Three Of Pentacles - The Strawberry Moon

The Three of Pentacles, a celebratory card is a well suited draw today with this first Full Strawberry Moon in June of Summer.

Though I'm not one to celebrate Canada Day, I'm grateful to be Canadian, and I'm sure there will be many celebrations on this long weekend ahead.

Every where there have been graduation celebrations, proms and the end of the school year, which for some, is a bitter sweet time, seeing our children spreading their wings, flying the nest, when we just wish they'd slow down..

When the Strawberry Moon arrives, we can look forward to enjoying fresh sweet strawberries as this is where the Strawberry Moon gets it's name. Sometimes called the Hay Moon for the first harvest of hay or referred to as the Rose Moon when the first bloom of roses arrive.

I didn't grow strawberries this year, but first thing this morning I motored to town in my new to me motor car, and purchased a hanging strawberry plant and some other garden delights to adorn my flower garden out in my front door yard.

June is a month of Birthdays and tomorrow I will help celebrate two of my dearest friends Birthdays.

The Strawberry Moon is a time when Indigenous woman spiritually cleanse themselves. It's a great time to get our lives uncluttered.

It's a time to celebrate who we are, reflect on our dreams, happiness and success. So go ahead, celebrate Summer and allow yourself the harvest of those sweet strawberries and reap the rewards of your hard work. There is much to be grateful for and more work ahead to come.

The Love of Venus the Evening Star Apparition

The Roman goddess of Love rules the Major Arcana card,The Empress,  representing The Great Mother.

In the night sky, if you look up you'll find the Evening Star Apparition at it's best in years, Venus, which hovers near the crescent Moon in the beautiful twilight. It will be easily seen tonight and tomorrow, as the sun sets and will continually get brighter into the late Summer and into September.

Venus the goddess of Love being in Gemini, my Sun Sign, gives me a deep sense of affirmation and connection to all the elements and especially with the earth.

The Empress, the great goddess Demeter, the Earth Mother ruler of all nature is the protectress of young defenseless creatures. Adorned in her necklace, symbolizing the twelve signs of the Zodiac, she embodies the Great Mother. Without her within us, we can bring nothing to fruition. Hers is the wisdom of nature, which understands that all things move in cycles and ripen at the appropriate time.

All the sun long it was running, it was lovely, the hay
Fields high as the house, the tunes from the chimneys, it was air
And playing, lovely and watery
And fire green as grass. And nightly under the simple stars
As I rode to sleep the owls were bearing the farm away,
All the moon long I heard, blessed among stables, the nightjars
Flying with the ricks, and the horses
Flashing into the dark.
–Dylan Thomas (1914–53)

The Hierophant - Humility, Humanity, Humour

The images of the Tarot deck often depict figures that are half human, and half creature or have both a earthly and a divine nature. This I think is a good reminder of our human state. We are all deeply connected,  are no less, or no better than any other living beings on earth. We have a delicate relationship with nature and are all part of the animal and natural world.

The Hierophant is kind of a funny looking fellow being half horse and half human. If he actually existed people would either run the other way or there would probably be a lot of laughing going on. This spiritual representation of the Centaur with his beard and long hair, suggests the mature face of a priest and a wise teacher. This is Chiron embodied in this Major Arcana card. He is an inner spiritual teacher, an immortal educated by Apollo the sun-god and Artemis the moon-goddess. Chiron affirms the nature of the laws by which we must live in order to be in the right relationship with the divine.

Reflecting on the Hierophant, I'm reminded to use three important tools in life that help me to accept and understand my imperfection. The first one being humility, second to be mindful and appreciative of being a part of humanity, and lastly to avoid taking myself too seriously by maintaining my sense of humour.

Eight of Cups - Happy May Day

Poor Psyche has her work cut out for her and what lies ahead doesn't appear to give her much hope. She's been given the task of  making the descent into the underworld and acquiring Aphrodite's beauty cream. Now that's a hard job and the pay sucks!


In the late 19th century the first of May (May Day) was chosen as the date for International Workers' Day. It's also an ancient northern hemisphere, traditional spring festival and holiday in many cultures, celebrating fertility with dancing, singing and cake.  

The mythological goddess of flowers was Flora. She played an important role in this celebration, and was representing the most beautiful, delicate and fragrant wild Mayflower.

I'm reminded that we all have our work and tasks to perform, whether we like it or not. It's all part of being a responsible and something we have to accept. But this doesn't mean we have accept enslavement or being a prisoner to our work whatever it may be, especially when it becomes drudgery and making us unhappy.

Thankfully things change and we can change, either our work and/or our attitude. There is a time to work and a time to play. Spring calls for us to shake off the Winter blues and to celebrate Spring and the coming Summer. 

This is what happens to Psyche she comes to a point of acceptance, she lets go and shakes things off. It's only when she does this, that things begin to improve and she can once again celebrate,sing and sing around the May Pole. And don't forget the cake!

Primavera by Botticelli - Flora

Queen of Wands - Everything Is Going to Turn Out Right

In reality there is no superwoman alive, in spite of the ancient image of the 'superwoman' being embodied in the Queen of Wands.

However humans can gain and actualize the kind of exuberance, vibrancy, loyalty of heart and strength of the creative imagination and vision that sustains the goals our hearts choose. The Queen of Wand's faith and loyalty comes from a deep intuitive conviction that in the end everything will turn out right.

If we have a stability and are self-contained we develop a self-confidence that can be influential.

Drawing the Queen of Wands today is a very welcome card and a great affirmation for me.

Yesterday I was really struggling to see my way through the burden of feeling of isolated because I've been without the funds to buy a vehicle. I can't remember the last time I actually had a car.

 I turned it all over and embraced my feelings of sadness, I relayed this to the Universe as I dug in deep to find the source of my feelings. I wrote in my journal.

 "I'm burnt out  due to never having enough money, being without a vehicle,  feeling isolated and out of touch with others, having to always rely on someone else to get me around and worrying over my bills." 

 Two good friends, a young couple I'd worked for, minding their two sweet children. During Christmas they'd lent me a second used car they'd purchased in the past from a mutual friend before Christmas. They said as soon as they had the use of a company car they would sell me this vehicle for a reasonable amount. I was thrilled as I'd driven the car before and I loved it. However things didn't transpire for reasons beyond their control. I just let it go and hoped that things would somehow work out for the better..

Yesterday, just after I'd written all of my feelings down in my journal, embraced them and let them go, I received the most unexpected news from the same couple. They asked if I still needed a car. I said ah...yes. They informed me they were moving to another province and offered me the same car! They weren't lending me the car, but giving it to me!!! Wow!!! I was completely bowled over, gob smacked, out of my mind with excitement and mostly so very grateful for their kindness and compassion!

I know it's not easy to believe and have faith that everything will turn out right, and some times if feels near impossible, but if we do, I believe some how, in some way everything is going to turn out right.

Everything's Going to Turn Out Right by The Isaacs

Don't make no difference what the doctor said
Anything is possible
You're talking bout the man who opened blinded eyes
And even raised the dead
So don't listen to the world tell you hope is gone
Press on, brother, sister
Keep pressing on
Listen to me now

Everything's gonna turn out right
Said he'd never leave you in the dead of night
So fix your eyes on the light of the sun
Don't look back. Walk on.
You can't see where you're going when you hang your head
Got to have a little faith in what the good book said
Everything's gonna work out
Everything's gonna turn out right
You'll see

It don't make no difference what the banker said
Don't worry about tomorrow
You'll never see the righteous forsaken
Or His seed out begging for bread
Just do you best to live the way you should
And he'll take your circumstances
And he'll work them for your good
Everything's gonna turn out right
Said he'd never leave you in the dead of night
So fix your eyes on the light of the sun
Don't look back. Walk on.
You can't see where you're going when you hang your head
Got to have a little faith in what the good book said
Everything's gonna work out
Everything's gonna turn out right
You'll see

He said He'd be near the brokenhearted
He's touched by all our suffering
It doesn't matter what you have to face
He's already covered it with His grace
And His strength is made perfect in me
When I am Me, Me
Everything's gonna turn out right
Said he'd never leave you in the dead of night
So fix your eyes on the light of the sun
Don't look back. Walk on
You can't see where you're going when you hang your head
Got to have a little faith in what the good book said
Everything's gonna work out
Everything's gonna turn out right
You'll see.

Virgins, Unicorns and Fortune Tellers

Gary Larson - Cartoonist

No, I'm not a virgin, not a unicorn, and not a fortune teller!

The point I'm making is, I don't want to represent myself as being something I'm not. The reason this is so important to me being a Tarot reader, is because there is so much misunderstanding and misrepresentation of Tarot and just what it means. I feel very strongly that I have a clear responsibility to those who might be considering having a reading done, clearly understanding what Tarot is, and what it is not. What Tarot IS NOT is fortune telling or being a fortune teller. I loathe this description of Tarot reading and readers. And whenever I hear some refer to Tarot in this way I quickly clarify it for them.

I've also had people relay their own personal experiences with these so called fortune tellers who told them some very negative, disturbing and destructive information. First and foremost the priority of a reader should be to do no harm. So when I hear of people being warned about impending future happenings and the like, I know they've not only been duped and harmed, but need to be told this isn't what Tarot is about.


Discernment is absolutely paramount when deciding to have a reading and you need to feel that you can have confidence in a trustworthy reader. Would you trust any old mechanic to fix your car? I think not. You ask around for an opinion.

So it's important that you do your home work and some investigative research. Find out what other people's experience has been with a Tarot reader, if you can. Do a little home work yourself about Tarot. There are some reputable online experts on the subject. Trust your intuition.

The Way Tarot Works

“ The way Tarot ' works ' in a predictive sense is as a kind of mirror of the psyche. The archetypal nature of the images strikes hidden, unconscious chords in the card reader, and reflects unknown knowledge or insight in relation to the client's situation-thus apparently revealing things which could not possibly, in any rational way, be discoverable. This is why ' clairvoyant ' or psychic ' powers are not a prerequisite for a sensitive reader, but rather, an awareness of the archetypal patterns or currents at work in life reflected by the images on the cards.
 
Tarot can reveal exactly where you are right now, how you got there and where to best focus your energy. We'll explore opportunities for clearing obstacles on your path by focusing on and activating your natural abilities and capacities. "

The Mythic Tarot is based on archetypes. Carl Jung defines an archetype as being, " An inherited pattern of thought or symbolic imagery defined from the past collective experience" (i.e. Artist, Visionary, Goddess, Healer, Lover, Mentor, Rebel and Warrior)

These archetypes reflect a narrative story and mystery that informs our world and nourishes the soul, something that all human beings long for, and gives meaning to our lives.


The Celtic Cross layout is what I use for my readings. It's one the oldest, most popular and effective spreads, covering up to a six month period of time for the questioner. It can be used to answer specific questions or for general advice about the querent's current life path.

There are many things I love about Tarot and being a reader. But mostly it's being able to work with people and experiencing the reward I feel after having the privilege of doing a reading for someone who is genuinely grateful for having gained more insight and clarity into their particular situation and life journey.  

And if you’re so inclined, I invite you to get yourself a reading.

B. "Hap" Kliban - Cartoonist

Ace of Pentacles - Motivation

Have you ever felt like you're so unmotivated you can't get out of your own way? I think we can all feel this way at some point, for a myriad of reasons, and we all have to find ways to deal with it, hopefully in a positive way.

As a soon to be 65 year old Crone and happy to be one, I've learned a lot about motivation. This isn't as a result of being wise. It's simply because of experience, and learning a number of hard lessons along my path and finding the balance between being overdoing it like an workaholic and trying not to be a sloth. I must say I do love sloths, they're just so darn cute.

I'm an admitted coffee addict. I probably drink too much of it, but it helps me get my mojo workin' first thing in the morning. I'm so grateful at this point in life that I have the luxury of not having to face the work world every day with long hours of highway driving to get there like I did in the past.

I can afford to spend time writing, meditating, contemplating my belly button and involving myself in the creative process everyday while drinking copious cups of coffee.  But all this takes energy, and action and so I have to find ways to keep motivated, especially when I just don't feel like doing what I need to do to live a healthy, creative life.

Sometimes when I don't feel like exercising I fight with myself. Then I simply have to ignore that negative Debbie Downer part of my personality, kick her to the curb and just do it any way. This is probably one of the biggest struggles I have these days, but it's getting better and maybe just a little easier.

Debbie Downer - Rachel Dratch - SNL

So when I draw the Ace of Pentacles that embodies raw energy that all Aces represent and the earth shaking force of nature that the god of Poseidon embodies in the Ace of Pentacles, it's a motivating card to draw for the day and I'm happy that I picked it from my deck.

Ultimately, coffee and sitting around waiting for motivation just ain't gonna cut it. I just have get to it and at it, and that's when the motivation happens and where it comes from.