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September 8 through September 14, 2025

This week is made for regrouping and reorganizing, setting new schedules, and restoring any disciplines that have fallen to the wayside over the summer. With a Virgo Sun overhead, we’ll find it easier than ever to get our worlds back in order, on both a physical and well as emotional level. The Moon cruises through Aries Monday and Tuesday, urging our creative and assertive sides to the surface. We’ll find ourselves drawn to more artistic and inventive activities during this cycle. The Moon will spend Wednesday through Friday in Taurus, which gives us the green light to restore order to our worlds on a physical and material level, whether that involves clearing out clutter, refreshing our homes, or taking care of financial/health issues that have been patiently awaiting our attention. The weekend is all about socializing as the Moon sails through chatty Gemini, whether we’re busy connecting with people in real life or over the internet. Either way, we’re sure to learn some interesting things!

The Fullness of Shadow Work, by Christine Jette

(Article originally published in The Llewellyn Journal.)

When I finished the manuscript for Tarot Shadow Work in 1999, I didn't believe I could write one more thing about tarot and the shadow. I was wrong. Time has passed and I am able to revisit the book with a more objective viewpoint. I originally wrote that I used only the 22 cards of the Major Arcana because shadow work is a spiritual endeavor. While this is true, it's time for writer honesty: the concept of using 78 cards eluded me in the beginning. Four years later, I know how to use an entire tarot deck when doing shadow work and the Llewellyn Journal is the perfect place to share my expanded ideas on it.

Taking my cue from astrology, the Major Arcana cards represent the WHAT of shadow work, a description of the shadow and what its challenges and gifts entail. The Court Cards are the HOW and WHO of shadow work—how the shadow presents itself in personality development and whom we draw to us for our life lessons. The Minor Arcana depict the WHERE of shadow work, or in what department of life the shadow is operating.

The Major Arcana (Numbers 0-21), The Fool through the World, speak to you of both life lessons and life wisdom: those qualities being tested and developed, your gifts and challenges, karma and the reasons you are here. The twenty-two cards symbolize spiritual development and help you understand your place in the world. The "Greater Secrets" will point to the higher overview of life and give you insights into the "big picture." They will also hint at your healing potential and what lies in the shadows. (See the appendix in Tarot Shadow Work for more information.)

The Minor Arcana, or "lesser secrets," offer information along the planes of existence: Wands, spiritual creativity in everyday life; Cups, emotions and feelings; Swords, psychological well being/the mind; and, Pentacles, physical reality and the body. When the different suits shows up in a reading, ask yourself: What action can I take? (Wands) What am I feeling or dreaming about? (Cups) What am I thinking or what decision needs to be made? (Swords) Because Pentacles explore issues of food, housing, money, work, the body, and physical health, ask yourself: What do I value?

In life, there is no separation between body, emotion, mind, and spirit. It is impossible for something to happen to us without all four levels of existence being affected. It is likewise impossible to change without attending to these same four levels of being. Life does not fall neatly into categories. Because stress or concerns at any level affect all levels, the lines sometimes blur.

No other cards in the tarot deck have more interpretations than the Court Cards. Just pick up any three tarot books and compare. It's mind-boggling. We all have qualities that are traditionally associated with masculine and feminine ways of being. For instance, a woman can be competitive and a man can be nurturing. Be aware that the King and Knight can represent a woman and the Queen can symbolize a man. The gender or "occupation" of the court card is less important than the qualities it describes.

Pages can represent a child, but they also introduce the element of their suit, the willingness to change, risk, or learn something new. Pages can symbolize the catalyst needed for change and the child within us all. Pages also carry messages related to their suit: Telephone calls or significant e-mail (Page of Wands); important dreams (Page of Cups); written warnings (Page of Swords); and messages from your body, especially in the form of illness: What is your body trying to tell you (Page of Pentacles)?

Knights represent young adults or someone starting over, focusing on a specific task through their suit, be it creative (Wands), emotional (Cups), psychological (Swords) or physical (Pentacles). Our "knightly" qualities include being energetic, daring, headstrong and goal oriented. Knights show movement and action through their suits.

Queens are mature. They take their understanding of life inward and use this life wisdom to nurture others and encourage self-development through their specific suit. For example, the Queen of Cups nurtures the emotions. Because they are the embodiment of the feminine tradition of healing, Queens often represent healing in relationship to their suit. An example of this is the Queen of Pentacles symbolizing a natural healer. Our "queenly" qualities include sensitivity, fullness of expression, empathy, and personal, inner control.

Kings are also mature, but they project their maturity outward in the form of leadership through their suit. They take charge and give advice: Creative or spiritual advice (King of Wands); emotional advice (King of Cups); psychological or intellectual advice (King of Swords); and, practical advice about the everyday world (King of Pentacles, especially in the area of finances or work.) Our "kingly" qualities include being capable and in control, with an air of authority, leadership, and worldliness.

So how do you use the entire deck in shadow work? It's simple. Separate your deck into three stacks: the 22 Majors, 40 Minors and 16 Court Cards. Do a star layout, or any other activity in Tarot Shadow Work using Majors only, as described in the book. Look at your shadow layout or activity and select one card that puzzles or bothers you, or one that you especially like. Pull that card out of the layout.

Now think of the Minor and Court Cards as the cards to use for more information. Shuffle your Minor Card stack. As you shuffle, concentrate on WHERE, or what department of life, this particular Major card is operating. For example, you have chosen The Fool from the shadow layout because you know you allow others to take advantage of you and have decided that now this needs the most work. The minor card that turns up is the Ten of Wands.

You first decide if the Ten of Wands describes the challenge of the shadow or the gift of the shadow. In other words, does the card feel negative or positive? Hint: If you like the card, it probably represents a gift of shadow work, something to keep and nurture. If it feels negative, for instance being reversed, it means it is a lesson to be learned, something to improve or work on. You realize that it depicts the challenge of the shadow: others take advantage of you because you are unable to say no and you take on too much responsibility as a result.

As you shuffle the Court Card stack, concentrate on HOW the shadow presents itself in your personality. You can also think about the people in your life and why they might be there. Remember, the Court Cards are always a reflection of you—you draw the people to you that you need for your life wisdom. So it doesn't matter if the Court Card describes someone else. The card is still about you and your need to have those qualities in your life for good or ill. Randomly select one Court Card. First decide if it represents the shadow's challenge or the shadow's gift. Does it feel negative or positive to you?

Continuing with our example, you have drawn the Queen of Pentacles. At first you think, oh, great, the smothering mother card. After some thought, you decide she symbolizes the shadow's gift after all: Yes, you have been taken advantage of because of your need to nurture (rescue) others; but the answer is still in the Queen of Pentacles—if you start saying no and allow others to learn self-responsibility. Then they are able to find their own way, and you are free of the martyr's shadow.

You can use the Minor and Court Cards for more information on any shadow star layout, single card in a layout, or any tarot activity in the book. Using the entire deck helps pinpoint both strengths and challenges of doing shadow work. Think of it as your magnifying mirror for a better reflection of you. And for goodness sake, trust your intuition when deciding if a card feels negative or positive. Only you can know that. To review, ask the following questions when doing shadow work with the entire deck:

* For Major Arcana cards: WHAT shadow is this card describing? Does this card symbolize the challenge of shadow work or the reward for facing the shadow, the gift of shadow work?

* For Minor Arcana Cards: WHERE or in what department of life is this card operating? (Physical, financial, emotional, psychological, legal, creative or spiritual pursuits, etc., according to its suit.) Is this card a challenge (something that needs work) or something to keep and nurture—my strength or talent?

* For Court Cards: HOW does the shadow present itself in my personality development? HOW do other people see me? HOW do I see myself? WHO have I drawn into my life for soul development? Does this card describe the shadow's challenge or gift?

For me, shadow work and its resultant soul development are meaningless if not viewed through the lens of everyday living. Divinity lies in the details of life. The magic of shadow work doesn't come from the tarot cards—the magic comes from our willingness to change. If we ascribe to the philosophy of "as above, so below," then who we are and what we do is spirituality in action—not "out there" somewhere, but in us, here and now. May you find joy in the shadows.

Article originally published in The Llewellyn Journal. Copyright Llewellyn Worldwide, 2003. All rights reserved.

Is it possible to get a regular presence and communication from my departed spouse? My late wife, Myra, passed away in April. She visited our daughter in her dreams a few days after she passed and told her that she loves her always. She also made her presence known at my mother's house around the same time. She sent a sign that she is around by moving the vertical blinds at the window. The very last strand of the vertical blind was swaying back and forth for a very long time; it was the only one moving. I checked thoroughly to make sure that nothing else could be causing the blind to move that way. Then there was another situation when she came to me while I was driving with my window open. A butterfly flew in the car and landed on the steering wheel. It slowly worked its way to crawl on my hand, which was holding the steering wheel. It then went up by my arm, up to my shoulder, and ended up on my cheek. I was overwhelmed by all of this, because I knew it was her. I was very, very happy. There were many other sweet subtle signs from her, so I tried to experiment and call on her in my mind. I told her that I was going to my mom's house and asked if she could be there, and she showed! Five minutes after I got there, the vertical blinds at the window started moving and swaying. I did this experiment twice, and she keeps responding. What I would like to know is if I can ask her questions and get answers from her by having her simply respond yes or no to my questions by using the vertical blinds at the window. Am I being silly or what? Because this is exactly what she would say to me if she were living! Ultimately, I really would like to be able to communicate with her on a regular basis. It's not that I can't let go - I think I've done that - it's just that ever since she passed, I have had this extraordinary interest in learning as much as I can about life after death. I have done a lot of research and started basic meditation exercises. Which way do you think is the best way to communicate with departed love ones?
Oscar

Susyn:

How wonderful that you are in touch with your wife's spirit! As long as we remain open to this possibility and trust in what we experience, we all have the ability to carry on our relationships with loved ones who have passed.

Many times, our loved ones attempt to connect with us after they have passed. If we ignore those signs or doubt what we hear or see, it can be quite frustrating for them. Your description of your wife's visits to your daughter, the butterfly who worked its way onto your cheek, and her moving the vertical blinds in response to your requests that she make her presence known are all strong confirmation that Myra's spirit has never left your side.

We should not be afraid to test our loved ones or make requests of them. If they are able, they will accommodate us. Your wife has shown that she is very capable of not only hearing you, but responding in the manner you request. The idea of asking her yes and no questions via the blinds is ingenious and just one of the many ways you can communicate with her. I highly encourage you to use these means to get answers to important questions. I would also involve your daughter in these processes, as her mother will be anxious to talk with her as well.

In my experience, focusing on a certain object attached to a loved one can also open the door to greater communication. I moved shortly after my mother passed and in the process, placed a clay sun face she had given me on the upstairs balcony of my new home. That's when I discovered that at night, the face would glow from the solar rays it had been exposed to during the day because its paint was luminescent. I had had this clay object for years and had never known that it glowed. I took this as a sign that she was near, and I began to communicate with her whenever I wanted to by meditating on the face.

The more you practice communicating with your wife, the stronger this connection will become. You will hear Myra's voice in your head and know that she is speaking directly to you. Spirits can also communicate through other people, the media and electronics. A clock that stops or starts for no reason, a special song that comes on the radio or a favorite rerun on television can all be considered signs of your wife's presence.

The methods you use to connect with your wife will vary and expand as you both move forward and develop a new level of your relationship, which will involve melding the physical and spiritual in beautiful ways. Because you are both open to this new way of being with each other, you will always feel connected to Myra on a deep spiritual level.

*****

Oceania:

I use tarot cards when my clients wish to communicate with a departed loved one. I invite the spirit to join us and speak through the cards if they wish, after which I usually perceive a strong presence and sense the message they are trying to convey. If this visual approach appeals to you, I recommend the Voyager tarot deck unless you already have a favorite. Begin by moving into a meditative state as you shuffle the cards, and then invite Myra to join you and communicate through the cards. Pose a question or invite her to share a message. Allow her presence to guide you as you choose a single card. Don't concern yourself with the traditional meaning of the card; just notice the impressions you receive as you gaze at it.

If you are more inclined to communicate with words, you might experiment with automatic writing or typing. Again, take some slow, deep breaths, and enter a meditative state. Begin by writing or typing Dear Myra, and allow your own thoughts and feelings to flow. When you finish, invite Myra to reply by writing or typing through you, and get it all down without interpreting it. Don't worry about spelling, grammar or making sense. When you have completed your dialogue, read it out loud.

It sounds like the two of you may have developed a system of your own using the vertical blinds. You might further experiment with that method and see if you can develop a yes or no system. I would point out, however, that the two methods I suggest above would not limit her replies to yes or no answers.

You said you've let her go, but I'm not so sure about that. It hasn't yet been a year since your wife transitioned. The first year of a loved one's passing is the most poignant because you are experiencing the seasons, holidays and anniversaries without them for the first time.

Myra was part of your daily routine for many years, so it's natural that you'd like her to remain part of your life. It's possible you are focusing so intently on your communication experiments as a way to forestall your grief about losing her physical presence, and that's okay. Just know that there may be more sadness to feel and express, and even anger at Myra for leaving you. As she is now in a place of well-being and higher wisdom, you do not have to protect her from your pain.

When we stop holding back uncomfortable feelings and allow ourselves to express them fully, we reap all sorts of rewards on all levels: our physical and mental health improve, and by traveling to the depths of despair and releasing our emotional energy, we create space for new blessings to flow into our lives.

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.