Easy Picking?

There is something really nice about today's card. It feels positive and I was struck with a sense of warmth when I pulled it from the fanned deck this morning. Up in the tree are many fruits. The arms on the four wands are sprouting new life and picking what is low enough for them to reach. This makes me wonder if fruits are becoming more readily available to me now, which would make sense, since the summer holidays are very soon to be over and potential for new work might become a possibility. With everything I have already done this year, I have exercised my creative muscles and could now be in line to receive reward for my efforts. This particular version of the 4 of Wands is interesting after drawing the little fey with her over-sized fruit a few days ago. The fruit from this tree seems that bit more manageable and abundant. In the 10 of Wands from The Fey Tarot, the fruit was far higher and inaccessible in the tree. She could only choose from what was laying on the floor or the physically demanding one she is almost collapsing underneath. Is there a difference between these two cards, in that the arms in this card can pick and choose their rewards, rather than being dumped with a responsibility that is either too demanding or too good to be true?

My boyfriend didn't come over last night as he was tired after his first day back at work. I sat and worked on my résumé, referring to a book I had bought last year called 'The Perfect CV'. The perfect CV, however, is only as good as the experience you put into it, so I am hoping that my last jobs might have helped to breathe new life into it's out of date and vacant pages. Kate called while I was half way through it. She has a ticket for me to go with her to The Global Party at the Natural History Museum. She had asked me about it already and I had agreed, but somehow, I'd misread the dates, thinking it was being held tomorrow. Looking online, the black-tie do is asking a cool £1000 per ticket and £500 to attend the private party afterwards. Thankfully, we had got our tickets for nothing through one of her friends, allowing us to free food and drink all night. Even though a little anxious about where I was going to find myself a tuxedo from in such short notice, I was a little excited about spending the night at the event with Kate, until I realised that the date is actually next Thursday, which I already have plans for. My boyfriend and I are going for a meal for his parent's wedding anniversary, so I had to decline her invitation. At the risk of feeling as though I was part of a modern adaptation of Pygmalion, I was a little excited about the prospect of attending such a big event, but also a little relieved that I will not have the chore of finding the right clobber or try to fit in amongst the 'social elite' like a misplaced piece of a jigsaw.

Today is the final day for sending in proposals to the referral unit job. Still undecided, I wrote and asked my agent to acknowledge my last email, but she hasn't. Is all of this a sign? Instead, I fired my new CV off with a letter to another company that are looking for a graphic designer. It is a freelance job within the fashion industry. It is just under two hours away, but despite aching joints and the odd day of fatigue, I am feeling better than I was this time last year and wonder if a short-term job like this might be manageable - another piece of fruit on offer from the tree, maybe?

It's my mum's birthday tomorrow, so we are going into town in a bit. I always buy her the same old stuff each year. She always appreciates what I get, but this time, I thought it might be nicer for her to choose what she wants herself. My mother is very modest, which is one of the things I love about her. She doesn't need diamonds and pearls to highlight her beauty. However, she suggested I get her a couple of these different coloured tops that she likes, which are about £4 each, as she thinks I should save my money. I probably should, but if I am going to spend my money, then it is not a problem to gift something nice to someone who shares what she has so readily and freely.



Illustration from The Cosmic Tribe Tarot by Stevie Postman

The Source

Not all decks use the same hierarchy in their tarot courts; from what I have noticed in my time with the tarot, the most distinct is between the Rider Waite and Thoth traditions; this deck, the Cosmic Tribe, follows the latter, with it's queen presiding over the people, rather than a king. I used to get myself in a flap, trying to work out their ordering, wondering which character would realistically stand at the same point in the line as another from a different system, but now, I just take them as they are. The young Prince of Swords seems to sit where the page might in RWS tradition, but does it really matter, when I draw the card by itself like this? I don't think so. In fact, I think it gets in the way of letting him speak for himself. And that is something which this prince enjoys to do.

Physically, this prince reminds me a little of my boyfriend; or at least, a younger version of him. They have similar faces. The nudity in the Cosmic Tribe seems to bother a lot of people. This probably has a lot to do with it being a photographic deck, since most don't seem to take issue with unclothed figures when they are painted or drawn. It is kind of a shame that this specific feature is what people focus on when it's name comes up, because given half a chance, it is a very beautiful and thought-provoking set. There is nothing sexually provocative about it's characters. Like the deck itself, they aren't inhibited by the conforms of society and have nothing to be ashamed of. I was a little concerned about showing the images here on Blogger, since I didn't know how the cards would fit with the guidelines, which is why I have covered the prince's modesty with the cosmic eye. I have absolutely no problem with it myself, but know how some people can react to these things and don't wish to have my blog closed down over a royal appendage. There are a lot of cards in the 78 that show genitalia and I will cover where I feel needs must. On the whole, I think this is a very beautiful, light and airy card. I notice that the prince has the wings of a Kestral. Also known as the Sparrow Hawk, the Kestrel takes its name from Latin and has a habit of hovering in the air with its head to the wind as this guy does here. The Kestrel, as a symbol, suggests that the bearer recognizes life's opportunities and acts upon them at the most precise and correct moment (like the Kestrel does in hunting its prey).

The Prince of Swords resides in the clouds. This is where he cuts through doubt and confusion and links to inspiration and creativity. You can see him connecting if you look close enough; there is a thin ray shining from the source, which penetrates his mind's eye. I can often be lazy and it will take me ages to get down to doing things some times, so my time up in the clouds, cutting through the confusion, is minimal; but when I do receive that zap of creative energy, I buzz into action down here on earth, which is what I did this afternoon. Still not entirely sure if I will submit my application to the referral unit tomorrow, I decided to have a go at decorating some kid's shoes as an example of the kind of stuff I want them to do. I didn't really plan what I did, but instead, started sketching onto the plain white pumps with a pencil and then began colouring the design with fabric pens. Even though not perfect, I am pretty happy with the results. The word 'rebel', which is the subtitle for today's card in the Cosmic Tribe handbook, is written on the back of the shoe in a red Old English styled font.

As much as today's figure reminds me of my boyfriend, his youthful and abrupt nature also reminds me of the eldest of Oddbod's vile children. They have been out in the garden on and off today, making a hell of a racket. They just never seem to mature and I had to close the window and put some music on while I worked, so that the noise didn't tighten me up. Thankfully, the summer holidays will be over soon. As well as this meaning they'll be back to school, I am hoping that some more creative teaching work will become available as my money is dwindling fast.




Illustration from The Cosmic Tribe Tarot by Stevie Postman

Prince Le Normand and the Giant Peach

When I looked at this image in the garden this morning, the first thought that came to mind was 'Be careful of what you wish for!'. The fey in this card stands beneath a tree of abundant fruit. That which she carries is larger than any I can see in the tree. Has she bitten off more than she can chew?

Yesterday was generally quiet, in preparation for our evening at my friend's house. It had been sunny throughout the day, but by the time we got there at 5, it was a little chilly in the garden and began to rain, so we sat inside and ate. My friend and her parents had prepared a lot of really lovely food. It was another relaxed evening of chat in their living room. We only drank a little and left after midnight.

Today is the last day of my boyfriend's ten days off. I often like to get out and do stuff, especially when the sun is shining, but with work tomorrow, I think he wanted to just take it easy, so we ended up watching some DVDs we have had in a pile next to the television; one being the Spanish film, Pan's Labyrinth. My friend recommended it, saying it is beautiful. The story is fantasy-lead, set in the aftermath of the Spanish Civil War, detailing the strange journeys of an imaginative young girl who may be the mythical princess of an underground kingdom. The labyrinth is full of monsters, over sized toads and Pan himself, but despite the horror within it's stone walls, it is marginally less horrific than the world and sadistic stepfather she is trying to escape from. In deep browns and midnight blues, the film actually bordered on depressing for me; far from the magical and colourful world of the fey that I was expecting when I picked it up for a couple of quid. If you are already having a happy day, don't watch this. At the very least, it reminded me to take my antidepressant. The Cantonese film The Young Bruce Lee (which we never got round to watching) was light relief afterwards, but not very good, so we turned it off half way through.

I am not entirely sure where today's card sits. I did wonder if the '10' was hinting at the last day of my boyfriend's ten days off. He often gets that feeling of doom before having to go back to work after a holiday; a little like how I used to feel on a Sunday night before school the next day. However, I am finding it hard not to relate a lot of these cards I am drawing to my situations around work. I have a day to finish my application for the job in the referral unit, and even though I think it might be a good idea to go for it now, I still wonder if this card represents biting off a larger challenge than I can chew.



Illustration from The Fey Tarot by Mara Aghem

Third Time Lucky

This is one of my favourite cards from The Favole Tarot. The black rose is beautiful, as is love, but it can bring pain as well. It has thorns, and in this card, easily cuts Favole's hand.

Today is our anniversary. I have been with my boyfriend for two years. When I think of our relationship in one way, it feels like a long time; in other ways, it seems far longer or much less. The Ace of Flowers looks at a beginning in the emotional realm, as we start out on our third year together. Even though we spend a lot of time together, we have still not moved in to our own place yet. Sometimes, I feel a little embarrassed by the fact that I am living with my parents again, as I think at my age I should be more independent. However, I look at other friends of mine and realise that even though they do have their own places, they still depend heavily on their parents for support - whether that is financially or using them for consistent babysitting. I have to remember that I am a little further forward on my journey than I was at this time last year and be proud of that. Where will the offer of this ace take me next?

Sometimes, it takes many years for us to get to know another person. A lot of people rush into things; I moved in with an ex pretty quickly when I was in my 20s. We started off in to a shared house within six months, mainly due to convenience, and within a year or so, had our own lovely little flat in North London. It was the first one we looked at and we immediately snapped it up. It was a modern build with just one bedroom and a tiny gallery kitchen, but we loved it. At that point, when all of my friends were either living in their parental homes or student-like accommodation, we felt like the adults, paying our bills and having people round for dinner parties. I remember being so excited about moving in and my friend and I went all over London, looking for colour-coordinated things for my new home. When friends came over, I'd light candles all over the living room; their flickering would catch in a mystical-looking pewter beaded curtain that hung behind the arch of our kitchen doorway. In the bedroom, I had hung some muslin around the window, which I'd dyed a deep pink. With the window open, it would blow out over our sumptuous large red bed. That was where I worked with my first proper deck, The Rohrig. After dinner, I would take friends in there and we'd sit cross legged on top of the bed, turning over the cards. With me as a newbie to tarot, I wasn't sure what they all meant, but we'd talk our way through the images, finding new ways of approaching what was going on in our lives.

I have different ideas for my next flat. My boyfriend is more concerned about what television we will have, but I have a loft of collected bits and bobs, ready to unleash on it - large golden buddhas, old prints, antique bottles, and of course, Barny, my owl. I have managed to save some money up for our first place together. I just need to get consistent work to make it a reality. Even if I work as hard as I have for the last seven or eight months, landlords require a less erratic income for me to rent from them. Maybe the third year of our relationship will prove third time lucky and we'll make that jump. Part of me says 'what's the rush?'. There is something to be said for taking relationships in their own time, rather than doing what you think you should be doing just because it is expected by others. At nearly 40, I am still rebelling; just in a different way than I once was.

For our second anniversary, we haven't planned anything too extravagant. In fact, we haven't planned anything at all. It is nice and sunny out, even if tinged with a slight cold breeze. One of my closest friends lives about eight doors away and in recent years, our parents have become friends. We have visited them for drinks and they have been here, so today, it is their turn to entertain us, so my parents and boyfriend are going there this afternoon for a barbecue. It will be seven of us, including my friend's 9 year old son.

Today's card brings the emotion of two people together to make one single rose. I guess it is the offer of another year together, before we celebrate our relationship again.



Illustration from The Favole Tarot by Victoria Frances

The Mover and Shaker

My boyfriend and I spent yesterday with Kate. We turned up at hers around midday, had some coffee, and then popped to the local shops with her and her daughter. We then sat in a pub garden, chatting and playing games with little Isis. We wasn't sure how the day was going to develop, but after eating some food that Kate had prepared, her mother came to babysit for the evening and we popped to her local pub. The village where she lives is much more laid back than the town where I am and it was nice to sit outside and bask in it's quiet and quaint personality. Rather than spend money on more rounds, we went back to hers with another friend of ours, and sat up to the early hours in the kitchen, listening to music and chatting with her mother. It was another of those nights that I like; simple, but effective.

I thought I'd pull the vampyres out again this afternoon. I often lay here, looking up at the deck's accompanying book on the shelf, thinking about how I'd like to give it another shot for reading. When my friend first mailed me some scans of the four princes from it, I fell in love with them, but after receiving the set, the warmth of my initial connection soon began to turn cold. My main issue in this pack is the amount of blood. I know that blood kind of goes with the territory, but here, it feels gratuitous and seems to be splashed about all over the place. Many of the vampyres appear sexualised, which also puts me off a bit, and over all, the use of an acidic green in a lot of cards makes me feel uncomfortable when I look through them. There are some really beautiful cards in the Tarot of the Vampyres, but there are also a handful that I find difficult to get my head around. Maybe I should pull them from the deck and get to know them, rather than hope that they'll never show up. Sounds like a plan.

Aside from the fangs, drops of blood and those devilish red eyes, I don't find this magician too difficult to gel with. I love his tattoos and flowing blonde locks. For this draw, that's red paint he's mixing up in the bowl. Despite a slow start to today (I spent a couple of hours laying on the sofa cuddling up with a neighbourhood cat), I have printed and ironed my first sample for prospective school projects. I drew up a design a day ago of a man's face and surrounded it with roses and a banner. I want to show the kids different printing techniques and this is the first. I plan to use Image Maker for another, and fabric pens and paint to customise a pair of plain shoes as well. That is what this card is all about. The Magician knows that if I want to impress my agents and get some work, then I need to connect to my creativity and make it happen.

My boyfriend is a bear with a sore head this afternoon. His headache was fueled by yesterday's white wine, so he has been up to little today. It is so sunny out at the moment, but a few hours ago, it was grey and pouring with rain. Whatever the weather, we have no plans and I want to keep it that way too, since we have a barbecue to go to tomorrow and I need to press on with the decorating of the shoes this evening. The closing date for application is Tuesday, I think, so even though I have not had a reply to the mail I sent a few days ago, I think I will put my proposal forward all the same and see what happens. That's me, behaving like The Magician, and being the mover and shaker of my own future. With this card comes responsibility and it echoes what the wolf of decisions was saying on Thursday.




Illustration from The Vampyre Tarot by Ian Daniels

Fancy some Rabbit?

I just responded to a comment on a recent post, saying how this deck doesn't shout like many of the others I have known. It encourages the reader to still his mind, look into the eyes of the wolf and listen to what it has to whisper. I looked into today's card, Decisions, for a long time, feeling as though I could reach out, stroke, and actually feel the fur on the animal's back. What is he thinking about? What decision does he need to make?

I guess that this card relates to work and the job I considered applying for, because I can't think of any other big decisions which I need to make. I am kind of drawn to the rabbit in the front of the illustration and wonder why the wolf does not decide to eat it. Does he think it might be more beneficial to wait for a bigger meal? One that might provide him with more satisfaction, such as a moose or deer? This is where I am at a loss. Is the card suggesting that this 'little job' can be sacrificed, waiting for a bigger piece of game to enter the scene, or is it saying that I need to chomp on that little rabbit, because work is scarce and opportunities may not be trotting past any time soon? I have read that wolves will eat foreign food if hungry. Due to not being experienced in working with excluded kids before, the job in the referral unit is definitely foreign to me. I still have six days to make my decision, so I imagine that it is quite normal for this card to show up today.

In the little line at the top of this card, it says 'Seek good advice and you will make the right decision'. I have already asked the advice of two friends who have teaching experience and a fellow practitioner, but I thought I'd do well to write straight to the agency and outline both my interest and concerns, so I fired off an email this morning. I wrote -

"I have not had experience within a pupil referral unit before, but the idea of being able to guide the students towards personal goals and help them find skills which they can both be proud of and use in the future does inspire me. I recently worked for many months with 20 boys with autism. Their behaviour could be challenging but we developed a good understanding and mutual respect for each other. They got a lot out of the design briefs and seeing their work displayed in an exhibition at the end.

I was considering doing something related to design and fashion. One of the workshops I was considering was the decoration of shoes, t-shirts and the deconstruction and customisation of clothing - using fabric paint, fabric pens, and ways of printing to do this. I find people of this age group to be very engaged with image and reputation, so think this could be an interesting area of personal expression and link to different areas in the industry - such as graphics, merchandising, advertising and garment design. What kind of budget is there for materials, since I would need to buy the plain t-shirts and cheap sets of shoes for them to use as their base for hands-on working? Also, I would need to source economical printing paper (for t-shirts), paint, and other ways of printing image onto fabric. I was also wondering if the groups would be mixed or single gender (I wonder about this, considering what areas of fashion might be of interest, since boys are often lead to sportswear and street brands). I am also wanting to know what level of support I would receive in my sessions - from teaching staff and teaching assistants.

I want to make sure that I am one of the right practitioners to apply for this position before I submit anything, which is why I am writing to you now".

I haven't received a reply yet, but regardless of that, I splashed a little cash on resources this afternoon. If they don't end up getting used for that project, then they will enable me to put together some samples for proposals of a similar nature. I bought fabric pens, paint, image maker, transfer paper, and things to try out my ideas on, such as t-shirts and a pair of kid's sneakers. My boyfriend and I are having a quiet night, since we are out early in the morning. We watched the Da Vinci Code last night and he has another film for this evening. I might have a little go at my first print while that is on.



Illustrations from The Wolf Pack Tarot Deck by Robert Petro and illustrated by Pat Morris.

Keeping Afloat

Today's card, Stranded, kind of worried me a little when I drew it this morning. The wolf seems to be on a raft of ice, sliding through the water slowly, and finds himself disconnected from everywhere and everyone else. In short, he is cut off. The interpretation that runs along the top of this card mentions being financially stranded. This makes sense to me. With no work right now, I am cut off from the source of employment. I have some money to keep me 'afloat', but this is a block of ice that is slowly beginning to melt.

In the picture, we can see the land not so far away. It isn't impossible for the animal to reconnect with the source. It is just going to take a while. The block of ice moves in it's own time, but he looks as though he is about to test the water with his front right paw. This is where the idea of making plans comes in. I do have faith in what I can do, but I have left getting back on the horse a little longer than I was intending to. I need to dip my own paw back into the water and get things moving. In short, I think that this card represents my own growing anxiety about not working or having any money coming in. With all of the things I have had to do lately, I have spent a lot of money. I am a little concerned about how I am going to get some more.

I can't completely explain how the images on this deck have always made me feel. There is an underlying sadness to them; it is as though the journey through the Wolf Pack is a lonely one, as the animals face a lot their trials and reflections by themselves. Despite being an animal-themed deck, it displays a lot of human emotion and feeling. I think that the solitary quest of the wolf is what I have always been attracted to in this pack. It really speaks to the reader on a deeper level, which I think contradicts many people's idea of this being no more than a beginners deck. This is possibly due to the way in which the wolves behave and look into our eyes. There are no gimmicks or flashing lights here; just really sensitive art without ego.

It's really raining here today. We definitely picked the right day to go to London as it would have been murder to have walked around in this. I'm not really sure what to do with myself today. My boyfriend did ask me what the plan is, but I am not up to going out in this weather. I have been thinking about emails I should send and the updating of my CV. That's me testing the water with my paw and looking at ways to reconnect with my career.




Illustrations from The Wolf Pack Tarot Deck by Robert Petro and illustrated by Pat Morris.

The Wary Wolf

So, here's my first draw with Robert Petro's Wolf Pack. The wolf in this card kind of edges back. He has seen a rattle snake and is behaving carefully not to disturb it. I get the feeling that the snake will let him be if he doesn't antagonise it. This card reminds me of last night. There was a spider in the kitchen, so because my boyfriend is frightened of them, I went and picked it up to take outside. Usually, if they are big, this is not so difficult, but this one was hard to get into my hand. Eventually, it kind of drew back and then pounced, biting me. It didn't really hurt but I was a little shocked by it's attack.

I wonder if this card has anything to do with the job I mentioned here already. While laying in bed the other morning, I pretty much decided that I wouldn't apply for it. I think I'd rather wait for a more appropriate job and after talking with Kate the other day (who also taught many years back), I still feel a little intimidated by the teens I might meet there. She has been in a referral unit before and said that it isn't much fun. This was the first thing that I saw in this card, Awareness - the snake represents the pupils and I am the wary wolf. I may very well change my mind, but for the moment, even though I'm aware that I can probably do the job, I am not sure that I want to work under those conditions.

Today has been quiet, which was much needed after the last few days. When we took my boyfriend's niece and nephew to London yesterday, we had to leave their little sister behind. She is 3 and it would probably have been too much for her at that age. We have taken her out in the car before but I think all of the walking about would have proved a nightmare. Since she wasn't coming, we said we'd bring little Sophie back a gift. When asked what she wanted, she said an elephant. Throughout the day, her mum says she had gone outside the front of the house twice to see if we were home.

There was an exhibition of wire sculptures in the Tower of London under the title of Royal Beasts. Apparently, many wild animals were gifted to the royals, including a polar bear, which was allowed to swim in the Thames daily for fish, while attached to a long chain. I read that an elephant was sent as a present from France in the 1200s, so while in the shop, we found a cuddly one for Sophie. We also got her a headband with elephant ears on for her to wear. When we gave it to her, she was so excited. She put the ears on and held on to the cuddly toy tightly, telling me that she would be taking it to bed with her.




Illustrations from The Wolf Pack Tarot Deck by Robert Petro and illustrated by Pat Morris.

The Story Teller

The last few days have been filled with kids and have been good, although exhausting. We made The Smurf Movie on Sunday afternoon, even though I am guessing that out of the nine of us, I got the most from it. I was expecting it to be a hash-up, unconnected to the original stories and cartoons, but it was actually really nicely done. All of the smurf-history was there and the film depicted them as mythological creatures, derived from Belgium and created by Peyo (as they were). A handful of the little blue creatures had found their way to New York (isn't that where every dinosaur, alien or overground ape finds himself?) by being dragged into a vortex and could only return when the stars were aligned and there was a blue moon. Of course, there was all of the usual action and adventure in between, complete with the wizard Gargamel and his cat, Azrael, but the point of the story was how magic happens under the light of a blue moon and that we must listen to our heart when making decisions. Even though some of the younger kids wanted to leave after about two thirds of the movie, I admit to having felt a tad emotional when Clumsy Smurf finally overcame his two left feet and became a hero.

After the film, we drove to a remote little pub, complete with garden and play area, and chatted for an hour or so while the kids played. It was nice to relax out of the movie and the sun was really shining, despite the bad weather forecast. The rest of the evening revolved around popping into my parents for me to pack a bag (where the two little three year olds fed the fish in the garden), dropping my mate off, and then going back to my boyfriends, so that we were ready for the next day's adventure.

We managed to defeat the rain again yesterday. In fact, it was so warm that it was kind of uncomfortable to walk around in. We hit the Tower of London first. I have to say that I was a little disappointed with that. It is a beautiful castle, but on the (very) long walk around it's perimeter, there was not so much for the kids to see. The other problem was the crowds. The queue to see the Crown Jewels was like a long and winding snake, zigzagging up and down the grounds, with about twenty bends. Once we had finally made our way inside, we were greeted with three more rooms of snaky queues before even getting a sniff of the jewels. After taking a look at Traitors Gate and turning our noses up at the next unmoving queue outside the Bloody Tower, the kids had had enough and I was wanting a slice of normality, so we took the tube back into the West End after our three hours in there.

Now you know what I am like; it would have been very unlike me to be in London without visiting at least one tarot shop, so while my boyfriend took the three kids for lunch, I took my friend Sarah to Watkins. We spent a good half an hour dawdling about Cecil Court, before re-joining the others and taking the train to London Bridge. We only had an hour in The Tate Modern, so zipped up to the fifth floor to take the kids to a more interactive exhibition. On one side, we saw some Dufy, Warhol, Picasso and Lichenstein, but on the other, we were greeted with ripped up pieces of paper, chairs stacked on top of each other, and some mud dropped on a plinth. When a 9 year old asks you what is so special about a pile of washing dumped on the floor, it's kind of telling when you can't think of an answer and end up agreeing with him.

Before sitting on a roof garden for a drink by the Thames, which was lovely, I zipped round the main shop and bought some postcards for my overseas friend. It was so lovely to be by the river, since we'd been on our feet for ten hours by that time. We were all tired. In fact, the only thing that was still charged up with no likelihood of failing, was the kids chatter. They were all on pretty good behaviour and it is nice that they all get on so well.

While in Watkins, my friend bought the Edward Gorey Fantod deck. I had considered it myself, but wondered if I would ever use it. Having said that, while we were looking at it on the train home, I saw so many possibilities for the random cards and how my friend could use them. When in the shop, I came across a deck I'd seen there before. It is probably one of the first decks I'd added to my unconscious wish-list, but have never seen for sale until the last time I was in London with my blogging friend. On that time I had passed it up for The Favole, but yesterday, found it hard to resist. It was between it and the Tarot of the Sweet Twilight, but the images on The Wolf Pack by Robert Petro (illustrated by Pat Morris) were too strong to ignore.

A lot of people will probably not like this deck for a multitude of reasons - mainly due to it's having the meanings printed straight onto the cards. The deck doesn't follow traditional tarot structure either; it does have 78 cards, but no suits, no traditional titling, and no courts (apart from one card for an alpha male and another for an alpha female). In that sense, it is a little like an oracle. I imagine that you can either take these elements as either it's weakness or it's strength. As Sarah said, the little interpretations add story to what already feels like the illustrations of a child's story book. For me, the images are so beautiful and sensitively done; this is why I have always wanted the 'pack'. It's a real story-teller. When I opened the box on getting home, my boyfriend and I laid on the bed and turned on a film. I wasn't particularly interested in the television, but as I slipped off the decks shrink-wrap, a wolf was shown running towards the camera in the snow. He stopped and looked straight into the viewers eyes. It felt like a sign. Yup, I think I picked the right set.

Sometimes, I choose an oracle based on whether the cards make sense for me personally. There are some really lovely ones in here - so many good ones to choose from, but this morning, I was drawn to Choices (card 52), Compassion (card 38), Emotion (card 19), Obstacles (card 17), and The Well (card 66). For card 66, the few sentences of guidance say "Within yourself is a wealth of information. If you know how to draw from the well within, it will bring you new found skills, talents and strength". Card 38, Compassion, shows a picture of a wolf and a young fawn. It says "You realise the innocence of a person and choose not to create harm. The lesson is to know that you CAN, but choose not to. You may be in a situation that requires compassion from others. It will come".

There is something very calming about The Wolf Pack. It suggests a journey. What I like about it is that with so many new tarot decks on the market reaching out for attention, this one doesn't seem to care if you like it or not. It is what it is. After fourteen years of buying tarot decks and wanting this one, I am so glad that it is finally in my home.

Illustrations from The Wolf Pack Tarot Deck by Robert Petro and illustrated by Pat Morris.

Blue Sunday

I think that the second card in today's draw has come up more than any other from The Dark Beach Oracle. I thought about this when I took the deck into the garden to draw from this morning. Because of having things planned today, I wondered if it was there to represent my friends again. All together, maybe the many draws of that same card have something to do with my having a lot of people around me.

I feel pretty refreshed this morning. My boyfriend and I laid in bed last night and watched a couple of films. Well, for me, it was only one really, since I just couldn't get my head around Conquest of the Plant of the Apes. They scared me as a kid, and all of these years later, there is something about them which still made me feel uncomfortable, so I settled down with earplugs and eye-mask, hoping that what I'd seen of the 1970s chimps wouldn't be entering my nightmares any time soon.

For today, the first card represents a building. That's kind of what I thought of when I made it, and today, it is the cinema it symbolises. That's me in the crowd, with friends and family, watching a movie. My boyfriend has booked tickets for nine of us to go to the cinema this afternoon to see The Smurfs Movie. Even though we'll have four kids with us, the expedition to the smurf village is centred around me really. I loved the smurfs when I was a kid. Even though we didn't have a car when we were living in South London, my mum used to take me into the Shell petrol garage to choose one of the little figurines every so often. They were always lined up on a high shelf behind the counter to choose from. I adored getting a new one on our way to the supermarket and kept them in a little drawstring kit bag, which I used to take out with me.

When I hit my twenties, I saw a small one sitting on a shelf in a second-hand store. It brought back so many memories that my ex-boyfriend bought it for me. It was the beginning of something. I started to look for them in antique fairs, charity shops, and anywhere I thought they might be, scanning through the stalls for a glimpse of that trademark blue and white. I don't buy them now, but the loft is literally filled with them. There are hundreds and hundreds of the small figures in plastic trunks; there are videos, lamps, sleeping bags, smurf houses, glasses, and games. There are even two unpacked McDonalds drive-through packs, with all of the components needed to promote them in a store. To be honest, there is so much up there, including over eighty large cuddly smurf soft toys, that I can't even remember buying a lot of it. After I'd been with my boyfriend for a while, I let him into the secret of what lay dormant in the loft and he's been saying that we must go and see the 3-D movie since it's release was announced. To save our reputations, we are taking his sister and her three kids, my friend Kate and her daughter, and another member of his family.

We are going to London tomorrow. This is another thing we are doing for the kids. We took his niece and nephew to the Science and Natural History museums a year ago and they always ask if we can go back again. On tomorrow's itinerary, we have The Tower of London and the Tate Modern. I'm prepared for being pretty tired by tomorrow evening. We are going with my friend Sarah and her little boy as we did the last time, and after that previous visit, we were all absolutely exhausted. The kids were all very well behaved but we needed to have eyes like hawks, since they had a habit of wandering off into the crowds. I am hoping that the year in between the two visits might have calmed them down a little. I went to The Tower of London with my dad as a child and am looking forward to going back again. My boyfriend is going to charge up his camera, so hopefully I will get some good backgrounds for my Photographic Tarot. I haven't been to the Tate for quite a few years, so I am excited about that too.

As the time ticks on, we are sitting here in our night clothes, drinking coffee, but I am aware that I need to start sorting out clothes for tomorrow and get ready for this afternoon. As per usual, I will probably leave it to the last minute.



Illustrations from The Dark Beach Oracle by Prince Le Normand

Cut Me Down

The Hanged Man swings from his post. If you flipped the card upside down, you'd see that he is smiling and appears content. It is just as well that that Page of Swords is facing in the other direction or he'd probably take a swipe at the rope that the guy hangs from. He is younger than the hanging man and doesn't always think before opening his mouth or jumping into action. At the moment, he is enjoying swinging his sword about in the air. He is a raging torrent of ideas and has much to say; not all of it considered.

The last few days have been busy. I met with my friends on Thursday evening and chatted with them into the early hours. There was something about the atmosphere in town. It had a faint feel of Christmas about it; probably because the evenings are beginning to darken and I don't really get out to do things like that in the middle of the week that much anymore - weekends in town have a boisterous atmosphere and are quite different. My teaching friend was a help with regards to advice and we talked about the job I am still considering applying for. She also thinks that I can handle it and gave me some ideas around what I could share in my workshops with the kids. In a sense, I see this in today's cards; I have been in suspension with regard to work, but new thoughts and ideas are starting to take form, as indicated by the Page of Swords.

I got up pretty early yesterday and went over to see my friend and her daughter. We had coffee on her patio and then took her little girl to the library. She treated us all to dinner on our way back. There are some friends who are just so easy to be around and Kate is one of them. We talked tarot for a while, as she had been on a day's course, which she found inspiring and seemed to have learned a lot from. The tutor taught from home and had invited her and her friend there. It was just the three of them and the lady provided lunch. Kate suggested that I could do something similar when I finally have a place of my own and it is another idea I will give some more thought. I always thought about teaching tarot in some way but never considered this method of personal tuition on a smaller scale before.

My boyfriend fancied going for a drink last night. After being out the night before, I wasn't so into the idea, but did it for him. He had had a hard day at work and last night was the first evening of his ten days off. We went across the road and my mate joined us. Once there, I was happy to be out. I like popping over to the local more than going into the main town; the night's are more relaxed and we can roll home at a reasonable hour.

This post is one of both good and bad news. When my boyfriend picked me up from Kate's, he told me that his neighbour's son had been killed in a motorbike accident. He was just 25. I don't know him, but occasionally said hello or smiled when we passed each other outside of the house. I find it so difficult to get my head around how someone can be here one day and then not the next. His parents must be in an unimaginable place at the moment. How awful must it be to wave someone off in the morning and for them to never come back?

You may remember my posts about Richard, who was badly injured in Bali and needed to be flown home to the UK in an air ambulance. The £80,000 that was loaned by an unknown benefactor seems to be half-paid at the moment, so with £40,000 still to raise, there is a string of events planned for tomorrow. The good news involves his recovery. When his father went to sit at his bedside, as usual the doctors told him that they had a surprise. When he walked into the room, Richard was sitting in a chair. He is now out of his coma. From what I have heard, there is still a long way to go, but he is beginning to respond to people. In the local news, it was said that he grinned when his father asked him to give his mum a smile. This doesn't make up for the terrible motorcycle accident that killed my boyfriend's neighbour, but like many, I am relieved that Richard has begun to find his way out of the darkness he has been cloaked under for nearly two months. The cards seem to have pulled up many situations and I see them in this one too. The Page of Swords is often seen as a messenger. In Richard's case, he has turned and cut the guy down from his period of suspension, which we found out about this morning.

It is so warm today. While my boyfriend had a lay in, my parents drove me to a boot fair this morning - one of my favourite things to do. I bought a mini Sharman Caselli for a pound and a little gift for my friend abroad. It was so hot that it was uncomfortable to walk around there. My boyfriend and I have just finished dinner, and with the windows open, we can hear the sound of a barbecue a couple of doors away. Oddbod and her vile clan are there and I can hear the gob of her youngest precocious brat above everyone else. Despite the din of Dumber, we are relaxed and looking forward to a few days of more planned activities as we embark on my boyfriend's holiday from work.



Illustrations from The Sharman Caselli Tarot by Giovanni Caselli

Bloody Tearaways!

Today's cards are interesting. Mainly because I think they are speaking of a situation in my subconscious; something I am mildly aware of, but have not yet completely acknowledged. Do you remember me saying that when a court falls on the left, I see it as representing myself? Well, there I am; the Knight of Cups, trotting into the distance with my chalice slowly. Behind me sits the King of Pentacles. He's holding one of those discs I've been talking about in my last couple of posts, but I have chosen not to take it on my journey.

Even though I am yet to make my mind up about the job in the kids referral unit, I wonder if these cards suggest that my commitment to the idea is weakening. The King of Pentacles becomes my agency. He holds the dollar, but maybe money has little to do with the decision. The Knight of Cups is a sensitive chap. I'm not so sure that he could handle it in a place like that.

I was thinking that this knight would rather choose something he is passionate about than take a job just for the money, but here, that doesn't entirely follow because I am genuinely interested in supporting kids that have somehow fallen off of the system and would like to find ways to help them get back onto it again. I would be a liar if I said I hadn't been thrown from the same horse a couple of times myself. Many of the kids who were rioting a week or so ago had lost their way and I see creative and inspiring projects like this as being a step towards getting them back on the right road; helping them find skills and interests which they won't want to lose. Of course, I need work and money, but these jobs always mean much more to me than that. I am just not sure I have the armour of steel needed to work on this specific one. I read in the notes that the kids can be physically defensive, but I feel as though it is my emotions which are most at risk. Children can sense fear or a lack of confidence in others.

So as we stand, I am yet to make a decision. This knight needs to choose what is the best for him and not feel guilty about walking away from work, which I know I will, should I pass this up. I am meeting two friends this evening and will chat with them about it. One is a teacher. I don't think that she has worked in schools with a bad reputation, as I already have, but she might have some pearls of wisdom to depart.

I am surprised that The Tower didn't catapult itself into my reading today, since I have what my mum would call a muzzy head. The card often turns up with migraines. I tried to sleep it off for a couple of hours, wearing an eye mask to block out the light, but it is still nestled in the front of my forehead. It's funny how I always seem to get these kind of headaches when there is a change in the weather. It has gone from being pretty sunny to dark and rainy this afternoon. I didn't get much sleep last night and was up from 4am. There was a real noise outside of my boyfriend's house and when I got up to see what it was, I counted at least eight foxes, running around the green. They were making a real racket and two of them were up on their hind legs, fighting. I guess they could have been youngsters, playing with one another. I don't think I have ever seen that many foxes together at one time. It was as though they were having a riot of their own, as they fought and tried to rip their way through rubbish bags, looking for food. It could just be their night out on the green that has given me my headache. Bloody tearaways!




Illustrations from The Sharman Caselli Tarot by Giovanni Caselli

Wishful Thinking?

So the woman didn't want to buy our house, saying that it was a little on the small side; another in a long line of people who have found the icy-cold in what we have been encouraged to believe was a hot property. Our Ray of Sunshine is yet to walk through the door.

When I drew these two cards with my coffee this morning, I wondered if the two options indicated by The Lovers a couple of days ago are the two pentacles that the guy in the card on the right is tossing up in the air. A lot of people see him to be juggling these discs, so I wonder if the card has anything to do with eventually being able to use both agents successfully and at the same time. The core of the reading is the 8 of Pentacles. I like this guy. The last time that this particular version turned up, I was making a patchwork wall hanging and a little girl's dress. He pays attention to detail and has great skill. It may be wishful thinking, but are my skills soon to be required by more than one source? I say this because if the cards switched sides, the core meaning would be about fluctuation, which would give the reading a slightly shakier foundation. My work and ability is the focus here, which feels positive and stable. I haven't heard back from my friend about last night's meeting, but with the new school term beginning soon, I guess it is possible that my abilities could soon be in movement and in demand once again.



Illustrations from The Sharman Caselli Tarot by Giovanni Caselli

The Second Option?

Every picture tells a story. Look at these two as an example. That young Page of Cups seems to be having a fine old time, playing about with his cup and fish. He's definitely captivated by it as it pops up to say hello and thinks he'll take it to show his queen. He tries his best to carry it to her without spilling a drop, but her royal highness, old moody-pants, is not interested. She barricades herself from the lad with her throne and turns her back on him and his new pet. One step too close, and she's likely to take a swipe at his throat with her sword.

I can see this story in the two cards. That's one thing I really like about the Sharman Caselli Tarot; it is simple, but so evocative. The cards work so clearly together. But what is really happening here? I could easily re-write my first paragraph in a different way -

"Every picture tells a story. Look at these two as an example. That young guy seems to be having a fine old time in his new relationship and wants to tell the world about his new love. He's definitely captivated by her and thinks he'll go to tell his queen all about it. He tries his best to get to her, but her royal highness, old moody-pants, is not particularly interested. She barricades herself from the lad by not answering the door and turning off her phone. One step too close, and she's likely to break. She's heard his tales of new love many times before".

When I read two cards like this, I see the first as the core of the reading, so when it is a court, it is me. The second card adds flavour, so when that is a court, it is someone else. My boyfriend often says that I can be unemotive. I am not entirely sure that I agree with that, since I can be overcome with emotion quite easily. However, I can control my feelings to some extent and hide them behind a seemingly tough exterior. This is what the Queen of Swords does. She only shows one side of her face and keeps that which is personal hidden. This can often (and quite unfairly) make her appear cold.

The other character in this duo is the complete opposite of the queen. His emotion is held out for all to see and he wants to share it with everyone. I have become somewhat reclusive of late. I go through these stages where I draw within and wish to hide like the queen. I don't necessarily mean to offend or cut anyone with the sharpness of my sword, but I do feel a need to barricade myself away from the emotional neediness, sociability, or naivety of others, as this Queen of Swords would. I think these cards highlight that today as my mind becomes once again connected with work and no more. The water in the first card is mainly hidden, but it is there. The lady's head is in the clouds of intellect and thought, which she cuts through effortlessly with her weapon; her mind is far above the realms of water and emotion and her heart is kept safe.

I received a reply from my friend. She expressed confidence in my working practice, saying that she thinks I would be able to offer the kids engaging workshops in the pupil referral unit. She has had experience of a place like this and says that the pupils she worked with were heavily into fashion. However, she also reminded me that these kids could be tough - having been failed by the education system in some way and coming from difficult home lives, they need to work without judgement and require a lot of encouragement. When I was working on one of my last projects, my friend was based in a centre for teenagers who had been thrown out of timetabled lessons. Whenever I visited her to meet for lunch, I often wondered how I would deal with a group of kids like the ones I met there and thanked God that I was tucked away with my enthusiastic and polite boys at the back of the site. As much as this job doesn't sound like a walk in the park, something about the project still grabs at my trouser leg. I have got a week or so to think about it and see if there are some workshops I can put together that might be to their benefit.

It was definitely a good idea to write to my friend. I got a real sense of her in two of the three cards in my last reading. She also mentioned in her mail that she is meeting with other agents tonight, regarding the setting up a new business. She has added me to her list of the people she wishes to work on their books, so lets hope this is another opportunity for work in the pipeline. This is interesting, because my friend, Shaheen, made a comment about The Lovers card in my reading yesterday which is pretty apt now. I looked at the card as one of making a single decision, but he reminded me of the element of choices. Even though there were not two options available to choose from yesterday, this mentioning of work through a new business might be the second option he spoke about coming to the surface today.




Illustrations from The Sharman Caselli Tarot by Giovanni Caselli

To Play it Safe or Not?

An email popped into my inbox this afternoon, asking whether I (and everyone else it was addressed to) was interested in a freelance job, lasting for just 12 days. It would be once a week, leading up to Christmas. Needing work, I looked at the attachment and realised that it is in a pupil referral unit. This means that all of the kids I would work with would have been excluded from school and are probably pretty challenging. I decided to pull a couple of cards to see what they said. I received The Lovers and the Ace of Wands.

The Lovers is no surprise, for it blatantly suggests a decision which needs to be made. See the guy in the centre? Well, he's scratching his chin and deciding whether to either go for the safe options only or apply to the job in the pupil referral unit. The girl on the left tells him to play it safe, since it's not worth putting himself through the stress of it all, where as the woman on the right is that little bit more experienced and feels that he can handle himself in a place like that. She reminds him that he needs the work and money. While this is all going on, out of nowhere, a wand of opportunity is thrust in their direction. The man in the centre affords it a glance and notices the building in the distance. This represents a goal. In this case, the seed offered might mean earning some good money, a little security, and could add another diverse and interesting line to the experience on his CV. What does a guy do?

I pulled the card from the bottom of the deck and noticed that it was the 3 of Pentacles. As I said the other day when it turned up in my daily draw, this card is all about painting my future. Is this a colour I wish to add to my palette? Having this card shadow the reading feels like a good sign. I can't help but notice that the older woman in The Lovers card looks very much like the woman in the background of the 3 of Pentacles. I am wondering if it hints at my asking the advice of someone with more experience than I have, who has done this kind of thing before. I think it is suggesting I fire off an email to my colleague and friend Cathi, and ask her what she thinks.

After the positive two cards pulled before bed last night, our estate agent called and booked a viewing with me. A woman and her daughter have just left. They were polite and friendly and were looking for somewhere to rent out. They liked the kitchen and fireplace, but I guess you can never really tell if people are interested or not. I looked out at our garden just now and tried to work out what there is to dislike about it. We never really get too excited after people come and look round, but due to drawing such positive cards last night, I wondered if they were the rays of The Sun who are about to change our luck.



Illustrations from The Sharman Caselli Tarot by Giovanni Caselli

The Land of Limbo

Even though I don't use hard and fast positions in my two card readings. I often think of the first card as the core. It's what's going on. The second is usually like the supporting actress, giving the reading, or main ingredient, a little seasoning. Take the two cards I drew last night before bed. I wanted to see where things are headed with the house move. In recent times, they have produced no more than doom and gloom, but yesterday evening's duo were bright and exuberant. The first card was The Sun, suggesting warmth, honesty, and positivity. I don't often receive this card, so it was a joy to turn it over with regards to our potential move. The second card was the 10 of Cups. For me, this indicated that the energising rays of The Sun are connected to completion and fulfillment. I mean, what illustration could be better? We see a family, happy and content, standing outside of their palace. With a window of a couple of months stamped on this reading, are things soon to liven up and gain momentum while the summer sun is still shining? I must say that the cards did make me wonder if our two year struggle to sell our house might soon be over.

If last night's cards represent the next few months in our plans to move, then today's cards definitely show where things are at this moment. The light of The Sun has been stripped away for the darkness of The Moon. This card symbolises uncertainty, which we are definitely feeling at the moment. We have had about three or four people through the door in the last month, but nobody has seriously nibbled at the bait. My dad dropped in and saw the estate agent last week and asked if they knew something we do not, but he said that despite nobody making an offer, the responses have all been good. One interpretation of The Hanged Man is suspension. Yup, I can definitely see that. We are swinging in the land of Limbo, with nothing much going on.

When something happens at night time, people often say, 'Let's sort it out in the morning' or 'There's nothing we can do about it until tomorrow'. When The Moon glides over a reading, it suggests a cycle that needs to be respected. That crab isn't rushing to get out of the pool of water and I think advice lingers there. We need to let this situation take it's course naturally. We cannot force people to buy our home and have already made sacrifices, such as decorating and having the tree cut for the better good of the sale. I am hoping that The Sun will soon shine over this situation, but until then, a little bit more patience is required.




Illustrations from The Sharman Caselli Tarot by Giovanni Caselli

The Man in the Middle

So, what is going on here then? We have a couple with crossed swords and a young man in the middle, covering his ears. Today's card is the 2 of Swords from The New Mythic Tarot and the man in the middle is Orestes. It would seem that he is living amongst some kind of tension, as symbolised by his feuding parents.

On occasion, I can relate to how Orestes is feeling, as it isn't so difficult to find yourself in the middle of people's disagreements or difference of opinion. I find that when some friends have problems with one another, they come and tell me, rather than sort it out between themselves. It kind of reminds me of this card, because it never really solves anything in the long run. Because Orestes chooses to cover his ears, this card often describes a time when we purposely don't face up to or acknowledge something which is unpleasant and therefore are not moving forward. This is why the card is often described as a stalemate. I guess that this could relate to a few things in my life that I have been choosing to avoid or put off.



Adapted Illustration from The New Mythic Tarot by Giovanni Caselli

A Few More

I really enjoyed making collages from my photos of friends and family last night; so much so that I got up early and made some more. They remind me of The Mountain Dream Tarot a little. Or the more modern Fauwkner. But instead of being strangers, they are my circle of friends, woven together within the loose pages of this project, fused with my imagination and how I see the cards. There was something so refreshing about designing and making these. The Green Tarot takes a long time. Each card involves hours and hours of work. Recently, it was so satisfying to just make two Instant Oracles and the Dark Beach Oracle. More importantly, it was good to be able to use something I had made and see them used elsewhere.

In today's cards, my friend Kate and her daughter, Isis, sit at the edge of the sea, planning an adventure in the 2 of Wands. My father sleeps his way through the 4 of Swords. And my boyfriend's little niece, Sophie, runs from the lightning-struck Tower. Behind her, you can see the twin towers of Reculver, that my boyfriend and I visited and photographed last year. We had seen the ruin from miles away and wondered what it was, so followed the roads until we found it. It was almost as if it was calling us to it.

I purposely chose a friend I like for the Queen of Wands; our friend from Birmingham, Sarah, who enjoys to let her hair down and is warm. My parents walk forward in the 8 of Cups, and we see the apathy and boredom of a child, as my friend's son Max slumps to the bottom of the 4 of Cups.

Image from The Photographic Tarot by Prince Le Normand

The Fun of Creating

Sometimes, it's just fun to create, isn't it? So with no guilt about the projects I previously started and haven't finished, I played about some more with photographs I had taken and made these. You've already met Charlie in the 3 of Wands, but now, meet Kate (the Priestess), Sarah (the Hermit), and Chris, (the Horned God).

Image from The Photographic Tarot by Prince Le Normand

My Days of Innocense

It was good for me to get out yesterday. I think it was what I needed. I went round to my friends and we walked to a small village, where we looked in some charity shops and then sat in a pub garden for a bit. As another friend lives there, I left a message with her to say I was in town. She has had a bit of a hard time of late and has been up and down. Yesterday was a downer for her, so in an attempt to grab the bull by the horns, we went round to see her, uninvited. I think that it was what she needed as well, because it forced her to get up and pull herself together.

I hadn't really wanted to do anything this weekend, but once my friend had put her makeup on, she wanted to take us for a drink, so we went to a small wine bar next to her house and sat outside. Her parents came too and then my boyfriend eventually completed the six of us after he'd finished work. Because of my friend not feeling so good, her parents were worried about leaving her, so we offered to stay with her for the night. We took the conversation and a curry back to hers half way through the evening.

Today's card suggests emotional fulfillment and warmth. I think it represents my friends and family; the palace behind them might symbolise a place of emotional comfort and security. As an only child, I think it's quite nice to see a family of three in this illustration, rather than the traditional four.

My boyfriend was very generous today, buying my parents a printer for their new laptop. It is a good one and I think they were quite touched; the colours in the sample he printed out while settling it up were great. He also bought me a CD. At the risk of embarrassing myself, it is the greatest hits of Bucks Fizz. On our trip to Birmingham the other week, we had joked about buying one of their albums, so he ordered it. Bucks Fizz were probably my first musical love as a kid. My childhood wall was filled with their posters and I played their records endlessly. My favourite member was Jay Aston, who I'd say was the first popstar I became a fan of. In my young mind, she was beautiful. When I look back now, I can understand all of the reasons why I liked her. In comparison to the remainder of the band, she was edgier and less sugary-sweet. She used to customise her clothes and was always the one I looked for in the pictures. When you think of the kind of acts that popped up later in the 80s, such as Madonna, you could probably say that Jay was ahead of her time. My boyfriend and I listened to it on the way home this morning. It brought back so many memories from my days of innocence; especially my old favourite, When We Were Young, which was sung by Jay.

Two other friends asked us to go out this evening, but after yesterday's impromptu night away from home, we really just want to stay home in our palace this evening as we had originally planned to.




llustration from The Mystic Dreamer Tarot by Heidi Darras