I Too Was A Telephone Psychic

Biddy shares Confessions of a Telephone Psychic with Alyson Mead | Biddy Tarot Blog.

I was a telephone psychic once; I hated it. My own experience differs from those Biddy Tarot shares. I did my thing from home; calls came into me at set times and I read cards for callers. We were told to only give positive readings (well, er, yes, but … and then … sigh) and to keep people on the line as long as possible. I never did that of course but that was the mandate. In fact, I remember one time I was trying to get the person off the phone, since the reading was done, and he and his pals had clearly been drinking. I felt it was a waste of their money. Anyway…

I did feel I helped people; I know I did. There were callers that were sincere and needed help and it is a good feeling knowing they did receive that.

There were also the kind, like the man who angrily demanded to know "Why the damn hell" can't I give him the winning lottery numbers, and, because I couldn't/wouldn't, gave a sarcastic laugh, said "I thought so!" and slammed the phone in my ear.

Overall, the job was pretty dismal and I didn't make much. But it was a good experience in many ways; I realized then that I could read cards and I did have the skills and gifts of both compassion and a psychic insight -- something that just seems to come awake through me when I read cards. Cards seem to be one of the strong tools for me to use in that context.


So I don't regret having been a telephone psychic, but it isn't something I'd do again. I don't put what I do now -- readings over the phone -- as the same thing, though I suppose technically it is.

Panther

Panther came to visit me last night in a dream. 

I look out my bedroom window; in the yard is a huge black panther. She is beautiful! And very large, as big as a car. She is not aggressive, just lying there, up against the white picket fence.  A collar is around her neck, and a rope -- more like a ribbon, which is also white -- attached to the collar. But the leash of ribbon isn't attached to anything. She can go wherever she wants. She seems content to just be where she is.

I go out there, she is aware of me. No danger and yet, I am cautious. Awed, and so grateful I am so close to this wonderful creature. I am happy she has decided to come to my yard! But I am worried, for her, and others. If she's someone's "pet" well, she shouldn't be! No one should own an animal like that! But if she's on the loose, is she a danger to humans? I don't know. She doesn't seem to be.  

Everywhere I go, there she is. Not following me, but just there. Quiet, calm. Yet as I peer into her her glossy fur, and see the even darker spots beneath the blue black of her coat, her fur, her skin, begins to ripple. There is immense power within.

I also worry about this incredible and beautiful creature. Is she okay put here by herself? Doesn't she need to run free, in open spaces? What about food? She can't survive out here, what is there to eat? She seems okay now but . . .
I try to tell people that she needs help, or at least, contact someone who can assess her situation, like animal control. But no one seems to notice her. When they do, they just shrug and move on. They don't appreciate the gift of her presence at all.

 I wake up feeling both comforted and happy at having this visit from Panther, but also a little sad.

Image: public domain, RWS deck

The Tarot image that came to me large and vivid  when reading this dream: The High Priestess. This came to me before I found the following -- I did a little searching and found this: "Black Panther's Power Includes astral travel, guardian energy, symbol of the feminine, death and rebirth, understanding of death, reclaiming ones power, ability to know the dark, aggressiveness and power without solar influence, reclaiming Power." (Black Panther, Power Animal, Symbol of Astral Travel, Feminine Energy, Death and Rebirth By Ina Woolcott)

The High Priestess has to do with the subconscious, dreams, intuition, power, and the sheer membrane between realms. The High Priestess knows how to journey through these realms. 

Interesting about the feminine, and reclaiming power. I've been having some health issues lately and yesterday had to take care of some of these issues; on pain pills, which I do not like to take at all and rarely do, and meditating on the karmic cycle of these issues.

Zuni Fetish, panther. Image: Regan Lee

Woolcott also writes: Panthers are generally loners, extremely comfortable with themselves and are often drawn to other solitary people. … People with this power animal can develop clairaudience, the ability to hear communications from other forms of life or dimensions. They must trust their thoughts and inner voice/visions as they are based in reality. This is an animal guide to assist you on your path, sometimes in the form of a real person such a mentor or teacher. The Black Panther is endowed with great magic and power, which will increasingly be experienced.

I am definitely a solitary person or "loner" but not lonely. 

The following gave me goosebumps; remember I said as I walked closer to Panther and looked at her fur, I saw her skin rippling:

Panthers possess acute sensitivity. The hairs that cover their lithe bodies, especially on the face, pick up subtle vibrations. This is symbolic for those with this guide. It is an indication of a need to pay attention to their feelings and honour the messages those feelings transmit. (Woolcott)

I've been doing work with ancestors and animal guides, and have had the zuni fetish of a panther shown here on my altar for awhile now.

Another image that strikes me: the juxtaposition of the stark black and white in the RWS card, and the black of the panther against the white fence in my dream.

Related links:
Wolf in the Dark
Ancestor Altar

From Lisa at Tarotize: Social Media 101 for Tarotpreneurs - 10 Tricks You Can't Afford To Miss | Tarotize

I am always amazed and grateful for these moments of synchronicity in my life. All day yesterday and this morning I have been thinking about this very topic -- ways to be genuine and meaningful in the social media realm. And along comes Lisa Frideborg at her Tarotize blog with expert advice on how to accomplish this:

Social Media 101 for Tarotpreneurs - 10 Tricks You Can't Afford To Miss | Tarotize

Unveiling the Hidden Psychic Messages in Your Tarot Readings with Sherry (Part 1) | Biddy Tarot Blog

I like this three part article from Biddy Tarot, on accessing the psychic side of self and tarot. Sometimes we ignore little nudges and signs as being irrelevant. Doreen Virtue says just say "Bleh!" meaning, whatever comes to you, no matter how much you're second guessing yourself or how "silly" it may seem, use it! Of course this applies to oracle (non-tarot) decks as well.

Unveiling the Hidden Psychic Messages in Your Tarot Readings with Sherry (Part 1) | Biddy Tarot Blog: A common misperception about psychic phenomena is that it’s really obvious – just like in the movies. However, did you know that psychic phenomenon is incredibly subtle on most occasions? In fact most people, when confronted with psychic occurrences, dismiss it as ‘oh it must have been my imagination’ or overlook it completely simply because they didn’t know what they were looking for. In this three-part blog, I’m going to show you how to know when you have psychic elements occurring in the tarot reading you are doing for yourself or someone else. (Biddy Tarot)

"Ms. Wolf"

Having fun with the first graders in the cafeteria the other day; gently teasing a couple of them who couldn't remember my name. Everyone laughing; then I asked one of the students again what my name was. Student looks at me, very seriously, thinking. Then says "Ms. Wolf!"

"Ms. Wolf!" I said, in mock horror at his getting my name wrong. (More laughter.) Then I said "Well, wolves are cool, I like it! From now on my name is Ms. Wolf." More laughing. And many of the kids agreed that the Wolf is, indeed, a very cool animal.

I told this story to my husband and he said "That child saw something in you. The wolf is your spirit animal, your guide, your totem. He knew that." That didn't occur to me. (The school does have an animal mascot, but it's not a wolf or in the canine family.)

Fool’s Journey: The Fascinating Life of Pamela Colman Smith | Autostraddle

Pamela Colman Smith; photograph found on Autostraddle

(I just love this photograph of Pamela Colman Smith. Her posture and expression gives off a feeling of humor, and very spirited energy!)



From Fool’s Journey: The Fascinating Life of Pamela Colman Smith | Autostraddle, on the artist behind the RWS tarot deck, which is, as the article points out, probably the most popular and easily recognizable deck in the world. Yet, as the article also points out, Pamela Colman Smith died broke and is still under-acknowledged for her role in creating this ubiquitous deck. She was also a woman of color:

Pamela Colman Smith was born in 1878 in London and was the only child of a white American father and a Jamaican mother. She grew up moving between Manchester, London, Brooklyn and Kingston. (Beth on Autostraddle)

I am ashamed to say I didn't know Pamela Colman Smith was a woman of color, or, that she was a feminist. Her words on how to read the cards are interesting as well, urging us to look at the facial expressions and poses of the images.



I have always thought the "Rider Waite Smith" deck was boring, flat, but mostly just too well known and with that, carried its own baggage that made it actually hard to read the cards. In other words, its familiarity front loaded meanings to people regardless of their knowledge of tarot. Assumptions. On the other hand, don't we all respond with our own meanings to images on many levels? Isn't that what it's all about? Given the context of Pamela Colman Smith's artistic history and her contribution to tarot, reading with the deck with her spirit in mind might make for a fresh perspective and reading!

Unicorn Synchronicity and Exercise

I started a new kind of journal a few days ago. I'm not sure how I came to the idea; it was sudden inspiration. I have no doubt the angels helped with this one. But a simple daily list, which is an idea I abhor, seemed the thing to do. If I want to accomplish things, maybe this will help, was my thinking.

I decided to include whatever came to mind, no matter how silly, small, seemingly trivial -- or, huge and crazy and impractical. Just jot it down for the day. Try to keep it at ten items. At the end of the day, cross out what I had done, and begin anew the next day. The list changes; some things remain, while other items might go away for that day.

I realized something early this morning: that for every day, I have "exercise" on the list. And every day, exercise is something I did not do! Later this morning, my daily spirit card reading arrived in my email. The card was from Doreen Virtue's Unicorn oracle deck. Specifically, the exercise card!

Doreen Virtue Unicorn oracle deck

Later this morning, at work, I walk into the classroom to see, written on the board, a little story about unicorns the class had made up.

Heart's Desire: Surprise Card

I used Doreen Virtue's and Radleigh Valentine's Angel Tarot for the following:

I usually do a daily one card reading that's very general; just a card for the day, "What do I need to know for today?" type of reading.

Today the distinct question came to me as I picked up the deck: "What one thing do I need to do right now to get me closer to my heart's desire?" Where'd that come from, I wondered, but I know why that specific question came to me at that moment. I've been working on this very theme in my life for a few days. 

As I was shuffling the cards, one jumped out, landing on the chair in front of me. So while I intended to choose one card, I used the card that fell out in my reading.

The card that fell: Nine of Fire. “Don’t give up. Protect that which you’ve created. Have courage and believe in yourself.” (Angel Tarot)

This suite, Fire, akin to Wands, has to do with creativity and passion, our career path in the context of the arts, the self, ideas. It's a spiritual card having to do with healing work or, say, tarot readers! Time to get up off my butt and get to work!  Believe in yourself, this card says, and know how much power is within you.

The Emperor also showed up. Emperor says "Organization and logic. Structure and discipline. Leadership."  (Angel Tarot)

What came to me was: Practical, realistic. Meditate. Use the power and discipline of Emperor to stop procrastinating and feel low self worth, and move towards revelation. 

Remember, this little reading was for myself, and the interpretations presented for what I need to know at this moment. What I take away from this is the powerful and wonderful reminder how the tarot shows us what we need at the time in  very specific ways. This message for me today was exactly what I needed to know. It's inspired me to not merely to go for it, but to do the work needed in order to get there. You can dream about your heart's desire all you want but the emotional intent needs to be there as you do the work! in order for that heart's desire to manifest.

White Howlite Skull

Today's gem fair find: white howlite skull. A perfect day this Samhain/Halloween day. I like this one and it felt right. I've been doing meditations with ancestors and wanted a skull; and here it is!

Wolf in the Dark

Ancestor, Angel Meditations

I've been meditating on connecting with ancestors (as well as Archangel Metatron). Part of this includes the altar I have arranged for this, with scrying mirrors, animal totems (a Zuni fetish of a black jaguar gifted to me years ago), food and water, crystal and stone grid, etc.

The wolf has been a recurring animal presence in my life, including my dreams. For a long time a white wolf would appear, along with a woman who was nearly nude, and long hair, usually white or gray. She'd walk with a staff taller than she was, and the wolf was always by her side. Neither spoke, but it was always understood I would follow. (And I did.)

Recent dreams included the woman with gray or white hair, but instead of a wolf, the animal was a dog. Instead of almost naked, the woman was clothed -- heavily so. And instead of walking up -- on top of cliffs, almost touching the sky, we walked along river banks and narrow paths low to the ground.

Wolf

Last night Wolf came again, but it was a very different dream. My recurring dreamscape of a school in the woods was the setting. Night, and a large semi arrives. It is night. The semi -- white -- is from a wolf sanctuary. They brought along two wolves to do an educational presentation on wolves to the students the next day.

The two or three people -- one of them, at least, a woman -- tell me I have to go into the large trailer and wait for the wolf. I'm okay with this but not sure why. I assume it's to help the presenters; act as a tour guide for them while they get their things together. But once inside the car, I'm told I have to stay in there and wait for the wolf until the wolf leaves the trailer.

I am insistent, very assertive, that this is wrong. I tell them they have no right to tell me what to do and make me stay. It's not my job, it's not my wish, etc. They don't care. They're not mean or violent but just very quietly insistent. I have no choice. No sense arguing.

They instruct me to wait in the dark, very silent, no movement, and the wolf -- a female -- will come out and she will know I'm there by my scent, my essence. It's important I don't move. I wonder about fear -- if I'm fearful while she smell that and attack? I am very nervous. As the wolf comes out -- a huge animal -- I can also smell her. I can feel her, her heat, feel her as she brushes against me. I am not scared or worried she'll attack, not at all, but I'm still … respectfully careful. Aware, in awe a little, cautious.

And I realize she is a little worried herself, this wolf. About what I or others might do. But it all is on her, if she accepts me, it's good. If not…

But she does. She moves on, by me, and goes out the door of the trailer.

There is another wolf, a younger wolf, that was also going to be presented, but the people tell me that wolf isn't ready yet. They decide to keep her in the trailer instead.

Symbol Behind Eyes

Then a strange thing happened. I was awake, and saw on the outside of my eyes -- in other words, this thing appeared outside but I could see through my closed eyes -- a strange kind of symbol. It seemed to be very important, it kept flashing at me and "speaking" to me. It looked like a bread tag, which is very funny I know, and also like  a triangle with rounded corners. I was disturbed by this a little and opened my eyes, but as soon as I shut them, there it was again.