Posts Tagged ‘tarot’

This Summer on the Bohemian Blog, I created a feature article series dedicated to “Inner Beauty”. It was originally designed to be a brief respite from our busy lives, offering a moment to relax and reflect on the beauty in our world, both natural and man made. These articles have proved to be so popular, that I’ve decided to continue this series year round as I meet more beautiful and talented conscious creators who bring such natural wonders to our world. This Fall, the focus evolves into ‘Exploring Within’ as we delve into the mysteries of the connection between this world and the other side. On this path, I encountered Pamela Wells, creator of Affirmations for the Everyday Goddess Tarot Guidance Cards. Her work connects every women to the Inner Goddess living within. Join us here as we enter into a sacred space of discussion and exploration.

Kala: Hi Pamela, Thanks for joining me here. You’ve created Affirmations for the Everyday Goddess Tarot Cards, which are described as valuable tools for spiritual seekers, tarot practitioners and women of any age. The cards are based on the major arcana cards of the tarot, with this set featuring 22 goddess cards. What was your inspiration to create this metaphysical line of art centered on women and the goddess?

Pamela: I had reached a transitional period in my illustration and design career where I wanted to pursue creative work with less restrictive design rules. At about the same time I met a medicine woman who mentored and encouraged me to paint and draw what I felt passionate about. One of the first images I painted was the Strength card. The Strength card is mid-point in a majors only tarot deck and suggests inner growth and awareness that evolves over our lifetimes. Strength says, “I wisely use my life-force energy to create and direct my good work in the world.” The archetypal significance or the card represented to me a message of passionate action. I was ready to fully incorporate the meaning of this card in my life.

It was wonderful I had a mentor friend who understood my need to find more meaning and to create work I felt passionate about. Once I began painting, I realized I could be guided in the painting process through my meditation and prayer. All these wonderful synchronistic events unfolded during the creation of the card deck as my faith grew that all would be well even if I didn’t know where the project would lead me.

I created the remaining major arcana cards in a similar co-creative process. What I envisioned was often informed by my own life experience and through inner guidance.

Kala: The cards are available in a gold-framed collector’s set boxed edition which also includes a 120 page spiritual guidebook and a wisdom prayer guide to be used with the cards. What really intrigued me though, was the fact that you also have the cards available as an app for the iPhone and iPod. I’ve had the opportunity to play with the cards on my iPhone and have really enjoyed the experience. I now refer to the app as: “Tarot on the Go”! It’s been very entertaining and enlightening to be anywhere with my iPhone and have a question on my mind and then open up my Goddess iPhone app and ask the question and there are the cards right there, speaking to me. What prompted you to turn the cards into an iPhone app?

Pamela: How the iPhone/iPod format came about was very synchronistic. Martin Adams, the Ceo of Wisdom Titles, invited me to submit the Affirmations for the Everyday Goddess deck. I thought it was a great opportunity to introduce another useful format for readers.I met Martin Adams years earlier through my husband who worked for him at his Anusara Yoga Studio. I had no idea that he had started a new company called Wisdom Titles for ebooks, iPhone and iPod apps until he contacted me through email. Likewise, he had no idea I had created a deck set until we reconnected. In the iPhone/iPod format the deck of cards and book is made available in a convenient any time, any where use. I agree it is great to have when immediate guidance is needed. The only thing the app doesn’t currently include are the introductory chapters of the deck set which we plan to add in at a later date.

Kala: Describe how the process of creating the cards worked for you? Do you work with spirit guides? Does the information come first and then the artwork or do they flow out at the same time?

Pamela: What a wonderful question. The creative process is so important in all areas of life as well as honoring the power of our creative-intuitive right brains. When creating artwork I start with an inspirational idea. The word inspired actually means “in spirit” so I get into a state of mind that can best described as animated creativity. My ideas about imagery for painting come about when I am walking in a remote canyon or local nature trail. Since I am visually oriented I “see” the images as if they were being projected from the back of my eyes to a screen in the back of my mind. So, the process begins with envisioning the imagery for the composition first. Then during the painting process I paint in the symbolic elements and details as they come about naturally. I do dialogue with my spirit guides. I usually contact them in more of a meditation or quite state when I am unsure about something. I usually start with the question “What do I need to know?” During the creative process my guides are co-creating with me!

Kala: How important is it do you think to connect Body Mind and Spirit in all activities?

Pamela: In our culture, we are rewarded and receive praise for doing something even if there is an internal resistance, no matter what we feel or believe, and to just “do it”. Indeed, we become masters of even even doing many things at once (multitasking) in the interests of efficiency and goal achieving. However, the downside of all of this doing is that we often feel burnt out and stressed.This is a life that is driven by quantity.

Another approach is to periodically pause the doing and return to the reason and intention behind what you are doing. When you reconnect to the source of your energies, you begin to call all of who you are into unity. This connection recharges your mind, body, and heart in service of what you believe. So when you resume your doing, there is a more optimal flow of your energy and it can be done more clearly and effectively. This connection of mind, body, and heart (Spirit), is vital to sustaining a life of purpose and inspiration. This approach invites you to the quality of how you participate in activities – “how you do it”. It is what keeps your burning bright and not burned out.

Kala: Your education and background includes working as a fine artist, commercial illustrator, graphics and web designer for over twenty years, with an interest in the study of transpersonal psychology, integral transformative spiritual practice and the evolution of human consciousness. How has your career inspired you – and – what you create as an artist?

Pamela: My career has been an excellent source of experience, training and skills which include good communication with clients and an understanding of color and design that help sell a client’s products or services. I have always been interested in business but it has only been in the last 10 years I had the intention to work for client’s who had business interests related to my personal studies in spirituality and transpersonal psychology. Working for clients in the healing arts is when I am inspired the most. It is a real pleasure to bring together my education, experience and training with my passion for transpersonal human development and the evolution of higher consciousness.

Kala: As an entrepreneur, you’ve found an outlet to share your talents with the world. How does what you do for a living also express who you are as a person?

Pamela: I have always been creative and an independent thinker which is rarely encouraged or viewed as an asset in most business settings. Being self-employed I can do creative commercial work for clients and work independently on my own projects without as many creative limitations. Lately I am working with clients who hire me for my unique style and creative approach. Most of my clients now have buinesses in the healing arts or are looking for stylized design/illustration solutions that incorporate an understanding of these markets. My own personal creative focus has been in service to supporting and empowering women and other spiritually inspired artists.

Kala: How would you describe your personal spiritual path? Do you feel that you are continuing the work as described in the past as of the Goddess or walking a similar path?

Pamela: My own spiritual path could best be described as the healing path of the wounded healer. A wounded healer is from a family with a history of emotional or physical abuse. I believe this life path was essential to my understanding of universal lessons that helped me survive difficult times and helped me choose a life of internal power and purpose.

So, through my own life experience I would define an Everyday Goddess as a women who understands and uses her external and internal power to shape her life in a co-creative way with the Divine.

My creative work is part of an evolutionary shift in consciousness of what it means to be a woman. I believe women co-create history with men and can reject continuing to be victims of past history. It is important for women to take responsibility for their own choices, past and present and stand side-by-side with men as equal co-creators for an enlightened future. Part of women transcending victimhood includes taking responsibility for our own evolution, realizing unity with other women, being emotionally rational and standing autonomously without wavering. There is much more I have to say about how women can empower themselves in the Affirmations for the Everyday Goddess deck.

Kala: I couldn’t agree more Pamela and this is the time for the return and rise of the Divine Feminine in all aspects. Regarding your work, do you accept custom orders for art? and what has been your favorite product or artwork that you have designed thus far?

Pamela: I do accept custom orders. Most of the art for the Affirmations for the Everyday Goddess cards were custom portraits of friends or colleagues.

My favorite painting is the cover image of the women picking the apple. She is meaningful to me because the archetypal imagery in this composition points to similar themes in all the Everyday Goddess cards. She is rather mysterious and I like that. Surrender into the mystery is the first act to begin to understand the paradoxical nature of the divine feminine.

Everyday Goddess Tarot Cards by Pamela Wells

Kala: Who is Pamela Wells? If your friends and family were to describe you in five sentences, what would they say?

Pamela: I think they would say that when I am inspired about something, I will pursue it with the highest level of steadfastness and commitment. Or maybe they would say jokingly that I am very stubborn! They would say I am curious – a student of life, loving, playful and fierce as a warrior if I feel my loved ones are threatened.

Kala: What advice would you give to someone who wanted to connect more with their entrepreneurial side and start their own business?

Pamela: Follow your heart (intuition, passion and love) in what you create and use your mind (skills and intelligence) in what you sell. Being creative births your unique vision into the world. Selling means providing a product or service to other people that improves their lives. If you can put heart and mind together, you will be doing what you love in devotional service to other people and the whole world benefits.

Know yourself. Have a good assessment of what you can do or are willing to learn how to do. Know what you can’t do well or don’t want to do and budget for them in your business plan then delegate those tasks to an expert. I would say that the most important character traits that one needs are persistence and independent thinking.

Kala: Beyond your work here Pamela, what inspires you? How do you Explore Your Spirit?

Pamela: My work really inspires me because it gives me a creative way to express what I see inside as well as to be of service to others. My creative work incorporates my interest in women’s issues of self-empowerment, self growth and spirituality. I also love to read and learn anything related to travel, transpersonal psychology, integral spiritual practice and human consciousness.

I explore Spirit through my relationship with friends, family and my husband. My husband is a gifted Anusara Yoga teacher, best friend and a loving adversary for heated discussions about the Divine. I also have three dogs who enjoy nature as much as I do, keep me in present time (at least during our walks) and remind me that all is sacred.

Kala: It was a pleasure speaking with you Pamela. Best wishes for your continued success.

Pamela: Thank you Kala. It has been wonderful to talk with you.

More about Pamela Wells:
Pamela Wells has been working as a fine artist, commercial illustrator, graphics and web designer for over 20 years specializing in creative work that leads to greater understanding and awareness. Her design approach incorporates her interest and knowledge in the study of transpersonal psychology, integral transformative spiritual practice and the evolution of human consciousness. Pamela Wells’ creative projects with clients are dedicated to raising the awareness of their customers through their products and services by finding solutions that are proactively engaged in a fast changing world with the clear goal of growing business without compromising personal values and integrity. Design solutions are comprehensive, inclusive and balanced in a time when old, partial approaches and solutions are no longer working in a globally connected and complex world. In the emerging field of digital artwork, Pamela has pioneered her own unique style of painting and won many art awards as well as shown her fine artwork throughout the country. Her digital fine artwork has been published in how-to publications and Pamela has written how-to digital articles for both local and national publications. Her stylized goddess imagery incorporates her interest in women’s issues of self-empowerment, self-growth and spirituality.

Pamela is a professional member of the Society of Illustrators. Pamela Wells’ work reflects a deep compassion and commitment to empower men and women and the ecological preservation of the planet which benefits all living things. To learn more about Pamela and her artwork, visit the goddess fine art gallery at www.ArtmagicPublishing.com or www.Artmagic.net.

In 2009, Pamela Wells authored and illustrated a Collector’s Edition guidebook and card set for women called Affirmations for the Everyday Goddess – Spiritual Guidebook & 22 Wisdom Cards for Contemplation and Prayer. This boxed set is available at New Leaf Distribution, DeVorss & Company or www.ArtmagicPublishing.com. Pamela Wells currently lives just outside of San Diego, California with her husband and their three dogs.

Much of what you see all around you is a physical manifestation or creation of your internal thought processes and the vibes of those who share your space. If what you see around you gives you a feeling of anger, depression, or resentment, use those feelings as your guide to make changes for the better. By using the tools in our books and tools along with the power of intention, you can begin to change what you are experiencing.

If you want to achieve something, you must clear out the maybes and cant’s from your stated goal. You cannot allow yourself the luxury of a negative thought, because those doubts will become an intention to manifest what you don’t want. When you strive to be clear and confident with your intention, your goal will manifest much more easily. But when you are conflicted in your thoughts, you will manifest obstacles. What we focus on in our mind’s eye is ultimately reflected back to us in our experience of reality.

Whenever you want to set a new goal for yourself, start by setting your intention with a clear affirmation and visualization. Take the time to become clear about what you want, but then simply declare it. Say to the universe, “Here is my goal. Make it so.” Do not think you can tell the universe exactly how and when your goal will be achieved; you cannot.

We all use affirmations every day, both positive, like “I can do that,” and negative, like “I cannot do that because I’m too weak, dumb, fat, skinny, poor, and so forth,” or any of the hundreds of other reasons we come up with for why we aren’t living the life we want and deserve. Ever since we first started living together, we have found that setting aside a time each morning for repeating positive affirmations helps to undo the effects of negative affirmations and helps us to become aware when we are lapsing into using them. As the philosopher G.I. Gurdijeff said, “When falling asleep wakes you up, you know you are making progress.”

Intend that your goal manifest in a manner that is for your highest good and greatest joy. This is very important, as intentions that are created out of desperation, fear of failure, or ego issues will backfire. You may get what you want, but it will disappoint. Alternatively, you may get the exact opposite of what you want. But intentions that are genuinely made for your highest good and greatest joy tend to manifest in a positive way.

Whether you have been looking for your soul mate, respect, contentment, romance, fun, financial security, a job you love, self-esteem, and the best life possible for you, affirmations and visualizations can be an important part of your campaign to achieve your goals. If done regularly and with sincerity, you may soon be surprised at the changes you see starting to occur in your life. It is important that you be kind to yourself as well as to others.

As you become more self-aware from your affirmations and meditations you will naturally be more conscious of that which may hold you in disharmony, and that which empowers you. Know that you can only work on yourself, and cannot force another person to heal or to change. You can help them connect with tools to create their own healing and personal spiritual evolution.  (c) Amy Zerner & Monte Farber.
Listen to the interview with Kala and Amy Zerner and Monte Farber on The Explore Your Spirit with Kala Show. The show airs on August 7th, 2009.

More About Amy Zerner and Monte Farber:

Internationally known self-help author Monte Farber’s inspiring guidance and empathic insights impact everyone he encounters. Amy Zerner’s exquisite, one-of-a-kind spiritual couture creations and collaged fabric paintings exude her profound intuition and deep connection with archetypal stories and healing energies. For more than thirty years they’ve combined their deep love for each other with the work of inner exploration and self-discovery to build The Enchanted World of Amy Zerner and Monte Farber: popular books, card decks, and oracles that have helped millions answer questions, find deeper meaning, and follow their own spiritual paths.

Together they’ve made their love for each other a work of art and their art the work of their lives, with over two million books in print in fourteen languages. Their other best-selling titles include The Chakra Meditation Kit, The Tarot Discovery Kit, Karma Cards, The Enchanted Spellboard, Secrets of the Fortune Bell, Little Reminders: Love & Relationships, Little Reminders: The Law of Attraction, Goddess, Guide Me!, The Animal Powers Meditation Kit, Astrology Gems, True Love Tarot, The Instant Tarot Reader, The Psychic Circle, Wish Upon A Star, The Pathfinder Psychic Talking Board, The Truth Fairy, Spirit of the Ancestors Altar Kit, Vibe-Away!, The Mystic Messenger, The Breathe Easy Deck, The Healing Deck, and The Ghostwriter Automatic Writing Kit.  More info at: www.TheEnchantedWorld.com

As you may know, the numerology of your birthday, or of a particular year, can correspond to the Tarot, particularly the Major Arcana (the trumps).  Using this system, we can discover much about the traits and patterns that may be anticipated in a given year.

This year, 2009, would be 2+0+0+9 =11.  So this is the Tarot Year of Justice. Or is it Strength?

One of the most controversial things that Arthur Waite did when he and Pamela Colman Smith created their new Tarot deck in 1909, was to switch the order of the Eight and the Eleven of the Major Arcana.

So for people who prefer other decks, this year is the Tarot year of Strength, and 2006 was the Justice year.  To read about the attributes of the Strength year, you can visit here: http://www.owlsdaughter.com/article4.html

I believe it is worthwhile to bear the older order in mind, but by and large, I believe that we can anticipate a big year for Justice.

The Justice year always heralds a new beginning.  After the many changes and turns of Fate in a Wheel of Fortune year as LAST YEAR was: http://www.owlsdaughter.com/wheelyeararticle.html it brings a much-needed time when we can adjust to and assimilate what has occurred. 

In a Justice year, we need to evaluate wisely, determining what to keep in our lives, and what is no longer true or right for us.  It is the opportunity to judge how we can restore balance and harmony.

If there is any single theme in a Justice year, it would be about choosing what is fair.. fair to us, and fair to the greater good of all.  In the Rider-Waite-Smith deck, the Goddess Justitia sits on Her throne, without a blindfold, in order to see clearly the evidence and facts before Her.  In a Justice year, clear-eyed evaluation and truth-telling is vital.  Candor and scrupulous honesty will be essential.

Certainly, legal matters will be a priority, as well as issues having to do with finances, property, contracts and business or personal partnerships.

On the world stage, we can clearly see this in some of the most urgent matters on Barack Obama’s agenda, starting of course with the many complex facets of the economic crisis.

Other Justice issues on the national level will certainly involve the future of Guantanamo, the legal rights of detainees, undocumented immigration, civil liberties vs. the Patriot Act, the questions around last year’s dismissals of the U.S. Attorneys, as well as the numerous issues having to do with the Executive branch powers, and the Constitutional laws that have been tested under the Bush administration.

But beyond these thorny temporal matters, Justice is also about, as Tarot expert Rachel Pollack notes, the “psychic laws of Justice, by which we advance according to our ability to understand the past.”   This is a time for karmic payback, which, sooner or later, always comes around.

This is not about punishment, but it is about adjustment.  For better or worse, things will work out the way that they must. Balance must be restored, based on the decisions and actions that have been taken in the past.

Therefore I suggest that this be a major focus of your intention for the year ahead.  Make sure that you are on the side of what is righteous and fair.

One area in which you can make an enormous difference is to be an activist for tolerance and justice.  The days of bigotry and hatred can only truly come to an end when well-meaning people take action to defeat them at every opportunity.

Here are some excellent suggestions, from the SOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CENTER: http://www.splcenter.org/ a nationally recognized leader in the fight against hate crimes.  You can help promote tolerance and justice for all:

* Speak up when you hear slurs. Let people know that bias speech is unacceptable.  Apathy is as dangerous as hate.

* Cross social boundaries.  Seek out opportunities to interact with people who are different from you, ex: eat lunch with someone new.

* Complain to the media outlets that promote stereotypes.

* Look inside yourself for hidden biases. You can even test yourself here.

* Encourage your local law enforcement officials to identify bias-motivated criminal acts as hate crimes.

You can even test yourself HERE: http://www.tolerance.org/hidden_bias/index.html

As we see the consequences of our previous choices, this year can bring us a golden opportunity to adjust our path forward accordingly.  We can take this time to consider what our own right choices and preferences are, as well as what is truly right or wrong for the good of all.

It is up to us to wield the sword of Justice, in order to bring the scales back into balance.  We must now do whatever is necessary, no matter how challenging, in order to gain, or re-gain equilibrium.

This may not always be an easy time, and certainly the lessons of the Strength Year may be needed. But the Justice Year promises to be a time when real wisdom and renewal are possible.

* – * – * – * – * – *

Listen to an interview as Kala speaks with Beth Owl’s Daughter about the Tarot on The Explore Your Spirit with Kala Show Here: http://exploreyourspirit.com/Media/shows1.shtml#MysteryTarot

More about Beth Owl’s Daughter:
Beth Owl’s Daughter has been working with the Tarot since 1972 as a way to empower others to access their own deep wisdom. She offers readings in person or by phone, organizes and leads the local Raleigh-Durham Tarot Meetup every month, and teaches classes on how to use the Tarot as a tool for ritual, healing and self-discovery. She is a member of the American Tarot Association, which sets the standard for rigorous skill, knowledge and integrity.  More info at: www.owlsdaughter.com