8 is a number of setting priorities and goals, organizing your life, systems, regeneration and structure, practicality, balance and symmetry. On its side 8 resembles the lemniscate - a symbol of infinity. Cups are associated with the element of water, with emotions, love, pleasure in life, matters pertaining to the unconscious, intuition and inner planes. This card is sometimes seen as indicating a period of disillusionment; a time to walk away from it all and reflect upon what matter to you.  Reversed it can indicate looking at psychic or intuitive experiences and re-evaluating them; deciding which psychic tools are most appealing to you.  It may also be warning against over-organizing and warning that you need to trust your instincts and psychic intuition.

Reflecting on relationships and thinking over what you like and don't like about them.  Putting your emotions into some kind of order and finding ways of categorizing or analyzing your feelings.  Establishing emotional priorities  among several relationships or within a single relationship. - Gail Fairfield

Readers Studio Day 3

How appropriate that this card should appear on the day I am sadly and wistfully leaving RS09 behind.  Today is the last day of this colorful, frenetic and joyful celebration of the Tarot tribe.  Today everything got wrapped up and it was the last chance to chat with friends, old and new.

The day started off with me dragging myself out of bed at 8:30.  I had been up until 4:00AM chatting, celebrating and remembering with Tarot buddies.  I finally dragged myself up to the hotel room and fell into bed.  The next thing I know I am awoken by an annoying noise.  It is my cell phone vibrating on the wooden nightstand.  I had set the alarm but forgotten to turn the volume up.  It must have been going off for 30 minutes.  I finally managed to sit upright and squint my eyes at my roommate.  Then we both groaned and stumbled around trying to get everything packed and ready so we could check out before heading over the final sessions of the Readers Studio.

By some amazing coincidence, we actually managed to do this.  And my dear, wonderful, greatly appreciated roommie got me a breakfast sandwich to help me gird up to face the day.  When we finally managed to schlep our bags and our weary bodies up to the 3rd floor ballroom we were greeted by the blessed sight of free tea and coffee.  I immediately availed myself of some caffeine infused tea and some Emergen-C which the wonderful organizers were wise enough to provide.

Once I had my act a bit more together I dragged my bag, which was by now about 20 pounds heavier than it was when I arrived, over to my table.  Joanna Powell Colbert took pity on me and let me store my rather large, overstuffed bags behind her table.  I finally settled in and got ready for the start of the final session.  Joanna and I worked together again to review our Foundation Readings and see what new insights we had gained.  I had a few about my reading.  The first thing that struck me when I reviewed it again was the owl on Joanna's High Priestess card.  It reminded me of a poem I once read "The wise old owl, he lived in an oak.  The more he saw, the less he spoke.  The less he spoke, the more he heard.  Why can we be like this wise old bird?"  What immediately struck me is that when I do readings (or pretty much anything else) I need to take time to just be silent and listen.  I don't always need to try to jump in with the answer.  Sometimes the smart aleck remarks that can be so entertaining are actually detrimental when trying to do a Tarot reading.  This is something I know in my head but not in my heart.  I think it's time to internalize this fact.  If I am too busy talking and trying to show what I know, I may actually be preventing the querent from realizing an insight on their own.  I may also learn something that I'd miss if I just kept rambling on.  After Joanna and I spent a few minutes chatting about our new insights into our foundation readings, I decided to pull out my copy of the Transparent Tarot.  We each pulled our three cards and put them one atop the other.  The immediate reaction we each got was amazing.  Joanna's really pulled together and quickly encapsulated her three cards.  Mine was a little trickier but no less dramatic.  What I could see was that my reading is a progression.  I can't just stay in place, I need to move forward.  Once I can do that I will find it easier to integrate all my hopes and dreams into reality.  Joanna and I had a lot of fun playing with the Transparent Tarot in different ways - layering the cards with each other and even over Joanna's Gaian Tarot cards. 

Once the final session was completed we broke for lunch.  This of course led to an abundance of final farewells and lunch plans; a final scurry to the vendor tables in case there was some special item that had been missed and lots of love.  Some of us had to check out while others decided to grab a bite to eat.  The talk at lunch was varied and interesting ranging from humidity in Florida to the various sessions we had just completed.  I also got to meet one of my new friend's hubby (although of course I did my usual - open mouth insert foot).  We slowly made our way back upstairs to the final graduation ceremony.

Before we all got our certificates, several folks got up to share information about upcoming Tarot events or groups such as SFBATS, Tarot for Life, Tarot Calendar and Comparative Tarot.  Ciro Marchetti gave us a sneak preview of his fabulous new website - which looks like it will b amazing.  And then it was time for the certificates.  The group left was much smaller now - a lot of folks had to head home early.  Of those remaining we all clapped and cheered on our Tarot tribe as they walked up to claim their certificate.  And then it was over.  The closing ritual was performed and RS09 was closed.  It was a bittersweet moment.  As much fun as I had and as wonderful as my Tarot tribe is, I wanted to get home and see the hubby.

I lingered on for a bit, helping Joanna pack up a few things and saying my goodbyes to dear ones.  I have committed myself to attending BATS this year.  I have decided that by making it an intent and an affirmation, I am putting it into my subconscious as a done deal.  It's not "I'll try to go", it's "I'll see you at BATS in October".  Finally the moment came when I could drag out my goodbyes no longer.  I gathered up my possessions (including my now 20lb heavier bag) and I slowly worked my way towards the shuttle. 

Looking at the cards, I was struck by the image on the Celtic Wisdom card.  It shows a man and a woman stuck to a large golden cauldron.  They are on a platform and water is swirling around them.  The figures are Rhiannon and her son Pryderi  who have been captured by a cousin of Rhiannon's former betrothed.  That's how I felt as I was preparing to head for home.  I wanted to hold onto these moments and these friends and never leave.  I wanted to cling to them and never let them go.  Then I realized that would only lead to stagnation and be a trap.  We all have to move forward and bring what we've learned back to our lives.  Although I was sad that these wonderful friends and joyful moments had to be left behind, I know they'll always live in my memories.