For last year’s words belong to last year’s language and next year’s words await another voice.
Like most readers of Tarot, I lay cards for the year ahead, but this year, I have decided to try to approach this ritual with more focus, and to this end have chosen to draw my cards from the LXXXI-Quareia deck that I am working with at present….you may have seen the images in my regular feature “The Daily Oracle”.
I was inspired to start working with this deck on a daily basis through my chance acquisition
of this painting: Death & The Maiden, which was painted by one of the artists responsible for the deck, Stuart Littlejohn. I felt that on many levels, this picture encapsulated my overall experience of 2017, and that it would prove to be an inspirational addition to my “family” as I headed into a new year.
The Maiden now graces my living room, watching the comings and goings, the divinations, the children’s fights, the rituals, the cat & dog antics and the family gatherings…..all with the same calm and measured consideration!
She puts me in my place, twixt death and maidenhood, she reminds me of who I am.
So in regards to the yearly reading, I have laid my 12 cards, one per month, and have decided that I will also draw another card, on a monthly basis, from my Thoth deck, and examine the two in juxtaposition, I feel that it will be an interesting exercise.
My overall aim is to develop a stronger focus this year into living the magical/spiritual path, in as many ways as I can, to connect with the energies that are presented to me in a way that will deepen my participation with the divine.
I intend to post monthly, with a review of the past month, and my focus for the coming month, together with my observations gathered from my ongoing research into astrology, tarot and general esoterica.
So, my Quareia draw for the month of January, was The Keeper of the Abyss.
“The Keeper of the Abyss is an archangelic being sometimes described as Metatron. This being operates only in the Abyss and ensures that everything is in its place. It ensures that those who sleep down in the Abyss stay there, that those who must rise from the Abyss do so, and that those who should cross the Abyss are assisted. The Keeper also facilitates the future flowing down from above and mediates it towards the manifest world. This is a deep and powerful being on the threshold of Divinity who acts as a crossroads. The appearance of this card tells the magician that deep, formative powers are crossing a threshold towards manifestation, and that by meditating with this being in mind they can draw deep understanding of this process. It signifies a major crossroads and reminds us to choose wisely which direction we take.”
If you would like to read a little more about Metatron, you could start HERE.
In the passage above, that was taken from the Quareia book written by Josephine McCarthy, two words stand out for me particularly: Crossroads & Meditation.
This month I need to be aware that deep, formative powers are crossing a threshold towards manifestation, and that by meditating with this being in mind, that I can draw deep understanding of this process. It signifies that I am at a major crossroads and reminds me to choose wisely which direction I take.
This brings me onto the next card that I drew, from the Thoth: The Nine of Swords, which I associate with Mars in Gemini. Not the most loved card in the 78, the Nine of Swords reeks of confusion, stress and being ones own worst enemy! I know that I need to confront this card now, I have had enough of listening to those voices, it is time to break free!
- The Nine of Swords
LXXXI tells me I need to be calm, focussed and to meditate on my next move, because important things are coming into being…. and the Nine of Swords tells me in no uncertain terms, where my challenges lie…..so what am I going to do about it??
The Nine of Swords, in Thoth Journey, was a journey where I was able to call upon the wisdom of Malachi, and I am going to re-read what I found in that place, to give me further insight into what I need to do this month to help prevent negative self talk.
Binaural Beats are something I am going to try, as well as committing to prioritising yoga and pilates. Keeping a calm and healthy mind will be vital this month, to make the most of the energies that are being presented to me by “The Keeper of the Abyss”. Looking at where Gemini falls in my horoscope gives me further insight into the root of the issues that I am dealing with, and the origin of the painful messages that I am communicating to myself, messages that keep me from making the necessary decisions. In terms of time, this card is associated with the middle decan of Gemini, so I may gain better understanding of what is being communicated to me by the first week of June.
So thats my first instalment of Sign Posts… my monthly guide to listening to the wisdom within…
Until next month, when I will share what I have learned this month, and what I face in February!!
My name is Joanna Grant, I am an Astrologer, Tarot Reader and Writer, who lives on the 
beautiful Beara Peninsula in the South West of Ireland. I can often be found at home, deep in arcane research, or practicing some new form of divination whilst burning the dinner! My children probably wish that I was “normal” but may well remember my eccentricities fondly when they come to face the challenges of their own paths. My long knowledge of Astrology leads and informs my practice, in offering guidance, empowerment and healing, helping others to lead a more authentic and magical life. You can read more about me here.
Contact me for more information about the readings and mentoring that I offer.
Joanna-Kate Grant 