HEADS UP! Mini-Reading Contest

A few days ago I received my copy of Ciro Marchetti's self-published Oracle of Visions. It is gorgeous & I'm dying to use it on someone other than myself.  Therefore, I have decided to hold a free drawing.  One lucky person will win a 3-card mini-reading using the Oracle of Visions deck.

To enter, simply click here on this link. It will take you to my business page on Facebook.  If you're not already on Facebook, in order to enter you will need to create an account for yourself on Facebook, which is fast & easy.  Then you can click on the link to "like" my page, then comment under the post about the contest in order to enter the contest.

The contest ends Sunday, July 3rd at 6 PM CST.  That evening I will choose a winner.  You will receive a number based upon the order in which I have received your comment.  The range of numbers (say 45 people end up entering, for example) will be entered into a random number generator at random.org & the person who's number is generated by that site will win the reading.

Good luck to all!

BOOK REVIEW: TarotSeek (TM)

TarotSeek™

Read Tarot Cards For Yourself

Volume 1

(Introducing the TarotSeek system)

By Abella Arthur and Ryan Arthur

Higher Mind Publications
$7.99

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/65938

Copyright 2011 Abella Jucy Arthur and Ryan Arthur

FORMAT:  E-Book for the Kindle at Amazon & at smashwords (see above link) for download to your Kindle or computer.

First of all, I just received a Kindle last month from my husband for our anniversary. I’ve been anxious to find good tarot books to download onto it that I haven’t read already.  The choices have been few and far between, sad to say.  Fortunately, Arthur & Arthur just published their E-book, TarotSeek, a week or so ago and when I read how the authors promised a much easier way to read tarot cards I ordered it for my Kindle.

What many people will say is, “man, that’s a such a short book and they want $7.99 for it?  What gives?”  Well, I’ll tell you.  Yes, it is short at around 50 pages, however, the wealth of information TarotSeek contains is WELL worth the price.  I have no regrets about my purchase & am now recommending it to all my tarot reading followers here and to my friends on Facebook. 

Just what is the TarotSeek method, you may ask?  Well, ask away, but you won’t be getting the answer here.  Suffice it to say, that it’s simple and even my 12 year old daughter can now use it, and with great effectiveness.  In fact, here is the best endorsement this book could receive, from Ariel, who said upon learning the system from me,

“OMG, Mom!  This is so simple and I don’t have to look in the book anymore, I just look at the pictures on the cards.  This is great!”

Yes, you read right. My child who has been reading tarot for herself less than a year no longer has to refer to the book that came with her tarot decks (she now owns 2 and wants more – like mother, like daughter).  In fact, Ariel is in her room now happily reading her tarot cards and she reports every once in a while, “this is cool!  And I haven’t even gotten the book out!” 

Like many who have attempted to learn tarot, Ariel was overwhelmed with having to memorize the meanings of 78 cards.  If you decide to read reversals, than the number of meanings you need to know automatically doubles.  This presents a daunting task to anyone.  However, if you employ the TarotSeek method there is no reason to memorize the meaning of the cards.  The only requirement is that all the cards, including the minor arcana, or pips, as they are otherwise known, be fully illustrated with scenes containing action and people or other types of figures (cats, and so on) on each card.  As long as your deck is fully illustrated with a scene on every card, then you can use it with the TarotSeek method.

In addition to the TarotSeek method this E-book also contains what I, as a professional reader, consider to be highly valuable information on how to properly formulate questions for a tarot reading.  So many times clients order from me with questions of, “When will Jim ask me to marry him,” or, “When will I meet my true love.”  The problem with the first is you’re assuming Jim will ask.  He may have other ideas.  The problem with the second question is that it’s too open-ended.  This person may have met their true love already and the opportunity may have passed them by.  Imagine having to tell a client something like that in a reading.  That would be difficult. 

TarotSeek provides a lengthy section on how to formulate questions for a variety of topics and then includes examples of questions under each topic heading.  I wish EVERY tarot book would do this as a matter of course.   I have to often email clients once they’ve ordered to help them to revise their questions in such a way so the tarot can address them properly and accurately.  Professional readers should read TarotSeek so they can see just how easy it is to formulate really good and specific questions that will help the tarot to get to the heart of the matter under question instead of providing vague or difficult to follow answers.  

I’ve been reading professionally since 1996 and have been reading tarot for myself since 1979.  I even learned a couple of new things from TarotSeek that has made tarot readings easier and faster for me to do.  I used the method on several readings so far and each client has emailed me back on how insightful it was and to the point. 

What is important is quality, not quantity, but many people don’t realize that.  The quality of the information you will receive upon ordering TarotSeek will impress you.  It’s a method you will use time and time again, and you will NEVER need to refer to another tarot book again, unless you really, really want to, that is.

BOOK REVIEW: The Enchanted Birthday Book

The Enchanted Birthday Book,              

Amy Zerner & Monte Farber

Paperback: 376 pages

Publisher: Sterling Ethos, New York

http://www.sterlingpublishing.com

ISBN: 978-1402781216

Product Dimensions: 7 x 6.9 x 1.1 inches

$19.95

Beginning with a very brief introduction by Monte Farber, The Enchanted Birthday Book is a collection of 365 descriptions of the characteristics of every single day of the year, including Leap Year, February 29^th. 

Each day makes for a fascinating read as the authors describe various aspects of a person’s personality who was born on each particular day of the year.  The first category discussed for each birthday is “Personality.”  This covers character traits, gifts, and even setbacks, that a person born on that day would possess.  The next section is entitled, “Life Path.”  The Life Path summarizes lessons that a person on that day will need to learn to work through in order to best make use of their natural talents and gifts in order to get through life and be as successful as possible.  The next section, “Destiny,” offers advice on how best to approach life’s major issues and also can provide further information as to what gifts a person can draw upon.

Deeper subject matter is covered in the gray colored margin of each page that begins with a brief inspirational quote.  This is followed by a section entitled, “Karmic Lesson.”  The Karmic Lesson section consists of possible scenarios a person can encounter during their life and they conclude with a suggestion as to the best career path for many days, but not all.  Traits discussed in this section do tend to be geared towards traits that would be useful in the work environment so the Karmic Lesson section offers a person clues as to various things for which they may have a natural aptitude whether a specific career suggestion is made, or not. 

The final category is entitled, “Secret.”  Often, the “Secret” section discusses one or two traits that we may not wish for everyone to know we possess.  For example, the “Secret” for June 19^th, my birthday, reads as follows:  “Slow to rise to wrath on detecting a wrong, but slow to forgive, you have a passion for fair play.  You can be very emotional in your home life.”  Not many people want to hear that it’s difficult for them to forgive others.  For many days of the year a suggestion as to a possible career may also appear in this section. 

Of course, the very first thing you do with a book like this is look up your own birthday.  I shall use my own again, June 19^th, as the example.

Regarding personality, it is very much on the mark.  The authors state that a person born on June 19^th is intellectually honest & has “tolerance for all things.”  I’ve always had high ethical standards & coming from a long background of academia with a doctorate, yes, I highly value intellectual honesty.  It goes on to say that my insight into others “is as revealing as a flash of lightning in the dark.”  Well, as a tarot reader I like to think that is true, and over the years many clients who have ordered readings from my web site have taken the time to email me afterward to tell me how accurate I was in describing their situation or their personality and the personalities of others involved.  The authors go on to say that I enjoy the finer things in life – like a good movie, good music, and that I do not take much pleasure in gambling or other such activities.  That’s very true.  When my husband & I went to Las Vegas a few years ago I had much more fun eating at fancy restaurants and attending the shows than I did playing the slots or craps.  I was always worrying about how much money I’d lose when I could be using that same money to buy a ticket to another show.  The only point with which I strongly disagree is where the authors say that I “take all the negative aspects of life in your stride, & you never let them get you down.”  Quite an admirable trait, but sadly, not one that I possess. 

The “Destiny” section made me laugh as it suggested that I be thrifty with my spending & keep a good record of receipts.  I guess this means I’m lacking in that department.  Well, I can honestly tell you that yes, I am a spendthrift.  I have the attitude that if you can’t take it with you then you might as well spend it now.  So, point well taken and this is something my parents told me repeatedly.  So I married a banker & I don’t have to worry about such matters. 

I found the discussion of my birthday quite interesting; and for the most part, quite applicable to how I really am.  I also looked up June 18^th because my mother went into labor on June 17^th, but didn’t have me until the 19^th.  There were problems and we were all very fortunate that I was born at all and that I was born healthy.  The description for June 18^th also fits me very well and I’ve always considered that day to be my “real” birthday, despite making my grand entrance on the 19^th. 

I looked up the birthdays of everyone closest to me: my husband, daughter, parents, in-laws, cousins, and closest friends.  I was surprised at how very accurate this book can be.  The only person it did not get right was my dad.  In fact, the discussion for his birthday, August 3^rd, is almost the opposite of how he really was.  I found that to be quite interesting and wonder why out of all the people I looked up his was the most different from what was discussed in the book.  So, not every person you know may be described perfectly in this book, but I’m willing to bet that most will be very close to either how the people you know really are or how you perceive them to be. 

The book is an enjoyable read. I would also suggest looking up the “birthdays” of important events; such, as your wedding anniversary, the day you moved into your first house, a graduation day, and so on.  Different chapters in our lives are given birth on specific days, usually as the result of a major event like a wedding or graduation.  You will see if you look up those types of dates that the Personality, Karmic Lessons, and so forth, can really apply to an event or a situation that began on a specific day.  I found that to be the most fascinating aspect of the book.