Reflections : Into 2012

2012. Pretty crazy, huh!

And with it, as with every New Year we move into, buzz about resolutions and reflections. What will you change? What will you make better? What went well? What went horribly wrong?

It makes sense to do this, by the way. We’re wired to recognize patterns and cycles and the turning over of that calendar page is a natural kind of demarcation for us. You could be cynical about it — refuse to take part. Decry resolutions as setting oneself up for failure. Or you might be an optimist, I suppose, and cheerfully make yourself a list. I fall somewhere in the middle.

Though I find that the year end time for me is best spent in reflection. And oh boy, was 2011 a doozey for me! Good, bad, everything in-between. You know, the normal life kind of year. How did yours go? Normal as well, I’m guessing (no matter how wrapped up in it you probably feel).

I’ve got something for you, if you’re the introspective type like I am. I was sitting with my cards the other evening like I do when I entered into some frantic tantric tarot-inspired journalling. I wasn’t reading cards in the sense that I was asking questions and divining answers. Rather, I was pulling the cards and letting them ask me. It was a different kind of experience for me. Kinda good. Kinda scary. A lot helpful. Because the cards gave me memories back that I might not have attached importance to before. They reminded me of things that I had forgotten (but should remember). They validated a lot of my feelings about painful events and helped me to see those .

And then I got to thinking about it — how this might be helpful to you, gentle readers. So I put together a booklet, staring the Payen Tarot de Marseille, with 22 reflective writing prompts.

As an experiement, I made this as a slideshow on google documents. You can preview the presentation here:

Each card of the Major Arcana is paired with some questions for reflection and a prompt to make a list. If you’re not a compulsive journaller like I am, you may enjoy making the lists instead. I recommend you write them on index cards, use a hole punch and binder ring to keep them together. Save them for next year and see how your experiences change (or how much they stay the same!).

If you like what you see, I’ve got two options for downloading. The first has four “slides” on each page with the background. Download this option if you have no plans of printing out the slides.

Download 22reflect : 2011 (the pretty version) here.

If you think you’ll want to print the slides and make cards, I’ve got a version without the background. Print them out on cardstock and bind them to use as you move throughout the next few weeks, or make your lists on the back of the cards.

Download 22reflect : 2011 (the printable version) here.

And if you like it a whole bunch, you might consider buying me a cup of coffee (or other celebratory drink).

AND just because I genuinely do enjoy New Year divination (the kind where we talk about what’s coming up in the year ahead. I’m offering half hour readings the first two weeks of January (via skype voice, chat, video or telephone) for $45. I’m going to be experimenting in the New Year with taking on new clients (and not being overwhelmed), so we’ll see how this goes! If you’d like to book your session, make payment by clicking the banner above (or right here) on the left and I’ll be in touch to schedule your reading (please note that I read cards in EST time zone and I keep reasonable business hours). If you want to book an hour for $90, simply change the quantity to 2 before you check out on paypal and if you have any questions about my reading style, feel free to get in touch!

I have lots of goodies planned for myself and the Sassy Sibyl in 2012 – starting with another free download on the first. So come back and see me! Until then, have a safe and bright New Year!

Preorders open for The Melissa Lenormand 2nd Series

Every week, for the last year and a half, I have gotten emails about when and if I will be doing a reprint of the Melissa Lenormand. At first, I didn’t want to consider it because I wanted to focus on other card products. Then I didn’t want to consider it because I didn’t think I could raise the money for a large print run. Then I put out the Postmark Lenormand. I don’t have any more Postmark decks now anyway either.

I feel so much resistance in selling the cards because I’m simply terrible at it! It takes a lot of time to communicate, order, receive and distribute the cards. An order of cards from an offset printer requires a large upfront investment, which I can’t make. And having a lot of cards — even a modest order of 250 decks, like I had with the Melissa, or 400, which was the order I made of the Postmark, means that a great deal of my living space is taken up by cards. I share a modest 900 sq. feet of living space with my two children. I have no office space any more. I have had nightmares of my house exploding and cards raining down on the neighborhood… So you can imagine how having the materials for assembling the decks, packaging orders and shipping out things is quite a production for me. I don’t have an assistant. I run every aspect of my business myself (I’m still morbidly curious about taking on a business partner or hiring an assistant, if you’re interested…). I also spend a lot of time running from a couple of toddlers who are quite smitten by Mommy’s cards…

So I’m stuck. On one hand, I love the cards. I want to make them available to others who will love them too. But I truly just want to focus on writing and teaching. Making cards is my reluctant hobby.

I’ve been trying to figure out a way I can get the cards out AND maintain some measure of ease.

So this is my plan:

1. You may preorder a Melissa Lenormand or Postmark Lenormand (or some combination of those) from NOW until October 31, 2011. On November 1, I will order cards for those who have ordered. I will NOT be ordering extra cards. I cannot “hold” or “reserve” a deck for you without payment. I can’t afford it and I don’t have space or interest in keeping track of that.
2. It will probably take about 10-14 days from the time I order the cards to when they arrive at my door. I will then package and send out the orders. This way I can hopefully get the cards out by Thanksgiving, before things get hectic for me with the holidays. I just don’t want to bother with continually shipping physical items.
3. If you cannot order in this round, I will offer ordering again sometime in 2012 — perhaps May — or whenever I have another set of cards finished.
4. I reserve the right to change the decks, cards, anything, before I offer ordering again.

The Melissa Lenormand that I’m prepared to order is different than the first edition. It has 40 cards instead of 45. No box, but a velvet bag. I will include a key booklet. The font in the title is different and the title now includes card numbers. I have drafted new artwork for alternate Man & Woman cards. The backs of the cards are now a jewel-toned blue. I have updated, touched up and re-colored some of the artwork.

There are a few ways you can order. You can order just one deck, order a bundle of both, or order the decks with the Lenormand 101 class, etc. Shipping is priority, of course, flat rate. Payment is through paypal. I’m sorry, I cannot accept checks or money orders any longer. To place an order, follow this link and check out here.

I know two weeks isn’t a lot of time for some of you to prepare to order. And I apologize for that. But I really want to make this as quick and painless as humanly possible for me. Like a shot in the arm. Except it’s a Lenormand deck instead of a flu shot. Which I should probably also get, since I’ve been under the weather the past few weeks…

Wild Sister, Lenormand 101 and Letters, oh my!

I know I promise a reading with the Tombstone blueprint. At this point, I don’t think it’s going to happen! I started getting sick last Wednesday and it’s been Week of the Living Dead at my house ever since. I love the fall, but you know what really scares me? Cold and flu season.

And yet, I have a few items of note to share with you:

Did you know I write cartoscopes (horoscopes cast on a Grand Tableau using Lenormand cards) for Wild Sister?

Issue 4 dropped on Monday and once again, the Jen, the beautiful editor, has outdone herself. The theme is magic — which is lovely for this time of year. It’s an instant download and is beautifully illustrated with photographs and art (not to mention fantastic and inspiring writing from members of the community).

 

Lenormand.info has been re-designed and Lenormand 101 is now live!

You can expect another re-design in the near future as well! Though the course is functional, the overwhelming response I’ve gotten has made management a little tedious. My tech team (eh hem…) has discovered a better way to handle registration and I’ll be implementing that in the near future. In the meanwhile, I’ve been blown away by the feedback and testimonials I’ve generously received from my tribe.

I had the pleasure and the privilege of meeting Melissa and hearing her talk about the Lenormand at the Reader’s Studio 2011.  These cards and her method drew me in instantly, and I KNEW I had found the missing link. I have just finished with her Lenormand 101 class which is nothing short of brilliant…easy to access, easy to understand and the cards, within minutes, come alive!! The few questions that I had were answered instantly on email and clarified anything I wanted to know. I look forward to further lessons with the Sassy Sybil, as FAST as she can possibly prepare them. Thank you for your overwhelming generosity, Melissa, in sharing this information with us.

Warm regards from Belgium/Israel

Joy Lerner

I can’t stress enough: If you have no experience with cards. If you’ve never picked up a deck of cards, but have always been interested. If you’re overwhelmed with the prospect of learning a divinatory system. If you’ve been reading tarot for years, but can’t wrap your mind around a different deck of cards, this class is for you.

And finally…

I’ve started writing letters. See that fancy new button at the top of my blog? Yeah, here’s the scoop on that.

I have a new tarot blueprint. I think I’ll release it into the wild tomorrow, since I am unable to make a video with a reading sample (well, I could, but no one wants to see me hacking all over my webcam and wiping my nose while reading cards…). Until then, gentle readers, exes and ohs!

The Tombstone – a divine blueprint for tarot reading

RABBIT RABBIT!

And it’s October, so this is the specific rabbit I’m talking about (or maybe this one).

Moving right along with our series on contemplative tarot reading, the blueprint I offer you today is called the Tombstone. This reading will examine the nature of our lives here on this plane and what we will leave behind when we move to the next. HEAVY, am I right? Contemplative tarot is not for the weak of heart! If thinking about death depresses or frightens you, or you feel you’re not stable enough to take on a reading of this nature, DON’T DO IT. If you can approach it with a curious and courageous spirit, knowing your safe and grounded, you’ll be fine. Also, be bold! Ask The Universe BIG questions! You’ll get big answers back.

Before we begin, grab your cards. I’ll wait. It might be wise to get grounded now (click play! Isn’t that easy?!):

The metaphor we use in this spread is a tombstone (clearly), with the epitaph written on it. An epitaph is a short verse that honors the dead. Typically inscribed on the headstone, the verse can be witty, serious, personal or a “message from beyond”. Some of my favorite epitaphs are:

Jesse James (American outlaw & folk hero — if you aren’t familiar with the tale, he was shot in the back while hanging a picture on the wall):

MURDERED BY A TRAITOR AND A COWARD
WHOSE NAME IS NOT WORTHY TO APPEAR HERE

Swiss Psychologist Carl Jung’s tombstone is inscribed with:

VOCATUS ATQUE NON VOCATUS DEUS ADERIT

Which translates to “Invoked or not, the God is present.”

William Butler Yeats, Irish poet (you should really know who he is anyway!), has on his tombstone, some lines from one of his last, stoic poems:

Cast a cold Eye
On Life, on Death.
Horseman, pass by!

So let’s review: An epitaph is a statement that honors the dead. It can be a truism, advice, a bit of lovely verse, whatever the deceased (while still living) had requested, etc. The blueprint we’re working with today uses a rather famous Scottish epitaph, “Consider friend, as you pass by: as you are now, so once was I. As I am now, you too shall be. Prepare, therefore, to follow me.”

This blueprint does follow a specific order. Deep breath, lay out four cards starting with the top left. Next will be top right, then bottom left and bottom right.

Let’s break down the metaphor with some suggestions for interpretation:

Consider friend, as you pass by: – How do you live your life? Where are you currently? What is your current mode of being?

As you are now, so once was I. – What is the nature of life? What is the nature of my life? What is your personal legacy to live out? What is your ancestral legacy live out? Where are you called from? Who has called you to purpose? What do you need to consider?

As I am now, you too shall be. – What is the nature of death? What will be left behind? What will be remembered? What is your personal legacy to leave? What is your ancestral legacy to leave? What considerations should be made?

Prepare, therefore, to follow me. – What is your potential for living? What can be done for improvement? What can be changed? What might I change about my current mode of being?

Now the challenge! See if you can distill the top two cards into one sentence. See if you can distill the bottom two cards into a sentence. In other words, see if you can write a two-line epitaph that honors your life, from these four cards.

Consider, with these four cards as the framework for your consideration, how you want your life to be honored. Are you living up to your expectations?

It’s okay if you’re not. It’s okay if you can’t come up with anything. Again, these readings are to be done primarily for personal reflection and as a jumping off point for journaling.

Go offline for a bit and try the reading. You can download a beautiful PDF containing the spread by right clicking and saving right here!

The next post will be a video sampling this blueprint. In the meanwhile, try out the spread and let me know what you think! If you post about it on your blog, please leave a comment below so I can scope it out! Until then, gentle reader, I leave you with the epitaph engraved on the headstone of Frank Sinatra:

THE BEST IS YET TO COME

PS: If you want a weekly email with blog-post re-caps, you can sign up for that here (it’s a DIFFERENT list than the one on my sidebar. This ONLY sends you blog posts (on Thursdays)):