Check This Deck! Magical Times Empowerment Cards

Magical Times Empowerment Oracle Cards

I've been working a little more with oracle decks lately... Sometimes it's GOOD to branch yourself off from the more traditional Tarot! And I stumbled upon Magical Times Empowerment Cards by Jody Bergsma; this positively GORGEOUS and obviously underrated deck (there's only 20 reviews for it on Amazon!) a little while back!

Like a good number of oracle decks, it comes with 44 cards. 44 is a master number in numerology and it's 44/8 vibrational energy is one of divine inspiration, discipline, sacrifice, self-love, transformation, and balance. Makes pretty good sense for oracle decks, right?! The 28 page LWB that comes with, has the cards listed in alphabetical order and includes the phrase on the card as well as a slight expansion. There isn't too much about reading the cards other than a standard 1 card pick, an empowerment 3 card spread that basically read as a PPF 3 card spread, and a 5 card element spread. I'll get more into reading the cards in a sec!

The images are fantasy based with fairies, mermaids, dragons, unicorns, animals, etc.. The coloring of the images is watercolor based so is a little softer, but still has dynamic depth to it. The backs are equally as stunning and a whole lot more vibrant! There is a nice "flow" through the cards and there isn't any one that seems to stick out like a sore thumb! While the size of the cards are slightly larger, I didn't have all that much trouble shuffling! The backing of the cards have a nice "grippy" feel to them, but the cards do feel somewhat flimsy.. although, I am one to riffle my decks and it didn't have too much of a bend to them so I'm hoping they will hold up over time! The little flip box they come in is definitely sturdy and pretty cute!

So as far as reading with this deck.. In the little white book it mentions reading the cards reversed. For some reason I have NEVER had good luck with reading oracle decks in this way, but if it works for you, do it to it! Some spreads are proving to work really well, while others seem to lead to some rather confusing information (this might end up resulting in another post actually!), but it definitely has been giving some incredibly accurate reads when the spread seems to "agree" with the cards! Hey, some decks can be picky like that! One of the more interesting reads I've been doing with it has been 6 month overviews. They have been proving time and again with clients to be more than helpful! Here's one I did a while back for someone!

She's a couple months into the reading and things are really matching up with the information that was provided and has made for a VERY transforming time a lot more easier to manage! 

I like the way that the information is given through the cards as well. It isn't "in your face", but it definitely isn't "fluffy" either. It's simplistic and precise. And overall I can say it'll be a deck I can see myself working with regularly! So if you've been looking for a new oracle deck I HIGHLY recommend giving this one a try!!

If you would like a reading using the Magical Time Empowerment Cards, or have any other questions or suggestions, you can send me a message at facebook or my email!

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Many Blessings!!
Andi

Doreen Virtue's Angel Tarot Cards Review

So things have been a little hectic; shoot when AREN'T they when you've got 2 kids under the age of 2?! LOL! My last post was actually 10 days before I had my daughter! But now that all the Summer fun and excitement is slowing down into the nice rhythm that Fall brings, I'm hoping to be able to put some more time back into the blog! I have been working on some things and trying out some new techniques, which is great because sometimes it's nice to get out and do things a little different! So I plan on letting y'all know on my findings. Which brings me to this post!

The last few months I've been working with Doreen Virtue and Radleigh Valentine's Angel Tarot Cards. For those of you who might not know of Doreen's work, rather than me gush over how much I LOVE The Lightworker's Way or her Angel Therapy Oracle Cards, you can learn more about her at her website http://www.angeltherapy.com.

So before doing anything with the cards, even looking at them... I'll clear the deck of unwanted energy. Who knows how long they might have been in a box absorbing any energy around!?! I'll hold it in my left hand (receiving hand) and tap it once lightly with the knuckles of my right hand (sending hand). This is mentioned within the book with the cards, but I have been doing it that way for years. Then I charge the deck with Reiki, bless it with some sage, and ask for the deck to guide me with true knowledge and intent.

The artwork by Steve A. Roberts is absolutely STUNNING! It's one of the reasons I had to have the deck! But I have to be honest. I didn't immediately click with them when I started off. Maybe it is because of the hype I'd heard of them being "safe" and I was expecting it to be a little different. I actually had put off buying the deck because of that reason! So I'll say this; I don't think you can really have a "safe" deck. That's kinda like saying you have a "safe" relationship. What kind of depth would be there then?? I guess a better way to explain it is that the information is just given in a gentler way! Take for instance the description on the 5 of Water (cups); it says, "Things not turning out the way you'd hoped. Not seeing the positive in a situation. Crying over spilled milk." Rather than an in your face approach, it's more like a good friend that doesn't want to come right out and say you're being a complete idiot about something and you just need to use your head a little more! LOL!

There's some things that I don't think would entirely be that good for someone that doesn't have a competent  knowledge of the Tarot even though there are interpretations on the cards. For one, some of the standard card names have been altered. The Fool has been renamed "The Dreamer", the Hierophant is called "Unity", Hanged Man is renamed "Awakening", Death is "Release", Temperance becomes "Balance", the Devil is "Ego", the Tower is "Life Experience" and Judgment is "Renewal". I don't see any problems in these changes. They really do fit rather well within the readings I've been using the cards for and they give some VERY accurate information! Also in this deck the Justice card is card eight and Strength is card eleven, which IS the traditional placement; however most decks these days have them reversed. So this could throw you off if it isn't something you've encountered before. Here is what is comprised of the Major Arcana and the angels that have been assigned to the cards...

0- The Dreamer (Archangel Metatron)
1- The Magician (Archangel Raziel)
2- The High Priestess (Archangel Haniel)
3- The Empress (Archangel Gabriel)
4- The Emperor (Archangel Michael)
5- Unity (Archangel Sandalphon)
6- The Lovers (Archangel Raphael)
7- The Chariot (Archangel Metatron)
8- Justice (Archangel Raguel)
9- The Hermit (Archangel Raziel)
10- The Wheel (Archangel Michael)
11- Strength (Archangel Azrael)
12- Awakening (Archangel Gabriel)
13- Release (Archangel Azrael)
14- Balance (Archangel Zadkiel)
15- Ego (Archangel Jophiel)
16- Life Experience (Archangel Chamuel)
17- The Star (Archangel Jophiel)
18- The Moon (Archangel Haniel)
19- The Sun (Archangel Uriel)
20- Renewal (Archangel Jeremial)
21- The World (Archangel Michael)

Now, I gotta say there's a couple things that I don't like about the deck... hey, this is a review after all! For one, it's HUGE! They're about an inch wider and half an inch taller than most standard decks. It doesn't make shuffling easy, that's for sure! Or maybe I just have small hands? LOL! The other major thing I don't like is the back. Since I use reversals in my readings, I don't like being able to tell which is upright and what is reversed from the back of a card. It's rather apparent when you have an upside down angel looking at you! But really those are the only two things I can say that I don't like!

They are exceptionally well made though and the card stock seems a little thicker than some other flimsy decks. The care and research that went into the deck creation is more than apparent! Of course the imagery is what is most important to me and the emotions evoked from them. Which is why I was wanting to purchase the deck in the first place! I put a few up of some of my faves and you can see a good sampling of cards by doing a quick search on Google or go over to Aeclectic Tarot! It does NOT do them justice though as they are vibrant and glossy! Some may be concerned that there really isn't all that much symbolism included in them like other decks. But I didn't find that to be a hindrance of any sort! I do also really like how it's more elemental based too as someone who works with astrology and magick it's just something I'm aware of when taking into consideration the energies that are associated!

Overall it's definitely a deck I can work with regularly. Would I say it's my favorite? No, probably not! But it'll be one that I'll have on hand and know that I'd be able to rely on! I do think I found my NEW favorite though as I picked up a brand new deck the other day and it has NOT left my side since I got it; I won't tell you what it is yet because I plan on working with it a little more and then posting about it shortly!

If you would like a reading using the Angel Tarot, or any of my services, you can send me a message at facebook or my email!

Hope everyone had a great weekend!

Many Blessings!!!!
Andi