Today’s three card spread reflects a rather happy and content Sunday. As usual, it is a crazy hot day. It is meant to be the rainy season, where it is supposed to rain almost every day, yet not one drop of rain has graced the land for over a week.

My friend suggested an early morning visit to one of the local beauty spots – Cedar Creek Falls. I say early mainly to avoid tourists rather than the heat, but thankfully we had the place to ourselves for the time we were there. So I see us in the Star card, enjoying the cool water and relaxing high up on the cliffs, taking in the splendour and beauty.

Afterwards we enjoyed a decent organic breakfast at one of the few places that serve such food – Crocodile Cafe My favourite way to spend a chilled Sunday morning, really – great sights and great food. The other two cards I would say reflect the late afternoon and evening for today – I plan to enjoy pottering around the house, do a little bit of gardening, and cook a hearty roast vegetables dish. I know, it’s the tropics and everything, but having sourced some locally grown garlic, I intend to make the most of it

Many blessings,
Monica

Most tarot enthusiasts think happy vibes, butterflies, doves and love when they see this card. Oh, and Valentines Day, naturally since this is just around the corner. It’s the quintessential relationships card, and usually augurs well for the beginning of any new relationship. I would like to share my recent experience with this card, shortly after I applied for the job I am currently working in. After my phone interview, naturally I wanted to know what the outcome of the interview would be. Eager beaver that I am, I got out my trusty Rider Waite Smith and drew a card – the 2 of Cups. I was aware this card stands for the beginning of a relationship, and also the making of an offer, but I wasn’t quite convinced it was the right card as an outcome of a successful interview (because I just know better than the universe, OK?!).

So I got out the Jolanda, which I had just received at the time, shuffled, cut, and drew a card.

Yes. 2 of Cups. Again. I guess in my mind I wanted something really solid that screamed success, like the 6 of Wands or the 9 of Cups or something like that.

Still, this was not enough. Hands up who has asked the same question over and over again – perhaps using a different deck? Uh-huh. It’s not quite the thing to do in tarot, since one is meant to sit with the answer and attempt an understanding of some form, but when you’re a fire sign, patience is a foreign word.

So, I thought “a-ha! Bring on the Haindl!” The Haindl Tarot, as I’ve blogged before, is my personal deck. When all else fails, or I need the cutting truth with no ambiguity, I shuffle this little stunner. And so I did, and for the third time in a row, yes, I received the 2 of Cups.

So next time this card comes up in a reading, if it is not specifically related to a relationship issue, I can say its meaning for the successful offer of a contract is definitely “on the cards”.

I’m guessing there will be a lot of the more romantic “2 of Cups” energy in the air tomorrow, so wishing everyone a Happy Valentines day wherever you are and whoever you are with And I’m happy to say I’m returning to a more regular blog posting as I’ve sorted my internet connection for good – this is why I’ve been away for a couple of weeks now.

Many blessings,
Monica

This little three card spread is specific to my Midheaven in Scorpio. Briefly, in astrology the Midheaven stands for career and public standing, among other things. It is one of the critical factors to check out in regards to work, vocation, aspirations and accomplishments. It can also represent the dominant parent in a person’s life, along with any planets placed there.

I have Midheaven in Scorpio, and have spent quite a bit of time trying to find some good information on what exactly this means. For vocation, Scorpio is associated with detective work, occult work, research and sex. It is also the sign of intensity and crisis – and I can personally say this has been true, having undergone a complete transformation in the last few years in terms of career, as well as furthering my interests and studies in what is often referred to “the occult”: tarot, astrology and yoga. What may well annihilate other signs, Scorpio thrives under. Nothing like a good crisis to pit oneself against and come out completely transformed and rejuvenated.

So the question for this spread was, “What is the vocation path indicated by my Midheaven in Scorpio?”

The World to me is all about success, but this is not the 6 of Wands kind of success, it’s more like the end of the journey for the Fool, after all those trials and tribulations and lessons. But ultimately, I see this as well-earned success, and possibly recognition in a field I choose to follow – well, maybe that’s my own wishful thinking he he I think with the World this is something that will come later on in life as well.

Together with the Ace of Wands and the Queen of Wands, I got a distinctive sense of being my own boss. From what I’ve read and my own experience as well, Midheaven in Scorpio doesn’t do too well being in a position where it is not appreciated. I mean, nobody does, but with this particular placement it’s a big no-no. At some stage, some form of recognition is important, otherwise the end is near. Either one works in a position with some form of recognition/responsibility (and yes that is tied into power which is a Scorpio keyword), or one works for oneself.

Naturally, as a fire sign, I identify with the Queen of Wands: lots to do, lots to see, lots to learn, many visions to follow. The one thing I didn’t factor in doing this spread, was key planet placement around my Midheaven. I have both Uranus and Mercury smack on my Midheaven and that definitely adds a couple of punches but I’m not experienced enough to fully understand their implication.

Speaking of career and vocation, on the environmental side I am happy to say the new job is going great, I love all the potential projects I am getting involved in, from a local marine turtle strategy, new botanical garden, revegetation projects and other bits and bobs. This is keeping me rather busy though, since I have about a gazillion trees to learn about!! So this is why my blog entries are rather sparse at the moment, and for the forseeable future I can’t see myself writing more than once a week – sorry folks!! It’s also the reason I haven’t been commenting as much on everyone else’s blog, though I do read them and thoroughly enjoy the beautiful, ethereal or plain wacky posts out there

Wishing you all a beautiful week ahead.
Much love,
Monica

I did this spread while on holiday in Romania, and recorded it as I thought it’s rather interesting. In Romania, the practice of magic is largely confined to the gypsy (or Romany) people. This does include both white and black magic, as well as both genuine practitioners and charlatans alike. Unfortunately the more mainstream and educated Romanian populace look down at what they perceive primitive and uneducated practices of magic, and there is a lot of biased media attention on this subject. So I did this spread one night after seeing some news item about a black witch and another on a white witch. It’s a highly – highly – controversial topic back home, not least because of deeply ingrained issues of racism and hate.

I asked two questions:

1. What is white magic? The universe
2. What is black magic? 7 of Cups – Illusions of success

Initially I had a very black and white notion of the answer – as in, white magic is good and black magic is an illusion and don’t even think about going there. But now I think the answer is really saying that with black magic, there is the danger of losing oneself if not careful, of going too far in the smoky haze between the worlds if not being well grounded and having a good grip on reality. You may think you are in control, but are you really? Aleister Crowley came to mind here.

I guess I’ve started exploring this topic – magic in general – as I do feel drawn to certain aspects of it, largely natural magic (as opposed to ceremonial magic) and I’m definitely starting to investigate more in-depth the properties of crystals and herbs. So far I’ve just spent a lot of time researching organic gardening principles as there is a decent size raised bed where I’m living, and I’m looking into planting a whole lot of herbs (and vegetables!) for use.

Most of it is bare except for grass clippings, but the soil is very rich and looks perfect. I’ve spent the past week removing the grass weed from it, and last night sowed the green manure seeds for nitrogen-fixing. The whole process feels very Empress-like, but there’s a lot of preparation and patience required since I’ll be doing it all organic style…

Hope you all have a beautiful week ahead,
Monica

Above we have the significance of the Spider for me – I actually asked about the spiritual significance of the Spider in my life, since I love these guys. As I shuffled the Magician actually fell out, but I put it back and continued to shuffle and cut.

I would say that Work and Power equals the Magician, no? The Spider has always been a good omen for me. I used to watch them as a child, endlessly spinning their web. And I have to be honest and say that living in tropical Queensland has really challenged my feelings for this amazing creature.

See what I mean? The pic above is from my bathroom, 4am in the morning. As a friend pointed out on Facebook, when the spider is bigger than the lizard, you have a problem Still, I couldn’t bear to even remove it – I just left it to wonder around. It’s a Queensland Whistling Tarantula, though I think the name is more ferocious than the critter.

In the spread above, I thought the 3 of Pentacles relates to weaving work, spinning the web of life, of interconnectedness, of eternity. The 9 of Wands I relate to personal autonomy, integrity, and transformation. Part of my journey over the last few years has been reclaiming my own power, reclaiming what has been taken from me, and in a sense it’s a bit like calling your soul back to you – Caroline Myss and Clarissa Pinkola Estes have written at length about such journeys and how imperative they are on the path towards healing.

Wishing you all a beautiful week weaving the threads of your own lives,
Monica

Today I asked – yet again – about my vocation path. I really hoped the cards would narrow my choices down for me, but not really. The details of the spread above are as follows:

1. Tarot – The Sun
2. Astrology – Ace of Cups
3. Yoga – 8 of Wands
4. Herbal Medicine – 10 of Cups

The last card underneath the deck was The World. They all look pretty good as far as pursuing for study and vocation, I reckon. Naturally, The Sun being the only major places more emphasis on Tarot, but all paths looks beautiful for me

I guess I’ve done this spread far more than I care to count, since doubt is sometimes a necessary part of life. I also did another spread specifically on studying Medical Astrology this year. My intent in doing this spread was to find out if it’s a good option for me. I drew three cards and was surprised to get three majors, just like that.

Here I see the Hierophant as the teaching of knowledge within a structured system. Astrology is actually very structured and organised, not to mention it is an occult science and art – the quintessential Hierophant knowledge. Judgement is definitely a great card to get when having doubts about following a path. I guess it does depend on the surrounding cards, but I’ve always felt it is a very positive sign, though a bit intense. As for the Wheel of Fortune, I see this as a student and teacher interaction, more than anything else.

So I reckon around April I’ll enrol for an online course and just go with it Until then, I have plenty to keep me busy, such as checking out the local cafes, going for walks through the national parks, not to mention the beaches!! Though, to be fair, I’ll be honest and admit swimming isn’t exactly advisable at this time of year – deadly jellyfish are flourishing over the summer months. It wouldn’t be Australia without some poisonous or deadly wildlife around… For your viewing pleasure, I’ll end with the most spectacular sight to grace my eyes in a long while…

Source: wettropics.gov.au

Yes, Ulysses butterfly, and they are rather abundant in the lush forest. Bliss.

Many blessings to you all,
Monica

Today I composed a simple five card spread on my year ahead. I’m sure there are plenty of similar variations out there, and my one is by no means very original, but I love the simplicity of it. I used my favourite deck, the Haindl Tarot, and chose 5 cards specifically for a pentagram shape.

1. My card for this year: The Lovers
I wasn’t really expecting this one. I’d rather not contemplate what it will bring, since it will be either a new relationship or a testing choice. Possibly both, really, but I am rather determined to have a focus on my work and studies.

2. The challenges of this year: 10 of Wands – Oppression
Doing too much and having too many things happen at once is very Sagittarius. And then one gets overburdened. You’d think this would be a lesson learned by now, but no. I am planning on studying Medical Astrology online, as well as Bach Flower Essences. In between getting to grips with a new job where I actually do have a lot to learn, mainly about tree species though which I really love. Still, it looks like it may be wise to wait a few months until I’m settled into my work before starting the astrology course or the Bach Flower studies.

3. What I will achieve this year: King of Cups – Odin
I would like this to mean some progress towards work as a tarot reader, however I’m not sure exactly. I’m very weary of reading for others at the moment, even though it’s been hinted at more than once (word does get around…) My main reason is that I am in a new place and it’s not a big city, plus I have to be careful of keeping my tarot work and my environmental work completely separate. I’m sure in a few months’ time it will be fine, so perhaps I’ll be employing the King of Cups qualities further down the line.

4. What I need to focus on this year: Prince of Wands – Krishna
I loved to see this card in the “focus” place: it says, keep things light and fun. Keep an open mind and a playful attitude. Keep learning and have an open attitude toward life.

5. What I will learn this year: 10 of Stones – Richness
I will learn about building firm and secure foundations, about the importance of friends and community in general, about the value of physical, material things. It’s about enjoying life without over-indulging. Rachel Pollack writes, “The Ten of Stones refers to a good life, to health, and to a sense of solid reality. Like the Universe, it shows the materialization of the person’s hopes and desires.“

Many blessings,
Monica

One thing about living near the tropics is the abundance of wildlife. The house I am living in is rather rustic and usually the windows and doors are left open, night-time included. The other night I came across this little fellow, wandering across the hallway heading for the bathroom. To say I am a frog fan would be an understatement. As it is, I’ve mentioned my affinity for these creatures in my childhood story here. Aside from this, frogs are revered in many cultures as symbols of fertility and goodluck, and I’m rather happy to have not just one but a few of them wondering about, inside and outside the house. One in particular has a habit of climbing up the stairs to the back door at night and sitting on the entrance green mat watching the night pass by…

Finally I am happy to announce the two winners to my giveaway are Merriam and Krysten – I used the stock standard random number generator to decide this round as I wanted it to be, well, random. Please email me at tarotinateacup at gmail dot com with an address and I’ll post a little something your way… it may be a while though, realistically looking at the middle of January after I settle down some more… but it will be well worth the wait

And today being the last day of 2011, I drew three cards on the year ahead. I’ve also done a twelve card month by month spread separately, but felt like a general three card would be a nice addition.

The 5 of Swords feels like being pinned down after a hectic upheaval, what with all the travel and changes of last year. It is now time to rest and recover, though it’s also bringing a vibe of intensity and fears – notably the full moon and the complete darkness above the hermit… I see the 4 of Pentacles as a very solid foundation for me – the security of castle walls keeping the rough seas outside at bay. The structure provides a secure haven for me to grow and develop. In some ways, I see this as me being – finally – in a place of structure and secure foundations from which I draw the necessary resources to explore my interests in tarot, astrology and yoga, as well as getting some excellent experience in environmental issues and projects. Lastly, there’s the 10 of Cups. Happiness, contentment, emotional fulfilment and joy. One of my favourite cards, really, and I think it’s about making new connections and friendships where I am now, which I didn’t think would happen that easily but it is. One of the more difficult decisions about relocating was the fact that I did so on my own, and my now ex-partner stayed in Melbourne. We remain very close friends, but despite this it was the part I found more challenging, even though we both acknowledged our relationship was ending quite a while back. So the 10 of Cups for 2012 is a beautiful confirmation of new friendships and a sense of community developing around me.

Happy New Year everyone!

Many blessings,
Monica

I am now officially into the Justice year. Following on from a whirlwind Wheel of Fortune last year, I look forward to a more settled lifestyle from now on. I started reading tarot using the Rider Waite system, so I associate Justice with number 11, rather than 8. I guess so far this has manifested via the offering of a work contract – legal agreements and contracts being some of the Justice keywords. There is also an element of karma associated with this card, and in this sense I guess it relates to reaping what has been sown prior – in my case, leaving the engineering path and studying environmental management.

Without going into a whole lot of details, I am working for a regional council in Queensland, in a rather tourist-ey area. My official title is Environment Officer, which is rather broad but with lots of “green” projects on the list. It is hot, very hot. You wake up and it’s already 28 degrees outside. The evenings are balmy and it rains fairly often at this time of year. Thunderstorms are often and magnificent. As someone who has never accustomed to cold and damp weather, I welcome the heat – no more socks, scarves, jumpers or shivering… everything is light and vibrant.

So, I’ll be starting to blog again on a more regular basis with lots of pictures of trees and wildlife from the region If you haven’t entered my birthday giveaway, leave a comment of the previous post and be in to win. Since Justice is numerologically a two vibration, I thought I’d draw two winners with a mix of goodies thrown in for fun.

Hope everyone has enjoyed a great festive season and I wish you all a Happy New Year – 2012 looks to be a very intense year with some powerful astrological transits hitting from mid-year onwards. The best comment I read on these next few years went something like “it’s like the 60′s but without the fun”. Well, I’ll try to keep it light-hearted and not get too dark… at the very least aim for a balance between the two, what with Justice watching over.

Many blessings,
Monica

Folks, I would love to stay and blog a bit more about the political disaster back home what with election time in good old Godzone… But, as some of you may know, I am in a Wheel of Fortune year which is about to end early December… and the Wheel has just rolled again.

I have been offered (and accepted) an environmental/sustainability position in tropical Queensland, so I’ll be on the move in a week or two. This means there will be a break from blogging while I get myself sorted and settled. So, I am leaving this post open for comments to my awesome fantastical giveaway

This blog turns one year old on the 28th of December, so what better way to celebrate than to send some goodness out to the world. All you have to do to enter is leave a comment – open to anyone and everyone from any corner of the world.

I’ll be back January sometime to announce the winner(s) and catch up with you all. Wishing everyone a great Christmas and Happy New Year!

Many blessings,
Monica