VAMPIRE TAROT, Final Draw -- Happy Halloween!

Our final draw from the Vampire Tarot is the Knight of Knives or Knight of Swords in the Rider-Waite tarot. Knights are generally thought to represent young men in their teens or early 20s, but they don't have to represent only men. They can also represent women with the same energy. Knights are young people with a lot of drive, enthusiasm and energy. They are kind of like "sophomores" in the school of life ... they have a bit of knowledge behind them, but still have a few lessons to learn before they reach the level of master.

Knives or Swords are all about our thoughts, beliefs, and the way we communicate those thoughts and beliefs. This card indicates a possibly aggressive, adept, energetic thinker. He is someone who enjoys debating and getting his point across, even to the point of offending others at times. We can encounter someone like this today or we need to be aware of channeling this energy in our own lives. Always remember that words can cut just as effectively as a sword ... and words can hurt. Be careful with your words today but don't be afraid to express yourself either. Just make sure to think of how your words will affect someone before you speak.

Thanks for joining me on my journey with the Vampire Tarot. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.

VAMPIRE TAROT, Day 15 -- King of Stakes

The King of Stakes corresponds to the King of Wands in the Rider-Waite tarot. Wands are all about passion, fire, creativity, inspiration, energy, and action. Kings are the rulers of their suits. The King of Wands rules all of the fiery attributes. He is the ultimate doer, achiever, and inspiration. He is fiery, sexy, magnetic, attractive, and adventurous. He fears nothing and has the utmost confidence in himself. If he sets out to do something, nothing can stop him. He's a natural life coach.

Robert M Place has chosen composer Franz Liszt to represent the King of Stakes in his Vampire Tarot. Liszt was one of the most famous and accomplished pianists of all time. He was a fiery, romantic, creative, passionate man. This card is telling us we may encounter such a magnetic person today .... or that we can also radiate that fiery energy. Embrace your artistic, creative side today ... let your ideas flow. Don't be afraid to be dynamic! Unleash that inner virtuoso and let people see your passionate side.

VAMPIRE TAROT, Day 14 -- Seven of Stakes

The Seven of Stakes corresponds to the Seven of Wands in the Rider-Waite tarot. Wands are a suit all about inspiration, passion, energy, and action. In the Rider-Waite version of the card, we see a lone figure standing on top of a hill trying to ward off an assault by several people. He is defending his territory, standing his ground.

In the Vampire Tarot version of this card, we see a more personal, direct attack taking place. A Bela Lugosi-style Dracula has a victim in his clutches who is looking very overwhelmed, terrified, and helpless. The Count looks just about to administer his cursed bite but not before locking eyes with his victim as if he wants to let him know just how helpless he really is before he completely overpowers him. The vampire is obviously enjoying his sense of power here.

From the Vampire Tarot book:

This card represents anger and aggression. It is an argument in which one side tries to overpower the other, rather than a debate in which the goal is to find the truth. 

You could find yourself in a power struggle or major difference of opinion with someone today. We should never allow anyone to overpower us or try to convince us of something we don't agree with simply because we feel intimidated, or because we feel it will make our lives more convenient, or because we feel that the other person is more "important" than us. If something is vital to you, it is essential to stand your ground. Any relationship or situation that tries to force you into doing something against your will is not worth having and will ultimately be destructive to you in the end.

VAMPIRE TAROT, Day 13 -- Nine of Garlic Flowers

Ah, sunshine at last! :) This card is a nice switch from the rather gloomy cards we've been getting lately. The Nine of Garlic Flowers corresponds to the Nine of Pentacles in the Rider-Waite which is a card all about prosperity, abundance, luxury, and reaping the rewards of your hard work. The Nine of Pentacles is one of my favourite cards in the Rider-Waite:

The woman in this card is living the good life. She holds a hawk on one gloved hand which suggests great privilege. In medieval times, hawking was a sport reserved for royalty or the very wealthy. She may not be actual royalty but the message is clear enough: she wants for nothing. Lush purple grapes are bursting off the bushes in her garden and a pile of pentacles surrounds her. The abundance suggested in this card doesn't only relate to material concerns like money and home ... it can also signify complete confidence and security in yourself, your choices, and the course of your life.

The Vampire Tarot version of this card shows radiant sunlight beaming down on a lush green field from the window of a dark room. It suggests that we are coming out of a somewhat dark period and entering a bright new phase. Even if only for a moment, this is a welcome relief from the way a lot of us have felt lately ... mired down by earthly concerns, stresses, and worries. Enjoy this bright, sunny time!

VAMPIRE TAROT, Day 12 -- Queen of Knives

We have had our first repeat draw ... the Queen of Knives came up for us earlier in these draws on Day 3. You can go to that blog entry to see the reading for that day.

Since she has reappeared, it indicates that her energy is lingering for us at this time. Queens are generally thought to represent women in their 40s. They also represent the female pinnacle of their suit. The Queen of Knives (or Queen of Swords in the Rider-Waite tarot) is stereotypically thought of as "Queen Bitch". I remember a tarot teacher saying that she thought of the Queen of Swords as the bitch card because she is known for telling it like it is and having little patience with people of lesser intelligence or people who don't share her high standards. However this teacher also pointed out the narrowness of this view. Yes, the Queen of Swords is an exceptionally intelligent woman with a gifted and sharp mind, but the sword cuts both ways. She is also the Queen of mental struggle and pain.

We can see this more vulnerable aspect of her psyche clearly in this illustration of the Queen of Knives. She is holding a mistletoe, the classic symbol of love, and her eyes look very wounded. Her heart has been broken. Perhaps she has suffered several heartbreaks and although she has gained much wisdom from those experiences, she hasn't gained much happiness from them. She has taken some hard knocks and although she is wiser for it, that wisdom has taken its toll on the way she sees the world. Very often she doesn't see it as a hospitable place so she protects herself with her intellect. Her intelligence is her armor and she can sometimes come across as harsh and bitchy when really she is just trying to ward off further pain.

If you have had your heart broken, try not to dwell on it. Sometimes we nurse our wounds and even make them a part of our identity. Doing this will only draw more heartbreak toward you. Sometimes relationships work out, sometimes they don't ... but we can't let the ones that don't work affect all future relationships.

Protect yourself, choose lovers and friends wisely, but don't cut yourself off from human contact out of an obsessive need for self protection. We can never avoid ALL pain. Sometimes it takes us by surprise but it can't debilitate us unless we let it.

VAMPIRE TAROT, Day 11 -- Six of Knives

The Six of Knives corresponds to the Six of Swords in the Rider-Waite tarot which depicts a woman and small child sitting in a small boat with an oarsman about to push them away from shore. The woman is depicted cloaked and we see her from behind. She seems to emit a wounded, vulnerable energy, as if she is someone who has been through some difficult times.

The Six of Swords is about getting away from a bad situation. It's about having been through some mental conflicts or strife and realizing the need to remove yourself from that situation. The Six of Knives in the Vampire Tarot depicts the strife much more vividly by showing us a ship being tossed like a teapot in a tempest. The people on board are being jostled around and hanging on for their lives, struggling to reach shore. If you find yourself in a situation that is detrimental to your mental well-being or if you feel that communication with someone is stormy, unsettled, and causing you pain, it could be in your best interest to leave the situation. If we tap into our innermost wisdom, we can all instinctively feel whether a positive outcome is viable or if there's no chance that things will ever improve. Trust your gut.

Hope you enjoy today's reading and sending you strength for the journey!

VAMPIRE TAROT, Day 10 -- Ace of Garlic Flowers

The Ace of Garlic Flowers corresponds to the Ace of Pentacles in the Rider-Waite tarot. It's a suit that represents the ways we interact in our world and material concerns such as money, health, and housing. Aces always represent the start of a new cycle, a new beginning, or perhaps a new opportunity. As you can see in the card, garlic flowers have sprung out of a garlic bulb. Something  new has come into being.

You could be offered a new job opportunity today or come up with a new idea to make some extra money. You could be embarking on a new health regimen or vow to start changing certain aspects of your lifestyle. You might also be thinking about moving to a new location.

In the Vampire Tarot book, Robert M Place writes:

This card represents a store of resources at our disposal, health, protection, and material well-being.

We're thinking about ways to improve our lives today that are focused on finances, health, or our residences. Maybe we're thinking about moving or doing some home improvement. Whatever it is, something new in our material lives will manifest or has the potential to manifest in a new way today. Keep your eye out for job opportunities, new ways to make money, or if you're looking for a new place to live, one may open itself up to you.

VAMPIRE TAROT, Day 9 -- The Count

The Count in this deck corresponds to The Emperor in the Rider-Waite tarot. The Emperor is all about authority, strength, decision-making, rules, and order. He also symbolizes the patriarch, the father figure, someone who is very comfortable in the role of telling us what to do and how to do it.

This card indicates that we could clash or have some brushes with authority today ... whether it's your boss, a parental figure, or maybe even dealing with bureaucracy of some kind. You may find yourself feeling intimidated or annoyed by someone's presumed power over you. It could also indicate that we need to assert our own authority and not allow others to push us around. Hope you enjoy today's video. Thanks for continuing to tune in, I really appreciate your interest! :)

VAMPIRE TAROT, Day 8 -- Queen of Stakes

The Queen of Stakes corresponds to the Queen of Wands in the Rider-Waite tarot. This Queen is very dynamic, extremely confident, attractive, and magnetic. She's the kind of person who OWNS a room when she walks into it. All eyes go straight to her and although she can come off as a little egotistical or obnoxious at times due to her attention-loving, go-getting nature, you can't help but enjoy her company because she has such a zest for life and she's such an interesting person.

Robert Place has chosen different characters from Bram Stoker's life and his famous Dracula story to represent the court cards. In this card, he has chosen Bram Stoker's mother, Charlotte, to personify the Queen of Stakes. She looks a little irritated in this card and this definitely matches up with the Queen of Stakes' character. The Queen of Stakes is a doer and she cannot tolerate slaggers. You either move at her pace or she will quickly leave you behind. That's just how she rolls.

Hope you enjoy today's draw!

Vampire Tarot, Day 7 -- Nine of Stakes

The Nine of Stakes corresponds to the Nine of Wands in the Rider-Waite tarot. This card is all about being ready to let go of something that has been consuming a lot of your time and energy. You've got a little gas left in your tank but you're about to flame out.

Another thing that occurred to me after doing the video reading (I hate it when I forget these things but I am doing these readings off the cuff and sometimes additional insights come to me after the reading has been brewing for awhile) ... stakes (wands) are also all about fiery, sexual passion. This card could indicate that you feel like you are all consumed with passion for someone. That kind of attraction and those feelings are wonderful and exciting but they run the risk of becoming an obsession ... so balance that desire with attention to other parts of your life as well.

Hope you enjoy today's reading and thanks as always for visiting!

Vampire Tarot Day 6: Death

When this card comes up, many people want to run away screaming but it is nothing to be feared. The Death Card rarely refers to physical death. It is about transformation, a part of you that has "died", that has ceased to be, that has no further use for you. We all experience many little "deaths" throughout the course of our lives. Think about relationships that have run their course, jobs that have ended, friends who have come and gone ... these are all examples of the many endings we have all experienced that feel painful but are a necessary and inevitable part of life. Things begin, things end. It is a law of nature.

Hope you enjoy today's video reading and thank you for tuning in and visiting my blog!

VAMPIRE TAROT Day 5 -- The Brides

Today's draw was all about accessing the power of our sexuality and our ability to mesmerize the object of our affections. The Brides corresponds to The Empress in the Rider-Waite tarot which is all about the divine feminine. She represents not only sexuality and sensuality but feminine aspects of life such as fertility, birth, growth, and abundance. The Brides in the Vampire Tarot are Dracula's brides and use their eyes to hypnotize. We all have the ability to mesmerize the right person ... do you have your eyes set on someone special today? Or maybe their eyes are on you ... 

VAMPIRE TAROT Day 4: Three of Knives

The Three of Knives is the Vampire Tarot's equivalent of the Three of Swords in the Rider-Waite tarot. Just looking at the card, its message is pretty obvious: the heart has been pierced, indicating damage, injury, pain.

However, the suit of Swords is the suit of thought, mental faculties, communication, beliefs, and attitudes. It's possible that someone's pain is tied up more in their mind than actual reality. Do you have all the facts? Are you assuming a situation is something it's not and that's the reason for your pain? Sometimes our imaginations can lead us to negative places when there really is no need. I forgot to mention this in my video, which is below. Hope you enjoy and have a great weekend!

VAMPIRE TAROT -- Day 3: Queen of Knives

The Queen of Knives corresponds to the Queen of Swords in the Rider-Waite tarot. Swords are the suit of thought, beliefs, attitude, intellect, and communication. Queens are at the top of the hierarchy, the female and loftiest expression of the suit.

The Queen of Swords is someone who is ruled by her mind. She has no patience for stragglers in the intellectual realm. She can be exceedingly direct and some might say she is too blunt and even cruel, but her words don't come from a sense of malice. Her words may cut like a sword because she simply cannot tolerate nonsense. Her mind has no time for it.

Robert M Place has chosen different characters to represent the court cards in the Vampire tarot. For the Queen of Knives, the book reads:

"This card depicts the famous English actress Ellen Terry. ... she was the principal actress at the Lyceum Theater. Terry was one of the most beautiful, intelligent, and talented actresses of her time. ... Stoker seems to have based many aspects of his character Mina on Terry. This card represents someone who is beautiful, gracious, capable, and intelligent."

This card represents someone who is at the top of her game: not only is she extremely intelligent, she is gifted and talented as well. However, the Vampire Tarot version of this card seems to express a softer side of the Queen of Swords' psyche. Her eyes seem to express a certain vulnerability, even fear, as she looks off to the side, as if she is expecting someone to attack her. You can tell she has been through some trials, but she has learned from her pain. Perhaps she is witnessing others going through some pain and feeling sorrow for the fact that they haven't learned from it. She wishes that she could pass her knowledge on to them to spare them their pain.

We have all been hurt, but pain is a great teacher. The most valuable lessons in life are always the hardest to learn ... but if you absorb the wisdom that comes from them, you don't need to relive them over and over again. It's the lessons we DON'T learn that get repeated incessantly. The Queen of Knives has been hurt, but reminds us that she will not suffer the same pain twice. You don't have to, either.

Vampire Tarot -- Day 2: The Madman

Our card for today is The Madman. I was thinking last night after making the first draw from this deck that the artwork reminded me of those old comic books, Creepy and Eerie ... do you remember them?

My brothers used to collect them and I LOVED them. They would always have first crack at them but then I'd get the chance and I would devour them. There is one story in particular that I've never forgotten ... I can even remember some of the actual images from the comic book frames. A really cool video store here in Toronto has a couple of hardcover books with Creepy and Eerie comics reprinted in them. I've been lusting after them for awhile but they're pretty expensive. Maybe someday. For now ... here is day two of my daily draw from the Vampire Tarot. Enjoy!

Getting to Know the Vampire Tarot by Robert M Place

Up until Halloween, I'll be doing a daily draw using the Vampire Tarot. I bought this deck a few weeks ago but have not had the chance to get to know it yet. Well, the time has come .... and what better time than Halloween? I'm not sure if I'll have the time to do daily videos, but I will definitely be posting daily blogs at the very least. Here's the first video and I hope you come along and enjoy the journey with me!

DAILY DRAW: Nine of Swords, reversed

You can't help but cringe a little when this card comes up. The image is clear enough: mental anguish, worry, depression, grief. The person in bed holding their head in their hands is inconsolable. The swords are piled up beside them, one worry and stress after another, and they are simply overwhelmed.

This card is reversed for us today meaning either the opposite (a return to normalcy, a recovery from such an unpleasant phase) or an intensification (a continuation of the same, a feeling that your worries and stresses continue to pile up and overwhelm you ... you feel like there is no escape.)

Consider the card that comes before this one, the Eight of Swords:

In this card, we see much the same energy .... a woman tied up, blindfolded, bound by ties, and surrounded by swords that seem like a fence around her. But her ties are loose and if she took a step, she could walk away from those supposed restrictions.

If you are feeling overwhelmed by worries and stress and feel like they are never going to end, remember that no matter what happens to us in our lives there is always a choice ... there is always a positive. Don't allow your worries to keep you feeling powerless, with your head in your hands. Refuse to allow negativity to control your thoughts. Yes, sometimes the events taking place in our lives suck and there are certain things that are beyond our control ... the one thing we can always control is the way we think.

Choose to believe that you will get through this ... because you will.

DAILY DRAW: Six of Wands

Victory is yours, says the Six of Wands. Either you have accomplished something that you have been working towards or victory is just within reach. It's all about having the confidence, belief in yourself, and the energy and fire in you to do what has to be done in order to get what you want.

The man on the horse is riding up to the finish line and he has company. People are marching alongside him in what looks like a victory parade. Not only is he proud of his accomplishments, so are they. He has inspired them. They are very happy to have him as a leader.

This card is telling us that this energy is within our capabilities today. We can be the man on the horse riding up to claim his prize or we can be one of the people in the crowd cheering him on. Not all of us feel the need to be the man on the horse, the center of attention. Some of us are just as happy being in their company and soaking up their energy, finding inspiration from them.

There is a fine line between confidence and cockiness, though. That friendly crowd marching beside the victor could just as easily turn nasty if he becomes too proud and boastful ... then things could take quite a different turn.

Congratulate yourself and give yourself your due if you find yourself on the receiving end of admiration and accolades today. You've worked hard for it and you deserve it. Enjoy this moment in the spotlight because as we all know ... success can be quite fickle and transitory.

If there is someone in your life who you look up to, enjoy them. Draw your inspiration from them. Consider what qualities about them you admire and want to develop in your own life.

DAILY DRAW: King of Pentacles

Prosperity. Success. Enjoying the good life. This is the realm of the King of Pentacles .... and it is an enviable position to be in.

The King of Pentacles is someone who is at the top of his or her game. He is someone who has put in the time and effort to get where he is and rest assured that he will enjoy the fruits of his labours when he gets there. Pentacles are the suit of the earthly realm and this is especially evident with the King of Pentacles. His castle looms in the background, his throne is ornate, and his robes are rich and velvety, the only garb suitable for such an esteemed individual. He's sitting outside as if he own the lands itself, and he does!

This King can represent a successful business person or someone who is very accomplished at whatever field they are in. It can be someone who is simply very adept at making his or her way through life, setting goals, achieving them in a way that seems effortless, and someone others flock to for practical advice. They appreciate beauty and opulence and surround themselves with it unapologetically.

You may encounter such a person today ... or you may BE that person today. In what areas of your life do you excel or feel particularly accomplished? Are you great in business? A born entrepreneur? Maybe you're a great cook or an awesome designer ... you know how to work with raw materials and transform them into something spectacular.

Whatever your personal strengths and talents, employ them and enjoy them today. Don't be so modest ... you know what your natural gifts are so let them shine.

DAILY DRAW: The Sun (reversed)

The Sun is one of the cards of the Major Arcana. It is number 19 out of 21 and comes toward the end of the Fool's Journey. A process has almost been completed.

The Sun usually represents great joy, vibrance, and freedom. In the Rider Waite version of this card, we see a naked cherub on a horse galloping out of a garden. The image suggests great happiness, self expression, and vitality. In the Morgan Greer version of this card (pictured above), we see a man and a woman facing each other in a sunlit garden. Sunflowers are bursting around them and a hot red sun beams down on them both. They are communciating in a very warm, joyous, mutually affecting way. Notice how they're gazing at each other as if they've each recognized something in the other ... perhaps they both feel they have met their soul mate.

This card came up reversed which indicates that this energy has been turned upside down. What was formerly warm, affectionate, and mutually gratifying has been turned on its head. What caused this to happen? Why did something so good suddenly turn bad? Whatever the reason, chances are that both people are feeling the loss and the sun has clouded over for both of them.

Can this sunny warmth ever be regained? Only if both people are willing to communicate with the same intention and mutual affection that brought them together in the first place.

If you're feeling the sudden loss of something wonderful in your life, remember that if you felt it once, you can feel it again. It might not be with the same person or in the same circumstances but if it can happen once, it can happen again. The sudden loss just feels so jarring and terrible that it can trick you into thinking you will never feel this way again. Take heart ... life always finds a way of cycling back around, one way or another.

The Sun is always there, even when you can't see it behind the clouds.