If you’re like me, you’re always looking for new ways to deepen your connection to the spiritual side of life. You have a fairly good intuitive sense, but it’s often blocked — either by well-meaning friends and family members, or by your own “voice of reason.”

That’s why I created the Tarot Classroom — a new online retreat and study center here at TarotClassroom.com.

Registration is fast, easy, and free.

Join the Tarot Classroom, and you’ll discover new ways to work with tarot cards — including innovative techniques like dream analysis, past-life regression, and guided meditation. You can even learn how to integrate tarot with other spiritual tools, such as runes and astrology.

In the Tarot Classroom, you’ll have a golden opportunity to develop your intuitive strengths — and to quiet the nagging thoughts that make you doubt yourself. You’ll find the time and space you need to tune into your intuition and refine your spiritual practice. You’ll be able to test and challenge yourself in a safe place — so you can build your psychic skills and endurance, and gain confidence in your abilities.

A well-developed intuition would be reward enough, but I think you’ll discover something even bigger — and better — when you spend time in the Tarot Classroom. I think you’ll be able to use what you learn to turn your life around.

Most of us worry about our relationships. In the readings I do for others — and in my own life — I find that personal connections are everyone’s number-one concern.

No matter how successful we look on the outside, we all have insecurities. Naturally, we all fear rejection and ridicule from those we love and admire. More importantly, we all want to be loved and accepted for the people we really are. That’s true, no matter how old or young we are, or how much we weigh, or how much money we make. In fact, we all want more love, more friends, and more meaningful interaction with the world around us.

In the Tarot Classroom, you’ll discover that the tarot is more than just a tool for understanding the past or predicting the future. You’ll learn that your own inner wisdom is a powerful force for transformation. As you deepen your connection to the spiritual side of life, your relationships will change and grow, and your self-esteem will blossom. You’ll be able to shed old insecurities and self-doubts, and face each day with the skills you need for success.

The Tarot Classroom is an online environment, so you can access it from any laptop, iPad, or smartphone. And while you might be alone at your computer, you won’t be alone in the Tarot Classroom. I’ll be there to offer guidance and mentoring, and you’ll have the chance to connect with other tarot enthusiasts like yourself — especially on our Facebook page at Facebook.com/TarotClassroom.

The Tarot Classroom is brand new, so if you register today, you’ll be a charter member of the group!

Thank you for your interest, and I do hope you’ll join us.

Best regards,
Corrine Kenner
Author of Tarot and Astrology, the Wizards Tarot, Tarot for Writers, Tarot Journaling, and more

PS: Our first lesson will be posted on June 1, and our first webinar is slated for June 5. You won’t want to miss either one!

I have a new series of tarot classes all lined up! Register for free to stay in the loop. http://TarotClassroom.com

“The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift.” ~ Albert Einstein

Today’s image comes from Wikimedia: It’s a late 1860s painting of Prince Castracani Fibbia (1360-1419) with a deck of Tarot cards – tarocco bolognese – scanned from Andrea Vitali’s Il Tarocchino di Bologna. The Queen of Batons is visible, bearing the Fibbia arms. The artist is unknown.

Our local astrology group, Minnesota STARS, is sponsoring its eighth annual Metaphysical Faire and Book Sale this Saturday.

I’ll be there, selling my books (including Tarot and Astrology), copies of my Wizards Tarot decks, and tarot readings.

If you bring this handy coupon (or show it to me on your cell phone), I’ll even give you a discount. I’m planning to charge $20 for a 10-minute reading — but for you, the price will be just $15.

Activities

The group has planned a full day of activities, including:

• Free mini-lectures help you understand opportunities and challenges in 2012
• Reasonably priced tarot readers, astrologers, healers and artisans
• A wide selection of new and used metaphysical books

Date and Time

Saturday, March 10, 2012, 10:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Place

The Twin Cities’ Friends’ Meeting House, 1725 Grand Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55105

Directions

The Twin Cities’ Friends’ Meeting House is located on the north side of Grand Avenue between Snelling and Fairview Avenue in St. Paul, within walking distance from Macalaster College.

Map

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&safe=off&q=1725+Grand+Avenue,+St.+Paul+MN&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=1725+Grand+Ave,+St+Paul,+Minnesota+55105&gl=us&t=m&z=14&ll=44.940428,-93.173244&output=embed

I posted this earlier on The Idol Psychics blog.

Star Gazing: My Predictions for Dancing with the Stars

Are you a fan of Dancing with the Stars? Yes, I am, too! Yesterday, the producers announced this season’s cast — so let’s see how they’ll do.

I drew a card from the Wizards Tarot for each contestant — twelve cards, straight off the top of a well-shuffled deck. Here’s what turned up.

Gavin DeGraw

Gavin DeGraw, singer-songwriter, gets the double-edged Ace of Swords. Unless he can dance to his own tunes, I think he’ll be one of the first to be cut.

Donald Driver

Donald Driver, Green Bay Packers wide receiver, drew the beguiling and affectionate Two of Cups. According to my Facebook friends, he’s already a fan favorite. This love affair will last for a while; he’ll stay for most of the season.

Roshon Fegan

Roshon Fegan, Disney Channel actor, gets the Six of Swords. He won’t last long. Other tarot readers might not tell you this, but the Six of Swords is one of the metaphoric “Death” cards in tarot. It often suggests a quick and painless transition. In other words, he’ll sail away.

Melissa Gilbert

Melissa Gilbert, the former child actress who became president of the Screen Actors Guild, shows up as the Hierophant. I don’t know how well she’ll dance, but she’ll step naturally into the role of a leader, an elder, and a mentor to the other dancers — even if they’re older than she is.

Gladys Knight

Gladys Knight, singer. The Nine of Cups is a card of celebration and goodwill. Everyone loves Gladys Knight — and when she was introduced, she said that she herself loves to dance! Her popularity and buoyant good spirits will keep her in the competition until the end.

William Levy

William Levy, Hispanic hottie and Mexican telenovela actor. The Nine of Wands is the card of the wounded warrior, and William Levy won’t go down without a fight. He might even work so hard he’ll be injured during the competition. This is his big break into mainstream American media, and he’s in it to win it.

Maria Menounos

Maria Menounos, TV anchor. The Eight of Cups is the card of the spiritual quest. The solitary figure in the card has turned his back on his accomplishments, in search of the “missing piece” that will bring happiness and satisfaction. I don’t think Dancing with the Stars is a good fit for Maria. She’s a reporter, not a performer. I think she might be one of the first dancers to leave.

Martina Navratilova

Martina Navratilova, tennis champion. Most versions of the World card show a woman dancing in a laurel wreath of victory. In the Wizards Tarot deck, she wears that wreath like a crown, so she can make the rest of the world dance to her tune. In this case, I think Marina’s athletic prowess will transfer well into the world of dance — just as she said it would when she was introduced yesterday. While I’m personally a little surprised by this card, I have to say that Martina could be a contender.

Sherri Shepherd

Sherri Shepherd, one of the women of “The View.” Sherri gets the Queen of Swords. Even though the card is often associated with a talkative woman — which certainly fits with Sherri Shepherd’s role as a talk-show host — the Swords can also symbolize quick, sharp cuts. I predict that Sherri will be one of the first contestants to be eliminated. (Either that, or she’ll be one of the pleasingly plump contestants who loses a lot of weight during the course of the competition.)

Jack Wagner

Jack Wagner, actor. The King of Pentacles is one of the most stable and grounded men in the tarot deck. It takes a lot of force to shake him off his throne. Jack Wagner might have some staying power. I’m not really familiar with him as a performer … Is he as rakishly charming as he looks?

Jaleel White

Jaleel White is my personal favorite going into this competition. I think he’s cute, and charismatic, and comical without being too much of a clown. The Page of Pentacles, like the King of Pentacles above, is another card with staying power. I think Jaleel’s youth — and his popularity among people who remember him as an even younger “Urkel” — will keep him in the competition for several weeks.

And last, but definitely not least:

Katherine Jenkins

Katherine Jenkins, opera singer. I have to admit that I had never heard of Katherine Jenkins before — but I was familiar with the Four of Wands, the card of the dance. I knew before I started this reading that if the Four of Wands turned up, we’d be looking at the probable champion. Well, here it is!

Ladies and gentlemen, may I present to you … the WINNER of Dancing with the Stars Season 14!

Image Credits

Celebrity photos are from http://www.tvgrapevine.com/index.php/abc/385-dancing-with-the-stars-cast-spring-2012.

The Wizards Tarot, by Corrine Kenner and John Blumen, is published by Llewellyn. Buy your copy here: http://www.llewellyn.com/product.php?ean=9780738712857

Today is Ash Wednesday, which marks the start of Lent: forty days of penance, reflection, and fasting. A lot of Christians will be walking around with smudges of ash on their foreheads — but otherwise, they’ll look like their usual selves.

Centuries ago, they probably would have looked more like the figures in the Five of Pentacles.

Normally, the card is associated with hope and guidance, because most of us have been taught to turn to the church during times of trouble. Traditionally, it’s the one place we know we can find spiritual support. Most churches also offer emergency assistance to people in physical need, too.

There was a time, though, when some congregants deliberately turned their backs on the church — because they didn’t believe they deserved the blessings and forgiveness they could find in the House of God. On Ash Wednesday, they dressed in sackcloth and ashes, and they were ritually cast out of the sanctuary to contemplate their faith.

Think about that: there was a ritual in which some believers could voluntarily be thrown out of church.

Today, a lot of people have turned their back on organized religion, because it doesn’t seem to meet their spiritual needs. Most leave with at least some feelings of bitterness and recrimination.

In a tarot reading, the Five of Pentacles can be a gentle reminder to reclaim their faith, even if they need to find a new structure for its expression.

Personally, I think the concept of Lent is remarkable. For most people, a forty-day period of intentional separation and contemplation would certainly be easier than forty years of estrangement.

I also like the concept of Lent as a time to reconcile our thoughts and deeds with our spiritual beliefs. We could all use that “time out” once a year.

. . .

Here’s a good description of Ash Wednesday from Catholic.org:

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Season of Lent. It is a season of penance, reflection, and fasting which prepares us for Christ’s Resurrection on Easter Sunday, through which we attain redemption.

Why we receive the ashes

Following the example of the Ninevites, who did penance in sackcloth and ashes, our foreheads are marked with ashes to humble our hearts and reminds us that life passes away on Earth. We remember this when we are told

“Remember, Man is dust, and unto dust you shall return.”

Ashes are a symbol of penance made sacramental by the blessing of the Church, and they help us develop a spirit of humility and sacrifice.

The distribution of ashes comes from a ceremony of ages past. Christians who had committed grave faults performed public penance. On Ash Wednesday, the Bishop blessed the hair shirts which they were to wear during the forty days of penance, and sprinkled over them ashes made from the palms from the previous year. Then, while the faithful recited the Seven Penitential Psalms, the penitents were turned out of the church because of their sins — just as Adam, the first man, was turned out of Paradise because of his disobedience. The penitents did not enter the church again until Maundy Thursday after having won reconciliation by the toil of forty days’ penance and sacramental absolution. Later, all Christians, whether public or secret penitents, came to receive ashes out of devotion. In earlier times, the distribution of ashes was followed by a penitential procession.

The Ashes

The ashes are made from the blessed palms used in the Palm Sunday celebration of the previous year. The ashes are christened with Holy Water and are scented by exposure to incense. While the ashes symbolize penance and contrition, they are also a reminder that God is gracious and merciful to those who call on Him with repentant hearts. His Divine mercy is of utmost importance during the season of Lent, and the Church calls on us to seek that mercy during the entire Lenten season with reflection, prayer and penance.

Image Note

The Five of Pentacles card that illustrates this post is from an original “Pam B” Rider-Waite tarot deck that was probably printed in the 1920s.

I’m easing into the challenge of predicting this year’s American Idol winner by pulling a single rune.

Runes are small pieces of wood, clay, or stone, marked with the letters of an ancient Scandinavian alphabet. Each letter has both a literal and a symbolic meaning.

I pulled the”Berkana” rune — a symbol of fertility, creativity, and flowing water. The word “Berkana” takes its name from the birch tree, which can bend without breaking.

Berkana almost always describes women — so I’ll go out on a birch limb, and predict that this year’s American Idol will be a young woman.

Because “Berkana” symbolizes fertility, I would also guess that this year’s winner will be a mother. She’s probably given birth to at least one child — but possibly more than one, because she’s just so fertile.

As I write this, I wonder: could this year be the year that a pregnant contestant competes for the win?

Alternately, the rune could suggest creative fertility. This year’s winner will probably a singer/songwriter who gets high marks for composing her own music.

I tend to pick up on a lot of puns — both verbal and visual — when I do readings. When I pulled the rune, I was struck by the fact that the “B” symbol on my runestone looked like a pair of breasts. That reinforced my first impression that the winner will be a girl — because she’ll have a nice rack.

I wondered where the winner would come from, and as I did, I absent-mindedly turned the runestone on its side. From that angle, the “B” looked like a mountain range. To me, it looks as though the winner will come from a hilly or mountainous area. The winner might also have auditioned in Colorado.

Historically, the Berkana rune symbolized an array of goddesses, including the Norse goddesses Freya, Frigg, Hel, Nerthus, Holda and Berchta. You don’t find many American girls with those names, but I’m willing to bet that this year’s winner will be named after a goddess or a female saint. Keep your eyes open for a Mary, Maria, Bridget, Catherine, or some other name with a strong religious or spiritual overtone.

Oddly enough, I also see this year’s winner hurting her leg or twisting her ankle at some point during the competition — not enough to be serious, but just enough to cause a bit of a stir. (Maybe that’s another direct reference to the birch: she’ll have limbs that can bend without breaking!)

And one last thing to note: this year’s winner will also have experienced a tragic fire or a burn in her past.

But here’s something to remember: I did this prediction just for fun, and just as a mental exercise, without knowing anything about this year’s lineup. I reserve the right to change my mind if I fall in love with any of the contestants along the way.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Note: This was originally posted on the Idol Psychics website at http://idolpsychics.com/2012/01/27/my-prediction-this-years-winner/.

An Astrological Profile

Sun in Capricorn

Ryan Seacrest is the consummate Capricorn — ambitious, career-minded, and determined. He’s got three planets in the earthy sign — the Sun, Mercury, and Venus — and like Capricorn’s signature animal, the mountain goat, he won’t let anything stop him from reaching his goals. His rising sign is Capricorn, too, which means the face he shows the world is true to his Capricorn Sun.

Seacrest has been the host of American Idol since the show premiered in 2002. For most of the show’s first nine years, he routinely exchanged barbs with judge Simon Cowell — but secretly, Cowell admired Seacrest’s drive.

“I’m going to hate reading this,” Cowell once said, “but Ryan has a tremendous work ethic. He wants all the glory, but he’s prepared to work for it, and I’ve never heard him complain.”

Seacrest started climbing toward success almost as soon as he could talk.

“Instead of playing with G.I. Joes or Cowboys and Indians,” his mother told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, “he  would always have a little microphone and do shows in the house.”

At one point, people started calling the family’s home just to listen to Ryan’s voice on the answering machine — proving the fact that Capricorn children often seem older than their years. “They thought I had a professional doing it,” his mother said. “That’s when I thought, This might be bigger than I think it is.”

Seacrest was only 16 when he won an internship at WSTR, one of Atlanta’s top radio stations. Before long, he was hosting the 7-to-midnight slot. He worked there during his high school years, and then majored in journalism at the University of Georgia. During his freshman year, ESPN hired him to host a game show called Radical Outdoor Challenge.

In 1994, he left college and moved to Los Angeles, where he joined KYSR-FM as the $15-an-hour host of the station’s afternoon drive-time show, Ryan Seacrest for the Ride Home. The show went into national syndication. In short order, Seacrest also started hosting a long line of television shows, including Click, Gladiators 2000 and Wild Animal Games.

Merv Griffin, who produced Click, told The New York Times that Seacrest’s energy “just baffled me. I couldn’t keep up with him. … He had this spiky haircut, and we knew all the little girls in the audience would love him, and they did.”

Seacrest hosted a short-lived Idol spinoff, American Juniors, in 2003, followed by another brief series, On Air with Ryan Seacrest, in 2004. That year, he also took over as host of Casey Kasem’s weekly radio show American Top 40, and he replaced 22-year host Rick Dees on the daily morning-drive show for KIIS-FM.

In 2005, he became the  executive producer and co-host of Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve . When Dick Clark suffered a stroke, Ryan hosted most of the show.

“I have never seen anyone work so hard at so many different things,” Clark told Time in 2005. “You’ve got to have brains to make it look easy.”

Seacrest won a Daytime Emmy for co-hosting the 2005 Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade with Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa. That year, he also started as a substitute host for Larry King Live.

By 2006, Seacrest had signed a three-year, $21 million deal to host and produce programs for E! news, including E! News and its red-carpet award shows. His production credits now include Keeping Up with the Kardashians, Kourtney and Khloe Take Miami, Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution, Denise Richards: It’s Complicated, and Momma’s Boys, He’s reportedly working with E! to develop and produce a dance show featuring Lady Gaga’s choreographer.

The rest of Seacrest’s birth chart is just as interesting as his Sun sign. Here are some highlights.

Moon in Taurus

The Moon was in Taurus when Seacrest was born. The Moon rules emotions, and its placement is a perfect complement to Seacrest’s professional ambitions. A Taurus Moon symbolizes common sense, good judgment, and an aversion to risk.

In fact, Seacrest confessed that joblessness is one of his greatest fears. “I’m frightened by the thought of being out of work,” he told The New York Times. “Growing up, there were people on shows like Diff’rent Strokes, Facts of Life and Love Boat that you thought would be huge stars for the rest of their lives, and they’ve just vanished. You never want to be that person.”

A Taurus Moon can also be indicative of someone who wants to provide for the less fortunate — and Seacrest has established his own charitable foundation. In 2007, he also signed a partnership deal with Crest and Scope, who agreed to match his personal donations to Operation Smile.

Mercury in Capricorn

Mercury is the planet of communication — and in Seacrest’s case, the messenger planet is a definite asset. In Capricorn, Mercury is careful and considered. Seacrest knows what to say — and when to say it — to make the best impression. Interestingly enough, Seacrest isn’t one for “idle” chatter.

Venus in Capricorn

Venus, the planet of love and attraction, suggests that Seacrest truly loves his work. Venus also tends to inspire an affinity for classical values and conservative ideals —  and Seacrest, who always wears a finely tailored suit when he hosts American Idol, is one of the best-dressed men on television.

Mars in Sagittarius

Mars is the planet of action and assertion — and here, in outgoing, adventurous Sagittarius, we see that Seacrest has been blessed with a sense of daring and adventure. His Sagittarius Mars also describes his public persona: he’s honest, open, and optimistic, but he’s armed with a quick wit.

Jupiter in Pisces

Jupiter — the planet that rules Sagittarius — was passing through sensitive, watery Pisces when Seacrest was born. That placement enhances his sense of empathy and intuition. He’s remarkably compassionate — especially when it’s time to eliminate an Idol contestant.

Planets in Aspect

Seacrest’s chart also features a number of interesting aspects, or planetary connections. His Sun and Mercury, for example, are almost in the same degree of Capricorn, a conjunction that symbolizes clear thinking and communication.

• His Sun and Moon are about 120 degrees apart — a link that suggests a certain amount of good luck working in his favor, as well as a good deal of support and encouragement from his parents during his formative years.
• The Moon and Mercury are also trine, which means he’s readily equipped to describe what he — along with the rest of the country — is feeling during every broadcast. He’s able to see problems objectively, and make quick decisions on the job.
• Mars is conjunct Neptune, an aspect that adds idealism, magnetism, and some impulsivity to Seacrest’s personality. Mars is also conjunct the North Node, which suggests that his drive, success, and public visibility are his destiny.
• Venus is 60 degrees from Jupiter — an aspect called a sextile. Both planets are known as “benefics,” because they act like benefactors, bestowing gifts wherever they go. Both planets give Seacrest a generous measure of confidence and charm, and add to Seacrest’s popular appeal.
• Saturn is the planet of limitations and restrictions, but in Seacrest’s case, it’s linked to Jupiter through another 120-degree trine. That’s an aspect that benefits him in the long run, because it demonstrates that he can learn from his mistakes. A strong Saturn in a birth chart can also suggest friendships and productive relationships with older people, powerful people — like Casey Kasem, Dick Clark, Merv Griffin, and Larry King, the men who mentored Seacrest and welcomed him into their fold.

Sources

www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryan_Seacrest

www.people.com/people/ryan_seacrest/biography

www.tvguide.com/celebrities/ryan-seacrest/bio/195321

www.americanidol.com/bio/ryan_seacrest/

www.eonline.com/celebs/Ryan_Seacrest/115953

Here’s a snapshot of tarot times gone by – a style and beauty cover from a 1940 copy of McCall’s magazine, by photographer Nickolas Muray.

As a photographer, he was acclaimed for his portraits of celebrities, as well as the images he created for high-end advertisements and magazine spreads. Muray was also an Olympic fencer, bringing home a bronze medal in 1932. He was romantically involved with Mexican artist Frida Kahlo for many years.

The cards on the table are from a Marseille Tarot, which is still readily available. The plaid design on the back of each card is called a tarotee design. The Wands, or Batons, look almost like the Swords — except for the fact that the Swords have curved blades.

In the Tarot de Marseille, as is standard among Italian suited playing cards, the pip cards in the suit of swords are drawn as abstract symbols in curved lines, forming a shape reminiscent of a mandorla. On the even numbered cards, the abstract curved lines are all that is present. On the odd numbered cards, a single fully rendered sword is rendered inside the abstract designs. The suit of wands is drawn as straight objects that cross to form a lattice in the higher numbers; on odd numbered wands cards, a single vertical wand runs through the middle of the lattice. On the tens of both swords and batons, two fully rendered objects appear imposed on the abstract designs. The straight lined wands and the curved swords continue the tradition of Mamluk playing cards, in which the swords represented scimitars and the wands polo mallets.

Image source: The George Eastman House Collection on Flickr.