KAJAMA.COM NEWSLETTER

January 3 through January 9, 2022

The year opens up with a pretty smooth transition into 2022, with no major astrological events or surprises. It's back to work on Monday under a Capricorn Moon, and even if you've managed a few extra days before a return to the office, the energy of the day is enterprise, organization and getting back into the swing of things. Expect the unexpected on Tuesday and Wednesday as an Aquarius Moon, as new information, ideas and alternate ways of approaching things seem to come at us left and right. Being open to change and altering our own plans to adjust to what transpires will actually work in our favors, so don't dig in your heels or let your stubborn side limit you! Things even out as the Moon dances through spiritual Pisces on Thursday and Friday, where we can integrate the thoughts and experiences we've encountered over the holidays. Insights abound and we have the opportunity to shift our perspective and trust in all that's happening around us. The weekend will be action-packed under the Aries Moon, so this is the time to ramp up on those new year resolutions and start putting healthier and more tangible activities into action. Whether you've committed to lose weight, exercise more or finally attack the clutter in your home, now's the time!

How to Use Tarot in Your Daily Activities, by Jaymi Elford

(Article originally published in The Llewellyn Journal.)

When most people think about tarot, they view the cards as a device to answer questions or tell the future. I get asked to read someone's cards every time I pull a deck from my bag. Did you know tarot can be used for more than just asking questions? You can sprinkle tarot into almost every activity you do in the day.

Each of the techniques I suggest here do not have to take up too much time in your life. In fact, I recommend you spend less time when you pull cards. Doing so helps prevent the inner editor from leaking in and telling you how you are doing things wrong and that your interpretations aren't good enough. Time is precious, and simple acts of insight can be as potent as ones done in longer, more formal settings.

Morning Routine
Tarot fits in perfectly as a morning intention-setting tool. You can pull your deck out after you wake up or sneak in some journaling time before you settle in to deal with work emails. Shuffle your cards, select one at random, and note the name down. Think about how the card and its meaning could affect you and the events you participate in during the day. Some readers post images of their cards on social media so others can follow along. Others jot their notes into a journal or planner.

Put the card away and go about your day. Don't force the card to remain in your mind. Let the moment soften and settle in the back of your mind. You'll be surprised how much this intention can influence the various activities in your day.

Workout Motivation
Use the cards to motivate your health and workout goals. The power of tarot numerology comes into play here. I've always had a fondness for the Strength (8) card. Gaining strength is one reason so many push themselves at a gym. I always try and select lockers with numbers that add to 8 (for example, lockers 71 and 35 are favorites).

A fun activity to do while you're on a machine is to test your knowledge of major arcana and numerical reduction skills. Most machines include a calories burned area on their displays. These numbers start at one, and as you move the number counts up. Add each individual number appearing on the screen and reduce it to a base number between 1 and 21. Can you quickly tell which card gets associated with that number? Doing this task is harder than you think when your are moving on a treadmill.

When you are finished moving, do a final reduction of those numbers at the end of your session. What card do you get? How might it have influenced your exercise session? For some reason I tend to end on The Hanged Man (12), The Empress (3), or even The Chariot (7).

A Trusty Coworker
Bring your cards into work. This can be done with physical cards, or discreetly with one of the many smartphone tarot apps available. I keep the Shadowscapes Tarot and Beautiful Tarot apps on my phone.

Use the cards to do readings as you go about your daily routine. Need some quick advice on a new project? Draw a card and see what action it gives you. Dealing with a coworker and need advice? Draw two cards on the subject and see what is going on with them and how you can resolve the conflict. Using tarot at work this way gives you the ability to receive some instant advice on dealing with tough questions without needing a full-on reading.

As a freelance writer, I tend to use the cards to interview the potential partnerships with working with various clients. My readings also lend me valuable insights I may not have seen or thought about while I work on short and long-form projects.

A Boost of Energy
Need a self-esteem boost? Have an important deal at which you want to succeed? Look through your tarot deck, or tarot card app, for an image that represents the energy you need to have. You can tuck the card into your pocket or wallet as a reminder of how capable you are. If you are using an app to achieve this purpose, you can always set the background image on your phone, or computer.

Then, when you are ready to propose a raise, or seal the deal, take the card out. Let it remind you how strong and important you are. Let its energy fill you with a confidence boost and go get what you desire!

Creativity Partner
Take your crafting skills to the next level with tarot. Keeping a deck at hand while I feel creative is one of my favorite way to incorporate cards into my daily routines. Try your hand at designing a deck with your drawing, painting, or college skills. Sew "clothing" (aka cases) for your cards. Torn between two different hobbies? Why not let tarot help you decide? You can create a spread to help determine the right path to take each step of the project. Use the cards as prompt generators to get your inner muse psyched for your next crafting session.

As a writer, I'm constantly thinking of new article ideas, fiction worlds, and ways to bring my views to others. Tarot is, hands down, my creativity partner. Use the cards to help you craft well-rounded characters for your fiction. Draw three cards and you have an instant beginning, middle, and end story plot. The imagery can even inspire various settings and atmospheres for your characters to run around in. Torn between two new non-fiction book ideas? Do a quick reading for each project to see which one is better for you to work on at that moment.

Keep those inner editors at bay when they try to derail your writing session. Draw a card at random, or find an image that helps you focus, and set it up against your desk. Once again, this is a good place to let your creative side free and create desktop images with digital tarot cards to help cheer you to completion. Tarot always has my back when it comes to keeping my fingers moving across the keyboard.

Bedtime Routine
Wrap up your day and get ready for tomorrow by using your deck to reflect. Take out the card you drew in the morning and look over any notes you may have written. How did the card's meaning and energies fit into the day. What new insights can you add now that the day is almost over?

Alternatively, you can draw another brand new card that contains insights for a lesson your day has gifted you. Look at the card, reflect on the day's activities. When you are ready, get your journal and write a single sentence wrap-up for the day. This exercise is especially good for those who dislike drawing cards first thing in the morning.

Shuffle the cards back into the deck. Put away then pen, journal, and deck. Turn out the light and rest peacefully to begin the day anew.

Wrapping Up
Although everyone's daily journey is unique and filled with an ever-changing palette of challenges, adding a little bit of tarot through out the day can help lighten the stress. Many people talk a lot about wanting to bring spirituality into the workplace. Integrating tarot into various moments each day can help do just this. Repetition of the activities helps build your practice and gives you a small way to invite spirit into every action you take.

Article originally published in The Llewellyn Journal. Copyright Llewellyn Worldwide, 2019. All rights reserved.

I have used a pendulum to get spiritual guidance with great success in the past. I'm pretty sure that I have been speaking with my spirit guide in this way. I also spoke with a friend who passed away a couple of years ago. Just yesterday I asked the pendulum a question, and it didn't want to answer me, or at least it wouldn't answer specific questions related to me. So I asked if my spirit guide was there, and the response I got was 'no.' My spirit guide is not there again today, and I am wondering what happened. I can't get a straight response out of whoever has taken over. I had come to depend on the pendulum as a source of guidance. It has been a great way for me to feel connected with All That Is. I even used the pendulum with the help of my spirit guide to balance my chakras. It is disappointing to me that something seems to have happened. Where is my spirit guide? Why won't any other beings answer my questions? What is going on? Thank you so much for you wonderful words of wisdom.
Kristen

Susyn:

A pendulum can be a wonderful source of divination, but as with all tools of this nature, it's important to make sure they are properly cared for. It could be that the pendulum itself has lost reception. Here are a few things to check before you run out and buy a new one.

Pendulums should always be stored in a pouch, bag or silk cloth. If you leave it lying around on your dresser or desk, it can pick up lots of stray energy. Random spirits are often attracted to pendulums; they can attach themselves to your pendulum, or try to play games with you as you attempt to use it by influencing it to say yes when the truth is no and vice versa.

Pendulums should be cleansed once a month. If your pendulum contains precious stones or crystals, lay it on a window sill in the sun for a day to clear and recharge it. You can also soak the pendulum in a solution of warm water and mild soap if its components are waterproof. Another way to cleanse your pendulum is to light a wand of incense; as the smoke rises, pass your pendulum back and forth through the smoke.

Each time you use your pendulum, you should begin the session with a clearing. I gently twirl mine in a circular motion while asking Spirit to clear it. After ten seconds or so, I ask the pendulum if it is clear. If I get a no, I spin it a bit longer until I get a yes.

I've also noticed that when Mercury is retrograde, my pendulum will start reversing itself, moving vertically to indicate no instead of yes, and horizontally to indicate yes instead of no. So, if you are getting answers that make no sense, stop and ask the pendulum to show you a yes and see what direction it moves. Do the same for a no answer. Then, just to test it out, ask it a yes or no question you already know the answer to. This will ensure that you and your pendulum are communicating properly. (Note: You should test it again once Mercury goes direct, as often this will reverse the indicating motions again.)

If you have tried all of the above suggestions and your pendulum still refuses to move or answer you, one of two things could be happening: Either you are not phrasing your question clearly, or Spirit does not feel you need the answer at this point in time.

It's always a good idea to have two or more pendulums handy so you can double-check answers or see which one works better at a given time. Mine can be a bit temperamental, so if one is refusing to answer, I'll switch to the other. I'm certain that if you follow the above procedures, you'll be reconnected to the power behind the pendulum and once again be able to access the wisdom you need.

*****

Oceania:

Oracles like pendulums, tarot cards, runes, and the I-Ching  are means of seeking and receiving wisdom. Sure, we can pray and meditate, but using a tangible object or even a virtual oracle can be fun! It's reassuring to know that whenever we have questions, there are ways to connect with answers. Oracles help us reach beyond the limited views of our own egos for higher perspectives.

This sentence jumped out at me: <q>I had come to depend on the pendulum as a source of guidance.</q> I don't believe an entity has taken over your pendulum; I think, rather, that your spirit guide is urging you to practice tapping into wisdom without your oracle. Perhaps you could set the pendulum aside for a while and try answering questions without it.

There was a time when I depended upon tarot cards for input during readings. When I'd go to my mother's house to help care for her, I'd bring along my tarot cards and log in to Kajama from her computer. I remember the first time I forgot my cards...Eek! I felt lost and didn't think I'd be able to read for my clients, but something urged me to try. It was scary, but I did my best, and with ongoing practice, I learned I didn't need the cards to provide helpful readings.

I still enjoy using them, but no longer feel dependent on them. I suspect it's time for you to learn to hear the input of your guide, your departed friend, Spirit, Love and your own inner wisdom without your pendulum. I think you've hit a dead end because it's time to try something new. Perhaps your journey will even lead you to start reading for others.

I think your guide stepped back as an invitation for you to practice trusting in your own direct access to wisdom in much the same way that a parent takes the training wheels off a bike when a child seems ready to rely upon his or her own sense of inner balance to stay upright.

A side effect of any spiritual pursuit is personal growth, so don't be surprised when things change: they surely will from time to time. While it's tempting to kick and scream when things don't go as planned, it's always best to surrender and go with the flow. Instead of feeling betrayed and dismayed, see if you can muster up your sense of humor and say, <q>OK, Spirit; you know best!</q>

After a few surrenders, you'll come to trust that whenever things seem to be going wrong, there is likely a better path with a broader perspective coming into focus. A smile, a shrug, and a splash of humility can go a long way at such times!

Astrea:

Many times in life we hear, "You will always have what you NEED, but not necessarily what you WANT." Your spirit must have needed to experience the feeling of leaving your human body, and the suggestion in the next chapter of Sylvia Brown's book was all it took to get you there.

Even though you hadn't read it yet, your SOUL recognized the title of that chapter as something it had been seeking, and your soul, knowing that you had that reference to read after your experience, got with it and out you went!

While I don't usually recommend her books, Sylvia Brown has a wide reaching and powerful effect on lots of people. A Gemini like you would be able to relate easily to her writing and put it to good use. Synchronicity - you gotta love it!

I like your description of "getting caught." That's exactly what it feels like, isn't it? One minute you're free and hovering above the room, and the next minute, ZAP! back down into your corporeal form you go!

As a little kid, I loved that "feeling of return." With practice, most of the time we can control that event, but sometimes, when our physical ears hear a distracting noise or something else occurs to knock us back into reality, back we go. With practice you will be able to control your return better.

I find it interesting that you were visiting your mother-in-law and not someone in your own genetic family. Evidently, you and your husband got married for reasons that are even deeper than love. His family's interest in "psychic stuff" will nurture your children in such matters and help them to grow into their own abilities.

You'll never have to be concerned that when your daughter visits them, she'll be discouraged from exploring her own psychic life and power. My parents encouraged me to develop my psychic senses in a time when it wasn't nice to even discuss such things in public. Heck, it's STILL not considered a great topic at the dinner table in some families!

Your kids will get to talk about it ALL and ask questions and read and study. This is going to give them such an edge in life! Talk with your husband about how you want to present this to your kiddos, so that you are united in your approach and ready to tell them their experiences are all natural and okay.

A word or two of warning: Geminis often have difficulty staying grounded in REAL LIFE. Don't get so strung out on your ASTRAL life that you neglect what you're doing here on Earth.

You are at the beginning of a long journey to learn where your power really lies. Try to be patient with this process and take your time.