A Day Wasted On A Tarot Card

Hidden Agendas – 7 of Swords

 

Today, I picked the 7 of Swords from Maria Kurara’s Black Cats Tarot deck as my Card du Jour and that got me reeling in a sense of dread about coming to work after a restful weekend. The card warned me of the prospect of being embroiled in a situation that involved people with hidden agendas.  I truly had no time for corporate politics at this time, not especially, with the fact that after  recovering from the upheaval of a departmental restructuring, we now had to get on with a ton of work around projects that were marked “urgent”.  I had to steel myself to be wary of those whose goals were not aligned with mine or were not aimed at a higher good. This calls for an introspective approach to work issues.  I reminded myself that I should not be reacting to anything or anyone when challenged today.  It could be part of a hidden agenda to get me in trouble.

 

So I spent most of today keeping to myself, keeping my head down, and just reminding myself to be tactful and sensible at meetings.  The day passed with no incident apart from a missing avocado that I had asked and paid for, but did not get, at the sandwich shop nearby.

 

As I tucked into my sandwich at lunch behind my desk, I waited with my guard up for anyone that might pass by my desk whom I thought fell into that description of the 7 of Swords.  Every email that came in, was scanned in-between the lines for hidden meanings that I thought was meant to trap me into responding with one of my explosively sarcastic replies.  

 

The only indication of what the 7 of Swords card might have pointed to, was my time wasted in trying not to get into any trouble of sorts, my inability to contribute effectively at meetings for fear of being slapped at the back of my head for not being aligned to management, and my open expression of sheer joy when a member of the management team called of a conference call due to conflicting appointments, hence delaying the project deliverables for awhile.  I felt so guilty about making my work day so unproductive just because I built a “protective shell” around myself, more concerned with my own needs rather than that of the company.  

 

Own up now.  How many of you had fallen into the same trap when you pick a similar card to advise you on how best you should be managing your day?

 

So my day at work came and gone, and I hurried to my slew of back to back Tarot reading appointments in the evening.  Funnily, out of the 3 readings I had done, the common card that showed up in the Advice position was the Judgement Reversed.

 

So this brings me to the next topic of accountability.

 

Accountability – Judgement Reversed

 

The reversed Judgement card from the Radiant Rider Waite Tarot deck updated by Virginijus Poshkus, was a poignant reminder to me that I could not be totally free of blame, for whatever could potentially happen to me, at work or at home.  Every time we collide head-on with the “negative train”, we blame it on everyone around us and the external environment that we are in, but we forget that we are the artist behind that canvas we call life.  We need to be accountable for our actions, knowing that every decision that we had made in the past, actually accounts for what we experience today.  Why would I need to lie in wait for people with hidden agendas, welding a knife behind their back when I should be confident about the amount of meticulous effort and thought that had gone into my work?  If there were changes within the department or the company, why would I need to build a barbwire fence around myself when I had made that decision to stay on with the company to deliver on its business objectives, aligned with the management team?  When I made that choice to spend a good number of years with the company, it is somewhat like a marriage.  I had chosen to commit my time and effort to co-creating a successful business with the rest of my colleagues.  There will be rough days, and there will be great days.  But most of all, these would be meaningful days built on my original decision to stick with it through thick and thin.  Ultimately, I am accountable for my own decisions.  If I choose to leave the organization in the future, then, I would need to ensure that I am accountable for the consequence as well. No complaints.

 

Ultimately, I needed to let go of my fear of changes and challenges that may come my way. I  needed to let go of my dislike for certain people whom I worked with and who were responsible for some of the more unpleasant days I had at work, because it did not serve me well at all.   I needed to let go of past perceptions of my role and my scope of work within my company when departmental reorganizations happened, because these perceptions only serve to limit the potential of what my team can do in the future.   I needed to deal with past disappointments from people at work who indeed had hidden agendas.  Clinging on to these  limited my growth in the company. The truth of the matter is, I cannot control what happens within the environment, but I can control how I react to whatever happens within my environment.  

 

One of my favourite cards is the Devil card from Judith McKay Stirt’s The Cook’s Tarot deck.  It reminded me that I can never be bonded to negativity unless I allowed it.    I had the power to break free from the chains of negativity in a tension-filled job, in the best way that made me most accountable to my family, my staff, my company and myself.

 

See how much Tarot can teach you with just 1 card in the morning?  Not wasted at all.

 

About The Writer:

 

The writer of this blog post is a marketeer by trade, and an intuitive reader by accident who deploys the combined modalities of a Tarot, Numerology and Astrology overlaid with her Clairvoyant and Clairsentient skills to deliver her readings with authenticity. She was awarded a Certified Professional Tarot Reader qualification from the Tarot Certification Board of America (TCBA) and is also a certified numerologist.  She is currently running a consultancy based in Singapore called Sun Goddess Tarot,  which provides confidential intuitive readings combining the metaphysical disciplines of Tarot, Numerology and Astrology via face to face and emails as well as readings at corporate and private events and workshops.  A member of the American Tarot Association (ATA) and the Tarot Association of the British Isles (TABI), she also mentors Tarot protégés on behalf of the American Tarot Association

 

Website: www.sungoddesstarot.com

 

Email:  Joanna@sungoddesstarot.com

 

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/SunGoddessTarot

 

Twitter: www.twitter.com/SunGoddessTarot

 

Instagram: @SunGoddessTarot

 

 

 

 

 

Effectively Managing Work Family And Me During This Full Moon InCapricorn

Blessed Full Moon everyone!  I love the fact that Full Moon is the time I manifest my goals and bring to fruition whatever intention I had set for myself.  

Setting My Intentions At The New Moon

When I entered the New Moon a few weeks ago, I was forced to confront some residual resentment from the past.  I set my intention then to "plant seeds of joy" once I  let go of that past hurt and resentment. I moved past those old wounds and set out to be aware of what fulfilled me, create my own opportunities and  build my own happiness.   So, as I walked towards this  Full Moon, I strived to create a harmonious balance between my family life, work life and my business.  I worked very hard to create "my abundance".

Juggling Work, Business And Family

When I arrived at this Full Moon in Capricorn, I pushed myself to put 200% into everything I did.  I did not believe in barriers, and my take on life was "never say never"... almost like that resilient mountain goat that represented the zodiac sign of Capricorn.  Have you ever seen how mountain goats climb the mountains to hunt for food without the fear of any obstacles? I refused to allow any obstacles to get in the way of my effort to create abundance.

 Juggling the demands of family life, a career and a business was no easy feat.  However,  aided by the energies of this Full Moon, it had given me the impetus to conquer these challenges with a "I want it all" attitude.  

Being Present

I know however that I was increasingly driving the hubby crazy with my ambitions and high expectations of myself.  He had been worried about the way I had been driving myself very hard with a punishing schedule of multiple commitments from endless work meetings, managing my marketing team, back to back Tarot and Numerology readings, and taking care of my family. Unconsciously, I attempted to be Super Mum, Super Wife, corporate hot shot and Wonder Woman all rolled into one.  However, those who mattered, really just wanted me to be present. The hubby wanted me to stick to my promise of putting everything down for that date night once a week. The boy wanted me to just sit by him from time to time when he was doing his homework, so that he could tell me about his day at school.    The team at work just wanted part of the old me back when they enjoyed "happy lunches" with me.   

Clearly, the Full Moon cast light on the fact that I needed to spend time nurturing relationships with the people who mattered by being present for them.  I was not surprised.  These relationships were so important to me because I would not be as successful as I am today without these people who mattered. I finally saw the full reflection of the Full Moon from what sat opposite - the Sun in Cancer.  As you know, the watery sign of Cancer influences emotions, intuition, and relationships. I could not run away from the fact that as I worked hard to build my successes in my career and my business, I needed to remember that I could be successful only with the love and support of the most important people in my life.

Taking Care Of Me

The Full Moon in Capricorn also illuminated the fact that sometimes, I needed to be more down -to -earth and attempt to keep my ambitions in check. Yes, I wanted to live life with a "I want it all" attitude, but if I did not spend time taking care of me, then there would not be any point in having it all.  

So this is what I am manifesting during this Full Moon - I resolve  to be present for my loved ones by putting as much time aside for them as possible whilst taking care of me.  The new entries in my diary looks something like this, "Date night with my man - Friday.  Happy lunch with my team - Thursday.  Long chat with the boy - every night.  Visit Mom and Dad - Sunday. Personal training - Monday to Friday. Absolutely no Tarot and Numerology readings on weekends if possible." 

Making a conscious effort to take care of me,  I have transformed  my lifestyle with a healthier diet and a 5-days-a-week fitness regime that included kickboxing.  I believe that by being fit and healthy, it will ensure that I meet the demands of work, business and family life even more effectively. 

"Taking good care of you means that the people in your life recieve what's best of you and not what's left of you." ~ Carl Bryan

If you like this blogpost, do follow my blog at http://sungoddesstarot.blogspot.com and LIKE my Facebook page at www.facebook.com/SunGoddessTarot

About The Writer:

The writer of this blog post is a marketeer by trade, and an intuitive reader by accident who deploys the combined modalities of a Tarot, Numerology and Astrology overlaid with her Clairvoyant and Clairsentient skills to deliver her readings with authenticity. She was awarded a Certified Professional Tarot Reader qualification from the Tarot Certification Board of America (TCBA) and is also a certified numerologist.  She is currently running a consultancy based in Singapore called Sun Goddess Tarot,  which provides confidential intuitive readings combining the metaphysical disciplines of Tarot, Numerology and Astrology via face to face and emails as well as readings at corporate and private events and workshops.  A member of the American Tarot Association (ATA) and the Tarot Association of the British Isles (TABI), she is also a reader for the Free Tarot Network and mentors Tarot protégés on behalf of the American Tarot Association

Website: www.sungoddesstarot.com
Email:  Joanna@sungoddesstarot.com
Facebook:  www.facebook.com/SunGoddessTarot
Twitter: www.twitter.com/SunGoddessTarot

Tarot Tip Tuesdays - Keep It Simple With Numerology And Tarot

Whether you are new to Tarot and in the throes of building a connection with your Tarot cards or an advanced Tarot reader diligently honing your Tarot reading skills, I am putting out a Tarot tip a week to help you to consistently make Tarot a part of your everyday life.

So here goes your Tarot Tip for this Tuesday:

 I have been trying to keep things simple. Some of my peers keep their Tarot spreads really small but effective, and I have been quite inspired by them.  If you have your querant's  birthdate, a focused question and just a couple of Tarot cards, these would be enough to provide an adequate advice to guide him or her through an issue.   Here is how you can do it and I will be using an actual client's question to illustrate this.

Step 1: Obtain the basic information from your querant.  All you would need is a birthdate and a focused question. Remember to keep the question focused so that the advice provided can be a focused one.

The Client: Helen

Birthdate:  25 January 1983

Astrological Sign : Aquarius

Question: What advice can Tarot provide to help me in my effort to meet the right person for a meaningful relationship ?

Step 2: Calculate your querant's character and lifepath numbers. These will offer you a glimpse of your querant's attitudes and behavior and how he or she responds to a given situation.

Character (behavior and attitudes ) : Add the compound number of your querant's day of birth.  In this case, her day of birth is 25, so her character number is 7  (2+5 = 7).

From her character number, I deduced that Helen was a perfectionist. She over-analyzed situations and would spend a lot of time mulling over potential suitors, deciding whether or not he was a perfect match for her.  When a relationship did not go as plan, she would again over-rationalize it, and turn the situation over and over again in her head, thus causing her, over time, to build up walls around her in a bid to protect herself.  No wonder she was not getting much head way in developing meaningful relationships with potential partners.   She had also formed such high expectations of her potential partners that often she lets romantic opportunities slip past her. Now this lined up with her zodiac sign Aquarius which clearly influenced her idealism and her tendency to over-rationalize situations.

With just the character number and her zodiac sign, the advice I gave Helen was to balance her head and heart when it came to managing her perceptions about potential partners. She should try to manage her expectations of them and loosen up abit so that she could fully enjoy discovering new relationships.

 Life Path (Opportunities and lessons in life) : Add the day of birth, month of birth and year of birth.  Then add up the individual numbers of the compound number.    In this case, by adding up her day of birth 25, her month of birth 1 and her year of birth  1983, the compound number is 29. On further reduction of that compound number, her life path number is 2 (2+5+1+1+9+8+3 = 29).  Then reduce the compound number (2+9 = 11. 1+1 = 2).

Her lifepath number 2 told me that life offered her opportunities to heal, guide, support and teach others from her life experiences.  She also had opportunities to bring people together and be that peacemaker during tension-filled situations.  Given this insight, I was sure a lot of men gravitated to her because of her nurturing and supportive nature.  They could trust her as a good friend and advisor.  Sometimes, she should genuinely render such support instead of setting expectations for herself that these guys who approach her could potentially be "marriageable material". This would take the pressure off her tendency to over-think about potential partners and perhaps allow her to enjoy meaningful friendships which have the potential to grow into something deeper if time and chemistry permitted.

Step 3: Now that you have got a glimpse of your querant's attitudes and how he or she might respond to a given situation, you can just pick a card to understand the current situation, one for his or her obstacle and another one for advice.  Use the birthdate numerology to deepen the insight from the cards and guide you as you provide your querants a focused advice. 

Tarot cards picked:  Situation - The World Reversed ; Obstacle - Emperor Reversed ; Advice - 8 of Swords.

Situation - The World Reversed

The World reversed is indicative of Helen having experienced past relationships that had gone bad and she had not healed or there was no closure.  The  lack of closure is preventing her from embarking on new relationships in a meaningful manner. Remember, we had established through her numerology that she had been turning her experience with the past relationship over and over in her head that she had gradually built walls around her? The World Reversed affirms this and tells me that Helen is possibly clinging to residual resentment and hurt, yet she feels frustrated about not being able to meet the right guy. 

Obstacle - The Emperor Reversed

As a manifestation of her obstacle, this card tells me that Helen is a strong, and perhaps domineering and even possessive person.  When it comes to relationships, she might unconsciously expect that she can steer it to the perfect relationship that she had  shaped in her mind.  This had the potential of overwhelming potential partners. Relationships are about love and support whilst respecting individual growth and space.  Remember that the numerology we had calculated for her pointed to the fact that she had high expectations of her potential partners and when life blows these guys her way when she could be a source of support and advice for them, sometimes she could overwhelm them with her expectations as she attempts to suss if they are "marriageable material".

Advice - 8 of Swords 

The 8 of Swords reversed advised Helen to free herself from her preconceived notions of what the perfect relationship should be.  She should also let to of past hurts and resentment and change her perspective or approach about potential relationships.  This swords card was the perfect advice to end the spread and the reading simply because most of Helen's issues were driven by mental limitations like her pre-set perceptions, and her high expectations as deduced by her numerology.

As you can see, the Tarot spread is small and all it took was the querant's birthdate to add another dimension to the advice given. Although the process was quite straightforward and simple, the advice given to the querant is robust enough to empower her to work on it and change her course of action to achieve her goals,

You can try it some time.   If you need to understand the different vibrational energy and traits attached to each number when you calculate one's numerology, you can visit any good, reputable numerology website.

May your Tarot cards provide you with a full deck of possibilities throughout your day.

If you like this blogpost, do follow my blog at http://sungoddesstarot.blogspot.com and LIKE my Facebook page at www.facebook.com/SunGoddessTarot

About The Writer:

The writer of this blog post is a marketeer by trade, and an intuitive reader by accident who deploys the combined modalities of a Tarot, Numerology and Astrology overlaid with her Clairvoyant and Clairsentient skills to deliver her readings with authenticity. She was awarded a Certified Professional Tarot Reader qualification from the Tarot Certification Board of America (TCBA) and is also a certified numerologist.  She is currently running a consultancy based in Singapore called Sun Goddess Tarot,  which provides confidential intuitive readings combining the metaphysical disciplines of Tarot, Numerology and Astrology via face to face and emails as well as readings at corporate and private events and workshops.  A member of the American Tarot Association (ATA) and the Tarot Association of the British Isles (TABI), she is also a reader for the Free Tarot Network and mentors Tarot protégés on behalf of the American Tarot Association

Website: www.sungoddesstarot.com
Email:  Joanna@sungoddesstarot.com
Facebook:  www.facebook.com/SunGoddessTarot
Twitter: www.twitter.com/SunGoddessTarot

Happy New Moon In Gemini

Blessed New Moon!  This new moon in Gemini promises to make you itch with mental restlessness as you embark on new projects or start nurturing new creative ideas or venture towards the beginning of a new job or new relationship.  You will be embracing these with so much energy and enthusiasm, charging ahead in a gung-ho manner with numerous ideas and grand plans.  

This week, many of my intuitive readings veered on clearing past relationship issues or dealing with an impasse in a current relationship.  If you are experiencing either of these,  do know that since Mars in Libra is direct now, this new moon in Gemini only serves to force you to go beyond that mental restlessness to actually doing something about it.  Remember, if you want to move forward, you cannot  just be all thinking and all talk, but you will need to take action too! 

Now, this is where I have to inject a caution driven from my personal theme for this year that I keep harping about. Yes, BALANCE.  You need balance.  You see, Mercury is going retrograde in the next week. It will span from 7 June to 2 July.  So, it might be worthwhile for you to set new intentions during this new moon to manifest your goals by lending them all the enthusiasm and energy that you have, yet navigate towards these goals with plans that come from balancing logical thought with an intuitive heart.

If you like this blogpost, do follow my blog at http://sungoddesstarot.blogspot.com and LIKE my Facebook page at www.facebook.com/SunGoddessTarot

About The Writer:

The writer of this blog post is a marketeer by trade and an intuitive reader by accident. She was awarded a Certified Professional Tarot Reader qualification from the Tarot Certification Board of America (TCBA) and is also a certified numerologist.  She is currently running a consultancy based in Singapore called Sun Goddess Tarot,  which provides confidential intuitive readings combining the metaphysical disciplines of Tarot, Numerology and Astrology overlaid with her Clairvoyant and Clairsentient skills via face to face and emails as well as readings at corporate and private events and workshops.  A member of the American Tarot Association (ATA) and the Tarot Association of the British Isles (TABI), she is also a reader for the Free Tarot Network and mentors Tarot protégés on behalf of the American Tarot Association.

Website: www.sungoddesstarot.com
Email:  Joanna@sungoddesstarot.com
Facebook:  www.facebook.com/SunGoddessTarot

Twitter: www.twitter.com/SunGoddessTarot 

Photo credit:  Photo taken at Changi Beach, Singapore by David Ash, www.singaporemaven.com

There Are Never Too Many Cups For A Career Reading

Picking Cards From The Suit Of Cups For A Career Reading 

Yesterday, I did a career reading for one of my clients who was a novice Tarot reader. She had played with the Tarot cards on and off on a social basis and got her few months of Tarot education from that little white book that came with her barely used Tarot deck.  I often found it satisfying to read for novice Tarot readers as it gave me a chance to turn that session into a lesson in intuitive reading as well. 

For her Tarot spread, the majority of cards that I picked were cards from the Suit of Cups.  Cups corresponds with the Water element which govern emotions, relationships, imagination, fulfillment, dreams, creativity, and intuition.  With this basic knowledge, Emmanuelle immediately exclaimed, "Oh my! I am not having an affair with him! There must be some confusion because this is a career reading."  Poor Emmanuelle.  She looked genuinely astonished and might have thought for a minute that I was a Tarot reader from "Quacks-ville".  So I began explaining to her that what she had learnt about the Suits of Cups is correct and just as these traits of the suit could impact relationships between people, they could also impact her situation within her job.

I thought to extend that explanation to the rest of my blog readers as a way of helping novice Tarot readers have a deeper understanding of the interpretation of these cards. So, with permission from Emmanuelle, I am sharing my interpretation of the cards that  I had picked to her question "What is the outcome of my job, given a trying work relationship with my boss?"

Interpretation To Emmanuelle's Tarot Spread

Self - 9 of Pentacles:

The 9 of Pentacles depicted Emmanuelle as a highly successful and financially independent woman who had worked hard to achieve what she enjoyed in her life today.  She held the position of a Regional Director of Marketing at a private wealth management company and led a fast-paced life of work travels and expensive dinners juxtaposed with late nights at the office. Emmanuelle came this far through sheer hard work.  Her company remunerated her well but every cent she got, she paid for with a lot of hard work.

Situation - 2 of Cups Reversed + 4 of Cups:

 Her work situation unfortunately was riddled with a lot of tension where she did not see eye to eye with her boss.  There was lack of harmony within the manager - direct report relationship and through the months, she felt increasing dissatisfaction with her work as she had to do what her boss demanded and was not allowed to leverage her own creative talents to lend more meaningful support to the projects she was working on.   Increasingly, Emmanuelle felt disengaged and uninspired by her boss and consequently it affected her job.  She was ever eager to book her next flight out to anywhere in the world that could get her out of the office.  She told me that she took long lunches where she worked on her laptop as she ate, and the Starbucks along a remote street within the  central business district was her 2nd office because she could not stand the sight of her boss within the office.  She seemed to be gradually retreating into her own world and enjoyed pursuing her own interests outside of work when she had the spare time.  I knew this personally as well because I was invited to many of her exquisite home-cooked dinners where she spared no expense in providing her guests with the best home-dining experience!

Obstacle - 2 of Swords Reversed:

The 2 of Swords reversed was a manifestation of what was hindering Emmanuelle from moving forward and growing in her company.  The card suggested that she was crippled by indecision about what to do with her career.  She enjoyed her work as she felt she was well-skilled for the role, and she was indeed paid a good salary that afforded her lifestyle.  However she truly disliked her boss and resentment for the latter was gradually welling up inside her, to the point of  Emmanuelle constantly building negative thoughts about her boss.  She often suspected that her boss dished out the most difficult and least fulfilling projects to her.  She also thought that her boss was out to find ways to "trip her up".  Yet,  she could not see any other options before her.  To stay within the job was to subject herself to continuous mental abuse from her boss.  To leave the job now was to throw herself into a world of uncertainties which could impact her financial outcome negatively. Emmanuelle felt stuck in her situation and it was causing her increasing mental anguish.

Development - Knight of Cups:

In the next few months,  the Knight of Cups suggested that Emmanuelle would throw herself into a new creative project that had the potential of fulfilling her for the long term.  To this Emmanuelle admitted that she was in the throes of establishing a wedding planning/events planning company on the side as she had in the past helped her friends organize complex wedding events at beautiful vacation resorts located in other countries.   No wonder,  Emmanuelle often spent extended periods of time at a country she visited for work meetings, to establish a network of contacts that could help support the purpose of her consultancy.    Her sideline business would offer her the opportunity to utilize her creative abilities and I could see it giving her much satisfaction in the long run.  In fact, this business could be her retirement job at some point when she had decided she had enough wth the corporate world.  This passion was also her way of taking her mind away from the unhappiness she was experiencing with her boss.  Smart lady!

Outcome - Page of Cups:

As an outcome, the Page bode a positive sign that Emmanuelle would not need to be afraid of losing her job some day because of a bad relationship with her boss.  She also need not fear that she could not find a job at other companies.  Within or without this job, she would have an opportunity to use her creative talents anyway.  In fact, as she continued to work hard, honed her skills and just kept her heart and mind focused on building her creative skills, she could find a job offer coming her way at some point.   Emmanuelle was advised to approach any new opportunities coming her way wth gratitude, knowing that the Universe would always present her with a new opportunity if and when she was ready.  Should her boss hand her any projects which seemed initially boring or not meaningful enough, Emmanuelle was advised to find opportunities within these projects to make a difference with her creativity.  If the Page was a reflection of herself Emmanuelle had to open her heart and mind to learning opportunities within every challenge, and use her creativity to find solutions to bridge the gaps.  Her relationship with her boss was one such challenge.

Advice - Ace of Cups Reversed + The Fool Reversed + King of Pentacles Reversed:

Yes, Emmanuelle had a huge hurdle in their path to job satisfaction, her boss.  The reversed King depicted Emmanuelle's boss as a highly rigid and authoritative boss who never gave Emmanuelle any room to come up with refreshing and creative ideas.  He saw himself as boss and Emmanuelle only but the subordinate who had to do his bidding.  However, instead of acting on impulse and antagonizing her boss with her flippant attitude, Emmanuelle had to learn to curb her emotions and fight the urge to talk back and  make her boss look stupid.  

If Emmanuelle was tempted to jump at any job offer that came her way just so she could get away from her boss, she should not be reckless  but instead, be religious with her research about these offers, so that she would not end up going from the frying pan to the fire.  I told Emmanuelle that leaving a job because she no longer enjoyed the job and was not learning anything new, was a good thing to do. However to leave a job because of not being able to get along with someone else, was really a bad idea.  She could end up at another company with the same character dynamics there as well!  With diverse personalities within any given environment, frictions caused by differences of opinions, and attitudes was to be expected.  Emmanuelle had to learn to manage these along the way.  That was part of her career growth.  And if she found a hobby she loved and provided her with a chance to turn her creativity into something that could provide a meagre income on the side as she managed her full-time career through to retirement, that was a bonus.

In summary, Emmanuelle's main issue was in her search for job fulfillment.  With this reading, I helped her see the difference between seeking job fulfillment by turning work challenges into opportunities and job fulfillment that was totally driven by her relationship with her boss.  She should not be blinded by the latter and instead be grounded enough to balance her heart and mind about what she could reap from applying her creativity to every situation good or bad.

About The Writer:

The writer of this blog post is a marketeer by trade, and a tarot card reader by accident. She was awarded a Certified Professional Tarot Reader qualification from the Tarot Certification Board of America (TCBA) and is also a certified numerologist.  She is currently running a Tarot consultancy based in Singapore called Sun Goddess Tarot,  which provides confidential intuitive readings combining the metaphysical disciplines of Tarot, Numerology and Astrology via face to face and emails as well as readings at corporate and private events and workshops.  A member of the American Tarot Association (ATA) and the Tarot Association of the British Isles (TABI), she is also a reader for the Free Tarot Network and mentors Tarot protégés on behalf of the American Tarot Association

Website: www.sungoddesstarot.com
Email:  Joanna@sungoddesstarot.com
Facebook:  www.facebook.com/SunGoddessTarot
Twitter: www.twitter.com/SunGoddessTarot.

The Tarot Cards Used For This Career Reading Were Taken From The
Radiant Rider Waite Tarot Deck Updated By
Virginijus Poshkus And Published By U.S. Games Systems

Finding Career Fulfillment With A Tarot Spread Inspired By The Hobbit

Feeling Disengaged And Uninspired

As a professional Tarot reader that operated within the central business district with clients that were mostly mid-level careerists in the finance, technology or creative industries I had often gotten career-related questions.  These clients sought guidance to manage their careers particularly when some felt disengaged and uninspired at specific moments. They trusted me to provide them with guidance through my Tarot cards because they knew that as a mid-level careerist in the financial industry myself, I could empathize with their respective situations.  

Like my clients,  these feelings of disengagement would creep up on me from time to time.  And I felt it increasingly this month.  I was not sure if it was because it was the year-end period at work when our minds were mostly focused on the family and the year-end festivities.  For me, this was compounded by the fact that Dad suffered a stroke suddenly and threw the family into a period of stress and worry.  This had put my work in the back seat for awhile as I tended to what mattered most.  And when I could finally settle down upon Dad's recovery to scroll down my emails again, I was filled with a sense of dread at the seemingly insurmountable pile of issues waiting for me to tackle when I got back into the office after the New Year.

Light of Earendil Tarot Spread Inspired By The Hobbit

Thankfully, a friend Olivia Destrades, created a very interesting Tarot spread inspired by The Hobbit, for the recent Yule Tarot Blog Hop.  It is called the Light of Earendil Spread and you can read her blog post here http://firstearthtarot.blogspot.com/2013/12/yule-blog-hop-2013-bringing-light-into.html    

I had the chance to put the spread into practice.

Card 1: Gollum (What shadow am I currently encountering?) - 7 of Cups

Card 2: Frodo (What hidden/unrecognized strength may help me work with this shadow?) -The Devil Reversed

Card 3: Light of Earendil (What illuminates the darkness for me?)- 6 of Cups

Card 4: Gandalf (How can I master my power?) - 4 of Pentacles Reversed

Card 5: Elrond (What counsel will help me confront my current obstacles?) - King of Wands

Card 6: Mirror of Galadriel (What may the immediate future hold?)- The Chariot Reversed 

Card 1 - 7 of Cups:   

The Seven of Cups was a reflection of my constant habit of dreaming big dreams, some of which would be unrealistic and some were just dreams that I had never had the guts of putting a plan together to turn them into reality. My dreams got bigger when I had to maneuver many daunting changes in the workplace.   I would escape into a world of fantasies when the going got tough at work and  start working through my career choices built out of ideals.  And we all know, ideals alone would be unsustainable if they were not balanced with practicality.  The shadow that I am currently encountering was escapism.  I really had to be more grounded

 This situation corresponded with my Moon Persona card which is the Knight of Cups.  The Knight  is a highly sensitive dreamer, full of insecurities and craves recognition and attention.  As a figment of my shadow the Seven of Cups warned that if I got too caught up in all my wishful thinking without discerning the "do-able" ones with wisdom or without confronting them with a practical plan to turn some of these into reality, they would forever be hidden in the closet as a shadow, wheeled out only to fill the void of mundane and unfulfilling days when I felt disengaged and uninspired.  

The 7 of Cups card was a warning that there were indeed choices that I had to make.  These were not career choices, as in, what job I should be pursuing next, particularly when the workplace environment got muddier with the usual corporate changes.  Rather, the choices should be about i) the clarity of my career goals and ii) if I was unhappy about a situation at work, what I should be doing about it.

Card 2 - The Devil Reversed:  

Recognizing that the shadow cast on my career choices were often driven by my insecurities, fear of change and my career ambitions, the Devil reversed showed up as an advice for me to remain emotionally detached.  By being detached from the bonds that had strapped me tightly into what I had momentarily considered  a career rut, I would free myself to gain more  clarity of mind and heart to make the right choices for my career. 

Card 3 - 6 of Cups:   

The memories from the past from which I drew lessons for the present, were what I needed to throw some light onto my shadow of escapism.  I remembered how I callously changed jobs for the sake of money and big titles years ago when I was younger and dumber.  When I worked for a local bank without seeing the light of day and having had to manage a very difficult manager fond of micro-managing his staff,  I fell very ill and was diagnosed with severe hypertension that needed daily medication.  Hello, Joanna, do you remember those dark days?   

At the same time, the 6 of Cups was also an advice for me to look back at what I had  endured in the last couple of years with the management changes at my current  work place.  It assured me that whatever trials and other changes that might lay ahead, I would have the strength to overcome them the way I overcame the difficulties these current changes brought.   So I need not have to 'escape' just because I was tired of changes and the usual quagmire of corporate politics.  I had experienced these before in the last 20 years of work life and my experience had taught me well enough to manage more of these in the years ahead.

Another advice the 6 of cups gave me, was the reminder that I was doing  what I loved in my current role.  It gave me room to express my creativity.  As I has been a marketing professional for almost 20 years,  I was very familiar with the work in my current job and should be confident in my skills and experience enough to know that I could create a lot of fulfillment in whatever I put my heart, mind and soul to.

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Card 4 - 4 of Pentacles Reversed:  

The 4 of Pentacles reversed suggested that I could do better and allow more room for strategic and creative thinking if I could just learn to let go.  I  had spent so much time focused on career-building rather than on intrinsic things that could benefit my team and I, for example, further training and skills upgrading, mentoring the team and maybe even not getting so fixated over my turf and trusting others to do a job well without being over-critical of them.   Sometimes, others might not be as experienced and skilled in a job, but they might bring new perspectives to it.   The 4 of Pentacles reversed asked that I loosen my hold in my need to feel secure and be recognized for my efforts all the time.  I could master my power, if I acknowledged that letting go would go a long way to developing myself as a better leader.

Card 5 - King of Wands:  

The counsel that could help me confront my obstacles would most appropriately come from my boss.  I had to make an effort to articulate my career goals, and be open about what I needed from my boss to help me find fulfillment in the work that I did.  I came across situations quite often amongst my Tarot clients when communication between boss and subordinates were not opened and each side was left to second-guess the other, thus creating tensions and conflicts at work when expectations were not met.  I believed that the King of Wands beckoned me to step forward boldly and stake a claim on the future of my own career path by getting the necessary support I needed from my boss.

Card 6:  The Chariot Reversed:

My immediate future might see me letting go of my worries and insecurities about the changes in the workplace and the usual corporate dynamics.  Let's face it.  These are decisions made by the powers that be which they have considered as beneficial to the business.  I would instead be  focusing my energies on what is within my control as far as own work, projects or career growth within the company are concerned.  If I felt disengaged or uninspired again within these areas, I should make the effort to evaluate how and what I could do to make necessary changes to help myself and the team.  I should not be distracted by everything else that did not quite matter to my own project or career goals.  More importantly, I should never allow any changes within the corporate environment to rock my confidence and personal power.  

I always advised my clients that if they could change a situation to make it better, than change it.  If they could not change a situation to make it better, then change how they think about the situation.

I should really take my own advice. 

The Light of Earendil Tarot Spread is reproduced here with the kind permission of Olivia Destrades.

About The Writer:

The writer of this blog post is a marketeer by trade, and a tarot card reader by accident. She was awarded a Certified Professional Tarot Reader qualification from the Tarot Certification Board of America (TCBA) and is also a certified numerologist.  She is currently running a Tarot consultancy based in Singapore called Sun Goddess Tarot,  which provides confidential intuitive readings combining the metaphysical disciplines of Tarot, Numerology and Astrology via face to face and emails as well as readings at corporate and private events and workshops.  A member of the American Tarot Association (ATA) and the Tarot Association of the British Isles (TABI), she is also a reader for the Free Tarot Network and mentors Tarot protégés on behalf of the American Tarot Association

Website: www.sungoddesstarot.com
Email:  Joanna@sungoddesstarot.com
Facebook:  www.facebook.com/SunGoddessTarot
Twitter: www.twitter.com/SunGoddessTarot

Photo credit : http://www.thehobbitblog.com/

The Gift Of Light At Christmas

Year End Festivities

I am looking forward to the year-end holidays when I can finally enjoy some bonding time with the family.  I have had such an exciting year which seemed to be filled with a never ending list of new discoveries and learning. So, I am planning some quiet time with both my men.  My year-end celebrations always include lots of food, presents, and lots of time spent with the extended family and our closest friends.  This year, the air of cheeriness, and all that yuletide joy and laughter seemed to be dampened somewhat by my thoughts of those still suffering from the ravages of Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines.  So I had decided to do Tarot readings at a couple of corporate Christmas events and private parties closer to Christmas, to help raise funds for the victims of Typhoon Haiyan.  I hope that those affected by the typhoon can find some light soon.

Celebrating Light

The year-end merry making is very special to me also because I love festivities that transcend racial, religious and geographical barriers.  While my Pagan friends from all over the world celebrate Yule or Winter Solstice on 21 December, as a Roman Catholic, I celebrate Christmas on 25 December together with my friends and family.  The greatest thing about these celebrations is that, the common thread that binds us all is actually the celebration of the rebirth of light, letting go of the past, the embrace of hope and the triumph of good.

This Christmas, I celebrate the gift of light.  With all that effort put into developing my intuitive skills, I hope to always use them to bring light to the people around me.  When I review the experiences I have been through all year, I say a prayer of gratitude for the light they have brought me because of how these experiences have shaped me.  When I read about the devastation that the typhoon had caused in the Philippines, and the tragedy that had befallen the thousands trapped when the roof of a Latvian mall collapsed, I prayed that those suffering may be touched by healing light soon.

The Christmas Tree Tarot Spread

So as I celebrate light, I created a Christmas Tree Tarot spread which I urge you to try this season if you are looking at how you could find your own gift of light.  I used this spread on a client Daniella yesterday, who is currently negotiating a job offer with a big company here in Singapore.  With her permission, I would like to demonstrate the spread in practice here, using the Radiant Rider Waite Tarot deck updated by Virginijus Poshkus and published by US Games Systems.  I have deliberately captured the entire Tarot reading here for Daniella in verbatim.  That job opportunity is potentially Daniella’s new light at the end of a tunnel.  You see, she had spent the last 8 years as an entrepreneur.  Running her own company, while fulfilling, was an up and down experience.  Sometimes she made money, sometimes, she spent months “completely financially dry”.  She had never considered working for someone else, until recently, when a conversation with the hiring manager of this company had planted a seed of hope in her mind.  So this is a Tarot reading for Daniella to find new light.

1)    You, in your search for light
2)    Where can you find that glimpse of light?
3)    What is blocking that light?
4)    How can you illuminate your journey towards your goal?
5)    Lessons from the past
6)    Lessons from the present
7)    Advice for the future

The Christmas Tree Tarot Spread

You in your search for light  - The 4 of Cups Reversed

The 4 of a Cups Reversed suggests that while a job offer may have been presented to you, you are experiencing inner conflicts about whether it is the right opportunity for you.  You may be too focused on your own issues, like what you may need to sacrifice when you accept this job. In your case, as you have been running your own company for years, this job offer has posed a dilemma about whether you should give up on being an entrepreneur to join this new company as an employee.  You may also have doubts about the job itself, for example, whether you will have the necessary resources to do the job well, or whether the hiring manager will meet your salary expectations.

Where can you find that glimpse of light? - Ace of Pentacles

A new job opportunity has been presented to you.  This opportunity has the potential to help you to manifest your goals and provide you with the income that you need.

What's blocking that light? - Temperance Reversed

You are dealing with a hiring manager who is proving to be uncooperative or you may feel as though both your interests are in conflict.  Both yours and the hiring manager's expectations are not aligned, hence there is a feeling of disharmony every time you engage with each other in a conversation.

How can you illuminate your journey towards your goal? - 10 of Swords Reversed

The 10 of Swords reversed encourages you to let go of your attachment to the concept of "being your own boss".  You will need to accept that that period of running your own company will come to an end so that you can rechart a new journey for yourself, and embrace a new career ahead.   This is a period of difficult mental transformation that is necessary for your career growth. You have been avoiding the potential outcome of having to wind down your company, and hoping to keep it in some shape or form just in case this stint with the new company does not work out.  However, these are negative perceptions that reside in your mind which will only serve to restrict your own growth. The only way to attain your goal and embrace a better career ahead of you, is to let go, and have the conviction to turn this new job opportunity into a huge career success.


Lessons from the past - 6 of Pentacles Reversed  

Six of Pentacles reversed suggests that you have realized that by running your own company in the past, you had earned less than the amount of effort you had put into that company.  You felt discontented about this lack of balance and are now prepared to  ask for what you are worth in terms of salary, as you put across your remuneration package to the hiring manager on the negotiating table.

Lessons from the present - 9 of Pentacles

In your present circumstance, the 9 of Pentacles indicates that you have come to a realization that you can only enjoy the good life only when you have worked very hard to attain it.  You are hoping for the day you can afford to indulge or pamper yourself but you know that you will need to out in extra effort to be able to afford to do so.  The 9 of Pentacles may also indicate that you are aware that the fruits of your labour can only be reaped when you take that effort to plough the  field,  plant the seeds, nurture and tend to your plot as meticulously as possible.  And while you may be close to reaching your goal, you know you still have far to go to reach it.  So, you may want to stick to the plan and continue putting in that hard work to reach that goal. In this case, this card is advising you to keep up with the effort to engage the hiring manager, persuade him to see the value of your skills and experience, and convince him of the value that your direction can bring to the company.

Advice for the future - Knight of Cups

The Knight advises you to get ready to embark on this new job that has the potential to tap your creative talents. You need to embrace the new job with an ambition to make a positive difference to the company with your plans and new ideas.  The knight will inspire you in your new job to turn your big dreams into reality, if only you are brave enough to accept that invitation to embark on this new journey in your career. 

Gift Of New Light

My client is still negotiating her remuneration package with the hiring manager at the date this blog post was published.  So to help her along on her journey to find new light, I presented her with the gift of a green calcite pendant, lovingly created under my other brand that is focused on crystal gemstones for healing, Sun Goddess Gems.  Green calcite helps with emotional balance and stress relief.  It also helps one to release old energy patterns,  that could hold one back from his or her goals and supports one who is going through a mental transition.

I had another green calcite pendant made as a Christmas giveaway. It was hand-wired in gold-plated wire.  This one's larger and even more beautiful as it was hand-picked, cleansed and blessed at the recent Taurus Full Moon.  

This pendant will be given to the lucky one that I will be picking out of the hat on Christmas Eve.  All you will need to do, is to comment on this blog post and share the post on your Facebook wall by 24th December 2pm GMT.    I will be contacting the winner via email or Facebook message on Christmas Day, so watch out for it!

Until then, I hope that your Christmas celebrations will be filled with abundant blessings,  joy and laughter.

About The Writer:

The writer of this blog post is a marketeer by trade, and a tarot card reader by accident. She was awarded a Certified Professional Tarot Reader qualification from the Tarot Certification Board of America (TCBA) and is also a certified numerologist.  She is currently running a Tarot consultancy based in Singapore called Sun Goddess Tarot,  which provides confidential intuitive readings combining the metaphysical disciplines of Tarot, Numerology and Astrology via face to face and emails as well as readings at corporate and private events and workshops.  A member of the American Tarot Association (ATA) and the Tarot Association of the British Isles (TABI), she is also a reader for the Free Tarot Network and mentors Tarot protégés on behalf of the American Tarot Association

Website: www.sungoddesstarot.com
Email:  Joanna@sungoddesstarot.com
Facebook:  www.facebook.com/SunGoddessTarot
Twitter: www.twitter.com/SunGoddessTarot

The Christmas Tree Tarot Spread Using The Radiant Rider Waite Tarot Deck Updated By Virginijus Poshkus

 Green Calcite Pendant Hand-Wrapped In Gold-Plated Wire From Sun Goddess Gems

Trusting My Intuition

Sniffing Out People Quite Easily

When you were introduced to a new colleague, or an acquaintance, how many times have you shaken his or her hands and whispered under your breath, “This person is more than meets the eye.”   Since I was little, I often tapped into my intuition to assess a person or a situation to help me make better decisions.  Even at work, as I juggled multiple projects, responded to tight deadlines, some of which were moving deadlines, and managed a team, it was often a good measure of experience and technical skills mixed with a large dose of intuition that helped me make important decisions.  Some of these decisions were career-defining ones. 

Even when I had performed a Myers Briggs assessment which was a psychometric test to understand my personality type, the results came up indicating that I was one who took an objective approach to problem-solving and used facts and figures to make decisions.  I was only interested in what was real and factual.  I was glad that this part of me, this objectivity, had honed me as a good manager at work, but I was even more glad that  over the years, as I walked my spiritual path, I trusted my intuition enough to make me an even better manager.

The High Priestess

The High Priestess card in Tarot was always a fantastic muse to encourage me to tap into my intuition whenever I picked the card to respond to a pressing issue. A spiritually enlightened being, she leveraged divine wisdom and her knowledge of the universe, to open my heart and mind to the subconscious.  As she sat behind the thin veil that separated her from the conscious and the subconscious mind, she transpired her soft whispers of guidance into my innermost thoughts.  The High Priestess would speak in her softest voice such that when I heard an inner voice that said, “Watch out, there could be a treacherous bend up ahead.’, I knew I had to be prepared for it.  I often used this phrase, “I saw the writing on the wall” when I made tough work or project decisions, significant career changes, or re-organized the team structure and  scope.  Sometimes, these decisions might raise some eyebrows but I trusted the High Priestess’ energy in me to assure myself that everything would turn out all right in the end.

“It is through science that we prove, but through intuition that we discover.’ – Henri Poincare

Below this blog post is a picture of the High Priestess from my very own deck which is still work in progress at the time of publication of this post.


The Moon

The Moon card in Tarot was another wonderful card that encouraged me to tap into my intuition to formulate a response whenever I felt that a situation was not right. It was a card that waved a red flag at me to wake me up to the fact that I had to confront my fears and anxieties when I sensed that there were undercurrents suggesting that these issues were caused by the hidden agendas of other people around me.  The Moon card almost always showed up in the face of office politics and career crossroads.  However, my experience has taught me that fear and anxiety would cripple us into inaction and was highly unproductive.  Leveraging my intuition to deal with these issues proactively instead, meant that I would be backed by a solid plan to help me maintain my resilience as I sailed into the murky waters of uncertainty.

“Fear is an illusion that creates a false sense of isolation existing only in your imagination.” – Jeraldine Saunders

Below this blog post is a picture of the Moon from the Book of Shadows Volume 2 – So Below Tarot deck created by Barbara Moore

Queen Of Cups

The Queen of Cups was yet another card that encouraged me to trust my intuition. The Queen embodied one who was compassionate and creative, yet intuitive and emotionally balanced.  She was emotionally balanced and controlled no matter what challenges were hurled her way. I had an ex-boss who was very much like this Queen when I worked for a local bank some years back.  She nurtured her team with a sense of calm and collectedness.  She made decisions after ensuring that everyone’s opinions and concerns were heard and understood.  She was slow to anger, and instead of reacting to actions that were contrary to her expectations, she took time to think through, process the intent behind these actions within her heart and mind, before deciding on what she had to do next.  She was highly intuitive and read people like a book.  Her intuition helped her discern how she should be developing each and every one of her team members.  She had about 50 people  in her team, definitely not an easy job.  It was also her intuition that helped her anticipate the changes that evolved later when an organizational restructure turned the company into an unrecognizable foreign bank.  She had been my mentor for years and I had emulated my management style on the way she used to manage our marketing department.  Almost 12 years after, I am still learning from her.

“The power of intuitive understanding will protect you from the harm till the end of your days.” – Lao Tzu

Below this blog post is a picture of the Queen of Cups from the Rosetta Tarot deck created by M.M. Meleen.

Trusting My Intuition

Trusting my intuition meant that I could effectively juggle a career as a marketing and communications professional at a multinational corporation with my passion as a certified professional Tarot reader and Numerologist.  Over and on top the skills and experience that I possessed, I also had to have a large dose of intuition to make big career and life decisions including those that impacted my family.   

I was once put down by a fellow Tarotist who had 30 years of experience under her belt.  She said, “So what if you had a Certified Professional Tarot Readers qualification?  I have 30 years of Tarot reading experience under my belt.”   Her words did not rock my confidence, It only strengthened my resolve to use my intuitive gifts to better serve my clients.   As my intuition had carried me through the ebbs and flows along the journey of my life and had been my guiding light every time my ship approached the rocky coast of life-changing moments, I have built the confidence to use that same intuition to guide my clients through their own journeys.

About The Writer:

The writer of this blog post is a marketeer by trade, and a tarot card reader by accident. She was awarded a Certified Professional Tarot Reader qualification from the Tarot Certification Board of America (TCBA) and is also a certified numerologist.  She is currently running a Tarot consultancy based in Singapore called Sun Goddess Tarot,  which provides confidential intuitive readings combining the metaphysical disciplines of Tarot, Numerology and Astrology via face to face and emails as well as readings at corporate and private events and workshops.  A member of the American Tarot Association (ATA) and the Tarot Association of the British Isles (TABI), she is also a reader for the Free Tarot Network and mentors Tarot protégés on behalf of the American Tarot Association

Website:www.sungoddesstarot.com
Email: Joanna@sungoddesstarot.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SunGoddessTarot
Twitter:www.twitter.com/SunGoddessTarot
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The High Priestess from my own deck - a work in progress.

The Moon from Barbara Moore's Book of Shadows Volume 2 - So Below Tarot deck

Queen of Cups from M.M. Meleen's Rosetta Tarot deck