Princesses/Pages symbolize messengers, youth, innocence, opportunities for change, new possibilities, new growth, new experiences, acquisition of knowledge and expression of new emotions, risk-taking, grace, and art.  Pentacles are associated with the material world, acquisitions of wealth and possessions, our connection to Earth and Nature, sensation, matters pertaining to the physical plane and the element of earth.  Pentacles can also be connected with practicality, groundedness and being realistic.  Sometimes this card is referred to as the "student" card. 

Making a renewed commitment to a security base that seemed on the brink of stagnation; putting more physical energy, resources or money into potential risky projects that you have faith will work out; an awareness that re-investing in something that has passed its peak but have a sense of self-confidence that it's worth a try; taking a risk with physical things that represent material security for you.

In the cards from both decks we see a young woman involved in a garden.  On the Celtic Wisdom Woman of Knowledge we are seeing Airmid whose knowledge of herbs helped heal the people of the Tuatha de Danaan.  On the Zerner-Farber Princess of Pentacles we see a young woman in Victorian style garb standing in a garden enjoying the bounty produced by her labor.  In both instances there is a connection with the earth and gardening for health.  Whether it is the physical health that herbs can provide or the mental health that gardening is often believed to provide, there is a tangible benefit from this labor.

On one level I think this card is a reminder to reconnect to some of those studies I used to enjoy so much - herbalism, aromatherapy, crystal healing.  I was once very interested in pursuing these topics both for physical reasons and for spiritual ones.  Then I sort of fell away from it.  Maybe now is the time to reconnect with those interests and maybe even to start a garden.  I've often thought of planting a healing garden full of herbs and spices that could be used in cooking and for healing. 

Maybe this card is a sign that I need to focus on more practical things or starting to plant seeds that will manifest in myriad beautiful and healthy ways.  I definitely like this concept.  I can be like Airmid and use my skills to help heal others.  That appeals to me.  Of none of this will occur today - I'm at Day 2 of Readers Studio 2009

Readers Studio Day 2

Trying to get three adults ready at the same time can be challenging, but somehow Elizabeth, Matt and I managed it.  We grabbed something for breakfast from the snack bar in the lobby.  Then we hurried over to the hotel for Day 2.  I grabbed a cup of tea as soon as I got there - caffeine was definitely needed.  I spent some time catching up and chatting with folks and deciding which table to sit at for today's workshop.  I bumped into Cheryl and we decided to sit together.  Ellen, Gavin and Thalassa joined us too.  As soon as I considered this configuration, I knew we were in trouble.

The first presenter was James Wanless.  I am a huge Wanless fan from the first workshop of his I ever took at the NY Tarot Festival in 2002.  I spent most of RS09 trying to convince folks to join my new cult - James Wanless and the Cult of the Mermaids.  I figured we could all move to Hawaii, sit on the beach doing Tarot readings and listen to James' words of wisdom.  All kidding aside, James' session was interesting.  He focused on speaking directly to the archetypes represented by the various Major Arcana cards and, if necessary, having them speak to each other.  He called his technique "fortune creating" rather than fortune telling.  James provided us with a handout that listed specific issues with each Major Arcana card.  For example The Hierophant was associated with Mental Negativity.  We were told to select an issue and pull that card from our deck.  We then focused on the archetype and tried to get a message either from the entire image or one specific symbol on the card. 

I decided to work with The Fool whose issue is Fear.  I used the Fool from the Toscano Tarot.  The meaning of this card for me is trusting, naive faith, being willing to take a leap, believing and having faith in myself.  I focused on a butterfly that was in the card.  It spoke to me of the need to emerge from my chrysalis.  I've incubated long enough.  Now it's time to overcome my fears, burst forth and be my authentic self.

James offered several techniques for working with these issues including letting the archetypes suggest actions; do a reading by drawing a card for each symbol in the archetype and keeping the card in view.  This allows the energy of the archetype to pervade our being and make us more receptive to its energy and its guidance.  At this point some folks got up and shared their issue and the message they received from the archetype.  Others volunteered additional interpretations on the message, which led to a great amount of energy and sharing.  As James said several times "None of us is as smart as all of us".  It was amazing and I think it was very beneficial to the person hearing the message.

After this activity, James taught us how to use the Tarot as a business coach.  He explained that The Emperor and the suit of Pentacles are maps for professional success.  In order to use the cards for business coaching, James explained that we need to go through The Emperor and assign a meanings to each and every symbol and think what to regarding their meanings; or pick cards from the entire deck for each of the symbol meanings for insight and action.  James gave us a "cheat sheet" with key works or key questions for the cards and then we could associate an action with that card.  We then did a reading for ourselves using this technique and shared our insights with a partner to see if they could offer any additional insights.  James also explained how to use the same technique for relationship issues using The Lowers card and the suit of Cups.

It was a lot of fun and interesting to see the varied and unique ways to use Tarot for insights and guidance. 

After this session we broke for another wonderful lunch with fabulous entertainment provided by Valentina Burton.  She offered a hilarious and insightful take on doing readings at a hotel in Dallas.  Her entertaining presentation had us roaring with laughter and shaking our heads in recognition.  Then again, even if the tale itself was not entertaining Valentina's presentation style is just a joy to hear. 

After lunch we enjoy Rachel Pollack's session.  Rachel was going to help us find our oracular voice.  She had us each create a fortune telling persona who would serve as our voice for the reading we provided to our partner.  Her instructions were that we did not necessarily need to treat the reading as we would a traditional Tarot reading.  Our goal was to say the first things that popped into our mind and just go with it.  I paired up with Lisa James and we had fun.  You could hear the laughter and hilarity from the other tables.  It quickly became obvious that folks were really enjoying this exercise.

Rachel had her lovely assistants distribute Doctor Apollo's All Purpose Mystery Spread (which guarantees 97% accuracy).  The positions are:

1.  What is known?
2.  What is hidden?
3.  Danger!
4.  Opportunity!
5.  Action!

Some participants shared their fortune teller persona and the results were hysterical.  Everyone had a fabulous time with this exercise.  I realized that I have not found my true "fortune teller persona".  I can fake it but it just doesn't feel right.  When I was sharing this with friends later on one of them replied "that's because your true voice is a native NYer".  (Thank you Gavin).  I kept trying some type of exotic foreign persona but that's not me.  However I can channel a true NY Jewish voice in a heartbeat.  Perhaps that is my fortune telling persona - Tarot reading with some schmaltz and a piece of matzo. ;D

After this exercise Rachel spent some time discussing how our views of the soul effect our Tarot readings.  This isn't something I had considered before.  Rachel explained that she believes Tarot readings can help us find essential truths that go beyond the reading.  That they can help us connect to the divine realities that exists beneath what we might consider to be reality.  She also explained that the soul secretes the body around it.  That our spiritual essence is what creates our physical reality.  The soul is beyond the body and the body moves to inhabit the soul.  These are simple concepts but have profound implications.  Rachel also share that she sees the soul as a hunter that sees all, is of the night and darkness and is wise and connected to death and the moon.

After this Rachel pointed asked "How do we know that our existence is not an illusion?  Is the world real?"  She continued that the Tarot offers us a way to connect with outside information and allow it to come in.  I have heard this concept explained as the Akashic records or the universal unconscious - a shared soul memory that we can all tap into if we are open to the experience.  Tarot may provide a key to tapping into this resource. 

To explore this idea further Rachel shared another spread (Rachel's Esoteric Celtic Cross).  It is based on the four "forbidden questions":

What is above? (Heaven)
What is below? (Underworld)
What came before? (Before we're born)
What will come after? (After we die)

As a group, we used this spread to do a reading for Gina Jean.  My reading results are below:

1.  Who am I?  Hierophant reversed
2.  What is my task?  3 of Swords
3.  What higher truth guides me?  3 of Pentacles reversed
4.  What deep energy powers me?  Knight of Wands
5.  Where do I come from?  King of Cups
6.  What will I discover when I leave this form?  7 of Wands
7.  Who is my hidden self?  9 of Cups

That was all we had time for during that session.  Rachel also handed out a final spread she named the Ogga Reading.  It was inspired by the novel Tropic of Night by Michael Gardner. 

Rachel recommends using two decks for this reading.  From Deck A the reader shuffles and pulls a single care.  This represents the being who must be present for the reading to work.  The querent the shuffles Deck B and then the reader lays out the cards from Deck B in answer to the following questions.

1.  What harmful ogga is feeding on the querent?
2.  What are the results?
3.  What will starve the ogga?

4.  What helpful ogga is nourishing the querent?
5.  What can come of this?
6.  How can the querent feel the ogga in return?

Then the reader shuffles Deck A once more and pulls a single card.  This is the "offering", some action the querent must take for a good outcome.  This offering must be an actual action, not simply an attitude or general behavior.

After that session I went to grab something to eat with some friends.  I have no memory of what I ate but the company was fabulous.  After dinner we hung out in the lobby area outside the ballroom.  Some folks got readings from the celebrity readers, others just hung out and caught up with each other. Some generous souls shared wine with others and a fabulous time was had by all. 

After that I wandered down to the bar and found a number of dear friends setting up in the seating area just outside.  Corrine Kenner, her hubby Dan Horon and Cheryl Sigler were kind and generous enough to bring an abundant bounty of different wines to share.  I was especially fond of one called the Zen of Zin.  We sat there for hours just talking, reminiscing and sometimes crying.  Various folks wandered by and some stayed.  Thalassa and Sir James hung in there until the end.  Sasha Graham and Lisa James stopped by to say hello.  Sasha and my new friend Emanuela also stopped by. The three of us had a lot of fun just chatting and putting on various NY accents.  As the night wore on we remembered those who have passed away and are much missed such as Brian Williams and Brigit Horner.  Eventually we all grew tired and it was time to wend our ways back to our rooms.