
I love the Tarot! I do Readings for fascinating people all over the world! This is actually an ancient language of symbols, colors, & images translated for you! Journey with me through the 78 Enchanting, Divinatory, Entertaining, Tarot Cards! Have questions about any subject? You can find me at http://www.keen.com/Maiden of Mystery, #800-275-5336, ext. 0347, would love find 'answers, details, timing,' for anything you wish to know! Call me!
About Me
- Linda
- Entertaining, Sassy, Creative, Deep, Passionate. Artistic, Tender, Opinionated. Joyful, Stubborn, Grateful, Humble.
Tuesday, January 04, 2011
Raining dead birds?

Sunday, December 26, 2010
Papa
The day after Christmas, I wonder what he would say about all the holiday hoopla. I don't think this is what He is trying to teach us. So, who is He?
For me....He is Faith, God's Will, Forgiveness. Compassion, The Teacher, my Soul. The inner guidance system out Creator installed deep, deep within each of us, that tells us whether what we choose is right or wrong. Peace. Prayer, you can see Him in each face you deeply look into. You can find him in every church, every child, every flower. He is Silence......yet he speaks volumes. Our Spiritual Teacher, our vision of God, however you see God, or I see God. Life, Laughter, Tears. He is there.
And gifts....guess what, we are the gifts. We have the gifts, and the sweetest gift of all is Presence. Just to be with someone...really be there. Hold them in you heart. Just hold them. Not buy them the biggest most expensive thing....but really see them. Really love them.
I like the arms of his Throne. The ox, bowing his face in prayer. The Servant. The one that works quietly, daily, humbly. And the scroll he holds....what does it say? For each of us, is a different message. To find your message, you have to spend time with him, he will whisper the message to you. Try it....that is the Gift. Be Blessed.....
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Joseph, Wands in Story
I have not posted in awhile. Life has been hectic, as everyone knows, too well. I have spent much time meditating, praying, and feel like I would like to merge the two things I adore, together. The Bible, which I collect every translation and honor. And the Tarot. Which I believe is a gift, a Universal story, a wonderful language of symbols. All stories tell deeper stories. And I love that. Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Tarot 101: The Chariot

I have been reading, devouring, the new book by Kim Huggens, ‘Tarot 101’.
Just love it. You need to buy it, if you want a new way to see the cards.
I picked it up this morning, and it fell open to page 43, ‘The Chariot.’
She goes into depth with each card, explaining and giving you questions to
ponder, or journal with, as I am doing right now. She talks about how
different the ‘Chariots’ can be, from deck to deck. True. And each
different angle of the Chariot, can invoke many different images to the
Reader of the Cards. I pulled out the Chariots from ‘The Bohemian Gothic
Tarot,’ by Magic Realist Press, ‘Shadowscapes Tarot, by ’Stephanie
Pui-Mun Law and Barbara Moore, ‘Universal Wirth Tarot’ by Lo Scarabeo,
Torino, and Initiatory Tarot of the Golden Dawn, by Lo Scarageo, Torino.
And here they are….
of her questions, and some of my answers. So, enjoy!
currently? Today, I would say I have lost my map. This last year has been
quite a ride in the Chariot. Not easy, and sometimes my Chariot has seemed
to be broken. Literally. I need to think about where I want to go from
here, and plan to get to a destination. Life seems to have had other
lessons for me. Just when I think I have a plan, No. Road block ahead.
Turn around, Stop. Start over. I think I will meditate on this card today,
see what comes up.
I read everything I can to know everything I can, to think I have all
bases covered. Sometimes that works, most times not. Each challenge is
unique in it’s own way. And is a Journey in a Journey. Being the Pisces
that I am, I don’t like conflict, or confrontation. Yet the Chariot would
say, take control. Plan, do it.
the Chariot, seem be other things….statues, set in stone, weathered by
time yet wise. Excitedly playful unicorns, an easy journey beginning in
the clouds, taking you anywhere, just let go, let the Chariot go where
ever it wants to go. Men/people, advisors, inspiration, not trying to do
this alone. And wild horses….dust flying in the wind, black and white,
choose something, and race toward it.
would appear, slow. So slow. But, on another level, things from the past,
unfinished things, have shown up in my life, and are now finished. Maybe
they were detours I needed. It wasn’t like I sought them out .Really didn't want to go there. Life set
them right in my path. And I rode them out, until they were finished.
Where has the Charioteer come from, and where is he going?
long way. He has learned so many things, and unlearned so many things. I,
personally, know you can make plans, set in stone, and it does not happen.
So what do you do then? Get mad, at yourself or the Powers that Be? Or
ride out the storm, see where life takes you? I am there. I trust in Life,
the Universe, God. I will make it to my goal, maybe not in my or your
timing, but Life’s timing. I think my favorite Chariot card, from these 4
chosen ones, is the one with the Unicorns pulling it. She has let go, is
enjoying the ride. Made an Altar, written out Prayers, put my favorite Angels on each 4 corners, chosen my favorite Tarot Cards to watch over the process, add some beautiful stones, my ivory pearl Rosary, and a beautiful candle to burn as often as I can. Or/And stuck her desires on her Vision Board, and goes there
in her mind, just to visit and feel like she is already there. And let
Life be Life. Sometimes it feels like someone else is driving, and maybe
some days, that is a good thing. Let someone else drive the Chariot. And
relax, knowing the places and people you need to be with, the lessons, the
joys, will be there when you get there. But make your list and have a
plan, anyway. I have done that. And stop trying to control everyone and
everything. Only one of these Charioteer’s seems to be in Control mode.
And he is stirring up a lot of dust, making a big show of it. Ego.
images that guide the Chariot, seem to be the 2 choices you always have.
Life always gives you at least 2. And I think, both ways may take you to your
destination. So, either way just has different scenery. You really can’t
screw up. Just keep going. So, get out your Chariot card today, and see
what it tells you, see what journey you are on, or getting ready for. And
play with it…enjoy the ride. And buy the book, you will love it.
Saturday, July 24, 2010
The Llewellyn Tarot

If I step back in time, here are the 5,6 and 7 of Cups. What may have happened to bring her to this dark night, sad and lost, 8 of cups card? 5 of Cups, a loss. Grief, this too shall pass, a gray flood of emotion that matches the gray overcast sky. Yet, hope, as 2 cups still stand, behind him/her. Unnoticed. When he does have time, to get past the spilt cups he will never have again, he walks into the 6 of Cups card. Ah, such happy memories, the sweetest friend to share them with. Home, and a big tree to climb, pets and blooming flowers, jonquils, must be spring. A time of hope. Then, moving into the 7 of Cups, knocked back down on your knees. Choices, confusion, which way is the right way? She weighs her options, and makes a choice. The choice adds another Golden Cup to her collection, but at what cost? 8 is the number for the Major Arcana Strength Card. This calls for a time of strength. Inner strength, maybe outer strength. Going through something you aren't sure you can make it. So you look in those cups, which before were full of many choices. Now they sit empty. Yet, hope springs eternal. She has arranged them with one off to the side. Room for one new one to rest with the collection. But where is it? That is what she is hunting for. And that is why she is leaving, even in the dark of night. Unsure, and no compass but her heart....she is moving on.
If you lay the next card down, she walks into the 9 of Cups card. The card of joy, your wish coming true. Her gamble paid off, and listening to her heart, was the right thing to do. Even thought she appeared alone, and no brilliant guidance from well meaning friends. She walks on. In the 9 of Cups, she is surrounded by golden cups, and sunlight, and her pure white veil blowing in the wind! Look back through the cards....was it the white dress she wore as an innocent child in the 6 card? Then a white cape to protect her, in the 7 of cups card? And the 8 of cups card....it looks like a security blanket she clings to in the dark. Looks like all she carries away, except the club (Ace of Wands?) she is leaning on? In the 9 card, it billows in the wind, a lovely veil. She is blessed with Grace and Glory as she sits in the sweet meadow that was a miserable dark marsh in the card before. And life gets better....really! From that card she gets ups and walks into the 'I am so happy and home, and loved. The pot of Gold at the End of the Rainbow. Her white veil, now an apron to wear in her happy home with her husband and children. The dark stream that once looked so scary, now tumbles joyfully around the sitting golden cups. Her children play in it. No ghosts here. And the final card here, the Page of Cups. The missing cup from the 8 card, held up with a couple of fish in it. The white cloth is still showing up, as a tunic, decorated with a royal blue satin sash, and a sage green cloak to cover the fearless Page, as he steps on the rocks in his leather boots and protective clothing. I say he is the child in the 10 of cups card. He was holding a fishing pole and enjoying the clear blue water, filled with fish, fun, happy summer days. It feels like the person going through the passage of the cups cards is a female. Ah...emotions. The heartfelt things only girls are supposed to cry and then dance for joy, when the sun comes back out, and the test is over, right? But this Page feels like a male. A young man with such passion, hope, visions of art, music, joy. Maybe his mother has been the one going through the lessons of the Cups cards....and he has watched and learned. Now is his turn. He has such excitement, can see into his future and only see good things. Such is life as a teenager. But life brings these lessons to us all, and that is good. She, his mother will be there, to comfort and guide him as he makes takes his own path into the world. No one can do it for you. But they can listen, and care.Monday, May 24, 2010
Saturday, May 08, 2010
Shadowscape Tarot
Monday, April 19, 2010
The Queen of Swords, The Knight of Wands, The 4 of Wands
Do you see what I see? The white vague image in the photo almost reflects the Queen of Swords, woman with the sword held in front of her. Even in one place the light goes up and down, like the silver sword. Her white feathered wings, seem to be reflected at the outer corner of the window. Indians decorated with feathers, maybe not white, but in the afterlife, she may carry white feathers. 2 round grinding stones sit in the window. I remember kneeling down and peeking in little stone fireplaces, they had placed in a corner of each little room, to heat and cook with. Made out of the same type of rock as the building was made from. This Queen of Swords, a woman that could use a sword or sharp knife to hunt, skin, or protect herself and her children, if she had to. Or possibly is was a Prayer Stick, they used these also and decorated them. Either way it was used by her to fight a battle, and protect her famliy.
On the Knights front side, he carries a round, engraved, golden shield. Look up, on the unfurled flag, is another golden orb. Part of a symbol on a huge orb, this fiery yellow circle grabs my attention, then connects with the fire the dragon is breathing. These two, Knight and Dragon, dressed for battle, ready to go.
And the 4 of Wands card, a open door, in the photo, past the window, a closed door. What once was a door, is now filled with stones and clay mortar. And look at the strong wooden wands, they show up as sturdy poles in the door and window, to hang beautiful woven blankets with. For privacy and beauty. More wood seems to brace the top of the window.
So, when I ask the Tarot, tell me about this photo, this is what I get....
They were married, these walls, stones, all that is left of their home. She spent more time there than he, I think it was her home. He was off doing man things, riding his horse, wild and beautiful. He was younger than her, I feel like 1o months younger. He was playful, spirited, wild. She was strong, smart, edgy, a bit of a wild woman herself. They don't feel like a quiet, boring couple. The cards feel like they were 2 passionate, talented, decorated-maybe tattooed lovers. Marriage didn't soften them, it fueled them, they fought like they loved, wildly. He died first, the last thing he seen was his horse. And the Sun, as he melted into the golden rays of the Sun. She, a widow. I do not see her remarrying, he was a hard act to follow. When he ascended into Grandfather Spirits homeland, he took her heart with him. A part of her still lingers at the window. Watching and waiting for him to come home. If those walls could speak, (and I believe they can!) these two Aztec (Pueblo) Indians gave the neighbors something to talk about. Of course, now she is with him. A glance in the door of the 4 of Wands card shows golden prisms of light, a beautiful place they rest. Talk about happy hunting grounds. They are there.
Just in case you would like more information, thank you Google, about the Indians that lived here, I am including this....
History
The Pueblo Indians are believed to be descended from the three major cultures that dominated the region before European contact:
Mogollon, an area near the Gila Wilderness
Hohokam, archaeological term for a settlement in the Southwest
Ancient Pueblo Peoples or the Anasazi, a term coined by the Navajos[1].
Historically, they supported themselves mostly by maize agriculture, although they lived in one of the more arid regions in North America. European settlement began in the late sixteenth century, but the desert surrounding the Rio Grande Valley precluded massive intrusions into Indian land until the mid-nineteenth century. As a result and despite forced conversions to Catholicism by the Spanish, the Pueblo tribes have been able to maintain much of their traditional lifestyle. There are now some 35,000 Pueblo Indians, living mostly in New Mexico and Arizona along the Rio Grande and Colorado River.
These peoples were the first to successfully revolt against the Spanish in the Pueblo Revolt of 1680, which expelled the Spanish for 12 years. The code for the action was a knotted rope sent by runner to each pueblo; the number of knots signified the number of days to wait before beginning the uprising. It began August 10, 1680; by August 21, Santa Fe fell to 2,500 warriors.[2] On September 22, 2005, the statue of Po'pay, (Popé) the leader of the Pueblo Revolt, was unveiled in the Capitol Rotunda in Washington, D.C. The statue was the second one from the state of New Mexico and the 100th and last to be added to the Statuary Hall collection. It is the only statue in the collection created by a Native American, in this case, Cliff Fragua, a Puebloan from Jemez Pueblo.
Most of the Pueblos have annual ceremonies that are open to the public. In many cases, one such ceremony is the Pueblo's feast day, held on the day sacred to its Roman Catholic patron saint. (These saints were assigned by the Spanish missionaries so that each Pueblo's feast day would coincide with a traditional ceremony.) Some Pueblos also have ceremonies around the Christmas holidays and at other times of the year. The ceremonies usually feature traditional dances outdoors accompanied by singing and drumming, interspersed with non-public ceremonies in the kivas. They may also include a Roman Catholic Mass and processions.
Formerly, all outside visitors to a public dance would be offered a meal in a Pueblo home, but because of the large number of visitors, such meals are now by personal invitation only.
Culture
Historically, the Pueblos were large communal buildings; each family lived in a single room of the building, but if a family grew large enough, side-rooms were added. Among the Jemez and the non-Tanoan-speakers, ownership of the room was largely matrilineal, from mother to daughter. Thus if a Hopi, Zuñi, Keres, or Jemez man were to divorce, he would move from the home of his former wife to the home of his mother or a sister. The other pueblos were patrilineal.
The pueblos are unique among Native American dwellings in that they are constructed as apartments, the flat roof of one level acting as the floor and front yard of the next, with ladders connecting the floors. The walls, especially on the ground level, had no doors or windows—only entrances in the roof. This, coupled with the fact that many were built on the tops of mesas, made the pueblo easier to defend from attack.
Men were expected to tend the fields. They would defend the community in war societies; tribes such as the Navajo, Comanche, and Apache were their traditional enemies. The Spanish successfully re-conquered New Mexico after 1692 by allying themselves with the Pueblo people against their traditional enemies (although events in the 1800s were to modify these political alliances).
Pueblo prayer included substances as well as words; one common prayer material was ground-up maize—white cornmeal. Thus a man might bless his son, or some land, or the town itself by sprinkling a handful of meal as he uttered a blessing. Once, after the 1692 re-conquest, the Spanish were prevented from entering a town when they were met by a handful of men who uttered imprecations and cast a single pinch of a sacred substance.[3]
The Puebloans employed prayer sticks, which were colorfully decorated with beads, fur, and feathers; these prayer sticks (or talking sticks) were also used by other nations.
Cloth and weaving were known to the Puebloans before the conquest, but it is not known whether they knew of weaving before or after the Aztecs. But since clothing was expensive, they did not always dress completely in the European tradition until after the conquest, and breechclouts were not uncommon.
Corn (maize) was a staple food for the Pueblo people. They would use pottery vessels to hold their food and water.
Thursday, April 08, 2010
Legacy of the Divine
Friday, January 29, 2010
- A full moon at perigee also brings higher ocean tides. This tug of the moon on Earth also creates tides in the planet's crust, not just in the oceans.
- Beaches are more polluted during full moon, owing to the higher tides.
- In reality, there's no such thing as a full moon. The full moon occurs when the sun, Earth and the moon are all lined up, almost. If they're perfectly aligned, Earth casts a shadow on the moon and there's a total lunar eclipse. So during what we call a full moon, the moon's face is actually slightly less than 100 percent illuminated.
- The moon is moving away as you read this, by about 1.6 inches (4 cm) a year.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Sunday, January 10, 2010
The Rumi Tarot

Issa
winter withering--
amid the storm
a sacred lantern
-Issa, 1821
This has been quite a winter. The ice on the inside of my window, makes a lovely pattern of lace. It greets me each morning as I sit down with my fresh coffee, at my computer. And read the morning news. And pray.
These cards depict how I feel today.
Heard that a friend died yesterday morning. She would have been 97 on the 24th of January. Yes....what a long life. How blessed she was. Really. One of her daughters by her side, holding her frail hand as she passed from this life, to her next. I bet there was huge party as she parted, her husband had just passed last year, and many friends and loved ones, no doubt gathered around her, embracing her, catching her up on what they have been doing on the other side. And I don't believe sitting around strumming harps is on the agenda. They call it Heaven for a reason...and she is happy. Like dancing happy. I can feel it.
I remember staying at her house during a huge family reunion, in the summer of 1980. Having to go upstairs to find a quiet place to nurse my baby son, who happens to turn 30 today. His birthday. Sweet Joshua. It must have been the hottest summer on record....I really think it was. And young, prudish me, I could not nurse him in front of anyone. So, here we hide....in sweltering heat....stuck together. Poor child, I bet he would have loved some icy cold milk from one of those cows standing around that yard filled with family, in Iowa. But no, mothers milk is best. Whatever.
Ayliffe. She was my mother in law's, identical twin sister. Mother in law. What a term. Constance. She was my real mother. Finally, life had given me a mother...one that adopted me into her family, into her heart. She was my best friend. Sadly, she died when Josh was just one year old. But my 2 little daughters, who were 6 and 9, they remember her sweet ways.
Last year, my genealogist daughter, Johnna, sent me recent a picture of Ayliffe. I have not seen her in years. She looked exactly like my 'mother' would have looked, if she would have still been here. Ugh. I could not even keep the photo out. Had to put it away. Maybe I am still grieving for the one, dear lady that mothered me. So, as of yesterday, the twins are together. Reunited. Two little girls that shared the same place under their mothers heart for 9 months....now together.

winter withering.....the season of winter. harsh, sad, cold. so many out of work, homeless. hopeless. their souls withering. passing to a new way of life, one way or the other. winter. followed by spring. that seems a long reach, today. can't even go there.
amid the storm....fox news. storms, and more storms. storms in the atmosphere, storms in the homes, storms in the news. find someone worse off than you, not hard to do. help them. another friend of mine came home to a burnt house with all her furniture strewn around the yard, charred. broken windows, broken spirit, this is the second time her house has caught fire in 3 years. and they say lightening doesn't strike twice in the same place. wrong. find someone to hold, tight. maybe a good book, or a long nap. and wait it out. and pray.
a sacred lantern.... on this hermit's card, his sacred lantern sits. someone once said to me, the lantern holds the light of the star, from the 'star' card in the tarot. I like that. he found the star. hope. harnessed it. uses it to guide him in his dark night of the soul. lonely, solitary time. and that turtle, ugh, time passing so slowly. yet this card gives me hope. maybe just a glance of it, but hope, nonetheless. he is ok. maybe older, way wiser, and understanding of life's cycles. this too shall pass. find a safe spot, wait it out. and I noticed he is studying a skull, pondering maybe, who this was, what their story was. matches the first card, death. death is the story is over, or the story is just beginning. a new story. that's why the star gives us hope. there is always a new beginning. count the stars, if you can see them tonight. that many new beginnings, still there for me, for you. ponder that.
http://cat.xula.edu/issa/
Saturday, January 09, 2010
I love writing. I love poetry. And I love Haiku. I found a site online, you can click on it below, all about Issa. I also love things written long ago. And his life, his wisdom, is very much needed today. For the next few weeks, if you read my blog...you will get an entertaining lesson on Issa. I am taking his story, about his life, and selections of his writings in Haiku, and giving them to you using the beloved Tarot Cards. The deck I have chosen is 'The Tarot of Durer.' The art is by Giacinto Gaudenzi. Every day I am on a emailing list, and get a Haiku from Issa. And I shall post it, with the cards that depict it. Or, my version of it! Each card, shall give you a vision of each line of his poetry. What do you think? As you read his story...in time, you will see he was very wise, and experienced much loss in his life. Yet, he wrote. All the time. Maybe it was his therapy. We all need that. And I so enjoy seeing the world, through his eyes....or his words. They live on.
in an ugly mood...
the winter rain
-Issa, 1821
http://cat.xula.edu/issa/
Issa in Haiku Tradition
Chronologically, Kobayashi Issa appears third in the order of the four most prominent haiku poets of Japanese tradition.
About Issa
One of the four foremost poets of Japanese haiku tradition, Issa is in good company (Bashô, Buson, Issa, Shiki).
He was born in the little village of Kashiwabara in the mountains of Japan's Shinano Province on the fifth day of Fifth Month, 1763: June 15 on the Western calendar. He died in the same village on the 19th of Eleventh Month in the old Japanese calendar year that corresponds to 1827: the equivalent of January 5, 1828 on the Western calendar. In the long time between these dates he learned the art of haiku (then called haikai) and wandered the length and breadth of Japan, writing everywhere he went. Though his real name was Kobayashi Yatarô, he chose Issa (Cup-of-Tea) as his haiku name. He called himself "Shinano Province's Chief Beggar" and "Priest Cup-of-Tea of Haiku Temple." A devout follower of the Jôdoshinshû sect, he imbued his work with Buddhist themes: sin, grace, trusting in Amida Buddha, reincarnation, transience, compassion, and the joyful celebration of the ordinary.
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Barnes and Noble Party
Here we are together, yesterday at Barnes and Noble...wrapping gifts for the Writers Group we both belong to, Sleuth's Ink.
1st place in the members only ' Poets and Friends' category. His poem...Stars for Sale.
STARS FOR SALE
I did not do such a good job
of watching over you
and I know at least one
who would say
I have no right
to ask you for anything
Yet I have a wish
When I die
buy a star in my name
Trees in Israel
or Yellowstone
seem much too transient
for my purpose
I want each night
for you to be able to
look up
point to a star
and no matter how random
it might seem
be able to softly say
Sorry
it didn't work out
Dad
Stars for Sale

I did not do such a good job
of watching over you

and I know at least one
who would say
I have no right
to ask you for anything

Yet I have a wish

When I die

buy a star in my name

Trees in Israel
or Yellowstone
seem much to transient

for my purpose

I want each night

for you to be able to
look up
point to a star

no matter how random
it might seem,

to be able to softly say

Sorry
it didn't work out
Dad

Thank you Jerry Mac...this was lovely.











