What is Spell Casting? Are there any rules to cast spells? What Are Tarot Spells? What is Spell Casting? Spell Casting is the use of Magic to set Intentions. There is a belief that Spells are a shortcut to what one wants. Nothing could be further from the truth. Spell Casting is hard work, and it is a labour of love. It is an invitation to the spirit world to take your wishes and help turn them into reality. To cast a Spell, one needs to be very clear about what the intent of that spell is. In addition, to have a clear intention, a good spell is all about timing. The timing needs to be precise, and while the intention is paramount, the timing, if chosen prudently, can also add to the power of the spell. When the intent and the timing of the spell are clear, the ingredients need to be listed and sought out. So a Spell is very much like a dish that is cooked up with love and has three crucial components: The intent of the spell; Timing of the Spell- The rule with timing is that spells follow natural cycles, and thus, the Moon is a great guide. The Moon, with its soft, gentle reflected light and its 28-day cycle, is known as the feminine energy, which is extremely powerful for spell casting. During the New Moon phase, when the Moon is not visible, it is a great time to take stock of our own inner landscape and do shadow work. By Shadow Work, what is meant is really thinking and shining a light on the dark inner psyche and on things that remain hidden. The Shadow once seen cannot be unseen, and thus begins the time for healing. So a good starting point for shadow work is to turn your attention to what triggers you. What triggers you? What annoys you or spoils your Zen? Remember the answers are all within- That is where the shadows lie. So a statement such as "Ms A or Mr B really annoys me because..." is a good trigger identification. The issue is not with Ms A or Mr B. It lies within your own soul, and it is a good idea to look up why it irritates you. The New Moon is also the time for the new!! It is a good time to start something New and set intentions. The Waxing Moon marks the time when the Moon grows and becomes brighter. This is a great time to cast spells focused on abundance, growth, and fertility. The Full Moon is a time of heightened Psychic energy. In fact, many people who are sensitive sleep lighter and more disturbed under a Full Moon. The term Lunacy also comes from Luna, the Moon. We are composed of 75% water, and the Full Moon definitely affects us. The Spell of Drawing down the Moon is a powerful Wiccan Tradition. The Waning Moon is when the Moon diminishes till it disappears. This is a great time to cast a spell to get rid of things in your life. So this is a great time to rid yourself of your fears and anxieties. It is a good time to do banishment spells and cut your cords with another person. Are there any rulesfor Spell Casting? Spell Casting usually falls under the domain of Wicca . Wicca is a religion that concentrates on the use of natural forces and materials. It has been maligned by established religion over the centuries, and many have died for their faith, but Wicca is very straightforward. The Wiccan Rede is a document that lists the laws of Wicca. It is akin to the Ten Commandments or the other holy books of established faiths. The first full version of the Rede has been attributed to Lady Gwen Thompson and appeared in the Green Egg magazine in 1975. Two things that stand out in this rede or document are that the practice should harm no one and that there is a law of three so whatever you set out in the world will return times three, be it good or evil. Yes !! There are Rules to Spellcasting. It can harm no one. In the early 2000s, when I was a Flight Attendant, a crew member that I chanced to fly with, a really lovely girl, was going through a major heartbreak, which had slowly spiralled into depression. I remember crafting a spell to banish depression for her. On the following flight, I met with my Reiki Master for a scheduled session and discussed intentions, the use of Tarot for Spell casting, and how effective the process was. My teacher, however, did not think so. In his mind, I had not adhered to the Wiccan Law of "An it harm none, do what you will". His argument was that the sum total of all energy stays the same in the universe, so if we wished away depression, where would it go? Who was responsible for the karmic Lesson it would entail? The answer to this conundrum was to have a deity one could invoke, thereby invoking her help to transmute all negativity into something positive and clear Karma at the same time. I chose to pray to  Kuan Yin , and I urge you to have a deity preside over any spell you cast so that your spell is blessed and "it harms none". What Are Tarot Spells? Tarot Spells use the cards as a conduit to concentrate energy and set intention into the universe. The ritualistic element attunes the subconscious to send the intention to the astral plane, where it can be picked up and manifested. Tarot Spells use Tarot cards arranged in a particular sequence, candles, crystals, essential oils, heartfelt invocations and thus carry your wishes to the sacred energy of the universe. Spells can be cast for protection, abundance, love, growth, banishment and whatever one may feel. Works Cited: Murphy-Hiscock, Arin. Wicca: A Modern Practitioner's Guide: Your Guide to Mastering the Craft.

Can we hack Financial Abundance via the tarot? Casting A  Tarot Spell:   Tarot Cards are a conduit that can help us tap into the universal energy. Since they are visual, they make it much easier for people to tune in to what they imagine their future to be. Tarot can be used successfully to cast spells. Yes!! I've been manifesting with the Tarot for more than 20 years, and yes, it can be anything: a dream job, a set outcome, banishing the negative, protection spells, creating abundance, or even guaranteeing admissions!! The Spells do need to follow the rule that you harm none and that you do not bend anyone's will, as it is not possible to do so. Ingredients 12 Green Candles 10 of Pentacles Magician 10 of Cups King of Pentacles It is  optional  that you could brew yourself some tea, so you can sip away after casting the spell and visualise abundance. If you like, add crystals to your spread. You may add the statue of the god or goddess who will be the one to preside over and bless your spell. You may also call upon your guardian spirit for the same. If it gives you joy, you can anoint the candle with essential oils of your choosing. If you do practice Reiki, you can also add symbols to your candle for added support. Deity: Do set out your intent to a god or goddess of your choosing. For Abundance and Wealth Spells, you could invoke a deity of abundance. For intuition, it could be Isis or one of the goddesses who deal with the psyche. In this Financial Abundance Tarot Spell, I have invoked Ganesha, as he is invoked along with the Hindu goddess Laxmi for abundance. Requirements: There needs to be an Abundance Mindset. An Abundance mindset places trust in the universe and knows with certainty that just as the sun will rise tomorrow, the universe has more than enough for everyone. You are a magnet that will achieve all you set out to, and you will draw what you need. Set out your altar, or print out the above picture, if you do not own Tarot Cards. If you do own your own pack, do pull out the deck that you most resonate with. I use a special deck just for myself for Spellcasting. You could begin with a Prayer, or meditative music, or mantra meditation. Do what feels right to you. Procedure: When the Moon is waxing, do the following 3 days in a row. Place the Magician Card on the Altar. Focus on the intent behind scaling your business or increasing your wealth from your job, real estate, or investments. Focus on the abundance and an overflow of resources. Place the King of Pentacles and visualise yourself with the Midas touch, turning even the most base of metals into gold. Place the Ten of Cups and Visualise genuine happiness and contentment. Money should not come at the cost of contentment and should be on the path to happiness. Visualise having enough to be contented and to be able to have a philanthropic reach. Place the Ten of Pentacles and thank the Universe for the Money it will bring to you and the legacy that is yours to pass on. Place four green candles at the four corners of the altar or print them out. The four candles represent a firm foundation on which you can build your wealth. Say the affirmation and let the candles burn out. Repeat the next day. Affirmation "I call upon the Magus to help me focus my mind and heart to send out clear intent. I am the one who is sorted and has an abundance. I have the finances to live happily, help others, and feel I have enough. I have abundance, and the flow never ceases. I have wealth that is mundane and provides sustenance . I have wealth that is a legacy and cannot be quantified. I have emotional wealth that surpasses all in the world. I have wealth that is spiritual. The wealth I have attracts more and more, and the help I can extend increases too." One Last Thing: Do feel brave to add your own individual touches to your spell. Do what feels right. Remember to repeat the Spell for three consecutive nights. When you make a commitment to the universe and show up at the same time every day, the universe commits to you and works for your benefit!! Cast the Spell from the place of Love so the Universe can revert to you in the same manner. In the picture above, I've added a green crystal for the heart chakra and a red one for the root chakra . You could also recite a Mantra . I prefer the Nam Myoho Renge Kyo for making you karmically capable of receiving. Have a Blessed Day! Blessed Be!! The Cards are from the Dreaming Way Tarot Deck By Rome Choi , Kwon Shina .

What is Ragnarok? The end of times has always captivated the attention of Mankind. Every religion and culture has its own notion of how the world will end, and there are similarities among them. As with  the fall of Atlantis  (covered in the  Tower ), most cultures agree that just before the end, the world will experience a series of calamities signalling that the end is near.  The Aztecs believed that the world had been created five times anew and that this, too, shall be destroyed. The Jews call the end of days Aharit-ha-Yamin. Islamic eschatology refers to it as Yawm al-Qiyamah, the Day of Resurrection, or Yawm ad-Din, the Day of Judgment. Hindu eschatology believes that Vishnu, the preserver god, will return one last time. Christians believe in the concept of Judgment Day, when humans will be judged for their actions. In all of the above-mentioned scenarios, humans are punished for their transgressions.   Norse mythology, on the other hand, does not hold that the end of days serves as a means of judging humanity. The Ragnarok , or the final battle at the end of days, is to be settled by the gods alone. Human suffering is just an expected outcome, but it is not personal. The whole goal of the end of the world is its renewal. The Norse end of days begins when  Baldur,  the Aesir's beloved ,  dies. Baldur was an Aesir god, the son of Odin, the All-Father, and Frigg. He was married to Nanna, a goddess who died of grief upon Baldur's death. Together, they had a son named Forseti. Baldur had been dreaming about his end, and when his father Odin sought a seer, his fears about Baldur’s impending death were confirmed. His mother, Frigga, therefore, went out into the Norse universe to take an oath from every creature and object not hurt or harm Baldur. She, however, did not ask the mistletoe for the oath, since she felt it was too meek to cause harm. Loki,  the trickster god, tricked Hodur, the blind brother of Baldur, into throwing a mistletoe at him, and that mistletoe pierced through Baldur’s skin and killed him. Hel , the goddess of the underworld, agreed to return Baldur to  Asgard , the abode of the gods, if everything in the cosmos could weep for him. Loki, disguised as an old woman, refused to weep for him, and Baldur is thus confined to the underworld. Loki is then discovered by the gods and trapped in a cave for eternal punishment. This will lead to the beginning of the end of the world, known as Ragnarok . The death of Baldur was essential to bring about Ragnarok. As long as gods who can broker a peace live there can be little destruction. With Baldur out of the way, the path for Ragnarok was a clean and clear one since he was a peace-loving god. The Norse were fierce warriors, and even in the afterlife, they spent their time preparing for the final war. Ragnarok was what the Norse world was destined for after its creation. Ragnarok was to be preceded by a winter called Fimbulvetr, lasting three seasons long. The world would grow cold, and brother would turn against brother. This period of winter was to be replaced by a harsher winter where everything would be dark, and there would be no sun, moon, or stars. Snorri Sturluson mentions in the poem  Grimnismal  that there are two wolves named  Skoll,  the one who mocks and  Hati,  the one who hates, who begin each of their days chasing  Sol,  the sun and  Mani,  the moon, but without any success. Once the winter  Fimbulvetr  begins, the two wolves manage to catch their prey, and the sun, moon and the stars are consumed by them and are all wonders of the past. Winter is a sign that the gods of prosperity and abundance have forsaken the world. By the end of the winter, human beings would’ve died. There will only be two humans left in the woods who are to eventually start a new world that will follow in the renewal of Ragnarok.    Ragnarok,  like the Christian end of times, had more than one herald so that the gods would have the time to prepare. Fjalar, a red rooster, was the crier to the giants or Jotun so that they may know that Ragnarok was about to begin.  Another rooster, which has not been named, was to crow and warn the dead that Ragnarok was about to begin. A third and final rooster named Gullinkambi, who lived in Valhalla, was to crow and announce to the gods in Asgard that Ragnarok was ready to begin. Yggdrasil, or the great tree on which the Norse worlds existed, would begin to sway, creating earthquakes that would even affect the mountains. The monstrous hoard of Loki would then begin to break free. Loki and the Jotun, or giantess Angrboda, the bringer of anguish, had three offspring, each with a destiny that had been prophesied. They were a serpent named Jormungand, the goddess of death, Hel, whom Odin gave dominion over the underworld, and a wolf named Fenrir. Fenrir, the wolf, was destined to devour Odin, and Jormungand was to die at the hands of the mighty Thor, though it was prophesied to kill Thor in the process. The earthquakes that would be caused by the swaying of the Yggdrasil would cause Fenrir to break his chain, known as the Gleipnir. Jormungand, the mighty serpent, will break free from the oceans where he is trapped and will poison the oceans and rise. His rising would cause the water to flood the lands. The dead from the netherworld would sail with Hel, Loki’s daughter, to take part in the battle. Baldur and Hod would also return from the dead to fight alongside their kin from Asgard. Hel would sail on a ship christened Naglfar, made with the fingernails of the dead, which would be set free by the serpent Jormungand, and her crew would be the Jotuns and the dead who died with dishonour. Fenrir will run with his lower jaw touching the ground and the upper jaw the sky. He shall then devour everything in his path. Jormungand shall poison the water, air, and land, causing the dome of the sky to split. From the crack will emerge the terrifying fire giants from Muspelheim. A fire giant named Surt will lead the fire giants' hordes. He has been prophesied to be the one who will slay the god Freyr, himself perishing in the process. The god Heimdall is the guard of the Bifrost bridge, which connects Asgard, the home of the gods, to Middlegard, or Earth will blow his horn, named Gjallarhorn, so that the gods may assemble and be ready to fight in the final battle, which will take place on a battlefield called Vigrid. All the warriors who spent their afterlife feasting and fighting in Valhalla would pick up their battle arms and fight alongside Odin. Odin’s elite personal guard, the einherjar, will fight by his side.  Despite the best efforts of the gods, all that has been foretold comes to pass. Odin is killed by Fenrir. Odin’s son Vidar, in a fit of rage, jumps onto the serpent’s mouth. He stands tall in boots made from every piece of leather human boot makers have ever discarded. Standing tall, he rams a sword through Fenrir’s jaw, thereby killing him. Thor managed to kill Jormungand but only after the serpent had poisoned him. Thor barely managed to walk nine paces away from the serpent before crashing to the ground. There is only destruction and chaos wherever the eye can see, and whatever is left sinks into the water and disappears into the void. Some versions of the myth end at this. However, some versions of the myth state that, from the chaos, a new world emerged.    The myth has versions that insist that Vidar, Vali, Hodur, Modi and Magni, the sons of Thor, survived the downfall of the old world. A human couple also survives by hiding out in the woods. They are Lif and Lifprasir, which mean "life" and "striving for life," respectively. These two humans begin the new world. How is Ragnarok a Judgment archetype? Dignified: Ragnarok was a very inspiring concept for the Norse. The gods were aware of their future but nevertheless boldly went on to meet it head-on. Judgment, like Ragnarok, is a card representing drastic change. This is a natural cycle, and the card does not talk about being judged. Instead, there is a review of the current state and a change and release that follow. The current phase is coming to an end. While it will not be dramatic and drastic like the battle of Ragnarok, it will still be a time of resurrection and major life changes.   In your life, too, there is a Gjallarhorn heralding change that has come knocking at your door. Judgment is a card that will turn up when you have reached a state where you are at a completion phase in your life. As with Ragnarok, this change cannot be deferred and must be addressed. It is interesting that the planetary ruler of Judgment is Pluto, the planet after which the The Roman god of death and the underworld is named. Like Death, Judgment is a change that will come to pass. At Ragnarok, there is no looking back on the actions that have brought one here; the only choice is to ride the metaphorical tidal wave of change into the new beginning and hope that, like Lif and Lifprasir, we can look forward to better days. Upright, a change is coming; Ragnarok was possible because the peace-loving god Baldur died. It is essential to prioritise your goodness and forgiveness when a change or renewal occurs. That goodness is coming a full circle now as things will work in favour of the one who was right. If the change is extreme, you must draw on the qualities of the gods and face what needs to be done. Reversed or Ill-Dignified: Reversed, there is the fear and inability to answer the calling. Unlike the gods of Ragnarok, who went out to meet their fates, one could be hiding under wishful thinking, making the inevitable appear more painful than it needs to be. It could also mean judging oneself or others harshly, or being judged by others, which makes it difficult to achieve one’s goals and carve out a path for oneself. You may feel the breath of Fenrir or be held hostage by the horrendous coils of Jormungand, and feel Hel enter your space with her fiendish army, but renewal is always just a while away. Solitude to reflect on what is important to oneself could help one move forward. Works Cited McCoy, Daniel. The Viking Spirit: An Introduction to Norse Mythology and Religion. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 1 edition (June 1, 2016). Struluson, Snorri. Edda. New York: Everyman's Library, 1995. Images Used on The Site. Illustrations from the Rider-Waite Tarot Deck, known also as the Rider Tarot and the Waite Tarot, reproduced by permission of U.S. Games Systems, Inc., Stamford, CT 06902. c. 1971 by U.S. Games Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. The Rider-Waite Tarot deck is a registered trademark of U.S. Games Systems, Inc

"The souls must reenter the absolute substance whence they have emerged. But to accomplish this, they must develop all the perfections, the germ of which is planted in them; and if they have not fulfilled this condition during one life, they must commence another, a third, and so forth, until they have acquired the condition which fits them for reunion with God." Jalalu 'D-Din Rumi, Sufi poet Have we lived before? What are the signs we have lived before? We have lived infinite lives and will live many more. Hinduism, Sikhism, Buddhism, Jainism, and many other esoteric cultures believe in this. To those with faith, no proof is required, but for the sceptics, there is more and more proof made available, as every now and then, some souls are born with clear memories of what has passed before. For the majority of us, however, the Universe in its infinite mercy does not load us with baggage from another life. Like The Fool in the Tarot, we enter life with just what we need to keep our spirit light and soul memories of how we feel about certain people. So, how then do we know we have lived before? The following are Signs that you have had a Past Life. Some of these, if not all, may just resonate deeply with you!! 1. Memories of Another Life Could be from a Past Life “I recognised you instantly. All of our lives flashed through my mind in a split second. I felt a pull so strongly towards you that I almost couldn't stop it.” ― J. Sterling, In Dreams This Phenomenon of memories of another life is most often seen in children. The chatter of "When I was big, we used to...." or "I had another Mummy...." or "We were not always like this..." is something we have often heard from children. Some children, however, do have a perfect recall, and there is a documented case of a young boy leading his murderer from a prior life to justice. These memories from another life are quite often memories that we have lived before. If you like to test things, write down what the child tells you, and every time the subject turns up, probe deeper, albeit gently. Do not lead and just take notes, and the consistency from the child may just blow your mind!! 2. Unexplained Irrational Likes and Dislikes may be a sign that you have lived a Past Life “Maybe love at first sight isn’t what we think it is. Maybe it’s recognising a soul we loved in a past life and falling in love with them again.” ― Kamand Kojouri Some people have very strong likes and dislikes and cannot rationally explain how they feel about people in their lives. They may instantly dislike someone with  vengeanc e who has been nothing but kind to them, and may feel an overflow of love towards someone who is completely detached. This can be attributed to soul recognition, and the  individual's  soul  recognises  people from past lives and their experiences when it crosses paths with them. This happens most to people who are living a life whose main aim is to balance past karma. If your  date  of birth reduces to 10, meaning that the month+day+year, when reduced to 2 digits, ends up being 10, then the chances are you have strong likes and dislikes and are living a karmic life. 3. Experiencing D éjà vu or a Feeling that we have lived through feelings, situations, places or things before. According to Arthur Funkhouser, a Psychologist of the C.G. Jung Institute, déjà vu is a feeling that the scene unfolding in front of you has happened before and that this can be further characterised as Déjà senti : or sentiment or feeling already lived through before. This could be triggered by music, but it could also be hearing a voice embedded in the soul consciousness. Déjà vécu : or an event that feels repetitive, almost as though it has already been experienced or lived through before. Déjà visité :or a place that feels like one is returning home, to a place from the past and has been there before. It is interesting that scientists have suggested this may offer a window, a subconscious one, into an alternate reality. These could definitely be feeling moments that hint that you have lived before. 4. Unreasonable and Irrational Fears or Phobias, which could almost be crippling, also hint at Past Lives. Yet another Sign of Past lives is Unreasonable fears. It could be an unreasonable fear of dogs. My daughter is very bright, and when she was almost two years old, we were visiting an aquarium in Paragon, Bangkok. We walked through the displays and enjoyed seeing the fish. Then we reached an area of glass, and a small shark swam towards us. She shrieked so loudly that a group of girls who were posing for a picture actually made a run for it. My little one was inconsolable and wanted to get out of the aquarium. This fear was irrational since, for a two-year-old, one fish should've been the same as the other. Because of her exposure to Disney Movies and light-hearted films, she did not know how to identify a shark. It turns out that she has, in a prior life, passed at sea, after an encounter with a Shark. Needless to say, took us a long time to enter the pool!! However, after confronting her fear, she has a great time at the pool. 5. Unexplained chronic pains that may suddenly start at a particular age with no explanation could be a result of trauma from a Past Life. I am all for seeking help when needed, and medical issues require trained, expert medical advice. However, there are times when people cannot understand why they are in pain, and there is no logical explanation. At times like this, it is possible that a manifestation from a prior life is causing issues in this and will only be solved once it has been addressed. 6. Identification with a culture other than the one you are born into is yet another sign of a Past Life. There are times when a soul reincarnates with such a strong emotional connection to a previous life that it feels a very urgent sense of identification with a culture it may not have been born into. There is an urgent longing to get to that place or country, and it drives the person. This phenomenon is so rampant that the term for it is "Xenophile" 7. Having Inexplicable skills or Inexplicable knowledge is definitely a sign of Past Life. Some of us are born with an affinity for certain skills. Most of us are predisposed to sports, or art, or music, or writing, and so on. The list is inexhaustible. One reason it is easy to access these is that the soul had an interest in them in prior lifetimes and naturally gravitates towards them. In fact, one of the Books by Dr Brian Weiss mentions a radiologist, both gentle and brilliant, who, in a previous life, had worked on the atomic bomb. While his soul lived in horror at how the bomb caused damage, his interest and attraction for that kind of learning led him to apply it in a more productive form. 8. Recurring Dreams also hint at a Past Life. Recurring Dreams often are a way for the unconscious to process memories that could have been carried over from a past life. They can be triggered by situations or may simply have always been there, so the soul can consciously remember what it has lived through and carry over the wisdom of that experience into waking, conscious life. 9. Having an aching longing for another place and time is a gift of a past life. Many individuals are enthusiasts of a particular period in history. They like reading, studying, or collecting information, and have an aching longing to reach back and step into that era, be it Ancient India, Tudor England, Egypt, or some obscure part of history. This longing is a soul memory that can only be expressed in that nostalgia for another era. 10. Uncontrollable and Compulsive Habits are another indication of Past Life Compulsive habits, such as the tendency to constantly jump in and save the day at the risk of one's own safety, or to constantly fall into the role of a victim, are also indications that one has lived a Past Life. One of the reasons that souls return again and again to a physical form is to purify the self and to break patterns that tie one down or are self-defeating . 11. Birthmarks are yet another reminder of Past Lives According to Brian Weiss, many people have birthmarks that tie into their past lives. If someone had died with an arrow through the neck, there is a high chance that the birthmark on the neck may be linked to that life. For those who believe, there is no need  for  proof, but for sceptics, this may seem  far-fetched . Every now and then, we see individuals who can access their past lives. For the rest of us, advanced beings known as the Keepers of the Light, have made the records of our existence available, and these records are known as the Akashic records. One needs to meditate and tune into one's higher self to access this. The Tarot is a valuable tool for accessing the higher self and bridging the conscious and the unconscious, giving us the means to unlock our intuition. Images Used on The Site. Illustrations from the Rider-Waite Tarot Deck, known also as the Rider Tarot and the Waite Tarot, reproduced by permission of U.S. Games Systems, Inc., Stamford, CT 06902. c. 1971 by U.S. Games Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. The Rider-Waite Tarot deck is a registered trademark of U.S. Games Systems, Inc

Who are your Guides? How to Connect with your Angels and Spirit Guides? Our Angels and Spirit Guides are ever-present to guide us. Angels and Spirit guides are mentioned in most spiritual traditions worldwide. These beings of light are a part of Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Mormonism. Angels are fundamental to most major world religions and are messengers from the divine realm. They guide and comfort us. I do like to mention Spirit guides as well, since they too fulfil the function of guiding and comforting us. In a bygone era, when people were more in tune with nature, they could connect more easily with their guides. In the Modern world, however, with its distractions and disconnects, a call for help and a sincere desire for connection are enough to reach out to the Angels. As with any relationship we have, sincerity is a must. We need to make personal relationships with the angels. Just as our worldly relationships are built and deepened over time, our partnership with the angels is as well. Petitioning the Angels for help is an age-old practice. It is a powerful spiritual practice. Prayer is, after all, a request for help or gratitude that is mouthed. The following are a few ways to build a relationship with the angels. You can imbibe them with what makes you feel right. This is, after all, a lifelong practice and a relationship to  connect with your Angels and Spirit Guides . Connect with your Angels and Spirit Guides to ask for help Unsolicited help is never welcome, and that is a fact in the spiritual world as well. Angels are not hampered by physical fatigue and can help us night or day. The genuineness and sincerity of our call will definitely elicit a response. Decide what works for you. You can have your own rituals, affirmations and practices to connect with your Angels and Spirit Guides . You do you when you reach out for help from the ethereal world. Trust is a factor and has to be paramount. Calling upon an angel for help means that we need to be open to receiving their assistance. We need to deem ourselves worthy of angelic grace. Angels are divine, and they do not operate under any kind of divided jurisdiction. Angels work with everyone. Our personal histories, choice of religion or spiritual beliefs do not factor in the plea for help. All that counts is the hand folded in prayer and a call for help. Angels are infinite and omnipresent, and they do not fall into our perception of time, space or division. They have an endless flow of empathy and unconditional love for the individual who petitions for their help. Trust your Angels and Spirit Guides and Let Go This is essential. We usually ask for help when we are unable to do something on our own. The issue is that we have a desired outcome in mind that we attach ourselves to. We would usually like something to turn out a certain way!! The Hanged Man is all about surrender and sacrifice for a higher good. It could be a reminder to change one's perspective and go with the flow. While you can connect with your Angels and Spirit Guides, it just means you will leave the outcome to them. In 2018, my mother had emergency surgery in India. I had to fly in to be with her. Close friends advised me to lose control and not bother about how the children and household are being managed. “It will be done, according to the person in charge!!” Irrespective, I landed back home and was with my mom. At 5.45 AM Singapore time, I was wide awake, since my body clock is set to packing snack boxes. I sat on my hands, bidding myself to let go. By 6.30 A.M., I had to check the app connected to the webcams back home. “No one had woken up!!” I called home and had everyone up so they could make it in time for school. With the wondrous devices of modern communication, I even managed to ask someone to request the bus to wait a couple of minutes. Interestingly, the woman who held up the school bus in Singapore was in Canada at the time! Things fell into place. Then my mum had the surgery, and I was with my mother, and the household was left to my husband. The thing is, by the time I returned a week later, my older one was already getting to the bus stop on her own. The kids were fine. Not everything was ideal, but everyone was okay. When we leave things to someone else, we need to let them do it their own way!! When we leave things to our Angels and Spirit Guides, we need to trust in their loving intent. We should release all expectations of how our request will be answered. Often, what comes about is so much more beautiful and fitting for us than we would’ve conceived of ourselves. For me, that shift came about with the mantra that I would repeat often in my head, "What is out of my hands is out of my mind. I hand it over to you, to sort out as you see fit! Your infinite love and compassion will find the best path for me. ” So here’s to handing over every worry, fear, stress, issue and problem, every good intention and even hope for positive outcomes to our angels. See through the eyes of your inner divine child. Do you recall a time when you were a child and “king of the world”, a pirate, a faerie princess, or a superhero? That was when you were truly in a  connect with your Angels and Spirit Guides. When my daughter was a toddler, we would spend a lot of time playing dress-up and acting out fairy tales and plays. One afternoon, when I had taken her to the playground and was sitting on the side bench with another mommy, I heard her burst into tears. It was a loud bawling cry. Concerned, my friend and I rushed to our kids. My daughter was wailing, and her pragmatic, practical and intelligent little friend was standing, looking very guilty. We both asked the girls what happened. Between sobs, my daughter told me “sh.. sh.. she said, I..I..I am not a biiiiirrrd!” My daughter was around three years old. Her poor friend stared defiantly at me. I hugged my crying child and asked her, “Do you think you are a bird?” She answered, sobbing, “Yes!” “Well, then you are!! You can be anything you want to be, do anything you want to do!! Trust in yourself, and you will fly!” Today, my daughter is almost fourteen, and she is sensible and has even been a speaker on Ted Ex, talking about “Neurodiversity and inclusivity in schools”. She thankfully hasn’t lost her inner child and still believes in the impossible. When you reach out to your angels, you need to access that part of yourself that believes in the magical- the inner child. You also need to reach out to that part of yourself that knows you are divine and connected to the Universe. You are worthy of its love and assistance. Have Gratitude. No matter how bleak things are, there is still something to be grateful for. Gratitude raises our vibration and shifts our focus. Like attracts like, and the Universe brings more things to be grateful for into our lives. When my father crashed on duty in 1988, my mother asked us to shift from sorrow and anger to being grateful for having had him in our lives. Our Spirit Guides and Angels have their distinct personalities. They may want to be seen, and you only need to ask them to reveal themselves. They can also be shy, choosing to reveal themselves when they want. Every December, I prepare a yearly forecast for my family and friends. In 2018, I told my mom, “Yay!! We are going to have a fantastic year!! Since both share the same yearly tarot card, this year we are graced with The Sun, which will illuminate areas of our lives. We will have our proverbial time in the sun!” In March 2018, mom was diagnosed with cancer. I remember her saying “well, this was a good year, right!” My instant thought was ”Yes!! It is. It’s stage one, you have a diagnosis and before you know it, we will be good. Better to have caught cancer now at this stage!” No matter how bleak things are, there is always a silver lining. When we are practised at looking for the silver lining, it is all we see. And gratitude begets gratitude. If you are struggling to find that silver lining, which is a possibility, ask your Angels to help you find the love in that situation. And then let go of any expectation of how that love will be revealed to you. Trust and let go. At the very least, our ego and heart respond with joy when our efforts are recognised. It is the same with the Universe. Know that it is handed to your Angels and Spirit Guides, and it is done. Unlike human beings, Angels answer every request and provide assistance. Our response to the Angels must be one of love, not fear. When we ask for something, we should know that it will be given if it is for our highest good. In the same manner that we would not give a car to a three-year-old, Angels may wait for us to have a certain maturity before we are given what we ask for. If the response is fear, pray for love and understanding. We have all sometimes been guilty of seeking instant gratification. It is the culture that we live in. What worked for me was making sure I put in all the effort on my end for a cherished wish, then leaving the outcome to my guides. My Mantra - “What is not in my hands is out of my head. I have the best crew on this task.” In the Vedic scriptures, this is known as Prasada Buddhi, which accepts joys and challenging times as a gift from God. So what works for us is God's direction leading us on, and what doesn't is God's protection and love keeping us from more heartbreak. Exercise the Trust you place in your Angels and Spirit Guides. Act on the guidance you receive. Like going to the gym, intuition is a muscle. Act on that sign or gut feeling, and the more you act on it, the smoother your transactions with the Angels will be. When I was still sceptical, I was advised by a friend who has total faith in her guides. “The Universe watches over each blade of grass that grows, each heartbeat, each atom. It is infinite. Nothing you ask, that is for the highest good, will ever be too much!” She said. I so believe that. When we let go and trust, we realise that we are in synchronisation with the universe and that Every day that follows, that trust grows. For both my children, I had been the helicopter parent, who gratefully has learnt to chill. Being a helicopter parent had been great in the early years, since after their concerts, when I would find them, they would often say, “I couldn’t see you, mummy, but I knew you were there!” And I was, rooting from my seat, waving out to them!! And that is how the angels show up in our lives. We just need to exercise our trust. Surrender your Judgment to your Angels and Spirit Guides and embrace yourself with love. Judgement is projecting one's shadow self onto others. The best way to let go of judgment is to love yourself and let go of any critical, negative feelings about yourself, your life, or others, in the hands of the angels for healing. Have you ever realised that our inner critic is more callous and compassionless than even our worst enemy? The kind of things we can say to ourselves in our heads, we wouldn’t say to even the person who irks us the most. Today, accept yourself in all the ways that you feel are not perfect, and thank the Angels for their love and the help they have extended to you. Honour and laud yourself exactly as you are in the moment. Let go of any condemnatory reproving chastisement or negative feelings about yourself, your life, or others in the hands of the angels for healing. Just for a few moments, let go of everything that is not of love for yourself and everything around you. In loving yourself, warts and all, you affirm your divinity!! And, in this moment of surrender, the Universe steps in to fill the spaces in your life that need healing. It doesn’t matter if, in your mind, the Universal life force is represented by the Angels, Ascended Masters, Spirit Guides, particular deities or just the Universal flow of love. All of the above steps are good to ask your guides for help and assistance. Remember, you are divine, a child of the loving grace of the Universe, and she will be at your side with every step you take. Further Reading Angels are Spirit Guides https://urbansoultarot.com/post/angels-spirit-guides/

Angels are highly evolved beings of light who serve as teachers and guides to guide us and offer us assistance, clarity and comfort. They aim to raise our vibration so that we too can evolve to a higher level. At the moments when things seem the bleakest, angels show up to offer support. There is a belief that we all have our own guardian angels. These could be beings of light or spirits of family and friends who have evolved to the next plane of existence, after completing the cycle of birth, death and reincarnation. They exist just as we do, albeit on another level and reside in a higher plane of existence. What do Angels and Spirit guides Do? Our guides may reach us via the medium of signs and symbols, or through dreams. Angels reach out to us, through the medium of dreams or intuition. They are that voice within us which may be christened the Voice of the Conscience. They may also show up as signs and symbols. I have a special connection with dragonflies. My father and I shared an incident about how life is sacred and he explained it through the reference to a dragonfly. Often when I am at crossroads or going through a challenging phase in life- emotional, personal or intellectual dragonflies show up as a picture, a tattoo, or in the garden. This is a reminder to me that I am on the right path and that my angel is present by my side. There are times when I make a pact with my guides, to see a sign or hear a certain song as a confirmation of a path or a choice. 2018 December, saw me in a personal crisis where I was awaiting correspondence from a particular institute that was not the right fit for my situation. In December 2018, whilst on a flight to Delhi, I sent up a secret prayer to my angel and asked for a sign to exclaim that I shall have what I desire. I even decided to cheat a bit!! The sign I was supposed to receive was the song - “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer…” How hard can it be during Christmas to hear one of the most cherished carols? Would you believe it, I never heard that carol even once. After four years and finding a path that resonated with my needs, I heard the song Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer, everywhere I went this Christmas!! So our Angels will help us with what we most need and what serves our highest good. The dragonfly, and the song I chose, represent the loving energy of my guides- the Angel and the evolved spirit being. When I can constantly tune into them, I too pulsate with the energy that a Shaman carries within. How Many Angels do we have? While some people may have a single guide, others have many depending on one’s calling and need for guidance. The occultist Agrippa has attributed three angels to each person, and this is rooted in the Jewish occult philosophy of the Kabbalah. Our first Angel is given the charge of our soul when we are created. The second is assigned to us based on the stars present at the time of our soul’s creation and this angel influences our personality and thought processes. The third angel is given to us to guide us through the physical world. Our personal journey will indicate which angel is the dominant guide for us. While we are blessed with spirit guides, the angels are there to guide us as and when we need their assistance. We can always call upon Angels and Archangels to assist us. There are times when you will receive a message of what may come to pass and it is with love that the angels let us know what is to come. In 2021, there were a lot of countries in lockdown or severe restrictions owing to the Delta strain of Covid. I had just rebooted my practice of accessing the records. Three days in a row, I kept drawing Archangel Michael. On the fourth day, no surprise, Archangel Michael again!! A short while after my meditation I spoke to a cherished friend, remarking that it was strange that all I can see is light and the protection and love given by Archangel Michael. I am not religious, so it was intriguing. Later that day, I received a call from my mother in India. My baby sister had been admitted to the hospital in the UK. Since it was in the midst of Delta, she was not allowed any attendants or visitors. Again, owing to Delta, the hospital was short-staffed, and it took them three days to arrange an emergency surgery. The vision of Archangel Michael made complete sense. As soon as I heard Mum over the phone, I had a sense of complete peace and let mom know that she would be fine and protected. My sister did have emergency surgery. As a result of waiting, gangrene had set in, but she was safe, and her surgeon later told her that she had been extremely fortunate. The fact is that Angelic guidance is available to all, and no special skill set is required to access that wisdom. One only needs intention and sincerity to show up as is with any other relationship. Individuals with a challenging life path who need to cover more lessons often have an archangel or angel as a guide. Belief in your spirit guide is not essential. Whether you acknowledge their presence or are a skeptic, they are there with you. They are part of you and your journey and seeing you succeed is their greatest joy. Since they always stay with us, it can be comforting to get to know them, and why they are in your life. Asking them to reveal themselves is an option. How do we get to know our Spirit Guides or the particular Angel those watch over us? Our Spirit Guides have their distinct personalities. They may want to be seen and you only need to ask them to reveal themselves. They can also be shy, choosing to reveal themselves, when they want. Meditating is an option to view our Spirit Guides. You can ask them to reveal themselves and look out for signs. Growing up in boarding, I had friends who were very sensitive and intuitive. I had a roommate describe my spirit guide, and she mentioned that she saw the figure at the foot of my bed, late in the night as she was turning in her sleep. My best friend gave me the same description that my roommate had narrated, on one of our sleepovers. Over the years that I have flown as a flight attendant, I have had close friends, let me know the description of my guide, at the foot of my bed, with uncannily similar details. I have felt the presence of my spirit guide, but I only saw my guide a few years ago, almost as if it was a flesh and blood person sitting across me. I even remember the attire with uncanny detail. So, if you want to know the identity of your guides, reach out. Move into a quiet and meditative space and request them to reveal themselves to you. It is okay if you cannot see them immediately, the love they feel for you is consistently there with you. They may communicate through signs and symbols. Trust in your ability to decode the signs and have the wisdom available to you. Do not allow rationality to cloud the way. If something feels right, then that is the answer. You can also turn your attention to the pictures that appear in your mind. You may see a loved one, a cherished ancestor, or someone from a culture that calls to you. It could be someone Native American, a monk or you may see nothing at all. Sometimes, it takes time for your spirit guides to reveal themselves to you, as was the case for me. Working with Angels and Spirit guides promotes healing. Spirit guides exist on a higher plane of existence. The focus is on the expansion of consciousness and our evolution. They aim to help us learn the lessons we need to grow. This helps us gain a holistic insight into our situation seen through a higher plane. Angels can even help with physical healing. Therefore, working with our spirit guides can be a tremendously healing experience. It is an incredible tool for profound personal and spiritual growth. The world is full of miracles, and stories of these beings and their compassion. We only need to open our hearts and suspend skepticism for a while to allow that magic into our lives. This raises our vibration, and the world truly turns from the mundane to an HDMI 5G rendering that shows us an intricate delicate web that connects all of us. My Dragonfly Connection!! https://www.facebook.com/111725207665155/posts/253638106807197/ https://urbansoultarot.com/angels-spirit-guides-2/

What are easy self-care practices that uplift the soul? We usually spend a lot of time taking care of those under our care and the ones we love. Social responsibilities, work and home monopolize our time. In a busy world, neglecting self-care has become a norm. However, we cannot keep giving of ourselves till we are depleted, and the consequences of this neglect can be truly serious. By adding self-care to our daily routine, we can strengthen our well-being and improve our health. We are also happier and more productive and have more to give to the people we care about. Statistics show that happy, successful people place a high value on self-care. Following are a few Self-Care Strategies that can be worked into your day. They may feel like an indulgence at first, but if you stay on the path, you will realize that they enrich and strengthen you. In addition, they make you more productive and you can give more of yourself to the people you love. Commit to Daily Self-Care It is essential to set aside time each day for self-care. Just as we need to service our car, clean the house, dust the windows, wash the dishes, do the laundry, file the reports… Self-care is an ongoing process!! Every now and then, taking an occasional break from our lives for self-care is not enough. Self-Care is an Ongoing Process. The time you set aside each day can be just ten minutes to start. You can build it up to thirty minutes a day. The Self-Care habits that you build can be things that you relish- a walk, an indulgent hot water bath, meditation, a small prayer ritual, yoga, or anything you enjoy. Things that you truly love, that fill your soul, are what you need to do. In the same manner that you make appointments, reserve time in your busy schedule for self-care. Consider it an investment in yourself that will help you avoid burnout, increase your productivity, make healthier relationship choices, promote self-love, and be the best version of yourself!! Investing time in your hobby feeds your soul and is excellent Self-Care. What is it that you enjoy the most? Does sketching make you happy, or is it reading or working on a journal? Do outdoor activities like hiking or rock climbing make you happy? Is cooking your thing, or do you like painting sunsets? Hobbies are an easy path to self-care. It is easier to schedule time for what we genuinely enjoy. Scheduling time for developing our hobbies shows our commitment to our souls. Creating something new helps us unlock our inner divinity, and that is an added bonus on this path of self-care. Be a Gracious Receiver We are part of a culture that places great emphasis on giving and helping others. Receiving, however, is something that we learn very little about. How often have we turned down compliments with “oh!! It was nothing!” It is a good practice to remember the value you bring to your community. Accepting compliments gracefully is an art. Mentally file away compliments you receive. It is beneficial for self-love and as ammunition on those days when the inner critic wants to flood you with lies such as “you don’t know what you are doing..” Accepting compliments is part of self-care that helps you overcome negativity. De-Clutter as a part of your Self-Care It is so essential that our environment has space to breathe. Having a clutter-free environment allows creativity to flow freely and gives us space to grow and think. De-Cluttering doesn’t mean that one needs to be a Marie Kondo minimalist. It just means that we have what we need, and everything that is in your space is something that brings value to you practically or “sparks joy” emotionally. We hold on to things when we are filling a hole in our souls. Having clutter in one’s space can be physically and mentally draining. It shifts the balance from having things for our comfort to being a slave to our possessions. One can eliminate whatever no longer serves one. Be Selfish!! We are constantly told to be selfless. However, one selfish act that fills us is essential, once a day!! Be Selfish without being guilty. Say no! If you want to and are always the yes person. Keep your boundaries, and avoid people who bring toxicity into your life. Choose yourself. The world gives us as much importance as we afford ourselves. Stand up for yourself. I am not advocating becoming a selfish, pompous brat, but rather knowing where your boundaries lie and maintaining them healthily. This is especially essential if you spend most of your time caring for others. So today, read a book, say no to that favour and take time for yourself, and re-instate your own importance. Practice Self-Care In our busy lives, self-care is often viewed as selfish and takes a back seat to the demands of work, family, and other obligations. We need to nurture ourselves better so that we do not suffer from depression, burnout, and breakdowns and are able to care for our people better. So here’s to healthy Self-Care Practices starting today!! In the Tarot, the archetype of the Empress reminds you to take time out to care for yourself, so you can better care for those you love!! Images Used on The Site. Illustrations from the Rider-Waite Tarot Deck, known also as the Rider Tarot and the Waite Tarot, reproduced by permission of U.S. Games Systems, Inc., Stamford, CT 06902. c. 1971 by U.S. Games Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. The Rider-Waite Tarot deck is a registered trademark of U.S. Games Systems, Inc.

Crystals can be used by the hardiest and bravest of us if we feel the need for protection. Regardless of how optimistic one is, it is possible to absorb negativity from the doom and gloom broadcast on the news. The negativity that is consistently streamed over various media leads to a feeling of anxiety and depression. Our digital lifestyles have been credited with an increase in desolation, dejection and cheerlessness. Toxic and codependent relationships may also make one wish for armour or protection. External pessimism is a powerful catalyst for stirring up inner negativity, which manifests as antagonism, uncertainty, and self-sabotage. Regardless, be it internal or external factors that one may need to shield oneself from, protection can be provided by the use of crystals. Crystals are made up of minerals. Like human beings, they carry energy that we can use and interact with. Therefore, crystals protect us from external negative energy and help us channel strength to protect ourselves and ground ourselves. Sometimes the use of crystals brings about illumination and clarity on what to cut loose and walk away from. The four crystals that are excellent for protecting oneself, owing to their high vibrational energy, are listed below. The energy from these crystals can be brought into your life by wearing them as a pendant, ring, bangle, or beads, or by holding them in your hand during meditation. I also allow my crystals to be moon-soaked on full moon nights and sometimes to be sunbathed if they have been used to cleanse trauma. I hope the following information is useful in bringing balance, peace, strength, and protection to your lives. Four Crystals Used For Protection Amethyst : Amethyst is best known as a crystal for psychic protection. Your emotional and spiritual well-being is well supported by the stabilising and balancing properties of Amethyst. Unexplained, negative, or anxious thoughts can be easily cleared away with this powerful healing crystal. Amethyst strengthens the Third Eye and Crown Chakra. People born under the signs of Virgo, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces especially benefit from the healing and protective powers of Amethyst. Hematite : The only constant in this world is change. It can be daunting at times when uncertainty rears its head. During a transitional or transformational period of life, Hematite is a powerful crystal. It is a crystal with strong grounding qualities and the ability to adjust energies. This enables it to create a solid foundation in challenging times. Hematite is a crystal used to invoke the element of Earth. The Root Chakra is strengthened by the presence and use of Hematite. People born under the zodiac signs of Aquarius and Leo uniquely benefit from the crystal. Black Onyx : Like the other protection crystals, this one represents the element of Earth. It also strengthens the Root Chakra. The pillars of self-preservation and protection are self-confidence and faith in your beliefs, and the ability to stand up and defend them. This crystal really helps cement those resolves. The energy of this powerful crystal bolsters the ability to face whatever life throws at you. People born under the Zodiac signs of Gemini and Scorpio can claim this as their native crystal. Malachite : This Crystal represents the element of water and heals the Heart chakra. It helps to bring stability to our emotions. People born under the zodiac signs Taurus and Scorpio find this chakra native to their sign. Crystals can be incorporated into Reiki to bring their energy into the healing cycle. Get in touch to see how I can help you,

Who is Surya? The Mantra of Surya ॐ भूर् भुवः स्वः तत् सवितुर्वरेण्यं भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि धियो यो नः प्रचोदयात्॥ oṃ bhūr bhuvaḥ svaḥ tat saviturvareṇyaṃ bhargo devasya dhīmahi dhiyo yo naḥ pracodayāt.. The Indian Sun god Surya is a highly revered god since he is the source of all life. Life on earth is a result of his graciousness. The sun god Surya has twelve aspects, one for each month of the year. Each aspect  rules the solar mansion for a month. This accounts for the difference in the intensity of the Sun and its behaviour over the year. Vivasvan, the leading aspect of the sun god Surya is shown riding his seven horses. The number is symbolic of the seven meters of Vedic literature. This is very significant as the Sun is responsible for the cycles of time. The movement of the earth around the sun creates night and day. The resulting seasons indicate the passage of time. This is also remarkable because Surya will now illuminate these aspects of existence that the Moon had been vague about. Once the soul has encountered its essence in the raw state, it comes to the new dawn with renewed vigour to begin life anew. Vivasvan was the son of Aditi and the wife of the ascetic Rishi or sage Kashyapa. The Sage in turn was the descendant of the creator god Brahma. Vivasvan married Samjna, who was the daughter of Tvashtrior Vishvakarman the divine architect. Samjna and Vivasvan together bore three children, namely Vaivasvata, Yama and Yamini. Samjna loved her children and husband dearly. However, she was unable to constantly bear the heat and brilliance of her husband. Therefore, she created an exact likeness of herself using her shadow, whom she named Chaya which means “shadow”. Then, desperately, she went to her father to seek his help, so that he could find a solution. Vishwakarma denied his daughter any help. Rather, he insisted that she should return to her husband. Consequently, she decided to transform herself into a mare and perform penance. Following that, she hoped she may be granted the boon of withstanding his brilliance. Meantime Chaya became a mother to Samjna’s children. In addition, she also assumed the role of Vivasvan’s wife and bore him three children. Her progeny in time became powerful figures in their own right. Samjna’s children were named Savarni, Tapati and Shanni or Saturn. It  was Chaya’s love for her children and her partiality towards them that proved to be her undoing. Chaya would ill-treat the children of her maker Samjna. One day in a fit of anger she cursed Yama, willing him to have his leg separated from his body. In fear he approached his father, seeking his protection. Vivasvan modified the curse. Words carry power. Thus, what Chaya said was to unfold. So Surya enabled his wife’s words to be truthful. He decreed that some worms would eat a little of Yama’s leg and drop to the ground. After ensuring that his tearful son had calmed down, Surya confronted Chaya and learnt about Samjna’s deception. In a fit of rage, he divorced her on the spot. Still furious he set off for Vishwakarma’s home and demanded to know about Samjna’s whereabouts.  Vishwakarma’s sympathies lay with his daughter’s situation. He explained her misery at not being able to live with her husband or her children.  As his temper subsided, Vivasvan or Surya felt sorry for the plight of his wife. Surya had Vishwakarma strap him to the milling wheel so that he could shed some of his brilliance. With the radiance that was removed a few of the gods' defining amulets and weapons were formed. These were the discus of Vishnu the preserver god, the trident of Shiva the destroyer god, the Chariot of Kuber the god of wealth, and the spear of Karttikeya  the general of the gods. Then Vivasvan or the Sun god Surya set off to search for Samjna. Since she was in the form of a mare, he assumed the shape of a stallion. Then he approached her with amorous intent. She tried to get away. However, Surya caught up with her and managed to discharge his semen into her mouth which she spat immediately. From the semen arose the Ashwini twins, who always speak the truth!! Then he assumed his own form, and Samjna followed him. The lovers were reunited and returned to their glorious mansion in the sky.    How is Surya the Sun Archetype in the Tarot? Dignified : The Sun heralds the conscious and a deeper understanding of one’s self and desires. The Sun also shows light on a period when the querent will shine like the sun. This is a time when the querent will be recognized for his talents. Confidence is at an all-time high. The sun is the giver of   all life and strongly aspected this card heralds a time when you will be in the limelight. People will flock to revel in your warmth. The children of Vivasvan are the ones instrumental in filling his life with joy. Likewise, the card of the sun also heralds childlike energies. It points to the joy brought about by the presence of children.    Vivasvan had found a solution to Samjna’s troubles.   Similarly, if there is a period of difficulty that the querent is currently undergoing the card points to its end.   Reversed or weakly Aspected : The confidence expressed when the card is upright has become arrogance. The brilliance of the Sun is no longer soothing or calming. It threatens to destroy that in its path by burning things up. Just as Chaya was able to live with Surya for long enough to have three children, there may not be extreme clarity that the sun represents upright. It may point to unhappiness or a failure to reach potential if a child is being referred to.    Work Cited: The Sun Surya Hindu Mythology Svoboda, D. R . The Greatness of Saturn: A Therapeutic Myth. Lotus Pres., June 1, 1997. Picture-Ravi Varma Press, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons https://www.facebook.com/kamalbhogalbhatia/posts/301983368639337 Mythology & Tarot Through Myth

A long time ago when the world was still young, it was divided into the forces of good known as the Devas or the gods and the Asuras or the demons. Kashyapa and Danu were the parents of the demons Rambha and Karambhawho performed many penances and thereby won boons from Brahma the creator god of the Hindu Pantheon. Karambha was Killed when he tried to kill Indra. Rambha used his boon to make his son invincible by assuring him that he could not be killed by either man or demon, Rambha then married Mahishi a water buffalo. He was killed by a water buffalo and his wife joined him on the pyre after giving birth to their son Mahisha. Mahisha was a buffalo-headed demon who could shapeshift form from buffalo to demon and he too performed many austerities and thereby won the favour of the gods. He could not be killed by any man. Therefore he could only meet his demise at the hands of a woman. Henceforth Mahisha, went on a power-grabbing spree and eventually became more powerful than the gods, having brought them to their knees. Dismayed the gods assembled and thus Durga came into existence. When all the gods assembled their divinity gave out such a brilliant light and Durga was Manifested out of that light. Each of the gods contributed to her form. Durga is a goddess with eight arms, each of them carrying a weapon and manifests riding on a tiger. Her face was formed by the brilliance of Shiva. Yama, the god of Death gave her, her wild tresses. Vishnu the preserving deity gave her arms. Somnath the moon god created her breast with his gentle moonlight. Indra the god of Heaven formed her waist. Varun the god of the winds gave her legs and thighs. The Earth god Bhoodevwas instrumental in forming her voluptuous hips. Brahma's light gave her feet while the sun god Surya's brilliance gave her, her toes. Her fingers were from the Vasus who were the children of the River Goddess Ganga. Prgapati the god of all beings gave her teeth. The fire in her eyes was put there by Agni the fire god. Her eyebrows came from the Sandhya goddesses or the goddesses of dawn and dusk. Her ears came from Vayu, god of the winds. In addition, Durga was armed by the gods. She got her trident from Shiva, her chakra from Chakrapani, her Conch from Varuna, her spear from Agni, her discuss from Vishnu, ' her bow and quiver of arrows from Maruta', a thunderbolt from Indra ' a bell from Indra's elephant Airavarta, staff from Yama the god of Death, a noose from Varuna, a string of Beads from Brahma the creator, a mace from Kuber the god of wealth, a sword from Kala the god of time and an axe from Parshuram. The mountain god Himalaya gave Durga a tiger to Serve as her  mount.WhenMahishahappened to chance upon the goddess he lusted after her and asked her to marry him. Durga knew that she was the one on whom the gods had pinned all their hopes and therefore she engaged with Mahisha, promising to marry him if he would defeat her in battle. A terrible battle ensued and Mahisha understood that he was clearly going to be the victim. Desperate, he tried to flee by shape-shifting from buffalo to lion, man and elephant. Eventually, Durga thrust a spear into his heart and cut off his head with her sword.    Durga is a cosmic goddess. She has always existed and therefore she represents eternity. She manifests as a result of the combined auras of the gods and therefore is a Symbol of Strength.    Dignified: Strength stands for the qualities of the goddess, courage and the use of principles over emotional response. Durga's response to Mahisha's marriage proposal is cool and not tinted with emotions. Instead, she uses her mind to keep calm and let that be a ruse to allow him to battle with her so that she can contain evil. While she does physically battle the demon, this card stands for the kind of strength that is not visible in a tangible form. Durga is made of the  combined brilliance of the gods and she represents eternity, of which she is also a manifestation.  While Durga is a chaste goddess she is the personification of Shakti or the divine feminine and she is called upon by women who worship her to help them reconnect with their own sexuality. Durga thus shows how to maintain a healthy relationship between the spiritual and physical aspects of the self and aims as befriending one’s own lower instincts rather than annihilating them. While the Chariot refers to heroic strength and conquests, the card under the patronage of Durga refers to strength within, the strength to stand up to your fears and up to others with a single-minded conviction of what the goals may be. in a manner of speaking Mahisha also stands for carnal and base desires which are very much of this world, and Durga's slaying him refers to how she has had mastery over him.     Reversed or weakly Aspected: In this case, the weaker baser elements of human nature seem to triumph. A person is acting out from an emotional stance as opposed to taking a rational principled view of things. Works Cited: Hindu Mythology Kinsley, D. (December 8, 1988). The Goddesses' Mirror: Visions of the Divine from East and West. SUNY Press; 1st Edition edition. Krishna, N. (2010). Sacred Animals Of India. Penguin Books India. Picture: Detroit Institute of Arts, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

As an experienced Tarot Reader, years of practice have helped me ground myself. The Pandemic has been different things for different people. For some, it has been a time of deep reflection and going within much like the card of the Hermit . For others, it has been a period of sacrificing for the communal good , by living in lockdowns as indicated by The Hanged Man . The world is interconnected, and we all have family and friends in different countries. Consequently, many of us have not seen family members for a long time now, which just adds to covid fatigue. Lockdowns and Quarantine Orders are the markers of this era. Practising the Tarot has aided me, as a skilled Tarot Reader, to access my inner strength and keep my balance. The world is going through an awakening and awakenings are not really butterflies and unicorns. Even the cherished birth of a child is accompanied by blood and needs cleansing. Political and Social Unrest, Covid Fatigue, Guilt at being away from home, worry about loved ones, and anxiety over jobs, are just some of the things that people are collectively dealing with. The Tarot is the Spiritual practice , and the foundation of my, an avid Tarot Reader's, well-being. It is a manner to connect to the divine. Knowing that the tarot cards that are drawn, carry wisdom, which is the need of the hour is very reassuring. The ability to have a visual guide or map of one's situation can be very informative. The Tarot is a diagnostic tool that helps one prepare for what's coming up. In addition, the tarot also advises one about the duration of the challenge . Hope is the biggest gift the Tarot brings to one's life. In March 2020, when Covid was just beginning to spread around the world, my younger child, had his school shut down a couple of days earlier than the designated date since it was identified as a COVID cluster . As a result, the responsible thing to do was go into a self-imposed lockdown, just in case we had been exposed. The school was fantastic about keeping us updated on how many Stay-Home-Notices were served, and how many year groups moved into Quarantine. While it was a stressful time, it was not so hard on us. I knew my cards would have the answer for me, someone that many can describe as a Tarot Reader with an emotional attachment to her cards! For the first two days that followed, I was extremely anxious, more so since this was when Covid was still being called "the novel coronavirus". On the third day following yet another positive covid case, in the school cluster, I finally was ready to face up to our situation and ask the Tarot whether it foresaw us having to go to the hospital. My younger child was 6 years old at that time, and we were worried about him, should he need to quarantine. The Tarot knew more than I did, at that time . It forecasted a period of retreating from the world and being busy with children, but joyfully so as shown by The Sun . I was sure that my son would be okay, and for the rest of the 2 weeks, we spent time at home, playing board games and reading books. Thus the Tarot helped me as a forecasting tool, and as an instrument of divine knowing. (Alexey Solodovnikov (Idea, Producer, CG, Editor), Valeria Arkhipova (Scientific Сonsultant), CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons) Tarot and the world in 2020.-Covid 19. The day we finished our "two-week period" Singapore started the Circuit Breaker (7 April - June 1) . This meant weeks of isolation, and suddenly the rest of the cards from my initial reading made sense. Because of reading the Tarot for myself, I had almost no anxiety, which I know a few people went through. My friends who have strong religious faith had the same mindset. Thus, the Tarot has been a tool of meditation and focus, helping me to ground myself. We, then, entered HBL or Home Based Learning . On a daily basis, I would make sure that I followed my practice. Any dedicated Tarot Reader, like myself, always reads the cards for the following day so that they know their challenges, lessons, strengths and general theme of the upcoming day; rituals like this build me into the devoted, eager, and passionate Tarot Reader that I am. Using a concept that any expert Tarot Reader would be familiar with (called Tarot forecasting) on my children during Home Based Learning, I was able to help them achieve maximum progress and accelerate in areas that they needed to work on. Without a doubt, this made my Home Based Learning (as not just a Tarot Reader, but a mother with two absolutely crazy children!) feature a lot fewer grey hairs! In its capacity as a tool of psychological evaluation, the Tarot has been very useful. As someone who has not shown any interest in my journey as a Tarot Reader (with the exception of indulgently buying me decks on Book Depository ), my husband has begun to humour himself with a daily reading too, during this time. While the cards have always been a friend, I do depend more heavily on them when the going gets tough. The Tarot helps me balance my life by letting me know what I need to tune into so that I can be my best self. Sometimes that advice is " this too shall pass ", and at other times a gentle or not so gentle - (since the cards can really stalk you) reminder that I need to " balance work and play". Over my decades as a Tarot Reader, I have a mantra associated with each card, and that leads me to mantra meditations that my guides know I need at the moment. An often repeated mantra during Home Based Learning or HBL was " live in the moment ", and " your breakthrough is almost here " -and that breakthrough did arrive- remember to " build habits which become a legacy " and to " make memories ". In June 2021, with the arrival of the Delta Variant, I crossed paths with someone who had COVID and thus was served a Quarantine Order at home. As the wise say, you live and you learn . For me, the quarantine was a stark reminder of how we are all connected and how, despite all one's precautions and adherence to the rules, there are many factors that we simply cannot predict. We are all one and invisible strings bind us. We can only be free when we are all free. We can only beat this pandemic when we unite. Locked into a room by myself. No company. I pull out Tarot Deck after Tarot Deck from a seemingly bottomless velvet pouch. Just as I begin to relax with a Tarot Card and coffee cup in hand, I realize: being a Tarot Reader has given me opportunities that have opened up my world- and perspective. I ponder over cards from Indian Mysticism, Greek, Ancient Egyptian and Norse Mythology. Eliphas Levi, the occultist, referred to the Tarot as a wise guide and said, “ A prisoner devoid of books, had he only a Tarot of which he knew how to make use, could in a few years acquire a universal science, and converse with an unequalled doctrine and inexhaustible eloquence. “ It was ten blissful days of my life reacquainting with the works of Shakespeare- as I read with my Shakespearean Tarot with a frequent call of reassurance from friends and family, not without a "You will be fine" here and there. I am so grateful for "my village"- the people that I need in my life. At the end of the day, I know this too shall pass, but whilst it goes on, we can show compassion to each other, send out love, and know that the universe has our best interest at its heart . I would like to close this with a heartfelt quote from a wise and knowing man that we know as children's author, Doctor Seuss: Be kind in your mind and all that you do and you'll find that mankind can be kind to you too. __________________________________________________________________________________ Images Used on The Site. Illustrations from the Rider-Waite Tarot Deck, known also as the Rider Tarot and the Waite Tarot, reproduced by permission of U.S. Games Systems, Inc., Stamford, CT 06902. c. 1971 by U.S. Games Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. The Rider-Waite Tarot deck is a registered trademark of U.S. Games Systems, Inc

Odin from the Norse Pantheon was their sovereign god. Odin’s mount was a fast eight-legged white horse known as Sleipnir. In addition, Odin also had two ravens known as Hugin and Muninor which means Thought and Memory. (-9th Century monument in Gotland, depicting Odin) One day while Odin was riding Sleipnir, he reached the world ash tree known as Yggdrasil. In Norse Cosmology there are nine worlds. They are connected together by the world tree called Yggdrasil, which is supposed to be a gigantic Ash tree. On his way to the Ygdrassil, Odin saw the three Norns or goddesses named Urd, Skuld and Verdandi, who wove the fates of men and gods. The Norns like the Greek goddesses of Fate, known as the Moira, represent the “Wyrd” or Fates. They are Urd, Skuld and Verdandi, and represent the past, present and future. Like the Moira, they are not controlled by any gods, and in fact, are older than the Aesir or the ancient pantheon of Norse Gods. They have their residence at the second root of the Yggdrasil. Theirs is the task of nurturing and caring for the World Tree, which they do by keeping it well irrigated with water from the spring called Urdsbrunner. The Norns are known to be adept and practised Rune users, and are the ones who guided Odin in his quest for wisdom. The Norns divulged a few secrets to Odin and thus had his attention piqued, who requested them to teach him more about the world. Thus the Norns asked him to seek Mimer and his fountain of wisdom.   Mimer was a giant who differed from his race and was in league with the gods. As a guardian of the Well of wisdom from which all the gods aspired to drink, Mimer was synonymous with wisdom in the ancient world of the Norsemen. No god disputed his right over the fountain or violated his territory. When Mimer was killed protecting the interests of the gods, Odin had his head embalmed, so that he could consult him before the final battle or Ragnarok between good and evil. Therefore, his wisdom will be of vital importance long after his death. The well of Mimer was close to the sacred Norse world tree Yggdrasil. It is of importance as it carries within itself the record and intelligence of antiquity, recording even the birth of the Aesir or the gods of Odin’s generation, who fought the Vanir gods and were ultimately united into a single tribe. In German Mimer means the one who articulates with knowledge. In Latin and in Saxon Mimer means “memory”. Odin then rode to meet Mimer and requested him to allow him a drink from his fountain. Mimer demanded that Odin could drink from the fountain in exchange for his left eye. Odin gladly agreed and tore out his eye in exchange for a drink. He thus brought poetry to men. The concept of physical discomfort and sacrificing the self for the greater good was very noble in Norse society.   On his return from Mimer, Odin came across and got entangled in the World tree or Yggdrasil. Odin sought all kinds of wisdom and for each of these initiations, he was demanded to make sacrifices of himself. He was adept at female mysteries and “women’s magic”, and to learn these from Frejya, he had to “emasculate” himself. Women are initiated as they bleed every month so that they may be the receptacles of new life. Therefore, to be initiated into the concealments and mysteries of the Runes, Odin had to hang upside down and through a self-inflicted wound, bleed from his side as women do during their menses, so that he may have the “enlightenment of their female half” and thereby complete himself, and thus attain the knowledge of the Runes. His faithful steed and his ravens waited for him, but he could not free himself and hung upside down for a total of nine days and nights. During this duration, he ate nothing and drank nothing, till the knowledge of the Runes came to him and he managed to free himself. His quest for the runes is recorded in the poem Hamaval, in the following lines:   I hung on that windy Tree nine whole days and nights,  stabbed with a spear, offered to Odin, myself to mine own self given,   high on that Tree of which none hath heard  from what roots it rises to heaven. (Stanza 137)   None refreshed me ever with food or drink,   I peered right down in the deep;  crying aloud, I lifted the Runes  then back I fell from thence. (Stanza 138)   Then, as soon as he was freed, he carved the runes into the tree so that he may share knowledge of the Runes, with gods and men. The Runes are a formidable magical tool, carrying with them the ability to protect against discord, ill health, and ailments. They are potent in their enchantment and can manifest one's desires, and turn them into reality. They carry the secrets of life, this and the next and they had existed in the domain of the Norns themselves. More importantly, they carry in themselves the power and wisdom of the All-Father Odin.   Odin’s entire being is characterized by his concern for the benefit of mankind. While he was responsible for keeping the Asgard safe, he also was on an everlasting pursuit of knowledge. He battled the Giants and got the skaldic mead  from them, and thus brought poetry into the realm of men. He was known to be the god of wisdom, and the skalds agree that Odin is the indisputable father of poetry.   (A painting by Lorenz Frolich -1895, showing Odin Sacrificing himself on the Ygdrassil) Dignified: There are times when to have total control, one must embrace total surrender. The Hanged Man is about such a time. Typical to the qualities of The Hanged Man, Odin does not betray the pain and the discomfort of hanging upside down on the Yggdrasil, since his eyes are set on a higher aspiration. We have been in a complete state of comfort despite hanging upside down when we were in the womb since we have surrendered our will to the divine. Odin demands that you place the same faith in the All-father and the Universe and let go of all care going with the flow. Know and remember that just as the fetus will be pushed out from the comfort of the womb, and thereby be born, so too will your period of sacrifice come to an end. The Hanged Man is all about sacrificing for the greater good and that sacrifice has to be made with a willing intention. Keep your focus on the cause of the sacrifice to stay motivated. What perhaps is the most reassuring factor, is that the choice to make the sacrifices is not thrust upon the querent. In fact, it was sought out by the querent pretty much in the manner that Odin went out to search the runes. The Hanged Man is also about being in limbo and not knowing what to expect or if the trials are nearing their end. Odin had no idea about the length of his own trials as well. The message here is a very simple one “Let go and let god”, and sometimes it is not very difficult to do so when one has tried all solutions to a problem and failed.   Perhaps the most important message of the upside-down Odin is the most obvious. There are times when all one has to do is look at something from a different perspective. In this case, the change would be taking no action at all, after all this is the time to be in contemplation and inaction.   The Hanged Man is all about a shift in perspective. Reversed or Weakly Aspected: Reversed The Hanged Man is about the possibility that the querent is finding it difficult to access the Odin within, therefore there is a refusal to “let go”, surrender or have a change in perspective. Sometimes, however, the Hanged Man reversed may be prompting you to take action, after all, Odin was the god of war as well as wisdom. There is also a chance, that there is an inability to adjust one’s perspective and see things in a new manner. It can also indicate that the querent is feeling alienated from the world and also from the divine, and feeling that the situation is like taking a long walk in a dark tunnel with no way out. Know that this too shall not stay and it will become easier to endure the sacrifice Odin demands of you for your ideals. Work Cited: MacCulloch, John A. Celtic Mythology. Pennsylvania State University: Academy Chicago, 1996.   Andrew, Elizabeth J. Writing the Sacred Journey: Art and Practice of Spiritual Memoir . Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations, 2005.   Rydberg, Viktor. Teutonic Mythology Gods and Goddesses of the Northland (in three volumes). Vol. I. LONDON-COPENHAGEN - STOCKHOLM - BERLIN- NEW YORK, NORROENA SOCIETY, 1907. III vols.   Bellows, Henry Adams. The Poetic Edda. Vol. II VOLUMES IN I . New York: Princeton University Press: Princeton., 1936.   Tauring, Kari. The Runes: A Human Journey . Lulu.com, 2007.   Wilson, Elizabeth. Lights and Shadows of Ancient European Mythology, Language and History. Kessinger Publishing, 2003.   Clover, Carol J. and John Lindow. Old Norse-Icelandic literature: a critical guide, Volume 45 . University of Toronto Press, 2005.   Images Used on The Site. Illustrations from the Rider-Waite Tarot Deck, known also as the Rider Tarot and the Waite Tarot, reproduced by permission of U.S. Games Systems, Inc., Stamford, CT 06902. c. 1971 by U.S. Games Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. The Rider-Waite Tarot deck is a registered trademark of U.S. Games Systems, Inc Lorenz Frølich, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons en:Image:Ardre Odin Sleipnir.jpg, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons