donald Walsch (Kindle version)

 

 

(a little reminder that you are perfect just as you are now)

July 2013 Contest

This time around I am offering you a 3 card Tarot reading, using my Tarot of Transformation. I enjoyed using it so much in my Asking about Life section this month, that it felt like a good idea to offer a reading with it as the contest prize. It's a deck that excels at talking about the changes in your life, either changes you hope to make or changes that are currently taking place.

To enter the contest, just click here.

In the Comments section, just write "July 2013 contest" along with the country you are in (feel free to just put the first initial of your last name if you want).

 

The drawing will take place on Sunday, July 21, 2013  and will be announced in the August 2013 edition of this newsletter.

 

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 Last  month's winner

The winner of last month's contest was Teresa A, from the USA..The prize last month was a 4 card Angel reading.  I'll be getting that out to you soon Teresa and very much looking forward to talking to the angels for you.

 

We'll be in touch again soon, :-)

 

All the best till then, and always,

 

 

Warmly,

 

Babs

 

Tarot Demystified

Crossing your palm with silver

This will be just a short column this month, but I've always loved and been fascinated by language and I was wondering where the expression "crossing your palm with silver" actually came from and what it referred to originally. I thought you might be curious too, so I decided to look into it for you. All  I knew what that it referred to paying a Tarot reader. But once my curiosity was up, I wanted to know more. And here is what I found.

 

It definitely has its roots in more fortune-telling superstition. There has always been, and still is, so much of that around. Which is in essence why I write this column each month to try to dispense with some of that. And the expression was originally meant quite literally.

 

It seems to have started out a long while back (potentially as early as the 11th century) when people coming to readers would literally make the sign of the cross over the fortune-tellers palm with a coin and then place the coin on their palm. This was a form or donation for the reading. It also was an effort to ensure a good reading by making sure that the reader was not being influenced by anything negative (as in the devil) or using any form or witchcraft.

 

But later on, probably by the 18th century, the expression was used by gypsy fortune tellers as a rather indirect way of asking to be paid for their readings. Silver being considered something precious, it could be considered as a gift in exchange for their talents, rather than as actual payment for a service rendered.  As though they were passing their gift (talent) on the other person were giving them a gift back. More of an exchange than a payment.

 

Which actually brings up another superstition. I have heard both sides of the coin on this one. I have heard that a reader must never charge for their services. And alternately that a reader should always charge for their services. I have heard some people sure that you must do it and others who are equally sure you must not. Both are Tarot superstitions of course.

 

Clearly both can't be right at once. And pretty well anything statement that tells you that you "must" do something in Tarot or that you "must not" do it, in my experience, tends to be related to more Tarot superstition. There is nothing you have to or cannot do or things won't work as a reader. Nothing that applies universally to all readers in that way. Although, in my eyes there are certainly things of course that you should not do as a human being. And morality and a deep sense of empathy and caring are very important parts of what it means to be a reader.

 

 

Coming next month: Connecting to spirits

 

Asking about Life

This month, I thought to ask about WHY he come up against difficult experiences in life. What is their purpose? We all have them, many of the ones we face are similar. I am a strong believer that nothing happens by accident and there are reasons for and behind anything that happens to us in life. So it felt like time to ask what purpose these kinds of experiences serve in our lives.

I felt called to use the Tarot of Transformation, by J L Cori and Willow Arlenea for this reading. I haven't used this deck for a  couple of years, but it is of course one I have always loved. And it is a good deck to use when looking at changes in our lives and life's harder experiences do tend to lead to change. So it felt right here.

 

I asked for you:

 

What is the purpose of struggle in our lives?

 

And here is what the cards had to say:

 

 

Card 1-Teacher of Wands (Spirit in Matter)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is a card from the suit of Wands. So this says, to start off, that there is a correlation between what we can create in our lives and these kinds of experiences.  And also between the passion that drives us to put our all into creating what we want ourselves and our lives to be and these kinds of experiences. Wands are related to both these things.

 

This being the Teacher of Wands, says that these kinds of experiences teach us something valuable that lets us create and encourages us to create what we most want in the best ways. If life were always easy, what motivation would we have to try to create change in our lives? Or to learn, or grow?

 

This card is saying on part (maybe at times in large part) our motivation to strive to be and do more is causes by a dissatisfaction with where we are now. And that facing difficulties can be the catalysts for good and positive change.

 

The Teachers of the deck for me are about empathy and imagining yourself in the shoes of another. This cards is saying that these types of experiences lead to that in our lives and can teach us very important life lessons. When something is not working as we want it to in our lives, we can talk to others and see what they are doing differently. We can look and see what is working well for them and try it out. This leads us to adapt and learn and grow. And to raise ourselves to higher and higher levels in our lives. All some of life's best and most positive things.

 

And, last but not least, the keywords on this card are: "Spirit in Matter", and this hints that this is one of life's ways of teaching us spiritual lessons through the material aspects of our day to day lives.

 

 

Card 2--10 of Cups, reversed (Joyous Flow)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is a Cups card, about or feelings. As a reversed 10, it is about stopping and taking a time out to think about our feelings. Taking a time out to think about which feelings that we are embracing inside ourselves and benefiting us and which are holding us back. And what to do about it.

 

Sometimes our feelings can actually create the difficulties we face in our lives, as of course not all feeling are positive ones. And our feelings affect our actions and there are consequences to those. Sometimes the feelings that we have as we face a difficult situation, hold us back from acting in the ways that would help us most.  Either way, having to deal with these kinds of situations forces us to have look at our feelings surrounding them. And think of who we want to be  and what we might like to change. And seeing this can be very beneficial.

 

The keywords for this card are: "Joyous Flow" and that is where we want to be I'd say. We want to be joyous and happy and well....going with the flow and trusting that it is taking us somewhere good. In that sense we can view these experiences as signs that something in our feelings is out of sync with this, and is leading us away from these feelings. Once we see what and can stop and see what it is, then we can begin to heal it.

 

The Image to me is about having that joyous and playful attitude towards life, and seeing things clearly I see these two in the dolphin,  The "school" of fish swimming below the surface of things say that there are important life lessons that we can learn by facing difficulties and they bring to the surface certain feelings that we may be harbouring that our not in our best interests. So that we can do what Is needed with them. And the floating woman, says that at the best of times when our feelings just are not working for us and we can see it, these experiences help us to just let go and trust in life to guide us to the right and best place for us.

 

 

Card 3--6 of Cups (Sharing Support)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

Here is a nice positive part of the answer! It's about loving and love-based feelings, Cups being about our feelings and the 6s being about love.

 

And that is, of course true. going through periods of difficulty in our lives can often be a bonding experience. It draws us closer to those who are there for us as we share it, creates a sense of true empathy in those who have already been where we are now, and in many ways brings out the best in us, and the desire to help others,. even those we don't know.

 

Giving and sharing our support with others is a good, positive, necessary things in the lives of both the giver and receiver. People need to be needed as much as they need help in harder times, It can be beneficial to all concerned.

 

Having someone that you know you can lean on, helps you rise up to a better place and knowing that you can trust those people to be there for you, that knowledge lasts much longer than does any problem.

 

 

Card 4--flipped 7 of Cups (Drama Queen)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 The 7 of Cups is about difficult feelings. Cups is once again about your feelings,. and there are a lot of Cups in this reading. So to a large extent facing struggles and difficulties in our lives has a lot to do with our feelings. They teach us lessons about our feelings that are important to know. The 7s in the deck for me about about facing something difficult. but not impossible. And they say that if you face it and don't give up you can and will win out over it.

 

In essence this card says that some struggles in life are there to make us look at difficult feelings in our lives and to heal them so that we can move forward in a better and maybe healthier direction. Sometimes the feelings we have actually create the issue or draw it to us. Other times it comes because we need to work on our reactions to the situation. But either way this card says that there is something very useful we can learn about our feelings by facing difficulties on our lives.

 

And yes, the keywords of this cards are "Drama Queen" so this card is also saying that if we feel or act as a drama queen, our lives will sense us some form of struggle that will force us to take a good look in the mirror., to see what we are doing in drawing this to us, and to think on how to change.

 

 

Bonus Card--8 of Swords (Equanimity)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And this last cards, says that one purpose of facing struggle in our lives is to develop some strong thought about the issue behind it, to develop a stronger,. more unshakable way of thinking about it. One that truly reflects the real you clearly. Swords are about our thoughts and way of thinking, 8s are about strength for me.

 

A lot of times we go through life a bit mechanically, reacting to things as we always have or as we were taught to without stopping to think if that really is the best way for us. If the way we are thinking is really not true to who we really are inside or is something we really need to stop and look at, life will put something in our way that will force us to stop. To stop and think. And that is the message of this card.

 

The keyword for this card is: "Equanimity" which is really all about peace of mind and inner balance. And this again says the say thing really...that if we are thinking in a way that does not bring us these feelings, that makes us feel ill at ease, life will send us some problem to work on that will force us to view the way we are thinking about things for what it is. And to rethink if we really are on the best path for us, by following that way of thinking.

 

Its about following a way of thinking that makes you feel at home and at ease with yourself, that feel wise to you and that fits in the with patterns of your life and of who you really are inside.

 

July 2013 Friendship Reading


For your reading this month, I used my Cosmo Astrotaro by Carol Herzer. It is one of my most special decks. Very unusual. as it is part Tarot and part Astrology deck. It contains normal Major Arcana cards from a traditional Tarot, but the rest of the cards are all Astrology-related, with a few of the elements thrown in.

What makes this deck most special unfortunately does not show up in photographs very well. But it does make the deck quite beautiful. Each deck is individually handmade and hand=painted and they contain both iridescent and glitter paints. It really shines as a deck, literally. I just wish you could see it in the photos.

Here is a video of another deck by the same creator so you can see the glitter and shine more clearly.

So this month this is what I asked for you and what the cards had to say:


What advice do the cards have for you this month, to help you make the very best of this month?

Card 1: The Wave (reversed)

This is Card 0 of the Majors (traditionally called The Fool). It came up reversed here saying that there is a very important life lesson for you this month related to where you are now in relation to the message of the card.  And that message is all about how much faith you have in life, and that in life things always work out for the best.

This card coming up here, and coming up reversed, is a very strong card. It is saying that this July your life will purposely be sending you lessons to teach/help you work on your faith in all this. Anything that looks like it is challenging you in that area, that is why it is in your life now. And all the good things that life sends you unexpectedly is also to help you see that ultimate fairness of life.

This card is about believing the best of life and expecting the best from it. Whether of not you are there right now, this cards says that you have had such faith in life in the past and you can do it again. Embrace that energy this month.

The image shows that wave as a series of interlocking pieces rising upwards, connected as a whole. This shows the connection of all the life events you have faced so far and will in the future. We may not always make the best choices (in fact no one always does) but this card says that all you have and ever will experience is connected and trying to lead you to a higher place inside you, to connect you to your Higher Self.  This card suggests for you to not right that as it is in your ultimate best interest and to just go with the flow where it leads as life leads you to a higher better place for you. No need to question, just follow your life this month.

Even if you can't see the good in what was sent to you, trust it is there and that there is a good reason for it all. It is all leading you to a higher better place in your life and inside yourself.  There is much going on behind the scenes that we cannot see, but if we could see it would change how we view things. That is why trust is suggested now.


Card 2: Novile

Now this is a really good card here. :-)

It has a very positive message, that of interconnection, spiritual union, positive growth, expansion, mutual understanding and communication. The gist of this card here is to embrace these things this month. Work from a positive love-base place. Focus on the positive not on the rest. Leave whatever is past in the past and just focus on  how you can be your most positive, connected, happy best this month. If you make that the focus, the rest will fall into place.

This card coming right after the previous one shows a connection between the two. It shows that the reason you the cards are working to teach you life lessons on having a deep faith in life is so that you can let for of what ti not that and put the best you can be out into the world. Once any worries that something might go wrong are taken away, that frees you to be the best that you can be and give the best of yourself out into the world.

And the image is a star, that says that this month you can really shine if you take this advice. It asks you to have faith in that. You brilliance is just waiting to shine out into the world and warm the hearts of those you come in contact with this month. Let it out and you can and will do some real good.


Card 3: Temperance (reversed)

This is a very interesting card here because is both a card from the Major Arcana and a reversed card. Just as in the first card of this reading, that shows a very very important life lesson that your life is working to teach you this month. Working with life to learn it, can only simplify things.

This card is pretty much showing the exact opposite of the message of the first card. Temperance is about being cautious, taking things slowing, not being willing to make a move unless you thinking things out carefully in detail first, and just trying to make sure things stay in balance. Trying to ensure that there is not to much of one thing, and not to much of the other, just perfectly and evenly balanced.

To me, this image looks like a cloudy sky, The clouds  obscuring your vision of the sun so that you can no longer see it  Let's say The Sun represents life's kindness and desire to send the best your way. The part of life that ensures that things always work out for the best. There are times in life when we see that more clearly that others. Some times in life we SEE and feel the effects of this more strongly than others. Things almost magically fall into place. We meet an old friend we have not seen on the bus whom we have not seen for years and who suddenly offers us a job just when we most need it, the unexpected check in the mail when funds are running low.

At those times we can see our lives are working with us to help things work out for the best, that the sun is shining on us. And other times where we don't see any direct evidence of it as nothing special is happening and that sun is hidden for the moment. Then we can be cautious in case things may not work out for the best after all

The point of the message of this card is that just as in the real sky ....on a rainy day just because we do not SEE the real sun in the sky. We know for sure and understand that the sun has not gone away from our lives and is still just where it should be behind the clouds,,,,In the same sense, the part of life that ensures that life always works out for the best, never leaves us either. Even when we don't see anything special happening, that is a part of what life is and it is always there behind things, working behind the scenes.

The arc shape around the Sun here says that there is a pattern to how this works it is not random, just as the real sun follows  a set  trajectory through the sky, there is a pattern to it and reason behind it.

This month, your life will be working to help you see this more and more clearly. The more clearly you see it, the easier the rest of your life will flow this month.


Card 4: flipped Fire (reversed)

The next 3 cards are the flipped cards of your reading, cards which flipped out of the deck during shuffling or otherwise stood out. A flipped card contains a deep message, one that it may take a bit of time to think over to understand fully.

This card is called fire. and its all about what the suit of Wands would be about in a traditional Tarot deck. It's all about what you can create this month. And given the question, it's a about the all the best things you can create in and of your life this month. The word "Spirit" is a keyword on this card, so it is also about what you can create with and from your inner self this month.  As a reversed card, this is an important message for you this month.

This card here is talking about the best way to let your light shine out into the world this month. The spiral at the bottom of the cards says to do it in a connected way, through the spirit of connection, The colour red around it says that that will bring more warmth into your life. And lead to beautiful transformations in your life in the future (the energy at the bottom right hand corner which look like a beautiful butterfly wing).

And the Star at the top of it all radiating out it energy of faith and trust=one more reminder form this deck to trust that all is  in order in the universe and you have no need to concern yourself that it might not be.


Card 5: flipped Taurus

 




As you can see, here is one of the traditional Astrology cards coming up, the card representing Taurus. It's message for you this month is about rebirth, about recreating yourself, making something different and better of yourself...self-improvement.  Its about remaking positive change, taking pride and pleasure in who you are, and just living up to your ideals of who you want to be. These are all things that this card says it would benefit you to work on this month,.

This card is telling you to work. this month on what will bring you harmony, both inner harmony (by knowing that you are living up to who you want to hope to be) and harmony with the others around you. Work on maintaining those kinds of harmonies and that will help you a lot this month. :-)


Card 6: flipped Trine (reversed)

This last card of your reading is called Trine. The concept of "Trine" here is related to the number 3, the reason for the triangles in the image. It's a number of balance and steadiness. Of all the shapes, the triangle is the hardest to tip.

So this can be a good month for you to think of the balance between the different areas of our life. Are things in balance as they should be, or have you been neglecting certain areas of your life and placing more emphasis on others. Now could be a good time to make some space for anything you have been neglecting or putting on the back burner.

This month when it comes to where to place your efforts, the heart in the center of the main triangle says to choose from an enlightened place of self-love, and connection too. It's ME-time for you time to grow and expand and spread your inner wings.  Show and communicate your inner love and connection to others around you and watch those thought inside you lead to something long-lasting that grows (shown in the trees growing at the top) :-)

 

This card did come up reversed, so there is a very important message for you here saying that you really can climb to a better place for yourself and feel more at ease and balanced and at inner harmony if you work on all this this month.

Well here we are again, coming to the end of this edition. Thank you for dropping by and letting me share with you. :-)

Please feel free to come visit me on my web site:

www.ReadingsBySunChariot.com

for an in-depth, personalized reading delivered right to your Inbox, whenever you'd like my help with any issues in your life. I'm always here for you and I'd be more than happy to work with you to help you find your answers or just to feel better about things.

Wishing you all the beauty, joy and enchantment of the summer season. :-)


All my very best wishes for this month for you,


Babs