Past Life Regression

For those unfamiliar, past life regression is a means for an individual to recover memories from other lifetimes they have lived, through a deeply meditative state of consciousness, usually by process of hypnosis or guided meditation. If you’re not sure why someone would want to do this or don’t understand what it is useful for, consider past life regression something more comparable to a therapy session…it’s meant to help you to better understand who you are and how you function, and to enable you to help yourself in the now.

Just to explain what past life regression is about a little more, the way the experience occurs is much like a regular meditation where you see the scenes unfolding from your mind’s eye; something like a dream or daydream. It is not like watching a movie where the scenes and events involve other people, however, where you can remain completely disassociated from it. As you witness the events from your other lives that are of significance and can potentially help to you in your present, you know and recognize the person in this lifetime as yourself…you can feel within the deepest parts of yourself the emotions as you felt them at that time. You have an immediately infused understanding of what that lifetime meant to you, what you gained from it or what your challenges were.

During a regression you also will not see the entire scope of your lifetimes, only those lives and scenes most pertinent to you achieving a greater understanding and self-awareness in your present life will surface. This includes information that might explain why you are the way you are; or why you have always had certain issues or fears; or which relationships you have struggles with in your present.

We do not, for the majority of people, come to this lifetime carrying over our memories of other lifetimes for good reason. So when we do come into this awareness, whether from memories surfacing naturally, or purposefully through a regression, having this information must be taken with great consideration and self-respect. Being "allowed" the knowledge and connection to a past life isn't intended as frivolous or a novelty, it's meant so that the person in this lifetime can use the past life memories to heal, change and better their current selves. The information that comes up is extremely personal, sometimes divulging very sensitive events and insights. Most people have quite emotional experiences. Imagine that in the next hour you were going to confront all your fears, challenges, weaknesses, misfortunes, and wrongdoings in this lifetime…then multiply those times two, or three, or four other lifetimes. You can see why emotions would surface.

And although great responsibility accompanies greater knowledge, for the person who has an evolved understanding and willingness to utilize past life regression as a resource for higher awareness and enhancing their current life journey, it can be a wonderful tool for such empowerment.

Divination Game for You!

Up for a little divination game you can play?

For my Light Source class, I’ve been trying to “assign” summer projects each year, and I just finished mine for this summer recently. It occurred to me there is more than one way to use it, so I came up with this little game you all can try for yourselves using a photo of my board. All you’ll need is a pen, paper, and a little time.

Looking at the picture below, pick out five things you are first drawn to in the image. Write them down in order you choose them, leaving some space between each word in your list.

Add a comment, or drop me a message to me just listing the five things. I’ll reply to give you the basic symbolism of each of the five on your list to get you started. Once you have added that info to your list, then spend a couple minutes adding to your description of each specific item (What does each object make you think of? How would you describe it? Do you have any personal connections or stories that relate to the objects?).

Just as an example, say there was a monkey on the board and you put that on your list. You’d add next to it the symbolism I forward you: vanity, deceit, foolishness, thoughtlessness. Then you’d add whatever else you wanted to describing the monkey or any personal references or thoughts, which might go something like: brown and white, wiry, looks like it’s about to leap, reminds me of the monkey from the tv show Friends (specifically an episode where the monkey is lost so they're all trying to find it), and also of the time that guy took me on that date to the zoo (our first and last) and all he did was talk about himself the whole time we were there. Personally, I actually like monkeys; they're fun to watch, but I don't think I'd want to take one home.

When you are done, you can scroll down to the bottom of the blog from 14MAY09 (The Waiting). At the bottom of it I’ve listed what each of the five things you choose represents. Don’t look before you’re finished with the first part, or it will invalidate the process. (Obviously, or I would have just included right in this blog in the first place).

Have fun with the game and divining your own message!

(You don't have to squint, just click the photo to see the full-size image).

Decks for Men... (tarot, Part IV)

…and the Women Who Love Them. (The tarot decks or the men. Your call.)

Men and Tarot
There is a long running joke in my workshops about how there is always a “token man” in class. Granted, in a class of thirty, I’ve even had several men in attendance. But when it comes to averaging numbers, for every class the ratio of women to men is about 9 to 1. Does this mean that men are less perceptive? Are they less spiritually aware? Less evolved? That only the wily come to class because they know where to go to better their chances to meet women? The topic comes up every time I’ve got a group with the “token man” in it. There are arguments toward every side of the aforementioned questions. Though this is severely narrowing my understanding of this trend, my personal observation is this: when women encounter something unusual, inexplicable, or downright freaky (ie. this then pretty much blankets all metaphysical, paranormal, and unusual events), what do they do? They get on the phone and talk about it. Men on the other hand? They keep it to themselves. To me, this accounts for the differentiation.

The majority of men I’ve had in the workshops are usually busting at the seams to unload personal accounts and paranormal stories they’ve been hanging on to for years…lifetimes even. The others? Well, Mulder-esque really. And a few, pretty much there to appease their spouses. None of any of this amounts to a man’s curiosity of metaphysical and spiritual topics, or ability to achieve heightened awareness and greater perception, being any less plausible or significant than that of women.

Which brings me to the tarot topic. And another opinion. More guys ought to try tarot. If anything, when you are still a bit dubious about your intuitive side, tarot is a great tool to help tap into that, to draw more of your inner perceptions outward, and to validate all those insights you do have. One of my first encounters ever with tarot was with a man who, though entirely psychic, would use tarot when inspired to do so. His deck had been passed down through three generations. Sometimes getting a tarot reading from a man is much like going to ask for a man’s opinion vs. a woman’s. When psychically skilled at it, a man and a woman reading tarot will arrive at much the same insights and information, but how they get there… they way they explain it, the symbolism they notice and interpret, the voice, and perspective they offer, will be quite different. Invaluable, really. Trouble is, there are just far more “girly decks" (well, tarot decks with artwork that would appeal more to women) than there are for men. So, Men, what kind of deck do you look for when the ratio is against you once again?

All the suggestions given in the blogs leading up to this one still apply. Window shop. Narrow down your choices. Then go hold on to a couple decks and determine which one really feels to right to you.

Where to start however? The same rules are going to apply regarding the theme and the artwork (refer back to Blog #2 on narrowing down your choices). If you don’t love it, the deck won’t work well. Several of the ones from the list I gave of traditional decks are really popular for men (like Rider-Waite, Morgan-Greer, and New Palladini), but here are just a few other varied suggestions for some tarot decks that you might want to consider as well.

There are the obviously themed decks:
Celtic Dragon Tarot (the best of the dragon-themed decks)
Tarot of Pirates (does not, unfortunately, come with a free patch)
Vikings Tarot (Go Vikes! Oh, sorry…not a football-themed deck)
Baseball Tarot (IS a baseball themed deck; by Lerner & Gardiner. Do NOT get this confused with the Tarot of Baseball)

And other great decks with assorted styles:
Thoth Tarot (a classic deck; Aleister Crowley)
Cosmic Tarot (amazing ink art)
DruidCraft (Celtic theme)
Vision Quest (Native American theme; Thoth-based)

Those are just a handful titles to help in launching your search. Whether you're a man shopping for your own deck, or you're looking for ideas to purchase a deck for a man you know, begin with themes or art styles that are appealing and go from there. You're certain to find a great deck.

Final Gems

My last set of “recommendations” isn’t really so much that, as it is my little deck wishlist. I thought I’d share the titles of a few decks that I really am drawn to …just for the simple reason that you might love them too! Check them out:

Paulina Tarot (love this artist!)
Tarot of Jane Austen (which card do you suppose is Willoughby???)
Revelations Tarot (great upright + reversal artistry concept)
Mona Lisa Tarot (all Renaissance and da Vinci)
Blue Moon Tarot (a major arcana only set)
Transparent Tarot (Such a clever idea; though good luck getting hands on this anymore for a reasonable sum)

and two decks I am awaiting publishing of…
Tarot of Trees
Shadowscapes Tarot

I hope this little blog mini-series has given you a few ideas and a starting point to dive into your tarot deck quest. Whether you end up with a deck from the recommendations, or something entirely different that you happen upon, I’d love to hear back what decks you end up with, so please feel free to post comments back and let me know. Maybe I can find some new treasures to add to my wishlist then too!

Card images shown (top to bottom):

The Moon, from the Tarot of Pirates; published by Lo Scarabeo.

The Hermit, from Cosmic Tarot; published by US Games.

Ten of Pentacles, from Paulina Tarot; published by US Games.

Details, Death and Decks (tarot...PART III)

So I promised to give some recommendations on other great tarot decks out there. The way I teach tarot (psychic tarot, as opposed to “I just memorized this instruction book tarot”) is greatly benefitted by beautiful, intricate, deeply symbolic artistry of the cards. Some of the more standard and traditional decks mentioned in the previous blog clearly qualify, but that doesn’t mean everyone will be drawn to one of those ten options. Six other decks that do offer wonderfully detailed cards that I also recommend are:

Old English Tarot
Legend: The Arthurian Tarot
Llewellyn Tarot
Alchemical Tarot, Renewed
Sacred Circle
Goddess Tarot

In my opinion, if you can continue to use a deck over the course of a year or two on a regular basis, as my students do, and you’re still laying out spreads saying, “Wow! I just not noticed this,” suddenly discovering a new detail of a card that comes up, then that is a deck rich with symbolism. You’ll never be stuck for new and fresh ways to explain, describe, interpret and understand a deck like this. Some of the decks listed above divert away from tradition with regard to the labeling of the suits and/or the naming of the major arcana cards but don’t let this deter you. I’ve had students who had never seen a deck before pick one up and be able to connect to and understand the cards from night one of a tarot class, so I’m sure if one of these is your “right” deck, it work similarly for you.

Now, to address one of the other common issues that come up when I’m asked for help in choosing a deck seems to be that some people are really deterred by the Death card. I’ll admit, some of the Death cards in particular decks seem to stand out a little TOO much and are distractingly gruesome, but if you are hung up about wanting to avoid a Death card altogether you may want to consider one of the five following deck options:

Tarot of the Old Path
Osho Zen
( non-traditional tarot deck, but a really fantastic one)
The Lover’s Path
(substitutes Transformation, shown left)
Shapeshifter Tarot
Connolly Tarot
(substitutes Transition for Death)

These decks do things to "de-spook" tarot, like substitute the title of “Transformation” for “Death”, which is what any death card represents, above and beyond any bad omen for actual death. Once you learn about tarot and start doing readings, the standard Death cards won’t seem ominous, but rather project more of a sense of hopefulness and promise for the future. Either way, deck with Death card or deck with a variation, look at the number XIII Major Arcana card in the deck if you can before you make your purchase and check out how the artist interprets the card. No matter what the artwork is like, if the “spookiness factor” is acceptable to you, that is all that matters.

Now, if you’re fine with the Death card title as it traditionally stands, but you just want something a little “softer” or not gratuitously gory, then you may also want to consider one of these six decks:

Harmonious Tarot
Mystic Faerie Tarot
Whimsical Tarot
Vanessa Tarot
Tarot Nova
Celestial Tarot

Additionally, if you’re shopping for a deck appropriate for a teenager or younger person, a couple of the decks mentioned above are also good ones to consider as some of them are just less graphic overall, beyond the Death card. Again, you’ll want to try to get your hands on a “sample deck” or window shop through the images online to find which one you feel most suitable passing along to that specific person.

Just a side note on the flip-side, if you ARE deliberately looking for a darker, eerier deck, be sure to check out the Bohemian Gothic Tarot and see if it’s for you. It’s perfectly lovely…in that creepier sort of way.

I’ve still got two more categories of deck recommendations coming, so check back for the next blog soon!


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The Best of the Black & White Tarot Decks...Victoria Regina Tarot



















Card photos shown in blog:
(top) The Moon from the Harmonious Tarot; Published by Lo Scarabeo
(center) Transformation from The Lover's Path Tarot; Published by US Games
(left) The Moon from the Victoria Regina Tarot; Published by Llewelllyn

So many tarot decks...PART II

Continuing from where I left off with yesterday’s blog on choosing a tarot deck, it’s now time to:

3. Go shopping!
Before you jump into it here are four things to consider in venturing to find your most treasured tarot deck:

*Personally, nothing works better in choosing a deck than actually being able to hold on to it. All things are energy. You’re not crazy if you pick up two different decks you logically like, only to sense that one of them “just feels better.” If you have no idea what I am talking about, try it. Go choose two decks that you think you like. (Or for stronger comparison, choose one you like and one that you don’t). Hold one, close your eyes, and ask yourself, “Does this deck belong with me?” Then set it down and do the same thing with the second one. See…feel…the difference? If you get a strange pit in your stomach while holding one, and a zip of energy up your spine with the other, there is your answer. Some decks feel warm, or light (not heavy), or tingly…those are all good signs as well. For that reason I’d suggest shopping for your deck out in the real world. In most instances, you can reduce your mileage by shopping online for the titles first, or going somewhere that is known to have a good selection.

*That being said, any shop that has “sample decks” that they let customers paw and rifle through so you can check out all the cards, but keeps their actual sale merchandise boxed up safe behind the counter or under glass is the place to go. If deck boxes are clearly still sealed in their original packaging, great…if not…maybe you want to pass on it; unless you have a real understanding of how energy sticks to things other people have been touching. (Uh…ewww???). My favorite Minneapolis shop is Present Moment. They get it. (Nevermind the haunted basement…unless you think it’s an added bonus). Magus Books is also a decent shop-stop. (Plus if you’re sensitive to anything, you’ll have the perk of the bizarre energy going on there.) Monarch, The Enchanted Garden in Northfield MN also gets it and keeps their decks in a case…hidden at the back of the store. (All you have to do is meander from the front of the store, through the “we’re-pretending-not-to-be-a-metaphysical-shop-but-we-really-are” nonsense to get there). --Just a note here too, that these places, as well as many other metaphysical shops, don't offer their whole deck selection in their online shops, so you'll have to go in to see for yourself.--

*No metaphysical shops around? Most bookstores carry decks, but all with varying selection (quantity and quality). So you might want to go shopping with the mindset to be more flexible with your options. Of the chain places, Borders is one place that tends to have a better variety of decks (ie. not all printed by the same publisher), but quantities are hit or miss. Barnes & Noble usually has a number of decks, but generally market a very limited number of publishers…plus, at least the one nearest me, is overly fond of the expensive “tarot kits.”

*If you decide to shop online, google "metaphysical stores" and you'll end up with a multitude of shops ready to make a sale. Then there is Amazon. What don't they sell? Sometimes their selection is good, sometimes not. Just please don’t go buying bargain bin “used” decks (refer to Point 2 above). Bn.com and other online booksellers are also good options for your online purchases. Whichever place it is, be sure product you choose is NEW, and unopened. The one advantage to online shopping seems to be in having more success in finding more unusual decks.

If you still have no idea where to begin, below is a list of five of the most common standard and traditional decks that people are using.

Rider-Waite
Universal Waite
Robin-Wood
New Palladini
Hanson-Roberts

I’ve had students using all of those at one point or another. They all lived to tell about it, so I am sure you would be fine with any of them as well. These are some other standard decks that I prefer and recommend for people of all skill levels:

Sharman-Caselli
Morgan-Greer
Old English
Fenestra
Tarot of Marseilles

That’s ten titles to help begin your browsing. In the next few blogs I will recommend some decks that I feel are “a step above” with their symbolism, decks that are great for men (and the women who love them), decks with no traditional “spooky” Death card, and a few of my personal wish list decks.

Until then, Happy Window Shopping!
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The Best of the Circular Card Decks...CIRCLE of LIFE TAROT