Tarot Tips: Using Pentacle-Shaped Spreads
Published: Wed, 12/01/10
If you have trouble reading this issue of Tarot Tips, you may see it and other back issues at http://tarotschool.com/Newsletter.html
![]() Vol. 2 #23 / December 1, 2010
In this Issue: - Welcome
- Tarot Tip: Using Pentacle-Shaped Spreads - Tarot Card Showcase: Ace of Pentacles
- Upcoming Events
- Best Practices: The Tarot Professional and Taxes
- Featured Tarot Blog: Alec Satin - Tarot Reader Welcome to a new issue of Tarot Tips!
And a special welcome to our new readers.
When December arrives, does it prompt you to think
about the year that has passed? Or are you thinking of
turning a new leaf and looking forward to what is
ahead? During this time, given the financial woes of
the world. Many of us hope for a brighter and more
stable future, so this is often the focus of tarot
readings. It is not so much that a querent needs a
prediction about a certain outcome, but rather
reassurance that what is happening in the present will
lead to something positive in the future - and often
this centers around money.
The name December is derived from the name of the
Roman goddess Decima. She was one of the Three Fates,
the one who presided over the present. As practitioners
it is important to hold up the mirror of the present to the
inquiring querents. This allows them to reflect on their
role in and responsibility for the outcomes they desire.
The mirror and the coin were symbols relating to
prudence. In addition to the notion of reflection,
prudence is associated with foresight and exchange,
like that of monetary exchange. In this issue the focus
is on a great symbol of exchange - the coin, also
known as the pentacle in esoteric circles. In this tip
we give you spreads that are star shaped, and the
showcase card is The Ace of Pentacles.
The common meanings for the Suit of Coins are
mostly based on finances, and in the Best Practices
column we'll talk about defining your practice and
another issue that coins can allude to - paying taxes.
In addition to this, we offer a new blog for you to
explore! Yours in prosperity on the tarot journey,
Ruth Ann, Wald & Gina Tarot Tips is here to help you with the practical side of your Tarot journey. In order to take the greatest
advantage of this newsletter, please send us your
questions regarding any aspect of your tarot study
or practice and we'll do our best to answer them
in an upcoming issue.
Spread the experience of tarot - share this newsletter with other Tarot Enthusiasts! Tarot Tip USING PENTACLE-SHAPED SPREADS The five-pointed star is an ancient symbol well known
in many traditions. The star by itself is called a pentagram.
When it is enclosed by a circle, it becomes a pentacle.
It symbolizes the four elements plus a fifth element, spirit.
The pentacle is a powerful talisman of protection. Its
five points represent the five senses through which we
perceive the world. The star in the circle is a symbol
of each individual as the center of his own universe.
You may enjoy trying these 5-card star pattern spreads:
Position the cards in the following manner:
Card 1 is at the top center
Card 2 is diagonally below and to the left of Card 1
Card 3 is diagonally below and to the right of Card 1
Card 4 is directly below Card 2
Card 5 is directly below Card 3
Five Senses Spread
1. Touch - What about this situation touches me
the most? Take notice of any physical sensation that
may be a source of intuitive information.
2. Taste - This card represents the attitude from
or towards the querent, which may be metaphorically
salty, sweet, bitter or sour.
3. Hearing - Inner hearing. This card gives the
wisdom of the still quiet voice of the Higher Self.
Like the physical ear focuses external vibrations
toward the inner ear that turns them into sounds, the
inner hearing captures the wisdom of the still small
voice of the Higher Self.
4. Smell - The nose knows. This card shows what
could be helping or hindering in the situation. This
card looks at risks. Does something smell fishy? What
influences will help the querent come out "smelling
like a rose?"
5. Sight - New insights or seeing something you
didn't see before is indicated by this card.
Mind - Body - Spirit Spread
1. Mind - The current mental state or focus of the
querent.
2. Body - Possible actions or next steps for the
querent.
3. Spirit - Karmic lessons for the querent.
4. Strength - What supports the querent.
5. Weakness - Areas that need attention or could
be damaging.
The next spread comes from The DruidCraft Tarot
by Philip and Stephanie Carr-Comm, illustrated by
Will Worthington. It is called The Pentagram Spread
and is useful for exploring the influences of the functions
of feeling, sensing, thinking, intuition and Spirit as
defined by Carl Jung.
The Pentagram Spread
Card 1: The Place of The Inner Flame - This
card shows how intuition play a role in your life
or suggests ways intuition may be developed.
Card 2: The Place of The Well - The card in this
position describes the role of emotions in your life.
It also suggests ways to develop emotional maturity.
Card 3: The Place of The Sword - This card relates
to influences affecting your thoughts or judgments. It
shows the role that intellect plays in your life.
Card 4: The Place of The Stone - This is the realm
of the physical body and the earth. This shows areas
concerning physical health or environment.
Card 5: The Place of Spirit/Soul - This represents
the advice or gifts of the spirit, or fifth function.
This advice relates to bringing about a sense of
wholeness or may relate to the needs of the soul. Tarot Card Showcase In this section we will feature tidbits on a specific tarot card. While there are many systems and decks to choose from in the world of tarot, here we use the Universal Waite Tarot images and symbols. Copyright 1992 U.S Games.
![]() ACE OF PENTACLES
Esoteric Title: Root of the Powers of Earth
The Ace of Pentacles features a large angelic hand
cupping a golden pentacle. The golden pentacle is a
divine gift of power and practical application in
physical matters.
This Ace shows accomplishment in the areas of home,
business, family, career choice or anywhere we seek
stability. It is generally considered a card of success
in the material sense.
Aces are the first cards to appear in the minor arcana
and exhibit the force of each element. The Ace of
Pentacles is the element of earth and contains the
revered sacred symbol of the pentagram. Pentacles was
a term introduced by Macgregor Mathers that Waite
adopted for the traditional Coin suit. Eliphas Levi
referred to the coin of tarot as a "pantacle." This was an
invention of Levi's that was a variation on the word
pentacle for the purpose of distinction.
The garden in the card relates to the element of earth.
It symbolizes the earthly realm, everything that is
contained in nature, and serves as a source of
inspiration as well as security.
The suit of Pentacles is considered feminine and is
thus associated with the regenerative and fertility
aspects of the earth as Divine Mother. The circle
represents totality and the roses and lilies symbolize
life force and purity.
In a reading this card suggests how the fruits of our
labor manifest. The Ace of Pentacles has a tendency
to show that the efforts we put forth are good and
enjoyable.
This Ace has a gift to offer. It is an excellent card
to get before any special occasion like a birthday or
Christmas. It opens to a path of new enterprises and
gives the power of determination and ability to solve
problems.
Positive Keywords: Prosperity, practicality,
satisfaction, contentment, treasures, gifts,
opportunity, success, safety, perseverance, nature and
magic.
Negative Keywords: Dullness, laziness, greed, financial
loss, blockage; bad habits, pain, empty, unhealthy,
unsustainable, poor. Upcoming Events:
PAIN-FREE QABALAH FOR TAROT READERS with Wald Amberstone
We're pleased to offer this popular training
once more this year. Here's what you'll learn:
* 3 Reasons Qabalah should be part of your Tarot practice
* Kabbalah, Cabala or Qabalah?
* Terminology, architecture, concepts and vocabulary
of the Tree of Life
* What this has to do with Tarot, the world and you
* How you can put all this to use in your readings
I loved the Tarot School's Qabalah and Tarot course
and found it very useful. It was a fun and easy way
to quickly get an overview of qabalah and immediately
be able to apply it to tarot. It enhanced my tarot skills
enormously and made esoteric qabalistic references
easier to understand. ~ Elinor Greenberg, Ph.D.
There is a rich, special and natural connection
between Tarot and Qabalah. We invite you to join
us for a joyful learning experience that will open
up Tarot for you like an oyster with a pearl
inside.
This is the last time this course will be offered live
for the next year or two. Seating is limited so
register today!
December 11 and 12
11 am -7 pm Eastern time
Tuition: $250 Location: Forest Hills, NY The Readers Studio (RS11)
Queens, NY
Presenters include: Caitlin Matthews, Corrine
Kenner, Barbara Moore, Mary K. Greer, Bev
Haskins, James Wells, Carolyn Cushing and
many more to be announced!
Best Practices for Professional Readers
THE TAROT PROFESSIONAL AND TAXES
It's not too early to start thinking about taxes.
You don't want to wait until April 15th to start
gathering all the information you will need to file
if you've been earning income in some capacity
as a tarot professional.
Most likely you are operating as either a sole
proprietor or an independent contractor. Let's define
the two and briefly discuss some general and common
tax deductions for the self-employed.
A sole proprietorship is a business entity owned and
managed by one person. The main characteristic of a
sole proprietorship is that the owner is indistinguishable
from the business. The independent contractor is an
individual or business that provides services to another
individual or business. Examples of independent
contractors are real estate agents, brokers, artist-for-hire,
tarot consultants, etc.
Sole proprietor and independent contractor are used
interchangeably for a self-employed individual. The IRS
has developed guidelines to determine if someone falls
into one of these categories. It is important for you
to know, since this affects many home-based and online
readers.
Good record keeping is essential for making the process
of paying your taxes easier. There are many programs to
make tax filing easier for the self-employed, but
consulting a professional tax expert or CPA is highly
recommended.
Another important thing to know is what you can claim
as deductions. For tarot professionals, these might
include a vehicle, a home office, travel, phone, internet,
interest on loans, meals and entertainment. It is good to
mention here that if you are taking credit card payments
through organizations like PayPal, you may want to
account for these as the IRS certainly has these on their
radar. Once again, it is best to work with a qualified tax
professional in these matters.
I also recommend researching the relevant local state
tax and business laws for information about applicable
information on setting up and running a business. The
following are links to help you learn more about
business ownership and taxes:
Questions arise when developing or transitioning
to professional Tarot Reading status to earn income. These can range from "How can I make money with Tarot?" and "How do I get started?" to more complex technical and business questions.
You may already be up and running and have
questions about how to enhance or ramp up your
business. We would love to hear from you. Send any
questions, or interest in a future class on the
Business of Tarot, to [email protected]. ![]() Discover the meanings behind the interpretations
and hidden secrets of
the cards.
Learn how to read with confidence and precision.
Cut through confusion, conflicting viewpoints and
tarot
"information overload."
Create a deep well of tarot knowledge that you can
access at
any time, without consulting a book.
Find out what is behind the pictures of the world's
most famous
deck!
Uncover the secrets tucked deep inside you as
you learn and
grow...
Get a firm foundation in tarot that you'll build on
for years
to come.
Start your tarot journey here... and go anywhere!
Study at your own pace and get one-on-one coaching
Featured Tarot Blog / Newsletter ALEC SATIN - TAROT READER One of the first things you'll notice on this blog is
the line "make sense of your life in a cost effective
way." Alec Satin is a gifted reader who provides
well-researched information on all things tarot. This
blog features Alec's unique look at spreads and
individual cards. This blog is worth following! ![]() Join our 2,630+ fans and join the fun!
You never know what we'll say next...
Do you have a question or comment on anything tarot?
Suggestions for future topics?
Contact [email protected]
For information on tarot classes, courses,
events and more, go to www.TarotSchool.com
![]() © Copyright 2010 The Tarot School - All Rights Reserved
Directors: Ruth Ann and Wald Amberstone |