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I did this reading several days ago, but couldn't be assed to clean up the analysis until now. Anyway-

I'm using the "grounding spread" from here. That blog actually has a Solstice spread too, which I considered using, but it involved more cards than I wanted to deal with. Since I've wanted to do a double-reading for a while, this seemed like a decent one to try. One-card draws probably would have been easier for something involving two decks, but four cards is more fun. (Also, four is a lucky number, so... Well, it just seemed to fit.)

Still trying to get used to reading the Russian tarot, but at least it's a little more familiar now. The Rider-Waite, of course, is still very comfortable, and is still my favourite, even though it isn't as pretty as many of the decks out there.

The first two intersecting cards are "Where I am now", and the second set of intersecting cards are "Where I want to be". This spread makes it a little difficult to determine reversals, so I'll just treat everything as if it's upright.

A snap of the spread is over here for visual reference.

( Continued )

I haven't done any tarot in a long, long while, so I figure, maybe it would be nice to start again.

I remember that I said this a while back, too, but... well. Let's try again. It's equinox (I completely forgot) so it seems as good a time as any.

The Self-Love Spread is one I've wanted to try for a while. I actually don't have much of a problem with liking myself; I like myself well enough. But it's a positive idea, and that's nice, and I typically use tarot as a way to think about stuff going on in my life, anyway. I usually don't do spreads - single card draws are what I prefer - and when I do read spreads, it's usually only three cards max. Usually I can't be bothered with anything more involved. But I have a little bit of time tonight.

I'm going to use my Rider-Waite deck. It sure isn't the prettiest deck I own, but... it's the one I'm most comfortable with. The simple/traditional designs make it seem rather utilitarian, and I like that.

Okay, let's go. I'm going to go with kind of quick, superficial readings of these, since I don't want to take a lot of time with it.

( Tarot - continued )

Every now and then, I open the door and poke my nose into pagan communities. Just kind of looking around, you know how it is. But after five minutes or so, I find myself scrambling back out and shutting the door.

There's some weird stuff out there, man. And it's kind of - I often end up feeling simultaneously too serious about it, and nowhere serious enough. Like, the way I conduct myself with regard to this tends to be with sober restraint - very "serious" in bearing. But some of the people out there... they're very serious, if you know what I mean. And I find myself wanting to back away slowly, while at the same time wishing I could bring myself to be so passionate.

(Also, apparently male witches are controversial. I did not know this, though I guess I should have expected it. I'm sure you all can guess how I feel about that.)

...Anyway.

I haven't been able to bring myself to do a reading since April. But I'm feeling pretty good now. So... maybe it's time to do one now.

( Tarot )

The Pacific Rim tarot deck that I ordered aaaages ago finally came in! I'm so glad that I contributed to that crowdfunding project, because wow, is it ever nice.

( A few images of Pacific Arcana deck + Thoughts )

AHH my new tarot deck arrived! I contributed to the crowdfunding campaign ages ago, and it only came just now.

The Ghetto Tarot is a collaboration between Belgian photographer Alice Smeets and Hatian art group Atis Rezistans. Stylistically, it's inspired by the Rider Waite deck, but many of the cards incorporate traditional Hatian Voodoo symbolism. Its main site doesn't seem to be up yet, but you can read more about it at the crowdfunding page - and there are a lot of photos of the cards, too. The deck isn't available for regular distribution yet, but I think that it might be possible starting next year-? But don't quote be on that, I can't remember where I read it.

Anyway, it's an absolutely gorgeous deck, and it's obvious that a ton of work went into it. I think it paid off. :D

... I only have one slight problem. The cards are huge! It isn't a standard tarot size; they're the larger versions, which I have seen occasionally but have always passed by due to not being my taste.

( Size comparison: Ghetto Tarot vs Rider Waite )

I've grumbled several times about how I have trouble shuffling my Rider Waite deck - even though my hands aren't particularly small, I just have trouble holding it for some reason - so with the difference in size... I don't foresee myself using the Ghetto deck for readings very often. ;p But I'm still so glad to have it, because it really is a beautiful deck, and I was glad to contribute to such an awesome collaborative art project.