Reading for a July 13th Female

This is a reading for a 32 year old female born on July 13th (m.q.)
Happy Birthday to you :)
The QUEEN OF CUPS symbolizes a woman born to a Water Sign (Pisces/Cancer/Scorpio).

The Queen of Cups sits besides a placid, sparkling lake or it could be at the ocean's edge at a low to medium tide.
Different tarot decks depict a card in different ways (that's one thing that makes the card decks fascinating to collectors). In some decks, this card will suggest that the moon is the sole luminary; such a suggestion would be in accord with Arthur EdwardWaite's definition of the queen as being beautiful and dreamy.
The queen gazes upon the chalice she holds. Some decks portray her as holding a crystal chalice, this one appears to be golden.
Getting back to the reading for this querent (m.q.), the Moon is the ruler of the Cancer Zodiac.
A Cancer woman has deep feelings and emotions and often is quite generous.
(m.q.), the moon controls your emotions as it does the tide (the ripples of the water in this card can suggest the tide). You are sensitive and perhaps have been hurt by a man in your past, but your creative spirit and intellect will help you overcome anything negative from the past.
The 3 of Cups symbolizes Mercury in Cancer which enables your imagination to reign in subtle ways.
Mercury is the planet that symbolizes communication. A project you are working on will have a good outcome: this could be work related or this could relate to a volunteer activity you are involved in (Cancer generosity manifested). This will make you feel good about yourself and will create confidence (Cancer women sometimes can be shy).
The KNIGHT OF CUPS rides a winged horse in some decks (in this deck the Knight's helmut has the wings of Mercury and shows the Knight on a gorgeous white stallion) and holds a golden chalice.
The confidence gained from the 3 of Cups shintes through you and prepares you to meet the Knight, most likely this will be a Scorpio male. Although Sir Scorpio Knight is aimiable and debonaire, bear in mind that he is quite determined, strong-willed and has a high sexual drive.
Approach this relationship gradually. Use some of that Cancer Moon mystery.
Your next card was the figure of STRENGTH UPSIDE-DOWN which suggests you just might lose your temper a little too easily (an obstacle in your relationships)

You also need better organization in your life.
The 4 OF SWORDS in some decks show the 4 swords placed in a PAX DEI (Peace of God) arrangement. I can't find a picture that captures this at the moment.

Waite, in his The Pictorial Guide to the Tarot describes this card as "The effigy of a Knight in the attitude of prayer, at full length upon his tomb and gives solitude and retreat as possible meanings. Not all 4 OF SWORDS are painted in the same way as in this deck. The problem with this card from Colman-Smith/Rider Waite is that the card scares some people and that feeling can block the reception to anything positive from this card. If the same card had been drawn from a different deck, you might be able to see how this card could be positive: there will be a refreshing pause in your life which will enable you to get yourself together. You need to patch things up with a relative to get your Karma back on the right path. After this, you will be receptive to a love aura.

It's 10 minutes to midnight where I am typing. Enjoy the last minutes of your birthday!

Keep a Tarot Deck in the "Fortune-Telling" Lacquer Box

Fortune-Telling Lacquer Box

Dimensions: 4.2" by 3.6" by 1"
This is a perfect sized lacquer box for your average tarot card deck.
The detail is of a Gypsy reading the cards for a Querent.


Russian jewelry box with lacquer miniature painting. Hand made, hand painted and hand lacquered by a professional Russian artist trained in miniature painting. The tradition of miniature painting was brought to Russia from the West back in the 17th century. From the dawn of the 19th century Russians started producing lacquered boxes painted in their own styles. The box before you is not only a jewelry box. It is also a unique work of art. Treat yourself or your loved one to one of them, and it will be a gift to cherish for a lifetime. This box is 100% authentic. Fully hand made. Imported from Moscow, Russia.

Elegant and Mystical Way to Store Your Tarot Cards Khokhloma Style Lacquer Box

Khokhloma Style Lacquer Box (06)

The above link will automatically open to a new page (or tab in Firefox) so you may see the details of this exquisite box while enjoying Rhianna's Groovy Tarot Blog.
Russian jewelry box hand painted in the unique Khokhloma style. Khokhloma paiting on wood is a traditional type of Russian decorative work that combines colors such as red, black, and gold in an artistic method of design that started in the second half of XVII century on the territory of what is today called Koverninsky region of Nizhnii Novgorod oblast.

The Khokhloma Style Lacquer Box is a work of art itself and perfect for jewelry but also is a perfect way to show respect for the mystical properties of your tarot card deck.

E-mail from Favorite Tarot Author

It's not often that one receives an unexpected e-mail from one's idol.
Had I not stumbled upon Alfred Douglas' The Tarot: The Origins, Meaning and Uses of the Cards one Saturday in 1979, I might never have become interested in Tarot cards.
I finally received some recognition from all my posts in praise of Douglas' book on alt.tarot!
Alfred Douglas has always been my favorite author about Tarot.
That's the one thing that I've always wanted since I was 13: a Sheridan-Douglas Tarot deck.
I was really surprised and pleased to receive a personal e-mail from Alfred Douglas last night.
Since there's some information that might be of interest to readers of my blog, I will republish the e-mail (without the e-mail address):

-------- Original Message --------

Subject:	Sheridan Douglas Tarot
Date:	Wed, 28 Feb 2007 23:43:50 +0000
From:	A.C. Douglas
To:	rhianna

Hi Rhianna,

I've just been looking through the newsgroup alt.tarot,
and found your
references to my book
'The Tarot: the origins, meaning and uses of the
cards', which you apparently bought
in the '70s at the ripe old age of
thirteen and quite liked.   :  )

I just thought I'd let you know
that we republished the Sheridan Douglas
deck last year,
and we have just republished my book as well.
If you are
still interested in acquiring a deck,
the cards are available in
North America from
Tarot Garden  ( www.tarotgarden.com ),
who are also
handling my republished book.

The deck was only available for about a decade from 1972,
and when I learned last year that examples
were selling on eBay for around $450, I
thought it would be a good idea to reprint.
The Penguin paperback of my
book stayed in print for about 25 years,
but has been unavailable for
the past ten years or so.
I still get enquiries about it, so decided to
get the rights back from Penguin in the UK and the US,
and republish it
too.

You can find out a little more
from our website:
www.sheridandouglas.co.uk

There's quite a long thread about
the republishing of the deck on the
Aeclectic Tarot Forum here:
http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?t=54775

A thread about the new printing of the book
 can be found here:
http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?t=18015

Inspired by the positive response
we're received to the republishing,
I've now started work on a
completely new book on the Tarot.

Anyway, thank you so much
for being so enthusiastic and supportive about
my work all those years ago.
It does mean a lot.

Very best wishes,

Alfred Douglas  

I then replied:

Dear Mr. Douglas,

I never thought I'd receive a message from you!
Thank you so much for your personal message -- I see you've actually combed through the alt.tarot archives!
Yes, I was at the "ripe old age of 13" when I stumbled upon your book and I still have that copy on my computer desk in my room (place of honor).

I was wondering if you are also going to sell the deck/book[s] on amazon.com in the United States?

Thanks for thinking of me and keeping me up-to-date with your new printings and new projects.

Yours,

Rhianna

He replied:

Dear Rhianna,

Tarot Garden are handling distribution of both the deck and the book in the States, so it will be up to them to sell to Amazon.com if they choose. I do know they sell the decks sometimes on eBay.com, as we do ourselves on eBay.co.uk You can get the deck directly from Tarot Garden and pay less postage than you would ordering directly from us; they have a very good reputation and Jeannette who is in charge there is very nice. Every deck I've supplied them with has been signed by me on the inner top flap of the box.

Best wishes,

Alfred