Mayan Tarot-Dealing with Family

1. The Centre-The Star: The Astronomer
The centre card represents who I am. It’s no secret that in a few months I’ll be taking an astrology course, but this card strikes me in another way. It’s pretty. The art work is stunning.
The Star card is a woman who is able to see the future because she is an observer. I’ve often said of myself that I’m an observer. Future predicting? Well, maybe forecasting, but not predicting. I do try though.

2. The East-The Hermit-The Wanderer in the Wild
The east card represents the start of my path.
The hermit cards looks to me like a shaman. As I understand it, becoming a shaman, particularly for a race you don’t belong to, is damn near impossible. Still, I’d like to become something akin to a shaman in my life. I want to be a healer, a teacher, and a religious leader. Perhaps I’m more suited for “Medicine Woman”. I’m already taking the steps towards that.

3. The West-Five of Wands
The west card is the entity that wants to stop me. This seems odd, because this card represents a weary traveler who knows he will be provided for.
In a sense, I can sort of see my aunt as this card. She is often weary. Every Sunday when she is over, we are told stories of how the people at her job are morons (posts, as she calls them), but she has a cushy salary and pension. She always tells me to forget all this nonsense and go to university.

4. The North-Seven of Wands
The north card is the challenge I must overcome, I think send from the west card. This card says that instinct is the key. I’ve always had good instinct, I just never listened to it. Hex and I came up with a whole theory based on my instinct (Spirit Revulsion Theory, I think it was). I guess no matter what my family throws at me, I have to hold my ground and be assured that the Gods will provide for me. Maybe it means a good blog with income, maybe it means marrying rich (I doubt that one), maybe it means becoming a Pagan lecturer and teacher, maybe it just means having a good Pagan supply shop in town.

5. The South-Death-The God Ahpuch
The south position is where change takes place, from one phase of life to the next. The Death card is perfect in this place, as it reaffirms change. This says that I need to overcome fears to hatch anew. What I think is I have to overcome prejudice. I should be able to tell my extended family that I want to be a Pagan teacher and not have my mother or anyone else try to censer me. If it means severing ties with my family, I have to be prepared to do that.

6. Above-Nine of Swords
The above card is the cosmic gift and support from the Gods, to help me arrive at the eastern position. This card tells me to stop and pay attention to the Gods. Every spell, every ritual, every simple meditation, every tarot reading—everything—will be beneficial in the long run. I will never receive no answer, I just have to be patient.

7. Below-Four of Swords
The below card represents the forces of nature and primal instincts. This card represents solving an “enigma”, as they put it in the book. One of my very basic natures is to be curious. I think this is saying that I need to keep using that to my advantage, as it can only help.

Mayan Tarot: Ritual Worries

I addressed the Mayan God Hunab Ku in this reading, to help me understand my upcoming ritual, which is a giant smash-up of at least 4 different cultures, not including musical accompaniment.

1. The inner and sacred spirit-The Mad Minstrel (The Fool)
The Mad Minstrel dances to the beat of his own drum. He stakes out his own path, completely different from the tribe. And he loves it. To others, the Mad Minstrel is crazy, but he is the one they will come to for advice. The Mad Minstrel has strong intuition.
The Mad Minstrel is me. I’m staking out my own religion (that sounded a bit too cult-y, didn’t it?) Taking elements of things that I know and love, and filling in the rest with modern Wicca. Some Pagans will tell you that this is crazy and I’m never going to truly be in touch with the Divine, but, like the Mad Minstrel, I have great intuition.

2. The East-A Messenger (Page of Cups) Reversed
When the Page of Cups is reversed, it represents a “Jack of All Trades”, someone with a lot of shallow knowledge about many topics. I feel this way a lot regards to my upcoming ritual. The East position symbolizes that something here must be followed to a solution.
Perhaps this means that I shouldn’t worry about this knowledge, for it is actually a good thing I know so much about many topics, because then I can work with them in a ritual context, and see which I should develop further.

3. The West-A Traveler (Three of Wands)
This card says that, in order to prepare for a journey, one must always look ahead to check for any difficulties and gather supplies. Hah! I love to gather Pagan supplies. I’m obsessed with it.
The Western position symbolizes things that are in your way. This is a big one. I recently ordered a ton of statues, incense, and some other things from Sacred Mists. I love this store very much, but they don’t update their website quite like they should. Anyway, I’m freaking out because one thing I really need for one of my altars was backordered to June 1st. It’s now been 5 days and it hasn’t shipped yet. And, it’s very safe to say I’m freaking out. In total, there are 6 things backordered, and they are all pretty important. Perhaps this is what’s getting in my way. If my items aren’t here by June 20th, I’ll be a mess and I think I’ll have a hard time with the ritual itself. It seems really silly when I put it out on paper, but there it is.

4. The North-Protected Traveler (Five of Wands)
The five of wands shows a tired traveller, deep in the forest away from his home. He is not scared, however, he is confident that the Gods will protect him.
The North position is hidden wisdom, or something actively forgotten due to a jumble of other things. In this case, I seem to forget that my Patron deities (ironically, one is Mayan) will look out for me in the context of this ritual. I may not have all my “goodies” from SM, but they will help me remember that, in the long run, it’s about a connection to the Gods, not the items, and I can call upon other Gods, even if I don’t have a statue for them.

5. The South-Hunab Ku (Nine of Swords)
This card represents controlling emotions and thinking logically, which in this case is considered good. This card also represents reflection. This card says that every reflection or meditation will be fruitful.
The South position represents the conduct which I will need to adapt for the ritual. Though I should not just be “going through the motions”, being overly emotional and nervous about it won’t do me any good. Relaxation exercises will probably help immensely.

6. Above-Hunab Ku (Eight of Cups)
Another representation of Hunab Ku, the God who I called upon at the beginning of this. This card represents the life force of all. It is the balance and maturity of the soul.
The above position represents divine energies and the higher spiritual influences, and help from the Gods. This card, from what I can tell, then states that this ritual is going to be a first step to religious maturity. Already, after June 21st, I have plans for an eclipse ritual for the full solar eclipse taking place in July.

7. Below-Fans of Passion (Six of Cups)
Uhh...let me just copy word-for-word from the book... “Cherish the memory of your lover’s erotic embrace and continue to fan the fires of passion.”
Well, I don’t have a lover!
The Below position represents the primordial instinct and influence of the body.
Well, you don’t get much more primal than sex, but I’m honestly not thinking about it at all. Relationships, though they are nice, I don’t feel like I need right now.
This one needs a bit more thinking on my part. Any ideas?

Mayan Tarot: Recharge

1. Ace of Cups -Reversed
This is the card of stagnation. All the yummy drink is falling out of the cup, leaving you with an empty chalice.

2. The Sacrificed (The Hanged Man)-Reversed
This card represents a lack of commitment toward a goal. The booklet that goes with this deck suggests that my consciousness will be altered in order to understand higher truths.

3. Four of Swords-Reversed
This card represents forced retreat and depression, particularly against the forces of the jungle in this deck.

This reading doesn’t make a lot of sense to me, so I asked my Patron Mayan God, Cama Zotz, to pull a card for me. It’s not pictured.

He gave me two, obviously to be read together.
Three of Pentacles and Ace of Wands (reversed)
The Three of Pentacles represents storing energy in order to share. The Reversed Ace of Wands represents energy and strength coming from within.

Overall: Together, these cards mean I need to “recharge” in order to share what I have learned, or am learning, with the world.

Mayan Tarot: Okay Cupid

1. Knave of Cups
This card represents the messenger of love. He is someone who will bring all the new opportunities for romance.

2. Three of Cups (Reversed)
This is another relationship card. It means “as the serpent hatches, a new relationship comes to light”. I think this means that a new relationship may happen in the spring. The card is reversed, so I have to look out for people who are not looking for something long-term and just wants to use me.

3. Eight of Cups (Reversed)
This card represents risk. I suppose dating in general can be risky, especially if you just know someone online. I think this card is telling me to be very careful and watch my back.

Overall:
So, I signed up for OkCupid because I’m terrible with meeting people in person. I go to beauty school, so there aren’t any guys there, and my other two courses are going to be correspondence. All of my friends are lucky enough to have guys who they have known for a time and know very well. I’m not so lucky, so I’ve expanded by options.
This reading is pretty optimistic that it might have been a good option for me, as long as I play it safe.

Mayan Tarot: Balance!

I’ve always found it hard to keep up on goals. That’s probably why I haven’t done a tarot reading in quite some time. I’ve been caught up in school and my own USBoS, which is at its halfway point to completion.

I’m in the process of creating two personal tarot decks for me to use. When they are done, I’ll start doing readings with them here. One is just a Majors deck, and the other is the full 78 card deck. I hope to get them done within the year, hopefully before summer. We’ll just have to see.

Anyway, to get back into the swing of things, I did a simple reading today.

Indicator: The Law of Itzamà-Justice
This is a card of balance. The figure (I’m assuming its Itzamà) holds a scale that is balanced, not tipped in one way. This card fell out of the deck, which is why I’m calling it the indicator card. I need to find some balance in my life.

1. Two of Wands
Another card of balance. This time it mentioned sharing and co-operation. I’ve never been good with other people, preferring to work entirely on my own. This card indicates that I need to co-operate with others to find a balance.

2. Seven of Wands (Reversed)
This card in its reversed form tends to mean that I have a lack of decisiveness. I can’t make a decision. I need to learn to make decisions if things are going to look up.

3. The Shaman-The Magician (Reversed)
This card, when it’s upright, signifies that the Magician’s power can only be stopped by himself. Reversed, I think it means that he has been stopped by himself and let human weakness overtake him.

Overall
This reading has told me a lot of things I already sort of knew. I’ve been feeling overwhelmed with my classes that offer zero spiritual qualities. Sure, makeup is fun and I’m enjoying the class to a degree, but when all my business plans involve very spiritual things for me (Reiki, gemstone healing, ect) then makeup seems incredibly mundane. I feel almost drained by it, and so I haven’t been able to feel really spiritual. I need to find a balance between these two things.
Maybe starting daily tarot readings will help!

Mayan Tarot: It's Time To Re-Evaluate Relationships

1. Three of Swords
This card represents a separation. The image on the card is said to be realization through a mystical experience. I think the card is telling me that I need to meditate/go on a spiritual journey to find out what I must do.

2. The God Ahpuch-Death (reversed)
This card always symbolises change. When upright, it’s usually a good change, but when reversed, the change will be painful. The card is warning me that new changes in my life will not come easily.

3. The Queen of the Maya-The Empress
This represents a woman that will not be chained by tradition. Many Empress cards I own show a pregnant woman, this card does not. In fact, this card doesn’t even mean pregnancy. This is the card of womanhood without the need to bear children. She is powerful, right alongside men. She is not the type to be bought or sold: she does not fall for false charms and she is not dominated. This, though I’ve said it a million times before, is my ideal woman. This is who I want to be when I grow up.

Overall
I’ve recently had some problems with my friends reacting to certain views of mine (religiously, socially, ect.) so if I want to move on and start to feel better, I have to get rid of these relationships, either talk it out so we come to an understanding, or end the entire thing. This is what the Three of Swords represents. The Death card shows that it will be hard for me to do, and it has been, but it is for my benefit. If I cannot be myself, then why should I hold onto things?
The Empress card represents a major fighting point within this relationship. I don’t want to name any names here, but if you’re reading this, you have a good idea of who you are. Like I said, we need to talk, but I’ll do it on my own terms, I’ll come to you.
Anyway, the reading represents I need to sort out these problems, and they can’t be brushed off with a “yeah okay”, or going straight for my throat.

Mayan: Three-in-One!

1. King of Wands (inverted)
This card, upright, indicates wisdom. Reversed, it means you have a hard time relating to other people’s opinions and views, and it is a rather ruthless card. The figure on the card looks very serious. This card symbolizes viewpoints as well. This could mean that I’ll encounter some views today that starkly contrast my own.

2. Five of Wands
This card shows a traveler who is weary, but is sure he is protected. He almost is like a pilgrim. This card shows, then, a dangerous journey. However, like I said before, he is protected, possibly by whatever deity he is making a pilgrimage for. I think this means I need to pay attention for signs for deities or other spirits that are protecting me.

3. Seven of Cups (Reversed)
This card has another representation of Quetzalcoatl (under the name Kukulkan) on it. The card means, upright, to follow Kukulkan and find utopia and inner creativity. I think because this is reversed, I need to start working on art more. I haven’t been feeling at all creative, though I have a lot of artsy projects I’d like to work on, from the basic (creating a shadowbox) to the more complex (cross stitching and photomanipulation). I think this card is telling me to get back on track.

Overall
It’s almost like I had three different one-card pulls here. Not that it’s a bad thing! I think instead of reading these cards as a group, I need to listen to each one individually.

Mayan Tarot: Be Careful About Indulgence

1. Ace of Wands
This is a representation of the primal force within everyone. The serpent is wrapping around the torch. I think this means that today I will access this primal force and let it free.

2. The Sun
This is an illumination card. The figure is boldly imposed against a blazing sun disk. It is made of bright colours, but there is a strip of black that looks out of place. I think this card means that I will be in the sunlight and everyone will see my strengths (the bold figure) and weaknesses (the black stripe).

3. Eight of Swords
This card shows a quetzal bird. This is the card from Quetzalcoatl (my patron deity). In bird in the image looks like he’s attempting to stop the spears so I think this is a card from Quetzalcoatl saying that he is going to protect me while my parents are away.

Overall
I think this reading is showing me that, since my friends are going to be over, I’ll have the choice to get completely drunk or not. If I do, this would be the release of the primal force. If I control myself, then I will be in control of my primal self, instead of the other way around. This also relates to the Sun card. If I don’t control the drinking, then that black stripe, the flaws, will be thrust to the spotlight.
These cards could mean me controlling the drinking in general, or of my own personal drinking.

The last card is definitely message from Quetzalcoatl. I’m home alone this week, and at night I really freak out. I was shaking really bad last night.