Dearest Readers,

This month we are talking with the Tarot of the Crone, by Ellen Lorenzi-Prince.

Of all the decks I have by Ellen (I have four), this one pulls at my inner world the most. All her tarot decks are powerful in their own way, and I bow deeply before each of them. This one is not for the fainthearted. Though, if you come for a reading with me and want to work deeply with the Tarot of the Crone, please request that we use it, and I will certainly lay it on the table for you. Just know that it won’t be all pretty and nice. It exposes what we need to see within ourselves and asks us to pay attention. It won’t just be there on the table as an option for you to choose from. This kind of deck needs to be specifically requested.

A note about this deck: when tarot card creators change the names of the court cards from the usual Page, Knight, Queen and King, the usual way of working is to think about what the new name corresponds to. For instance, if I came across Princess, I would think ‘oh, that’s the Page’, and if I came across Mother, I would think ‘that’s the Queen’. However, with Ellen Lorenzi-Prince’s decks – from her Dark Goddess Tarot that I use regularly for clients, to this deck, Tarot of the Crone – I find I cannot change their names. In the Dark Goddess Tarot the Hag is not really the King, it is the Hag. The Amazon is not the Page, it is the Amazon. In Tarot of the Crone, the Shadow is the Shadow, the Grandmother is the Grandmother, the Witch is the Witch and the Beast is the Beast. They inhabit their own system, and I have no desire to try and associate them with something they are not.

So let us begin. The questions for this month are:

1. What do we need to speak of more?
2. What do we need to speak of less?
3. Who can we turn to when our hearts are heavy?
4. Who will bring us home to ourselves?

1. What do we need to speak of more?

Shadow of Disks

We need to speak to the unspoken things, the things we want to ignore. The things that make us uncomfortable, guilty and unstable. The things that remind us of our privilege, the things that have stunted our spiritual growth.

We need to talk to the uncomfortable aspects of our personal history, our family history, our communities’ histories and our nations’ histories. We need to be willing to acknowledge the pain we have caused through oppression and continue to cause through suppression. We need to speak of options that don’t require the suffering and degradation of others. We need to speak up about the lies that we have been fed about those who are apparently so different from us. Every time a group is ‘othered’ let it be known that that those who are ‘othering’ are fumbling to cover up their own horrendous actions.

Don’t look away from me. Look into me. And trust that in the wilderness of your own minds you can find clarity when you disconnect from the freshly laundered crap.

2. What do we need to speak of less?

Tower

Speak less of me! Speak less of impending doom, of destruction to our planet by certain individuals! Do not give them your energy, positive or negative. Look to your own communities and focus on what you can build, rather than who or what you can destroy. Focus on connection. Stop expecting me to show up! Give me a renewed way of existing for you! Let me help you land on your paths with more kindness. But because you don’t yet know how to address my perception-shifting capabilities, go away! Stop seeking me out with your doomsday predictions, you don’t know what you’re asking for and I do not want to answer your self-destructive calls!

3. Who can we turn to when our hearts are heavy?

Witch of Disks

Call me in, my people, let me lift you out of your confusion. There are those who want to keep you weak, but they are not your rulers. They cannot even rule their own minds. Gaze into my eyes and feel my heart bleed into yours. Let me awaken the warrior within, and remind you that a true warrior listens first to their own heart. Then they listen to the space around them. Then they move forward with a piercing gaze, ready to face whatever may occur. I am not here to tell you what to do or tell you what life is all about. You do not need hand-holding, mollycoddling, charismatic leaders, or structured belief systems in order to navigate this world. Let me remind you of your life before you became jaded. Let me help you move forward from that fresh space, but with the fierce determination of one who has suffered again and again but just won’t give up. Let me help you find a more empowering path.

4. Who will bring us home to ourselves?

Seven of Cups

I will bring you home to yourselves!  I will wrap you up and place a protective layer around your dreams to make sure you don’t let the dream-eaters in. The Witch of Disks said you don’t need mollycoddling and I certainly won’t do that, but I will cut you a break, give you a breather, refresh your mind with some old wisdom you once knew but forgot due to all the busyness.

I will help you come home by reintroducing you to the parts of yourself you gave away to all the people who harmed you and affected your self-resilience. By feeling the support I offer through kind words or glances from strangers and from those you know, and of course from your own ever-growing self love (try it! It’s worth the effort!), you will feel your mind and your heart strongly grounded in your body.

From there, there is so much you can work towards. You won’t need answers, as you will be holding the mystery of it all with your heart, and reveling in the permission to just grow and feel your way forward for powerful and beautiful lessons. Go well, my dears.

© Sarah Barry ~ Tarot Readings with Psychic Sarah 2016

This Tarot Reading for the Collective was done with Tarot of the Crone by Ellen Lorenzi-Prince.  These images are used here with her permission. You can find out more about this powerful deck at darkgoddesstarot.com

To find out more about how I work go to  sarahthepsychic.com/about/ and sarahthepsychic.com/faq/
Follow me on Instagram: @sarahthepsychic 

Connect with me on Facebook

My latest Tarot Newsletter is out, with a link to a FREE Ebook I contributed to, as well as news from the flowing ways of the Queen & King of Cups. You can read it here.

bit.ly/TNAug16

from The Wild Unknown Tarot by Kim Krans

Dear Readers,

This month I am in the mood for a deck that challenges the ways our eyes are used to looking at tarot imagery. I have chosen The Orbifold Tarot by Michael Bridge-Dickson, and I love the beautiful, shiny, colourful, geometric shapes contained therein. On the inside of the box containing this tarot deck are the words, ‘Explore the chaotic patterns & rhythms of life’s endlessly changing cycles.’ Yes. Let us.

This month’s questions are:

1. What calls to our solitary heart?
2. What calls to our community’s heart?
3. What calls to our global heart?
4. What will keep us wise?

1. What calls to our solitary heart?

The Tower

Again? The Tower has been showing up so much this year! It was Card of the Month in February, and turned up for the Tarot Readings for the Collective in January, May, August, and now September!

Clearly you haven’t figured out what to do with me yet. You won’t just let me retreat to the back of the tarot deck. If I am calling to your solitary heart, consider what that might mean. And consider my shape, as I look somewhat different to my usual depiction of a tower struck by lightning.

Something is building in your heart, and is asking you to pay attention. Something that you’ve been mulling over for some time, something that requires a response from you, an action of some kind. Around and around the thoughts go, sometimes strongly, sometimes quietly, but there they roll nonetheless. And you usually find a way to push them away for whatever reason.

Well, I’m calling to say, stop rolling and start acting! All this rolling will eventually erode you, and when you are eroded you are weakened and more easily overwhelmed by external forces. Listen to my call, and start to move in the direction that your own wise heart knows you must. No one wants to witness a self-implosion.

2. What calls to our community’s heart?

The Wheel (also known as the Wheel of Fortune)

Your communal heart is more aligned than you give it credit for. Yes, you often find yourselves at different stages of the wheel, but that is where your strengths lie.

In a healthy community, you will all be dealing with life in varying ways at the same time. Your life experiences will be full of diverse wisdom, and instead of clashing with each other for thinking and acting differently, you can absorb this vast spectrum of knowledge and learn from the lessons you are walking through, together.

By observing each other with kind eyes and ready ears, your hearts can soften and you can move together in a way that defies control from any outside source. I, The Wheel, am calling to your community’s heart so you can be at peace with the flow of things, and so you can be curious about what lessons you hold for each other.

3. What calls to our global heart?

Four Earth

When writing down the cards that turned up for each question, I wrote this one down as ‘4 Earth’. Looking at it next to the question, it looked to me like wet-cement-graffiti of a couple of lovers’ names: ‘Heart 4 Earth’.

Of course. The Earth wants your heart. I am calling to the global heart of the Collective, by reminding you to stay present to cohesion. Find your way to the global heart via introspection and care. Dance with me in structured way, but be prepared for surprises. Watch for the openings, where you will be required to take centre stage and show your stuff. Trust that when it is time, it is better you turn up, rather than retreat, even if your anxieties and fears threaten your focus.

If I am to call to your global heart, I am asking you to lay down plans that are straightforward and accessible. I am asking you to connect with each other and find common ground rather than separating off into camps. Take separate space, certainly, for the purpose of healing, but then seek commonality once more. Is there something that joins your lives together? I am asking you to consider that each of you belong to each other’s story in some way, and you are going to have to get clearer about why you might react to others, whether positively or negatively. It is the responsibility of those in more privileged positions to work cohesively within themselves and pick up the slack.

Staying together is important. Boundaries are vital of course, and if you find it personally hard to let someone in, no need. But make sure that at the boundary where you end and they begin, there is no animosity.

4. What will keep us wise?

Page Air

It’s so simple really. Your wholeness keeps you wise. When you try and separate off and compartmentalize your different ways of being, things get so confusing. You need to use your heart as much as you use your mind, and you certainly cannot ignore your spiritual needs. By spiritual I mean your need to sit quietly, and act from clear and peaceful realisations that heal rather than harm. Belief systems aren’t necessary for this, only ethics. Practice brave actions that cultivate ethical ways of connecting with the world around you, rather than relying on dogma that may no longer have true and peaceable value in today’s world.

Open the communication channels so that you take on only the lessons that you are truly meant to: no over-committing or under-committing. Find the balance by choosing to simplify. Get rid of the circus and invite in the bare bones. You can connect with the circus if you wish, but dig deeper to see where it first was born into this world, so that you can trust in the authenticity of what you seek to become.

© Sarah Barry ~ Tarot Readings with Psychic Sarah 2016

This Tarot Reading for the Collective was done with The Orbifold Tarot © 2015 Michael Bridge-Dickson. These images are used here with his permission. You can find out more about this beautiful and unique tarot deck at  www.orbifoldtarot.com

To find out more about how I work go to  sarahthepsychic.com/about/ and sarahthepsychic.com/faq/
Follow me on Instagram: @sarahthepsychic 

Connect with me on Facebook

My latest Tarot Newsletter is out! This month’s card of the month is The Lovers ~ read on to learn how this archetype can assist you (not just romantic love by the way)  <3

bit.ly/TNSept16

from Pentimento Tarot by Joanna Powell Colbert

I was going to work with a different deck of cards for this month’s Collective Reading, but I couldn’t start the process, and I began to think that perhaps this wasn’t the right month for that particular deck after all. So I went about my day-to-day business, wondering which tarot cards wanted to speak to the Collective in October. Meanwhile, the Kali Tarot Prayer Cards by Ellen Lorenzi-Prince kept on looking at me. I kept placing my hands on them again and again, until finally I thought, ‘Fine! Let us unleash the potent intensity and awesome fire of Kali, Goddess of Time, Creation, Destruction, and Power, for the Collective! Perhaps we need it.’

And so here we are, with the compelling Kali Tarot Prayer Cards. I have been in the habit this year of asking the cards questions for these readings, but who am I to ask questions of Kali? She will talk directly to us instead. Perhaps she will ask us some questions, or just bowl us right over, who knows?

Let us begin!

I am Kali, mother of time, you may recognise my number (X) as the Wheel of Fortune

I will eat you if you try to get ahead of yourself. I will slap you if you forget to trust your gut. Don’t despair when the path is uncertain, as that is the way with the Wheel of Time. The wheel gravitates to where it is drawn: sometimes it will make sense, and often it won’t. If you have an expectation that the way will be all sweet and nice you are missing the point. Expect the changes. Expect the wonder. Expect endings and expect beginnings. Why do you rally against what your inner being knows so easily?

I am Kali at the cremation grounds, you know me as Death (XIII)

Let us sit for a spell together, and contemplate what is uncomfortable to face. Yet notice, as we sit here together, how mesmerising it is to let things burn away, to let go of what is no longer here. I wonder, are those people who harmed you in the past still harming you now? Or is it your mind’s habit of replaying old stories that is wrecking your flow with life? Come burn with me, my children. I don’t want to hurt you, I am helping you stop hurting yourselves. What can you burn with me today?

I am Kali of the Moon (XVIII)

Watch me drop, feel my weight on your skin, pushing you down into the place where it all began. There are no words in this place and no meanings either, but there is a seed of a memory that drags your consciousness back to an unknown time and place that you will never find again. What I say is not for understanding, it is for illuminating. What will I illuminate for you? Will it be the desire to keep moving when you don’t understand? Will it be the reminder of the quest that bites at your subconscious even when you are down? Will it be the call to dance with people who meet you in the dark?

I am not Kali but an aspect of her: Dhurmavati. You may meet me as The Hermit (IX)

Let us walk without the labels, let us walk without the power. Let us drop all the perceptions of superiority and let it all hang out. Let us speak to each other without knowing gender or sexuality or culture or creed. Why do we need to know these things to relate? Why must we compartmentalise ourselves when we have so much richness of spirit to share? Let me in, Collective, let me push apart the apparitions of lies and deceit and find a place on the plains where we can begin to understand what the most important work is. Because, my dears, the most important work… the people of this Earth are not doing it right now, oh no you are not. What belief system or conditioning can you drop today so that you are one step closer to marveling at the cosmos?

I am Kali, banishing fear, approach me if you wish, as The Emperor (IV)

My little ones, do you still seek the softness? Are you tiring of the dirge? I make no promises, but I will protect you when I can. If you do your best to open up, if you try to release the hate, if you attempt to stop the meaningless pontifications about things you do not understand, perhaps you will lean into my hand. I will do my best to drive away the tide of sadness, yet know that sometimes it is right for you to be alone, and there is wisdom there too.

I love observing the flowers you grow in your hearts while you roll around the planet. Even the disturbing flowers are worthy of note. Don’t forget to share those flowers though, my darlings. Who can you share your flowers with today? Who can you bleed a little for right now? Which being – human, animal or otherwise – can receive your honest message in this very moment?

On the back of each of the Kali Tarot Prayer cards is a poem that Ellen wrote. I will finish with the words at the end of each poem,

May Kali be Kind

And Be Thou Mine.

© Sarah Barry ~ Tarot Readings with Psychic Sarah 2016

This Tarot Reading for the Collective was done with the Kali Tarot Prayer Cards by Ellen Lorenzi-Prince. You can find out more about this powerful deck at queenofghosts.com.

To find out more about how I work go to  sarahthepsychic.com/about/ and sarahthepsychic.com/faq/
Follow me on Instagram: @sarahthepsychic 

Connect with me on Facebook

My latest Tarot Newsletter is now live! Read on for news from the Cards of the Month, Death & the Nine of Wands. Plus: should you be celebrating Halloween or Beltane at the end of October?

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From Tarot of the Cat People by Karen Kuykendall, published by U.S. Games Systems, Inc., Stamford, CT © 1991 by U.S Games Systems, Inc.

Dear Readers,

This month I am using the newest deck in my collection (and yes I aware of how I often I am saying “my newest deck…”!) the Pagan Otherworlds Tarot by Uusi. Not only are the cards exquisitely drawn, the card stock feels amazing – so smooth and silky. I love holding and shuffling these cards – and looking at them of course.

I wrote the questions and drew the cards for this Tarot Reading for the Collective the day before the US election, but didn’t have time to write the response until post election. While this reading can perhaps be read as a response to that, I encourage readers to consider how this reading could be reflected in what happens in your own land, wherever you are in the world. These are interesting times for all of us, and there is much to be acknowledged and worked on in all parts of the world, Australia being very much part of that.

So let us gather close and see how these cards can help us navigate these days of November (and beyond).

The questions for November are:

1. How can we create safe spaces?
2. Who can help us listen, heart-fully, to each other?
3. How can we see through the storms?
4. Who can help us learn to trust ourselves again?

How can we create safe spaces?   

The King of Wands

Remember to look ahead for the future safe spaces, but acknowledge that they may not be built yet. For now, keep your friends close as you walk about the plains of life. The wilderness is wild, but we are all wild within it, and we can get accustomed to the things we will need to do in order to remember how powerful and kind we can be. This is just another aspect of life.

If friends can’t be found for company, and sometimes they can’t, befriend a part of yourself that you previously thought intolerable. Create a safe space in your own heart and wrap it in moss and sit in the starless night with your intolerable thing. Perhaps that loathsome part was just scared. And maybe it is time to shake off the fear and start carving out new pathways that resemble the way your heart wants to grow and move. Can you feel your heart? Can you feel how it is trying to make sense of the strangeness of life? Give it a break. Place your hand on it and make an oath to stay with your heart.

Who can help us listen, heart-fully, to each other?     

The Three of Swords

Well, you may not have been expecting to see me in response to that question. I may not seem like I can help you listen heart-fully to each other, right now, but perhaps make you bleed instead?

We have been taught that opinions and divisiveness are more valuable than experiential wisdom and inclusion. With me, the Three of Swords, I will show you the points where it hurts and strongly ask you to sit with that discomfort. I want you to stay with the pain rather than push it away though blame, denial or disassociation.

When you can sit with the pain, you may start to notice that you are not the only one suffering. And you may notice that my purpose is not to seek vengeance or superiority or to announce that someone is right and someone is wrong.

I will help you shed the bullshit piled up between you all. I will help you face the storm. I will teach you important qualities of humility and insight. Know also, that I will rip away your dreams if you ignore me. Do not ignore this opportunity for self-reflection.

How can we see through the storms?   

Four of Wands

Trust in what you have already built. We may not get to sit in the castle yet, and perhaps we never will. Was the Collective expecting a nice, sweet outcome? A breath of fresh air? For so long we have been taught to ignore our intuition and our devotion to the planet, and to just shrug and put up with greed and bullying. Have we have lost sight of our capacity for true connection and understanding?

Are you able to work for a better outcome even if you never see the final product? Can you see my seemingly stable and welcoming Four–of–Wands-self not as a future dream, but a moment in your day? Can you feel me when you share a smile with a stranger, hug a dear one, watch the sunset or stand by the river? It is the moments you want to connect with, and the accumulation of those moments will help you ride through the storms (which have been here for a long time by the way, but now more of you are beginning to notice them).

Who can help us learn to trust ourselves again?      

The Queen of Swords

 Ha! Trust! Now there’s a loaded word. Come and sit with me for a spell, dear Collective. I can help you learn to trust yourselves, but first we’ll have to get clear what I mean by trust.

I mean your choice to listen to and follow your heart, even if you feel silly, or fearful, or if others are telling you that you’re wrong. I mean your choice to speak up, strongly, confidently and clearly (and lovingly!), even when you can see the jackals gathering.

Be careful though of course, some people are way too deep in pain to hear your words. Perhaps they are so committed to blaming others instead of self-observation, that they think they will have too much to lose if they start to crack open their exterior of lies. Perhaps they have forgotten that the lies they told themselves were untrue in the first place. If you suspect this, set a boundary and back away. They can be approached in different ways later, when you are re-fuelled and empowered by solidarity and self-kindness.

But ultimately I will help you learn to trust yourselves by honouring the delicate beauty of the butterfly as you honour the sharpness of the sword. You don’t have to split yourselves off at this time. Remain whole, remain full, and try to hold even an ounce of love and yearning for true connection as you leave your sleeping spaces and interact with each other, in all your diversity and wonder.

© Sarah Barry ~ Tarot Readings with Psychic Sarah 2016

This Tarot Reading for the Collective was done with the Pagan Otherworlds Tarot by UUSI

© 2016 Uusi www.uusi.us Printed in Taiwan by The Expert Playing Card Company New York, New York 10001. These images are used here with their permission.

To find out more about how I work go to  sarahthepsychic.com/about/ and sarahthepsychic.com/faq/

Follow me on Instagram: @sarahthepsychic 

Connect with me on Facebook

My latest Tarot Newsletter should now be in the inboxes of those on my email list! For the rest of you, here is the link to tarot news with edgy yet helpful wisdom from the Ten of Swords and the Two of Pentacles (this month’s Cards of the Month).

bit.ly/TNNov16

from Pagan Otherworlds Tarot by Uusi

My final tarot newsletter for 2016 is now live. For healing tales from The Star & the Queen of Pentacles (& my holiday hours & a big thank you), click here!  

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Stars from the Dark Goddess Tarot by Ellen Lorenzi-Prince, & Queen of Coins from The Relative Tarot by Carrie Paris.

Dear Collective,

To start 2017, instead of asking several questions for us to contemplate this month, I thought I’d just ask, which 5 archetypes can serve us best in 2017? Or rather, which archetypes can show us what we need to see, and help us stay on track.

This month I am using my newest deck, the Slow Holler Tarot Deck , which was collaboratively illustrated and imagined by artists with Southern (USA) ties or queer identities or both.

At the start of January it is customary to set positive intentions for goals we wish to achieve in the coming year. I am somewhat hesitant about the positive-intentions-alone-will-save-us spiel. Of course there is always room for beautiful moments of intimacy, connection and awe, but in the course of a year, all of us will face many challenges.  I don’t believe that positive affirmations alone will take us to a space where we can deal with all the uncertainties we face. This year, the Collective will experience death, illness, and sadness alongside the joy, wonder and beauty. Affirmations won’t prepare us for that, but if we are willing to communicate with each other as best we can, to be as honest and as upfront as we can, and to listen with our hearts as open as possible, it is more likely we can get through another year with enough wisdom and curiosity to keep on exploring this life.

So, the 5 archetypes that can serve us best in 2017 are (speaking to you in their own voices, as usual):

The Moon

Rise out of the muck and see further than you’ve seen before. Dare to renounce old wounds that do nothing but drag you back into oblivion. Speak from a place that is ancient and filled with chaos. Give light to what cannot be described cleanly or neatly. Roll with the complexities and trust that at some point, there will be a breakthrough. I don’t have any answers but I know how to push forth a catalyst that will point you towards the clues you need, to keep on moving and discovering.

Fortuna (Wheel of Fortune)

Spin with me, my treasures, and learn to read the messages that say stay here, move on, let go, gather speed, slow down, let go, let go. Learn to look for the signs that tell you when to embrace change, when to be spectacular in your pursuits, and when to go undercover. Trust that on the days you find yourself in a bleak space, somewhere in the world, someone is manifesting beauty and peace. They must be. On the days you feel peace in your heart, see if you can share your merits a bit further than usual, to keep the wheel on turning. Gratefully receive the small moments of wonder, even if they barely glimmer. And when the wheel turns, be courageous enough to receive the bountiful shares of hearty blessings as well, so that you can better face the challenges that always await us somewhere around the corner. Be as clear and as peaceable with your intentions as you can.

The Storm (Tower)

Let me pull away all the structures that keep you separate from your true self. Let me reveal the lies and greed infusing the Collective. Notice me helping you to wake up to what you can do that can contribute to lasting change that revolutionizes our communities rather than disbanding them. When I come through, do your best to not fear me, and be ready to face the messages I bear, which will sometimes be painful. Avoid my most intense aspects where you can, by listening to and then following your intuition. I bring change, but it need not be destructive, unless you ignore me.

The Sun

Take a moment to bask in my warmth. Take a moment to recover from the day’s work. Remember to smell the flowers as often as you can, whether physically or metaphorically. If there are no flowers in your neighbourhood, plant some. Engage in guerrilla gardening, and bring back patches of sunny joy where you can. Don’t let uncertainty equal horror. Give the uncertainties the positivity they need to create themselves in more exciting, hopeful and cheeky ways.

Nine of Stones (Pentacles)

Let me help you take a cheery leap to the top of your self-made mountain, so you can see how far you’ve come, and so that you can feel the wind on your cheeks. Know what you can grow, and do your best to nurture it enough to share with at least one other member of the Collective. Be content with what you share, as you may never know how powerful your seemingly insignificant gifts can be. You are not here to just be pretty: you are here to kick up a stink about the things that don’t make sense, and prove to the ones who can’t envision a life without institutionalised structures that the Collective does not need to be contained by anything authoritative. The Collective can find much treasure by connecting with each other in open-eared, open-hearted and heartily brave ways.

© Sarah Barry ~ Tarot Readings with Psychic Sarah 2017
This Tarot Reading for the Collective was done with the Slow Holler Tarot Deck. These images are reproduced here with the permission of the Slow Holler collective. You can find out more about this wonderful tarot deck at slowholler.com

To find out more about how I work go to  sarahthepsychic.com/about/ and sarahthepsychic.com/faq/

Connect with me on Facebook

Follow me on Instagram: @sarahthepsychic 

Reading tarot cards for a living is something that continues to inspire me and help me learn more about life. Since I first started reading professionally in 2002, and then went full-time in 2003, I have sat across the tarot table from well over 10,000 people, in private one-on-one sessions. Over the years I have also appeared at various events, ranging from large corporate functions where I do short readings in spaces where there is rarely much privacy and often a queue of people waiting, to more intimate readings at smaller birthday and wedding-related gatherings.

I have found myself in some interesting places during the course of these events: perched in a swinging cane chair, atop a floating platform on Sydney Harbour, on a houseboat, under a tomato-laden A-frame trellis, and in the Non-Fiction section of Ashfield library!

Through all these experiences, the set-up for how I work has been much the same: one-on-one readings, where I look at the various aspects of the querent’s life. Every now and then there will be a request to work with the tarot within a different framework, which, depending on the request, I usually do, as it pushes me to see how tarot can creatively connect to people in multiple ways.

In 2016 I was fortunate enough to be a part of two events that required me to work in a different way, that I enjoyed very much.

Both of these events involved me doing a collective reading for a group of individuals who worked together in a creative/performative capacity. They were all wanting to explore their relationship as a group and where to go forth from here. 

The first event took place in July 2016, when I was invited by the performance group 110% Collective to be part of their installation at Firstdraft.

With all the interesting venues I have found myself reading at over the years, this was my first time in this kind of setup: a quiet gallery space, with an attentive audience. In this space I did a group reading for the three members of 110%, Beth Dillon, Kieran Bryant and Lachlan Herd, followed by shorter readings for audience members, all done with everyone sitting around listening intently to what I was saying to each person.

Photo credit: Anna May Kirk

Sitting in front of a tent-like structure while having people sit in front of me was rather sobering, and I felt honoured to have been trusted enough by these people, who previously didn’t know me, to do readings for them in a public setup. It was the first time I had had a room full of people listening to other people’s readings, and while I wasn’t entirely sure if everyone in the room knew each other in some way, there was certainly a beautifully friendly and respectful vibe in the space.

Photo credit: Anna May Kirk

Beth, Kieran and Lachlan had asked me to do a reading for the progress of their 3-part performance and video installation project named ‘A Summit Wouldn’t Do Without You’. They introduced the background of their work to me prior to the event, saying that the project explores the physical and symbolic geographies of mountains, in particular, the significance of mountains in Western philosophies of motivation, achievement and success. My involvement was requested, to help them visualise their shared mountain aspirations and the spiritual significance of their journey together.

Photo credit: Anna May Kirk

The group reading went for about 45 minutes, where we looked at the project itself, likely outcomes, what they were each bringing to this piece of work, and their future as a collective. We used The Wild Unknown Tarot by Kim Krans, and it was a poignant moment when the Three of Pentacles appeared, seeing that in this particular deck the image is a mountain (see the middle card in the above photo)!

I enjoyed witnessing the kind and respectful way in which the trio responded to each other, and each other’s cards. Challenges that presented themselves were understood as things to observe but not necessarily get stuck in. By perceiving aspects that could potentially create an edginess in their continuum, there arose the opportunity to have more understanding of how they could avoid any potential setbacks. Their collaboration is very inspiring!

After the reading for 110% I did shorter readings for audience members who were interested in participating. I lost count of how many readings I did, but everyone was lovely! Sometimes the audience would laugh at something funny I had said, and I’d be a bit startled, as I’d forgotten there were people listening while focussing on the person sitting in front of me.

 The second reading session took place in my own tarot office, when Gary Grim and Tain, organisers and promoters of Deaf to All But Metal came to visit for a reading to feature on their podcast. Deaf to All but Metal is a club night featuring the many different subgenres of heavy metal music, usually on a monthly basis (their next gig is on the public holiday on January 26).

I was a bit unsure when Gary first contacted me, and not because of the heavy metal! (Although this genre is not top of my list of favourite music to listen to, I would prefer to listen to metal than, say, new age music – the early years of my tarot career were done in shops where it was customary to have the ethereal angelic and/or dolphin sounds of new age music blaring in my and my client’s ears as the reading took place. I have been scarred, and can no longer stomach it! What a joy it is for me to now do readings sans nonconsensual music, just the low whirr of King St traffic,  and the buzz of my fan in the summer.)

No, my uncertainty came from wondering if this was going to be yet another version of that tired old trope: Does it really work? Are psychics really psychic? Let’s have a reading with three of them and see (because three readers will surely give us a clear idea about ALL readers everywhere in the world, right?!), and then write up a superficial, mildly (or overtly!) condescending article. So already been done! Please journalists can’t you create a more meaningful story around the tarot than the tedious, cynical attempt to debunk it?! Sigh…..

However, Gary and Tain’s intention was not at all to take down the tarot, their meeting with me was for a podcast episode about existentialism, self-doubt, uncertainty and decision-making. Any debunking involved would be to address the myths and misconceptions that folks can have about psychic tarot work. He assured me that they weren’t wanting to ‘test’ my process, but rather genuinely seeking advice and guidance. It also helped of course that I have known Gary for some years, and so knew him to be sincere.

When Gary and Tain arrived at my tarot office, I made them tea (tea was also the commencing feature of the reading with the 110% reading. Tea and tarot really do go very well together), and then we started the interview. They asked questions about how long I had been working with the tarot, when I first discovered I was psychic, and anything else that I wanted to share about tarot for the listeners.

Then I did a group reading for them about their work together, then a solo reading for each of them. You can listen to the interview and readings here. I come in at 14.18 minutes and go for about 40 minutes until 54.45 mins.

Throughout the group reading there are many laughs, references to black cats, “aha” moments, and some “well, that’s accurate”, moments. Later in this podcast Gary & Tain go to a deserted crossroads in the Inner West to try and emulate an old ritual involving the horned one himself! Thankfully no where near my office. Sound intense? It need not be – if you have the time, by all means listen to the whole podcast and not just my segment, because these guys are funny and have interesting things to say!

Me, Gary Grim & Tain in my tarot office in Newtown. The card I am holding is The Magician from Tarot of the Cat People by Karen Kuykendall. This photo was taken on auto-timer: before it flashed I asked, “Are we smiling? What kind of pose?”. The answer came, “No smiling, it’s for a death metal podcast”.

What I really enjoyed about doing the readings for both the 110% Collective and the Deaf to All But Metal crew, is how they were all sincere in their desire to grow together creatively and respectfully in their collaborative work. Of course, all things will change as time moves on, but being able to honour our current work and connections and all the possibilities that are born out of these moments, in invaluable.

I hope you have enjoyed reading this piece about these two wonderful tarot adventures I had last year. I am in the mood for more adventures of this type! If you or anyone else you know are a part of a team and are looking to gain some insight into the collaborative work you do together, and what you individually bring to the greater whole, please contact me! All my contact details (email is probably best for this one) are on my ‘Contact & Book a Tarot Reading‘ page.

To find out more about how I work go to  sarahthepsychic.com/about/ and sarahthepsychic.com/faq/

Connect with me on Facebook

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Filed under: Blog Tagged: 110 percent collective, community tarot reading, deaf to all but metal, professional tarot, psychic sarah, sarah barry, tarot reader

My first Tarot Newsletter for 2017 is now live! January’s Cards of the Month were the High Priestess and The Emperor. To read their words of wisdom, and to see an amusing photo of me in one of my summer outfits, go to bit.ly/TNJan17

Priestess from Tarot of the Crone by Ellen Lorenzi-Prince & The Emperor from Tarot of the Cat People by Karen Kuykendall

This month I feature on Theresa Reed a.k.a The Tarot Lady‘s blog series ‘Talkin’ Tarot with…’. Theresa is a true leader in the global tarot community and is dedicated to uplifting the tarot profession.

Head on over to the interview for some kind and generous words from Theresa, along with my answers to the three standard questions she asks of everyone she interviews for this series: What is your philosophy about tarot reading? How do you feel a client might get the most out of a reading with you? What is your best piece of advice for an aspiring tarot reader?

I enjoyed responding to these questions and am happy to be featured on the blog of someone I have long admired as a successful tarot professional. Thanks again Theresa! Here is that link again: bit.ly/TalkTarotSB 

 Dearest Collective,

With another month comes another Tarot Reading for the Collective, and believe it or not, I am not using one of my ‘latest new tarot decks’ this time. I am revisiting a beautiful vintage-style tarot deck that came out a couple of years ago, The Relative Tarot by Carrie Paris.

This month’s questions are:

How can we strengthen our foundations?

What do we need to leave behind (for now)?

What can we aspire to?

What is good company in shadowy times?

So let us begin, with the tarot archetypes speaking in their own voices, as usual.

1. How can we strengthen our foundations?

The Tower

Ha! I love a deck with a good sense of humour!

What on Earth do you mean? Do you find it amusing that I turn up as a guide for strengthening your foundations, O Collective? Have you not yet noticed the steaming pile of poop you are currently rolling around in? Do you really think, as a treasured (and oft misunderstood) friend of the Collective that I would simply leave you all there, floundering in your own muck?

Oh no! Allow me to strengthen your foundations by first creating such havoc that you are all forced to look down at the land you stand on and regard it in all its majesty and glory. Take a good look at how powerful the Earth is, and take nourishment from what it continues to gift you, despite how it is treated.

The shakeup I create will make sure you pay attention to what you must do by squashing any idea that “everything will be alright even if I do nothing”.  I will force you to take note of what is really going on so you can get to the next stage of the process. You need me for just a moment before the inspiration comes.

2. What do we need to leave behind (for now)?

Page of Coins

Whaaat? You don’t want me around no more? I don’t want me around at the moment! I keep boldly leaping and shouting out useful statements that are grounded and clever but so many of the Collective don’t want to listen! Maybe boldly leaping forward in a creative way isn’t quite the medicine the Collective needs right now? Perhaps you need a few quiet breaths to collect yourselves before you are able to gather up your inspired ideas and once again begin the forward rush to help us all grow wondrously? There’s no point in presenting fantastic ideas if there’s so many of you in too much shock to notice. I’ll check back in on you all further down the track, but for now I need to skip off. Laters!

3. What can we aspire to?

The Hermit

Seek to stand still for a moment or two and breathe with me. Some of you will always run forward and be on the front lines – that is a powerful and noble place for you to stand. Some of you will try to ignore what is happening and pretend that everything is ok – hopefully you will start to listen to that nagging internal discomfort that tells you otherwise. Some of you will retreat into forests or mountains, or meditation centres, or seek out quieter spaces for moments within busy, active lives.

All of these actions have a powerful place in the ongoing inspiration for the Collective. Try not to begrudge each other for taking a different pace: the front-lines and the behind-the-scenes movements all have their place. Learn from each other and try not to judge the quieter or more boisterous ways of creating effective change that benefits many. There is wisdom in experiential action that cannot be overshadowed by pontifications. If we are to move forward together and minimise harm, we shall need to learn from the quieter spaces as well. There are many nutrients there, and that heart-calm can generate extraordinary power back to the louder spaces.

4. What is good company in shadowy times?

The Magician

I don’t always know where I’m going or what I’m doing, but I am always willing to give life a go, and I’m not afraid of the mysterious dropout points where all that is familiar seems to disappear. I am good company in shadowy times because I’m not very adept at giving up, and I can face any internal fears and just get on with this moment of life. I will do everything I can to make things work by helping you remember every bit of useful learning you have received. And, if you hang around me for long enough, you might become more comfortable with your own shadow, and therein find the medicine that you can gift to the rest of the Collective.

I am not here to drive away the shadow, as that would be discounting how incredible the depths of the Collective can be. There is so much creative fire to be explored if there is to be a true understanding of how we exist, inexplicably, all together in this cosmic soup.

Listen to the shadows as they point out the inaccuracies and delusions that are outrageous and dangerous. Tread carefully but be ready to step into extraordinary strength of mind, body and/or spirit when you feel called to do so.

Interesting fact: The Tower card turned up the last time I used this same deck for the Tarot Reading for the Collective back in January 2016. The Tower was also the Card of the Month in February 2016, and then turned up again and again in the Tarot Readings for the Collective in May 2016, August 2016, September 2016 and January 2017! These are Towerful times indeed, let us use it to our advantage!

© Sarah Barry ~ Tarot Readings with Psychic Sarah 2017

This Tarot Reading for the Collective was done with The Relative Tarot by Carrie Paris. These images are reproduced here with her permission. More information about Carrie and this fabulous deck at carrieparis.com

If you want a more personalised reading, go here to make an appointment. To find out more about how I work go to  sarahthepsychic.com/about/ and sarahthepsychic.com/faq/

Connect with me on Facebook

Follow me on Instagram: @sarahthepsychic

Interesting things can happen when one rides a colourful, flower-covered, glittery bicycle with tarot cards in the spokes. It gets photographed a lot, adults with small humans find themselves crouching down beside their little ones to point out its various wonders, it sometimes receives gifts (of both the lovely and not-so-lovely kind… mostly lovely!), and its bling helps keep me visible on the roads.

Last night (Monday February 20) something all together different happened. My lovely bicycle was vandalised! I got a text message at around 6:45pm from my client who had just left, saying that somebody was stealing the tarot cards from my bicycle wheels. I ran down, but he had already gone. Bystanders told me that a man had been ripping the tarot cards off my bike spokes, blundering around with them and accosting people to ask what the cards meant!

He was described as a bald white man, “not all there”, wearing a white shirt and black Adidas shorts, who “looked a bit like Uncle Fester” (!) and had blood on his mouth! Eek.

Hey you! Bring back my tarot cards!

My client ordered him to put the cards back, and indeed he had returned a couple (the Knight of Cups and The Sun are now safe!), but then he returned to ripping off more cards. Pressing the point with him was a obviously a difficult task given his unpredictable behaviour and the blood coming from his mouth.

In the past, the cards I have had on my bicycle have been colour photocopies of tarot cards, which I then laminate and staple onto my bike spokes. But this time was different – when I asked Carrie Paris for permission to use photocopies of her Relative Tarot for the bicycle wheels, she most generously ended up sending me an actual deck across the Pacific Ocean specifically for this purpose! Wow!

I had carefully covered the cards in archival plastic to protect them from the elements, so that they could be used once again for other divination purposes when they had had their time around the wheel. The Relative Tarot is a Major Arcana (22 cards) and Court Card (16 cards) deck, and it has two versions of both Justice and Strength, so that readers can use the numbers they personally prefer for Justice and Strength (8 or 11. Long story why this is so. Ask google or duckduckgo sometime if you are curious). So altogether there are 40 cards in the deck.

I put these cards on with the intention of using them for Bicycle Divination Readings: I ask a community-oriented question of my bike, then ride to wherever I am going (usually my tarot office) and whatever cards are at the top of the wheel when I reach my destination provide the answers to the question. I then post the mini-reading on Instagram (search for the hashtag #bicycledivinationproject).

Carrie and I had been talking about a future plan for what would happen next with the cards once they had finished their time on my bike, a plan which would see them being sent all over the world. While I am somewhat bummed that now the deck is no longer complete, I also understand that this odd desecration of my bicycle is all part of this divination experiment. Tarot cards often seem to have a life of their own, and now five of these cards are AWOL, off on another journey. With a bald white Uncle Fester type with a bloody mouth.

So……. who are the missing five? The Knight of Wands, the Queen of Wands, The Moon, Death and one of the Strength cards (number 8. Number 11 is for now, safe).

In case you happen to come across these missing cards on your travels, this is what they look like (these cards are from my own deck for non-bicycle use):

The Missing Five! With thanks to carrieparis.com

If you find them, please contact me! I would love for the cards to be reunited! But I also accept that this might be all part of the peculiar destiny of this bicycle deck. Time for a new deck on my wheels perhaps? They have been there since June 2016, so probably yes.

Strangely enough, today I remembered that in the winter of last year I had had a bizarre and slightly frightening interaction with a bald white man who looked like Uncle Fester. It was after dark and I was riding my bicycle down a narrow back alley. As I reached the final 15 metres of the alley, this Uncle Fester suddenly stepped out from the shadows and went, “ARGHHHHHHH!!!” and reached out for me! Taken by surprise, I threw my arm up and yelled, “ARGHHHHH!” right back at him and then he kept on yelling and I kept on riding.  I passed two cyclists coming towards me in the next alley and I shouted to them “Don’t go down the alley on the right!” and they yelled “Thanks!” and turned left.

So perhaps this was the same bald white man???

No doubt there is a reading in here somewhere – I think a tarot reading using the five missing cards is called for (with perhaps a cameo from the two that were saved – thank you to my client who managed to save the Knight of Cups and The Sun!). Yes? Tomorrow (or the day after) I will do a Tarot Reading for the Missing Five (and the Saved Two). Stay tuned!

I had put new faux flowers on my bicycle that very morning. Clearly it was looking too fabulous for its own good!

 © Sarah Barry ~ Tarot Readings with Psychic Sarah 2017

My February Tarot Newsletter should now be in the inboxes of those on my email list. For those of you who are not, you can read it here. This month sees the Ace of Cups and the Ace of Wands as the collective Cards of the Month… learn what these unstoppable forces can do for your life, and see my latest tarot tattoo!

bit.ly/TNFeb17

Ace of Chalices (Cups) from the Crystal Tarot by Elisabetta Trevisan, and the Ace of Staffs (Wands) from The Alchemical Tarot by Robert Place.

For those of you who aren’t aware, last Monday my sparkly, flower-laden Tarot Divination Bicycle was vandalised and five of the tarot cards attached to my spokes were stolen! While my bike and I are quite safe and we all should have nothing but compassion for he who did the deed, it was a rather peculiar event for the bystanders. You can read about it all here.

And now that you are up to date – as promised in that blog post, here is the Tarot Reading For The Missing Five (and the Rescued Two)!

We could approach this as a reading for the Uncle Fester-like fellow who did the stealing, but he did break some rules, with the whole taking-what-is-not-offered thing and also the non-observation-of-boundaries thing. Just as I am not going to do an on-the-spot reading for someone who might randomly request it when I’m out and about (I’m a full-time professional tarot reader. I work by appointment only. Would you ask a doctor you see in the street to “just take a quick look” at your rash? If you answered yes, you might want to rethink that), similarly I am not about to do a gratis reading for someone who stole from me. I think that’s only fair.

Since the Missing Five are now getting a whole lot more attention focussed on them than they would have if they had just stayed stapled to my spokes like good little tarot cards, perhaps they must have a point they want to make! What does the Collective need to learn from the Missing Five (and also the Rescued Two)? For what purpose have these archetypes suffered the fate of being torn from the wheels of the Divination Bike and falling into the hands of the Uncle Fester Imposter, to be released to the wider community (or to his backpack? dumpster? public restroom? park? moonlit altar…?)? (Don’t forget – if by chance you do happen to come across any of them, please let me know, I would love for the cards to be reunited.) 

The Missing Five – The Relative Tarot by Carrie Paris

So let us hear from the Queen of Wands, Death, The Knight of Wands, The Moon, and Strength (No. 8, the No. 11 version is safe), in their own words, about why this release from the wheel occurred so that they could get the attention they felt they needed.

Queen of Wands: I’m not used to being ignored. I think The Collective needs more fire in their bellies and more grace in the way they move. I am sorry that he who ripped us from the Divination Bike was not exactly oozing graciousness, but really, something had to be done!

I want the Collective to take a thoughtful gaze backwards at the transgressions of the past, and contemplate how some of the more insidious actions are now repeating themselves. I want the Collective to remember that they aren’t just here to have a nice little party, but to stoke the fires of humanity and work towards a collective enlightenment rather than a gossip-fest at best or a war-fest at worst. Ah! I need some gracious warriors to accompany me to create actions that include rather than exclude, so that adults can have the definitive understanding that behaving like babies is not attractive, and is not to be enabled on any level.

Death: For my part, I am fine with this release. Psychic Sarah, you hid me between two cards on your bicycle! How dare you try and hide Death?

[In my defence, I didn’t want to freak out passers by. And come on, you’ve got to admit it’s a little intense to ride a bicycle with the Death card attached!]

Now that I have been released into the world in a looser, less attached way, I am going to help the Collective realise what is coming: me! Death! Haha! Which I very much hope none of you are shocked by, because really, you should have all learned about me in ‘Life 101’ by now.

So yes, Death comes, so let this remind you to not to keep behaving as if you’ve got all the time in the world. Act in ways that ground you rather than distance you from yourself. Spend more time in your body, rather than floating out of it in fretting or fantasy land. Spend time with those who are nurturing rather than those who are destructive with their actions, words, non-actions and silence.

Let me help you release the stories that don’t quite fit, and point you towards openings that invite spaciousness and clarity into the limited tunnel vision that has been imposed upon you by those who lost their way a longtime ago – so long ago that they actually believe they have it all figured out. Ignore the thoughts that hold you back, and invite in ideas that keep you curious about life in all its strangeness.

Knight of Wands: I’m just glad to finally have some more room to spin my wand! I’m going to help the Collective find places in their communities where they can be safe, and where they can be themselves, without any fear of those who have an unhealthy tendency for persecution. Persecuting is boring! Gathering together with like-minded beings is amazing! From the outside such gatherings may look frivolous and pointless, but take a closer look and see how they strengthen people to be more bold and empowered in their relations with the wider Collective.

Continue on with interest as you wheel through your days, and let me help you discover your own unique moves that express your authentic self, rather than merely being a copy of someone else. Be yourself or go home!

The Moon: [Oh Moon. Of all that are missing I believe it is you who I miss the most]

Of course you miss me, I’m so soothing and lovely! See how I am waving in this image. I am waving you all goodbye. Haha just kidding, I’ll be in the sky tonight if you care to talk a look. And if it’s cloudy then just have a feel of how I’m affecting your inner waters. After all, you can readily see how powerfully I affect the tides on your planet, so with the high percentage of water you humans consist of, don’t think for a moment that I’m not impacting upon your state of mind and body.

Now that I am more in your thoughts again, thanks but no thanks to the misbehaving Uncle Fester type, I wish to impress upon you the importance of water. Are you drinking enough water? Are you immersing yourself in it enough? If your waterways are polluted, have you thought about why that is, and can you think of ways you can prevent that from happening? From industrial pollution, to plastic bags and cigarette butts, there is much the Collective can do on a multitude of levels, no matter how small.

Are certain members of the Collective doing that thing where they prioritise personal profit over the health of countless humans, wildlife and ecosystems? All bodies of water lead to other bodies of water. How you treat one can affect them all. So if more members of the Collective start purifying water wherever they can, then I can remain in balance with you all.

And being in balance with the Moon means to notice the quieter aspects, the interrelated ways where we all coexist with not only humans, but animals, birds, insects, worms… so stop trying to separate yourselves off from this wondrously rich and complex existence. We’re all in it together, and we all have a part to play. Make sure your part isn’t to dominate but rather, align with humility and awareness of the greater whole.

Strength (No. 8): Oh look, dear Collective, I love to share the love and if that means I must be ripped from a bicycle wheel in order for you to focus your attention on me, then very well, so be it. As the story goes, according to the eyewitnesses,  I was apparently the last one to be ripped off, just after the Uncle Fester Imposter had been directed to return the cards (which he did, though only two. Hence we are the Missing Five rather than the Missing Seven). So, clearly I needed to be torn asunder from the deck to remind you of kindness, nonchalant fearlessness and judgment-free relations.

Let me move amongst you to keep a certain lightness in your heart, even when the burdens are heavy. You don’t need much of me to keep you curious and connected. Make sure you invite me in, even if only briefly. I will be here for you when you need respite.  I am always ready to engage with you.

The Rescued Two (those who narrowly avoided their fate with the Uncle Fester Imposter) – The Relative Tarot by Carrie Paris

And finally, here are the Rescued Two – The Knight of Cups and The Sun – they who were returned to the wheel at the brave and firm request of one of my clients who witnessed the act of vandalism.

Knight of Cups: I felt all woozy as I was lifted from the bike, not quite ready to be released from my sanctuary. I was concerned that I might lose myself in the grip of the destructive one. But here I now find myself, safely stapled to the wheel once more, and I am happy to keep on turning to remind you all to stay open, don’t hold back the flow of emotions, let it out, and wear totally awesome capes. Also, my position on the wheel has changed slightly thanks to the shift, and I am pleased with my new spot.

The Sun: Climb back to the lighter places as often as you can. Stand in the shadows to observe who is hiding, but then return to a place of illumination where you can refuel and reinvent. It’s quite an effort to keep doing this again and again I know, but what else is there to do? Stop climbing? Stop searching? Stop trying to understand what life’s all about? Even though any understanding you ever have about life will always be constantly shifting, either subtly or dramatically, as you continue to grow and explore? Does this sound tiring? It need not. I am still here for you Collective,  back on the wheel and turning with you. Let me refuel your weary minds and hearts and let us radiantly continue on together, whether the Missing Five return to us or not. Five cards may be gone to who knows where, but the remaining 35 will keep on spinning strong.

© Sarah Barry ~ Tarot Readings with Psychic Sarah 2017

The images reproduced from The Relative Tarot by Carrie Paris, and are used here with her permission. More information about Carrie and this fabulous deck at carrieparis.com

If you want a more personalised reading, go here for more information. To find out more about how I work go to  sarahthepsychic.com/about/ and sarahthepsychic.com/faq/

Connect with me on Facebook

Follow me on Instagram: @sarahthepsychic

Dear Collective,

Welcome to March’s Tarot Reading for the Collective, and welcome to my latest tarot deck acquisition – The Disciples Tarot by Kathryn Thyme Giese. I came across this deck late one night on Instagram, scrolling, scrolling, until… “oooh that’s pretty what’s that”? Five minutes later, after looking at enough of the images available to decide that I really liked this deck, I hit the purchase button. And a few days ago this treasured package arrived at my doorstep. I like the dreamy other-worldly quality of this deck, it tugs on something deep inside of me.

The questions for this month’s reading are:

What wakes us up?

What sends us to sleep?

What does an ending look like?

What does a beginning look like?

Let us continue to the reading, with the cards speaking in their own voices, as usual.

1. What wakes us up?

The Queen of Cups

I awaken you into an existence worthy of the tenderness of your hearts. I pour mystery into your fragile logic and make you unexpectedly emotional. I remind you that you are all human, you are all fallible, and you are all in need of a good cry. How can you hold in your minds the unspeakable atrocities committed against each other and all the beings on the planet, and the planet itself, without a tear escaping your eyeball from time to time?

I wake you up because sometimes a tender smile, a knowing glance, or a nod of the head is what propels you forward to do the work you are meant to do. I remind you of the bodies you live in, and the need to be kinder to them. I speak to your hearts and challenge you to be honest about how you feel.

Love wakes you up. Silence wakes you up. Introspection wakes you up.

2. What sends us to sleep?

The Eight of Wands

I don’t often like to think of myself as the one who sends you to sleep, but I can see how that is my influence right now. I send you to sleep because you await the golden ticket – that perfect opportunity – to fully grasp the kind of life you want. I am sending you to sleep as you dream up harebrained schemes that rely upon pure dumb luck to achieve your purpose. As you sleep, I will send you dreams that teach you to rely on your innate creative impulse to challenge your mind to think beyond the conditioned structures we have all been born into.

I am sending you to sleep because I am tired of watching you wait for your life to change. You failed to recognise the subtle ways in which we are all changing, every day. You were waiting for the big bang when you needed to be looking out for the ceaseless, almost imperceptible shift in the quality of the atmosphere around you.

Let me send you to sleep so I can infiltrate your dreams with ideas worthy of your attention, and worthy of your brief human life.

3. What does an ending look like?

The Seven of Swords

An ending looks like a deep cut that you couldn’t feel until you saw it. It looks like something you are dreading, but will be surprisingly okay with, if you just let it end, let it end.

I cut away at the petty thoughts and grumbly statements and push at them, making you aware of the ever-rising toxicity of allowing yourself to dislike yourself so much in those moments. A peaceful mind doesn’t generate negativity, but you’re only human, so you’re bound to fall into destructive mind-states from time to time – but are you willing to try and move beyond the noxious thoughts?

I don’t mean just forcing yourself to think ‘positive thoughts’,  for how can you do that if you are not able to calmly acknowledge the discomforting thoughts and actions that you perpetuate daily? Let me end the idea that you’re supposed to smile and be okay with everything. Let me end the notion of a pure, infallible human being. Let me help you embrace the paradox of humanity, and let me end the fear of not getting it right. There is more to look at, and in order to see what must be seen, there must be a willingness to cut away at the idea of formulating a perfect plan.

4. What does a beginning look like?

The Star

It looks like something that soothes your heart, as you become aware that you have another chance. Perhaps you can make it work this time. A beginning looks like a change that requires you to disbelieve everything you thought you previously thought you knew about yourself. Perhaps you have grown, perhaps you have dissolved more of the old trauma, perhaps you are ready to step into a more grounded and certain way of existing.

Let me help you walk past those who are committed to staying stuck in the past, or trying to keep you stuck in the past. I will be your starry shield as you push yourself forward, helping you recall those crystal clear thoughts that flicker in and out amongst all the conditioned teachings. Let me show you what it is like to be soothed when all is falling down around you. As long as your heart remembers the feeling of what you were taught to forget, there is always a chance to reintegrate, reassess, redefine and revive.

© Sarah Barry ~ Tarot Readings with Psychic Sarah 2017

This Tarot Reading for the Collective was done with The Disciples Tarot © Kathryn Thyme Giese 2017. These images are reproduced here with her permission.  For more information about her work and this tarot deck, go to www.northwitchestarot.com. You can also find her on Instagram at @witch.of.the.north.

If you want a more personalised reading, go here to make an appointment. To find out more about how I work go to  sarahthepsychic.com/about/ and sarahthepsychic.com/faq/

Connect with me on Facebook

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The Disciples Tarot by Kathryn Thyme Giese

My March Tarot Newsletter should now be in the inboxes of those on my email list. For those of you who are not, you can read it here. The Sun may not shine on Sydney right now, but as the Card of the Month, it is shining in so many tarot readings! Read on to see how The Sun can help you out.

http://bit.ly/TNMar17

The Sun – The Collective Tarot by The Tarot Collective, & Sol – Los 22 Arcanos del Tarot by Gloria Calderon