The Tarot Channel

Fool Stop Tarot Blog U.S. Games Systems

Did you see that U.S. Games Systems, Inc. is now utilizing Social Media to connect with Tarot enthusiasts?

You can visit the Fool Stop Tarot Blog at this link, and connect with USGS via Facebook and Twitter, too!

Some USGS fan favorites include the Deviant Moon Tarot by Patrick Valenza, Fantastical Creatures Tarot by Lisa Hunt and the Paulina Tarot by Paulina Cassidy. And have you seen the newest release, the Sun and Moon Tarot by Vanessa Decort? So pretty!

And guess what? Yours truly is the Social Media Maven for USGS! I've already made several posts to the Fool Stop Tarot Blog, including a never-before-published interview between Dr. Stephen Winick and Stuart Kaplan and a Horns and Hooves Spread I created based on Emerson's essay "Compensation" (as found in The Spiritual Emerson: Essential Works by Ralph Waldo Emerson, a Tarcher Cornerstone Editions with an Introduction by Jacob Needleman).

I'd love for you to stop by any (or all!) of the new USGS Social Media outlets and let me know what kind of things you'd like to see from USGS as a company, as well as future blog topics, favorite decks, questions for founder Stuart Kaplan and more.

Feel free to spread the word, adding the Fool Stop Tarot Blog from U.S. Games to your Blogroll, friending us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, putting our banner on your site/blog, etc. Your support is much appreciated! (By the way, you can grab a banner here.)

-- Janet Boyer, author of Back in Time Tarot; Founder of the Tarot Classroom

Tarot World Magazine - Volume 1 Issue 2

Heidi Snelgrove has defrauded dozens of subscribers and contributors with the now defunct Tarot World Magazine and the never-published 2009 Tarot World Annual. You can find her at: http://www.facebook.com/people/Heidi-Snelgrove/1179124751

What's Next for Your Neck of the Woods?

Kellye Crockett--a Kingston, Ontario Tarot reader who owns the Sacred Source store--weighs in on the future of her city in this article by Frank Armstrong of the Kingston Whig-Standard:

What lies ahead for city?; Tarot card reader takes a look at what the future holds for Kingston

What's up for your own city or town or nation in 2008?  Do a reading and post your results here as a comment.

Let's get replies from all over the world!

Wishing you a happy, healthy, enlightening and rewarding new year!

Eva Yaa Asantewaa
http://mysite.verizon.net/magickaleva
http://infinitebody.blogspot.com

The Bodhi Eightfold Path of Enlightenment Spread

December 8th is Bodhi Day. 

It's the day to commemorate the enlightenment of Prince Siddhartha Gautama after meditating under the Pipal Tree for seven days and nights.  On the eighth morning he realized the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eighfold Path.  From that point forward, he became known as Buddha and Buddhism was born.

This spread is meant to focus on the elements of the Noble Eightfold Path in order help understand how a person can discipline themselves ethically and mentally to develop their wiser-self.

A good deck to try this spread with might be The Buddha Tarot.

Namu Amida Butsu!

Corrected Version of the Surfacer's New Deck Spread for Tarot and Oracles

One of life's little pleasures is getting a new deck.

Usually, when I get a new deck, I look through it, browse through the LWB or Companion Book and concentrate on if I am making a good connection with the deck.

The_Surfacer, a Tarotist from Alberta, Canada, created this New Deck Spread to use when with a new deck to get a better understanding of the deck and how you'll get along.

I'm going to go back and use this spread with decks I initially didn't really feel I connected with to see what comes out. It's kind of a second chance. :) 

The Lo Scarabeo Spread

As I mentioned in my review of the Lo Scarabeo Tarot, The Lo Scarabeo Spread by Mark McElroy is one of the best I've come across. With the kind permission of Riccardo Minetti, here is the entire Lo Scarabeo Spread for you to use and enjoy:

For centuries, the scarab has been the symbol of life, hope and transformation. This spread channels the essential essence of the scarab, helping you clarify your direction, gain insight into your situation and decide on an appropriate course of action—whatever your challenge might be.

1 (Left Foreleg) - What you want. The direction, goal or achievement that you desire, hope for, or seek.

2 (Right Foreleg) - What you need. The direction, goal or achievement that your Higher Self knows is in your own best interest.

(Compare these; the fact that what you need and what you want are represented by different cards does not always mean these two concepts are in opposition.)

3 (Head) - What you need to know. Information you have consciously or unconsciously overlooked, discarded or disregarded.

4 (Left Midleg) - What works against you. An element of your nature that interferes with progress and growth.

5 (Right Midleg) - What works for you. An element of your nature that supports progress and growth.

6 (Left Body) - What you should abandon. A belief, attitude, or approach that is not in your best interest.

7 (Right Body) - What you should embrace. A belief, attitude or approach you would do well to adopt.

8 (Left Hindleg) - The Aggressor's Path. The best possible next action for those who prefer to take matters into their own hands.

9 (Right Hindleg) - The Believer's Path. The best possible next action for those who prefer to wait to see what the Universe will bring them.

-- Janet Boyer

Tabi's Samhain Spread

Samhain marks the end of the harvest season and Celtic New Year.

Tabi, the creator of this spread, explained she created it because Samhain is the Pagan's end of year, it is a time to reflect on those who have past, but also on the coming year and the promise of what it brings.

Click here to see the spread.

This is a good opportunity to pull out decks like the Robin Wood, Tarot of the Old Path, or the Sacred Circle Tarot, which would work well with this spread and be a good excuse to study the rich celtic and pagan culture and symbols found within decks of this theme.   Blessed Samhain!!

Le Fey's Maslow Hierachy of Needs Spread

We all have needs, but sometimes we have trouble prioritizing them.

I NEED more Tarot decks, and I sometimes forget I have other NEEDS which obviously takes priority over another...and then another..and then another Tarot deck.  But hey, who's counting? :)

Le Fey, a Tarotist from West Virginia USA, created this spread based on Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs Theory.

Click on the picture above to see the spread or click here, and read about how Le Fey developed this spread on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum.

The Cosmic Poufball Spread

Sometimes people we've never met have the most profound impact on our lives, but in the smallest of ways. In this case, a tarotist, who goes by the name The Mathemagician of Virginia, USA, was inspired by the late Darell Martinie, astrologer and radio personality, to created this spread called The Cosmic Poufball.

The Mathmagician explained... I would listen to Darrell Martinie give his astrological readings for the day on radio station WBCN. I'm not into astrology, but I always enjoyed his readings which were typically a few minutes long. He'd talk about the planets, the moon, and the stars and where they were. Then he'd give the ratings for the night from 0 to 10 if you were going out, staying in, or working, and as I recall he often made a commentary on the overall night. He always closed with the words, "It's a wise person who rules the stars, it's a fool who's ruled by them." Last year I learned he'd died of cancer. In his memory I created this spread, The Cosmic Poufball. It's a reading you do for the upcoming night.

I've seen spread creations inspired in so many ways, but I found this one to be exceptionally thoughtful and inspiring in itself.  Plus, it's a fun spread. :)

Caridwen's Web Spread

The Norns are the Fates of Norse Mythology who spin the threads of fate at the foot of the tree of the world called Yggdrasil. It is said the lenght of the string is the length of the person's life; therfore, everything is set out beforehand.  In essence, everything is predetermined and interconnected through their tapestry of fate....a intersting and enchanting bit of mythology.

Caridwen's Web is spread created by Caridwen, a Tarotist in the U.K.  The spread is based on the Norns Fates, Urd (the past), Verdani (the being), and Skuld (what is to come). It's designed to be used be both macro cosmic and microcosmic to understand our positions within the web that is our universe and our place in it alongside our ancestors or, to understand a current situation.

Caridwen explains the first three positions are interconnected and in turn are connected to all other positions in the spread. All positions lead from the first three and should be read together accordingly. Then all positions must be read together as a whole.  She emphasises, The way to read the spread is to imagine a spider in the middle, being affected by the reverberations of each position as though one is plucking the web.

A good deck to do this spread with might be the Norse Tarot and Goddesses of Fate.

The spread goes like this...