The 4 aces from the Fairy Tarot! They couldn’t be any sweeter, could they? And they are oh-so-wise, only see…they know Latin and have mottos!

The mottos are (clockwise from top left) roughly:

He who spares the bad injures the good.

The following day is the student of the previous day.

Worries sharpen the mortal heart.

A penny saved is a penny earned.

In tarot, the Aces represent new beginnings. Out of all the “new beginnings” times of the year, I think the Aces go best with Spring. The Aces have this feeling of being gifts from the Universe and Spring has that feeling to me. When it finally comes, I am just so very grateful.

The Gaian Tarot by Joanna Colbert Powell, which will be available in the fall, expresses the energy of the earth so beautifully. The suits are not the traditional Wands, Swords, Cups, and Pentacles. Instead they are Fire, Air, Water, and Earth. Today we’ll look at the Aces of Water and Earth.

Both of these are the traditionally passive suits and so it makes sense the gifts are contently living within the environments that bred them. The creatures are not changing as in the active cards; their environment changes.

Ace of Water, Gaian Tarot

The fish is probably the creature most at one with its environment. The water embraces him even as he moves through it. The Ace of Water is a very Zen-like card and promises the gift of being fully connected with your environment.

Ace of Earth, Gaian Tarot

The fawn watches, slowly learning about her world through careful observation. She notices the seedling as it grows to strong plant, to flower, to fruit. Her gift is understanding the potential of the world.

Today, draw the energy of these cards into your; write an intention for expressing the gifts of unity and observation.

Readers Studio!

Reader Studio poster by Ciro Marchetti

Tomorrow I am leaving for New York to attend the Readers Studio. This year I am one of the three master teachers, along with Corrine Kenner and Caitlin Matthews. You won’t hear from me again until next month, when I’ll report back on my adventures.

In tarot, the Aces represent new beginnings. Out of all the “new beginnings” times of the year, I think the Aces go best with Spring. The Aces have this feeling of being gifts from the Universe and Spring has that feeling to me. When it finally comes, I am just so very grateful.

The Gaian Tarot by Joanna Colbert Powell, which will be available in the fall, expresses the energy of the earth so beautifully. The suits are not the traditional Wands, Swords, Cups, and Pentacles. Instead they are Fire, Air, Water, and Earth. Today we’ll look at the Aces of Fire and Air.

Both of these are the traditionally active suits and so it makes sense the gifts are actively popping out of the containers that held them. There is a clear sense of having been in a sort of hibernation (the way winter can feel) and finally just bursting out because they simply cannot NOT do so.

There is a difference in energy between the two.  The little lizard in the Ace of Fire seems curious and almost comical. The butterfly, on the other hand, has a calm grace.

Today, draw the energy of these cards into your; write an intention for expressing the gifts of curiosity and gracefulness.

If there are cards from any Llewellyn or Lo Scarabeo deck that you’d like to see, let me know in the comments and I’ll see what I can do. Because that’s the kind of gal I am.

I always thought of the aces as the promise or possibility of abundance but not as abundance itself and as spring rather than fall, as I wrote in this article, Seasons of Tarot: Spring. So how do aces fit with the idea of abundance and/or giving thanks? I can think of at least two ways. First, aces are usually viewed as gifts from the universe (or god or goddess or the earth) and Thanksgiving is a day dedicated to giving thanks for the abundance of the earth and to enjoying the final bits of harvest before winter sets in.

It is also a time to think about the seeds planted earlier in the year and to see how they’ve grown and what fruit they’ve born. For me, I like to look back at the vows and plans I made around Yule/New Year’s Day and see how I did in nurturing the seeds I planted. So I would add the 7 of Pentacles to the list. How did I value and honor the seeds, gifts, and opportunities that I was given over the past year?

In the article link above, there are some spreads designed for exploring the energy of the aces. Just a few tweaks altered this one to make it more appropriate for the reflective quality of autumn.

Select a Major Arcana card that represents the theme, gift, or opportunity that came into you life over the past year and that you wish to explore now. Select and place that card and and the four aces as directed. Shuffle the rest of the deck and lay out cards 6 – 9. The phrase “this card” refers to the Major Arcana card you selected.

1. Select and place here the Major Arcana card that represents the theme, gift, or opportunity that came into your life this past year

2. Place the he Ace of Wands here

3. Place the Ace of Cups here

4. Place the Ace of Swords here

5. Place the Ace of Pentacles here

6. How did this card  find expression in your life spiritually?

7. How did this card  find expression in your life emotionally?

8. How did this card find expression in your life intellectually?

9. How did this card find expression in your life physically?

Bonus Spread

There is another spread that involves aces that I really like. It is the Four Aces Spread designed by Mark K. Greer. Although it is not necessarily about gratitude or abundance, I am sure you’ll enjoy it. I know I did!