Margate and TS Eliot & The Wasteland (who knew)
I only recently found out that this very shelter, about 5 miles from where I live, is where T S Eliot wrote some of his famous lines from the Wasteland. In 1921, after suffering a nervous breakdown he came to Margate to recuperate, in this very spot he allegedly spent many hours pondering and writing. I don’t think the extract below was the actual part he wrote whilst he was here, more likely the part about poverty, Margate has long been known as a dump. However, this delapidated shelter looks out to sea, and in the evening you will see beautiful sunsets so famously painted by Turner. I am sure the sea air and warm summers played a key part in his recuperation. I can remember as a child spending many happy summer days on the beach just metres from this shelter. Margate has been through some tough times, and is now under regeneration with some wonderful results, in fact it is becoming trendy again. However, it does seem a shame that one of the greatest poems written in the 20th century does not have any recognition here in Margate, more likely to have his name etched through a stick of rock than a celebration plaque for all to see.
I can’t claim to be a Margate girl (actually I wouldn’t want to lol) as I was born in London, but my family moved here when I was a child and it was a thriving seaside town. I am now curious to find out more about this famous poet and his association with the Town. So why is this written in my Tarot Blog? Read on, a short extract from The Wasteland.
The Waste Land 1 The Burial of the Dead (Extract)
Madame Sosostris, famous clairvoyante,
Had a bad cold, nevertheless
Is known to be the wisest woman in Europe,
With a wicked pack of cards. Here, said she,
Is your card, the drowned Phoenician Sailor,
(Those are pearls that were his eyes. Look!)
Here is Belladonna, the Lady of the Rocks,
The lady of situations.
Here is the man with three staves, and here the Wheel,
And here is the one-eyed merchant, and this card,
Which is blank, is something he carries on his back,
Which I am forbidden to see. I do not find
The Hanged Man. Fear death by water.
I see crowds of people, walking round in a ring.
Thank you. If you see dear Mrs. Equitone,
Tell her I bring the horoscope myself:
One must be so careful these days.
TarotScope August 2018
TarotScope August 2018
Aries- Sun – Family and brighter issues are highlighted this month. This is a card of breakthrough. At long last your hard work and effort is paying off. When the energy of the Sun card appears in a reading, everything is on its way to becoming brighter, maybe youhave that summer holiday to look forward too, if not start planning one. There is likely to be good news on its way to you!
Taurus- The Magician – It is time to create a little magic in your life, be brave enough to step out of routine and push your boundaries. By putting in a little effort you can make your dreams a reality. Research new options, it is time for change and prepare for a new path ahead, don’t allow yourself to be unfulfilled.
Gemini- Knight of Pentacles – Although you may be carrying a lot of responsibility at the moment, you are coping remarkably well. This month you should be feeling more positive, a great time to get those jobs done and tie up loose ends. You should be feeling productive and ready to start new projects. Ideas which involve money could be lucrative. Start planning.
Cancer- Ace of Swords – Stop thinking about what you need to do and take action. This is a period of great opportunity for you. If you are dreaming of a fresh start, find a way to release yourself from negative influences. However, to achieve success make sure your intentions are clear and focused. Ventures started now, could mark the start of a very positive era.
Leo- 8 Cups -Relationships are at the forefront this month. Not necessarily with an immediate partner as this card can also relate to friendships/work colleagues and family members. If you have someone around you who is sapping your energy with their negative attitude, you need to take a step back and learn to say NO! No one will think less of you for putting boundaries in place.
Virgo- 9 Swords – You may find you are dwelling on the negative rather than looking for positive solutions. Take difficult issues in hand and deal with them. They will not go away without action. It may not be as difficult as you think. Too much thinking and not enough positive action, look at options this month which will help you to move forward. What’s the worst that can happen?
Libra- The Star – A period of change awaits you, let go of whatever is holding you back, it serves no purpose in your life now. Breathe in new energy and feel yourself awaken and come alive. Think how you can achieve your greatest goal, what action do you need to take, what do you need to release before a new start can happen? It may be easier than you think to change everything!
Scorpio- 5 Wands – Work issues may have been a battle ground recently and you having to defend your actions or work harder than ever to prove yourself. The frustration will pass but maybe a compromise will have to be agreed before harmony is restored. Make sure you have all your facts in order before confronting issues
Sagittarius- Temperance – Weighing up the pro’s and con’s before making a decision is the best way forward just now. Trust your intuition as it will guide you well. If you have been through a stressful period it is time to be kind to yourself. Healing is needed to enable you to reconnect with yourself and others. Put yourself first for a change and try to balance work and home commitments
Capricorn-10 Wands – Try not to be overwhelmed with pressure at home or work this month as maybe you are just not in the right frame of mind to focus right now. Hold off taking on too much until after the new moon on the 11th August. Things will become clearer and more fluid after this period.
Aquarius – 7 Cups – Conflict between your dreams and your fears may be at the forefront this month, you may feel you are in a stalemate situation because you are afraid of making the wrong decision, plan and be brave, something has to shift and it can only do so with a little more effort from you!
Pisces- 4 Wands – Now is the time to celebrate what you have accomplished. Things are falling into place and your hard work will soon pay off. Your endeavors and projects have reached an important phase. At this stage, you can expect success and reward. Creative enterprises will feel like they are getting somewhere. In some cases, the Four of Wands can indicate the purchase of a new home. Property and investment matters flourish.
Lady Frieda Harris Rare Posters
If you have attended the UK Tarot Conference in the past you will know that we have an amazing auction which helps to raise money for our Bursary fund. This year we have something quite special. I am not sure at this stage if both or just one poster will be up for auction but please contact me if you are interested.
The Harris collection: A rare set of 2 out of 3 Freemason posters known as Tracing Boards. Each depict what’s known in craft Freemasonry as the First, Second and Third Degree boards and represent a codified example of moral, intellectual and spiritual development. This set of tracing boards are unique in that they were drawn by Lady Frieda Harris to which only a few hundred were made and even fewer that remain in excellent condition. The Tracing Boards are from a time when Harris was a Co-Mason:
Co-Masonry is, in brief, an offshoot of the Theosophical Society that, admits both men and women into Co-Masonic Lodges. Because Co-Masonry operates in breach of the landmarks of the United Grand Lodge of England, by admitting women, it has never been recognized as a regular branch of the society of Freemasons by regularly constituted bodies. Many regular Masons, however, appreciate the history of the Co-Masonic order and the sincerity of purpose and valuable philosophical contributions made by individual members of Co-Masonry, including Lady Harris’s renditions of the Tracing Boards… These evocative interpretations of the First, Second and Third Degree Tracing Boards were originally painted by Lady Frieda Harris. The designs incorporate the symbolism of the traditional Tracing Boards, but are distinctive for their modernity, and use of dynamic symmetry in rendering the designs
[Harris’s] designs were undoubtedly influenced by her artistic training and experience. In 1937, Lady Harris began studying Projective Synthetic Geometry under the direction of Olive Whicher and George Adams based on the teachings of Rudolf Steiner and Goethe. Frieda Harris also had utilized Projective Synthetic Geometry in her work designing the Thoth Tarot cards for Aleister Crowley: These cards were completed for exhibition in approximately 1942. She had considerable talent in esoteric art works. -Freemasons of California, Mill Valley Lodge 356
The 2 posters (24ins x 14ins, c. 1975) are framed, under archival glass and in excellent condition.
A rare set of 2 out of 3 Freemason posters known as Tracing Boards. Each depict what’s known in craft Freemasonry as the First, Second and Third Degree boards and represent a codified example of moral, intellectual and spiritual development. This set of tracing boards are unique in that they were drawn by Lady Frieda Harris to which only a few hundred were made and even fewer that remain in excellent condition. The Tracing Boards are from a time when Harris was a Co-Mason:
Co-Masonry is, in brief, an offshoot of the Theosophical Society that, admits both men and women into Co-Masonic Lodges. Because Co-Masonry operates in breach of the landmarks of the United Grand Lodge of England, by admitting women, it has never been recognized as a regular branch of the society of Freemasons by regularly constituted bodies. Many regular Masons, however, appreciate the history of the Co-Masonic order and the sincerity of purpose and valuable philosophical contributions made by individual members of Co-Masonry, including Lady Harris’s renditions of the Tracing Boards… These evocative interpretations of the First, Second and Third Degree Tracing Boards were originally painted by Lady Frieda Harris. The designs incorporate the symbolism of the traditional Tracing Boards, but are distinctive for their modernity, and use of dynamic symmetry in rendering the designs
[Harris’s] designs were undoubtedly influenced by her artistic training and experience. In 1937, Lady Harris began studying Projective Synthetic Geometry under the direction of Olive Whicher and George Adams based on the teachings of Rudolf Steiner and Goethe. Frieda Harris also had utilized Projective Synthetic Geometry in her work designing the Thoth Tarot cards for Aleister Crowley: These cards were completed for exhibition in approximately 1942. She had considerable talent in esoteric art works.
-Freemasons of California, Mill Valley Lodge 356
The 2 posters (24ins x 14ins, c. 1975) are framed, under archival glass and in excellent condition. They were purchased in the UK from the reputable collector of occult books and art. These posters have their own history. The original paintings were acquired by British Occultists in the 1970’s. Around 1976 a few hundred sets of these posters were printed. This is the only publication of these designs that there has been. Posters survive far less well than books, which are only rarely pinned to walls! Moreover posters are not collected by libraries, and their existence is not recorded in catalogues and bibliographies.
Review: The Guardian Angel Oracle by Chrissie Astell
By Chrissie Astell , Illustrated by Rene Milot – Published by Watkins (RRP £15.99)
Another deck of Angel Oracle cards hits the shelves, this is a topic which seems to just keep on giving. It interests me, as in how much there is still to offer from the Angel world and I am delighted that these cards deliver something different. Having met the lovely Chrissie Astell a few years back, I know the essence of the lady, kind, gentle, compassionate and without ego and all these qualities are reflected within the 52 cards.
There is a simple beauty within each card, just a word describes each illustrated Angel. The colours are clear and bold and although to some degree quite simple, you can lose yourself in the image to work on a deeper level of clarity.
I used these cards with my meditation group and the messages flowed, many of the cards chosen at random had deep and personal meanings for some of the group. Everybody enjoyed working with them.
I like the idea of using this deck for pulling a card a day for guidance. The accompanying book explains how else they can be used. Lots of ideas for spreads, affirmations and meditation, each card has a quote for each Angel, a box outlined on each page explaining the symbols, along with a brief description, which in my opinion is more than enough, I prefer the idea of tuning in and allowing your own intuition to flow. You cannot fail to connect on some level with these cards, even if you think you are not intuitive, they work.
Watkins have produced a lovely set, lovely quality box and cards, it looks far more valuable that the £15.99 price.
If you like the idea of Angel Oracles then I highly recommend you add this to your collection, you will not be disappointed.
When you just can’t say NO!
It has been a strange and difficult few months, with the decline of my father’s health I made a choice that I would pretty much stop work and help to look after him. His passing on the 29th January was the biggest tragedy of my life to date. I know I should be grateful that I have been blessed with both my parent’s at my age, but it does not make it any easier when the time comes for them to leave this earth. I have done a lot of soul searching since his passing, I imagine some of you on a spiritual path also question what happens next when it actually happens to someone you love. I have to admit I am struggling with any concept of afterlife at the moment, it just feels like a huge void.
The thing about Tarot is that it does not matter what your beliefs are, whether you are spiritual or not, because the cards understand, they can be both gentle and cruel in their messages. But I have found much comfort in my cards of late. I am digressing …… what I really wanted to talk about was how sometimes things fall in to place just at the right time. Out of the blue, an opportunity to buy TWO unique pieces of art (print) by Pamela Colman Smith came to me. I did not hesitate to purchase one. The print was the original used for the publication of ‘The Golden Vanity’ published in 1903 by Doubleday & McClure, once used, these original prints were exhibited between 1905 and 1907. What happened to them next I do not know. The person I purchased them from also bought them in auction some years back, so when I have time, I will do some research and track their journey.
On arrival of the print, it was more amazing than I dared dream, I could feel its energy, something very special about the picture, just as in the RW tarot deck, each time I look, I see new symbols and details, I cannot stop looking at it. It must have taken a whole ten minutes before I decided to buy the second one. All good, except the price had doubled. I sat on the sellers suggestion of an offer which was a lot to find, then went back with my one and only take it or leave it offer. After a few hours she came back to me and accepted, one of the ‘provisions’ was that I would not hide these from the Tarot world, that anyone interested in Pamela would be able to see them. I agreed, today the second print has turned up, it is as fascinating at the first. Time allowing I hope to have these on display at the London Tarot Festival on June 2nd along with more information. I am thrilled that Mary K Greer will be speaking at the Festival about the life of Pamela Colman Smith as with Geraldine Beskin at the Conference in October. Although Pixie did not get the recognition she deserved in her lifetime, we will make sure she is never forgotten in ours.
