Picking the right Tarot deck for you – Part I/II
With the sheer range of Tarot card decks that are available out there in the market, it can be an overwhelming experience figuring out how to choose the ideal deck for you. Whether you’re an absolute beginner or a seasoned professional, here are some top tips on how to pick the right Tarot deck for you!
Tarot in the 21st Century
The Tarot originally started life as a pack of 78 playing cards back in Europe around the mid-15th century. From around the 18th century onwards, the Tarot increasingly started finding usage as a tool of divination amongst occultists and mystics. In it’s present state of evolution the Tarot has a lot of distinctive characteristics. Let’s take a look at what Tarot’s like in the 21st century!
Tarot is about informed guidance
In its current avatar, whilst Tarot still continues to be used as a form of divination, modern day Tarot readers prefer to see the Tarot as a tool of guidance first and foremost ahead of its fortune telling ability. You’ll find that a lot of modern Tarot readers prefer not to do predictive readings in the sense of “When will I meet Mr. Right?” or “When do you see me getting a job?”…etc. The modern day Tarot reader prefers to look into things such “What’s getting in the way of meeting Mr. Right?”, or “What are the things you need to do to increase your chances of getting this particular job?” for example. This subtle rewording has some very powerful effects which inturn transform the Tarot from a simple fortune telling tool to a map of empowered living. The concept of ethics is also slowly gaining foothold in Tarot readings. Ethical tarot readers do not dispense medical or legal advice for which there are plenty of qualified professionals otherwise available.
Tarot is not a scary instrument of impending doom
Tarot is often times viewed as being mysterious, spooky and “evil” and continues to be misunderstood in many quarters even today. It’s interesting to note that everything in nature is embedded with a “light” and a “shadow” aspect and it’s really about which aspect you feed and honor in your life. Do you, for instance, speak your mind when you see that justice is not being done or do you go around judging everyone and assume an exaggerated moral superiority – both are light and shadow aspects of the same single quality. There is a tendency to misuse Tarot in some quarters and this is not unique to the world of Tarot. At the end of the day whether you are a reader or a querant, follow aspects that are of truth, kindness, justice, compassion and faith and you will always be on the right track.
Tarot is mobile, portable and downloadable.
The really good thing about Tarot in the 21st century is that it’s increasingly getting mobile and portable. You no longer need to visit a Tarot reader face-to-face to get a reading. The power of modern technology means that you can easily get a reading on the phone or on Skype or even via email. Distances don’t limit how effective a Tarot reading can be. Additionally the huge amount of resources on the net on Tarot means that a student has access to unlimited information to support his or her interest in learning this arcane and wonderful art. Student, Novice, Practitioner or Teacher, there’s something out there for everyone!
Throughout the coming weeks, I’m looking forward to sharing with you everything I know about the Tarot. I love hearing from you so feel free to drop comments, questions and feedback in the “Leave a comment section” below! Until the next episode of the weekly Tarot blog, have fun and stay safe!
© Irene Lopez 2014
What is the Purpose of My Life?
If you’ve been asking this question and wanting to figure it out for what seems like the longest time ..read on! This article is just for you…..
What is this thing called life purpose anyway?
To put it in the most simplest of ways, your life purpose is something that you love to do and also makes you feel like you are creating an impact on the world.
Whilst life purpose is something that a few people have all figured out, it doesn’t really have to be that much of a mystery to the rest of us. What we do need to understand, however, is that life purpose is all about intention and action. You not only have to understand what your life purpose is, you have to act to make it a reality!
Here are some of my top tips on how to identify your life purpose!
1.Visualise Your Ideal Life
Take yourself forward in time in your mind’s eye, and visualize what your ideal lifestyle would be like. Are you running your own company? Are you the lead dancer in the local ballet? Are you writing motivational articles for the masses? What does your average ideal day look like? Identify the type of things and people that you want in your ideal life. Once you’ve visualized your ideal life, what is the next step you can take to fulfil this dream? It can be the tiniest of steps, but remember, take that step and keep at it!
2.Take extended ME-times
It’s easy to lose sight of what’s important to us in the midst of what seems like the unending and relentless rat-race. Every once in a while, and as often as you can, take a break from the TV, the phone, your family, your friends and your job. Distance,relaxation and introspection can really help you in identifying what you really want to do, far, far from the madding crowd.
3. Help others
Do small things to help others. Volunteer at the local charity. Mentor your juniors on the back of your field of expertise. Doing something that makes an impact in your community can help you feel like you’re a person of value and importance, and can also help you figure out what really excites you..
4. Believe it and own it
Of course you can do it. You can do everything that you dreamed possible. Don’t give up. Keep at it…and eventually you will get there.
5. Journal
One of the most effective ways to discover your life’s purpose is to journal. Take a pen and piece of paper, and spend some time thinking about your life purpose. Write down everything that comes into mind. If you don’t get anything today, try again tomorrow and the next day until you get flashes of insight. You never know – you might just inspired!
6. Try something new.
Over a period of time we start getting used to a way of living, in which boredom and grudgery slowly starts to creep in. Trying something new is a way of expanding your mind and exposing you to different experiences. This in turn can help you realize something fresh and exciting that could be a potential life purpose. So what are you waiting for? Take that new class, try that balloon ride, trek to the Himalayas. Life is one great journey – embrace it!
Work on as many of these tips whenever and as often as you can and eventually, as sure as night and day, you will find that one thing that really excites you and makes you wanna get up every morning excited. When you find your purpose, there will be not be a single trace of doubt. So from today, stop thinking and start living. Excuse me, your life purpose awaits!
© Irene Lopez & www.irenelopez.me
Top 3 Tarot Myths Busted
Today I thought I’d do some myth-busting about the Tarot seeing that many people have a lot of misconceptions about how Tarot readings actually work. So, voila!…. Here are my Top 3 myths about the Tarot BUSTED !
Website Launch www.irenelopez.me
Super Super Excited to announce the launch of my new official site http://irenelopez.me/ !
It’s been a dream project of mine for quite some time now and I’m really excited to have this finally out now 🙂
The services on offer include Tarot readings, Energy Clearing Sessions, EFT Sessions as well as Life Coaching Sessions. As part of the launch Tarot readings are on 50% off all this month. Please check out http://irenelopez.me/tarot-readings/ for details!
Please also sign up to the Facebook page to avail of FREE One Card Mini Tarot Readings which will be out shortly. https://www.facebook.com/Success.irenelopez
When you subscribe to the site you will get the free Newsletter, Blog posts as well as updates on special offers and the free downloadable e-book ” Timeless Wealth Wisdom – 76 Wealth Secrets to get Rich.” Subscribe here : http://irenelopez.me/subscription-area/
The site is the realization of a personal goal of mine, and I would much appreciate if you would share the links with your friends and associates and support me in this new venture of mine!
Blessings!
TOP 5 Secrets to Awesome Living
Having an awesome life isn’t something that just happens as we’re strolling along one fine day. Creating the life of your dreams involves setting smart goals and utilizing your available resources in the best possible to way to achieve success.
The main player in achieving an awesome life is YOU. Yes YOU! It’s what YOU put into it, that defines and shapes the way your life pans out from moment to moment.
So, here are my TOP 5 TIPS to achieving an awesome life:
1. Get Going!:
The very first step in achieving awesomeness is simply to just get going. Simply thinking about your dreams, and planning about your dreams will get you nowhere until you actively start putting in the WORK to achieve them. So take that first step which you’ve been putting off forever. And just go for it!
2. Eliminate distractions and obstructions:
Get rid of things that no longer serve you whether it’s a depressing work situation, friends that constantly drag you down, endless clutter in the house and on your mailbox, and everything else that just seems squash, cloud and negate your desire to achieve your best life.
Keep more of the things in your life that motivate and inspire you to greatness. Surround yourself with positivity, happiness and love;and more of the things that make you want to achieve your personal greatness. You’re only as good as what you surround yourself with.
3. Focus on the Essentials:
Prioritise! Don’t waste time on things that aren’t on the agenda to Awesome living. Focus, focus, focus. With single point concentration, train yourself to focus on those things and ONLY those things that lead you closer to your personal vision of an AWESOME life.
5. Control your thoughts:
Always think in terms of success and achievement. And if you slip even for the briefest of moments, give yourself the joy and pleasure of refocusing your thoughts on your vision of your best life. Persist in being confident, self-assured and motivated. Never let others pull you down and brush of the naysayers. Always keep your ultimate goal in mind and in the frame. Of course you can do it!
6. Don’t just be good, be Excellent:
Mediocrity should never be in the dictionary of awesome living.
Focus on being the best because, really, of course you are! Why settle for anything less than a truly awesome life. Being successful is not just about plain luck, because luck doesn’t last for ever. Success is all about being persistent, working hard, and putting in the effort to get where you need to go. Don’t just be good, strive to be excellent.
Awesome living doesn’t happen to anyone overnight, but by applying these tips always and consistently, you will put yourself firmly in the path of your personal greatness!
Do your beliefs help or hinder you?
Today we’re going to explore a little bit about something that is a very important part of our lives – Beliefs. Yup that’s right! Beliefs.
Our beliefs are the fundamental tools of our thinking process which when changed and modified appropriately help us to change our life patterns substantially. Have you ever thought to think about where our beliefs come from? Do we get them from our parents, our peers, our cultural/ religious or social values , perhaps they are self created, maybe all of these things,maybe none of them at all.
What’s important to realize is that the things that we hold on to as beliefs can either hold us back in life or propel us forward towards better things. For example, have you ever been raised with the belief that money is no good or that money is the root of all evil. Or maybe that rich people are not honest… Think about it…if you look at this belief, it is essentially stopping you from being more abundant financially than where you are now. Because neither do you want to be evil nor do you want to be bad.And you definitely don’t want to be a dishonest induvidual. Because you associate money with all of these things, you subconsciously block the flow of financial wealth into your life.
What if you were to look at this in a different way. Supposing you decide that maybe you would rather believe that money is easily and effortlessly available. Or that good people invite more abundance into their lives. Would you then experience a shift in perspective and therefore your outer reality?
So today I’d like to suggest that you take some time to think over some of the main beliefs that you have in your life and whether they are holding you back in life or propelling your forward to better things. Then consider, how you can reframe your beliefs to more positively impact your life! It is after all your beliefs that shape your world.
A Return to Love – Marianne Williamson
I just had to share this very beautiful poem from Marianne Williamson. My blessings to everyone ..another new day …another great opportunity to make a difference.
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine, as children do.
We were born to manifest the glory of God that is within us.
It’s not just in some of us, it’s in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
Achieving your goals for 2014
Coming into the new year…it’s important to really focus on goals that didn’t materialise over the year gone by and understand what steps you can take to bring them into fruition over the next 11 months. It can even be a simple goal that you’d like to newly set for your personal progress in 2014. Goals should be SMART – i.e Specific, Measurable, Achievable,Relevant, and Time bound; and broken into baby steps to give you shorter achievable targets.
For example, as opposed to just thinking ” I need to lose weight,” think in terms of “I need to lose 2 kilos before February,” which is both specific, measurable and a more realistic target. Setting a goal of say 10 kilos by the end of the month is going way beyond what is a healthy or an achievable target which in turn sets you easily up for disappointment.
Also think about what things you can do to creatively to achieve your goals and work towards incorporating them into your life. For example, “How can I change my diet to achieve this goal and what type and how much physical activity should I incorporate to get my target weight loss?”. Closely examine your plans to see if tweaks need to be made to better prepare you for success. For instance, to achieve a goal of weight loss, I definitely need to take out or moderate processed foods, sugar,red meat, alcohol and oily foods; control my portions and achieve atleast a minimum of an 1 hours’ worth of exercise daily or atleast 5 days a week. I also need to drink atleast a minimum of 2-3 litres of water daily to assist fat loss as well as the natural detoxification process.
As you start to get comfortable in the path of steady progress it’s important to take stock of and modify your goals as needed. For instance, let’s say you’ve hit a weight loss plateau. Consider if you need to increase your level of exercise or honestly review your diet to see if there’s anything getting in the way of success. Remember, goals should also be realistic. So aim to be at a healthy body weight as opposed to being size zero for instance when your body in it’s most natural and healthy state is anything but.
It’s important to not berate yourself or put yourself down if you find yourself slipping on occasion. Pick yourself back up and get right back on track. Momentary lapses should never hold you back from achieving your larger goal. Like everything thing else in life, goals are easily achievable as long as you persist , stay focussed and work at it consistently.Good luck and do let me know how you’re getting on 🙂