Tarot Tuesday: Six of Cups

Today's Card:

Six of Cups

Sixes are often associated with communication, problem-solving; decision-making

Cups represent love and relationships (in a regular deck of cards, cups equate to hearts)

Meaning (Upright):

Happy memories; intelligent choices in love; tempted to live in the past; return of a friend or lover from the past; wanting new love or marriage; gift from a loved one; decision about love or marriage; emotional decision chance to relocate or a new job may be imminent

Meaning (Reversed):

Indecision creates emotional drain that could be associated with lover or marriage; being irresponsible in a relationship; loss of a loved one; possible separation or divorce; stress may cause illness; no harmony or growth; disappointment in love or with family member; delays in rewards; someone else may get credit for your work; a trip may be postponed; live in the now--not the past; must get out of a difficult or smothering relationship

Dragon Tarot Deck created and illustrated by Peter Pracownik
Published by US Games, Inc

The Lovers Tarot Deck Designed by Jane Lyle
Published by Thomas Dunne Books

Steampunk Tarot Deck Designed by Barbara Moore,
Illustrated by Aly Fell, Published by Llewellyn Worldwide 2012

If you get the Six of Cups in a reading...

If you have a six of cups show up in your reading, pay attention to the decision before you. Don't live in the past, but appreciate the memories of happiness and happier times.

A friend or lover from your past may appear. There's also the possibility of a new job or moving.

Extra:

If three sixes show up in a reading there is a lot of confusion surrounding you.

If four sixes show up in a reading, you need to get your life straightened out because four sixes indicate disaster on the horizon.

Here's the disclaimer: I have to stress, I am not an expert in the Tarot and I use them for myself and friends (and my characters) to help answer questions about situations and the future. 

Enjoy and have a great day,
Q

Guest Post and Contest from Danyelle Leafty

I'm switching things up for a little bit today and tomorrow. Of Friday, it's back to Food Fun recipes...today, please welcome Danyelle Leafty...

Magic isn't a handful of sparkling dust, a star-topped wand, or a tame word captured on parchment.

It's alive. It has a mind of its own. And it's hungry.

To celebrate the release of Slippers of Pearl and Bitten: A Novel of Faerie, I'd like to offer a bite of magic to all those who love kidlit--and fairy tales in particular.

There will be eleven winners and six different prizes available:

A Bite of Cobbler

3 Chapter Sample Here

Shoes, unlike magic, are predictable. They don’t change shape, bite, or alter a person’s destiny.

And that’s just how Faryn likes it.

But his Uncle Harvey has a bad habit of dying. While inconvenient, this hasn’t ever been a problem until now. Thanks to an evil witch and a poisoned apple turnover, Harvey is dead again—permanently this time.

As his uncle’s heir, Faryn has to give up shoemaking in order to accept and refine his magic.

Magic he never wanted.

Unwilling to let go of his dream, but unable to escape his destiny, Faryn combines the two and discovers a knack for making magical shoes. He also learns that turning a person into a goose is a lot easier than turning her back, and that he severely underestimated how much trouble magic can be.

The witch who killed his uncle is trying to control all the magic of the land, and it’s up to Faryn to stop her. If only he can get his magic to cooperate in time. 

an autographed copy of Slippers of Pearl

a magical pouch to keep it in

and a Slippers of Pearl bookmark

A Bite of Faerie

(Available October 2nd-ish)

Fourteen-year-old Cherrie Wilding stopped believing in fairies after her Grams had a stroke that left her a silent, empty stranger. But whether she believes in them or not, one of them bit her, and now the venom is spreading through her system and causing  . . . complications. Like an allergy to iron and a craving for milk.

It turns out that fairy venom has the power to turn mortals into small, winged versions of themselves. And it gets better. Grams's stroke was the result of her light—her fairy soul—being stolen. The fairy who bit Cherrie demands her to help steal Grams’s light back. 

As much as Cherrie wants to save Grams, her need to protect her older brother from the fairies and the rest of the real world wins out. Who knows what lurks in a world populated by winged menaces? But when the fairy talks Cherrie’s brother into going to the fairy realm, Cherrie mounts a rescue attempt to save him. To her surprise, it’s not her brother who needs rescuing—it’s the fairies. Someone is stealing their lights and imprisoning them, and it’s up to Cherrie and her brother to free them. But saving the fairies, keeping her brother safe, and returning home requires the help of the Phoenix. And the price for his aid doesn’t come cheap. If Cherrie wants to succeed, she must be willing to part with her greatest possession: her heart.

an autographed copy of Bitten: A Novel of Faerie

a faerie habitat

a Bitten bookmark

A Bite of Books

1 $25 Amazon Gift Card

Two Bites of Music

2 $15 iTunes Gift Cards

Six Bites of Braun Books Certificates

6 $10 gift certificates to Braun Books; redeemable in store or through Amazon

(A special thanks to Megan at Braun Books!)

To enter, leave a comment. Extra entries available through the Rafflecopter below.

Thank you to all, and best of luck!

Facebook

Twitter

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tarot Tuesday: Two of Wands (R)

Twos have varied meanings including: conflict; balance; choices; relationships

Wands are representative of enterprise and distinction; work and social activities

Today's Card:

Two of Wands (Reversed)

Meaning (Upright):

World in your hands; success can be yours; aware of social and work activities; looking for balance in both work and social life; employing will and ego at work and socially; conflict at work or with co-workers; success in business or plans; future looks good; keep going, you can do it; hesitating over a decision--need to choose

Meaning (Reversed):

Have no idea what's going on at work or socially; unsure of place in the world; lack of balance at work and socially; lack of confidence or know-how in skills, abilities, or business; afraid of failing; hyper critical; no ambition; failure to do research; shaky foundation may result in failure; be patient; don't let others control your thinking; need to organize personal and business life; make sure things are clear so there are no misunderstandings

Dragon Tarot Deck created and illustrated by Peter Pracownik
Published by US Games, Inc

The Lovers Tarot Deck Designed by Jane Lyle
Published by Thomas Dunne Books

Steampunk Tarot Deck Designed by Barbara Moore,
Illustrated by Aly Fell, Published by Llewellyn Worldwide 2012

If you get the Two of Wands (R) in a reading...

If the two of wands reversed shows up in your reading, be prepared the plans you have may not work out. You'll need to make sure you've got all your things organized so you can identify where problems may crop up.

If you're having problems with a co-worker, take the time to make sure both of you are clear in your intentions and expectations.

Extra:

If there are swords all around the two of wands in the reading--get everything in order, something new is on the horizon

Three twos mean you need to organize or get organized

Four twos mean this is a traumatic period in your life 

Here's the disclaimer: I have to stress, I am not an expert in the Tarot and I use them for myself and friends (and my characters) to help answer questions about situations and the future. 

Enjoy and have a great day,
Q

Tarot Tuesday: Two of Swords

Hope you've been enjoying Tarot Tuesday and thank you for returning for another week.

The Card:

Two of Swords

Twos mean conflict or balance; choices; relationships
Swords often represent mental compatibility, thinking, intellect, or conflict
In a deck of playing cards, the suit of Swords would be similar to the suit of Spades

Meaning (Upright):

head in the sand; not wanting to face your problems/troubles -- this can be dangerous; intuition unclear; may need to take actions; unable to resolve conflict; conflict on multiple levels; unsure what to do; indecision; need new approach; emotions involved and make it difficult to decide.

Meaning (Reversed):

unaware of problems/troubles and don't want to face them; not as hopeless as it appears; not using intuition or trusting "gut"; focus is on physical not mental -- afraid of new information/knowledge; hidden enemies at work; can make decisions, but use care; things moving quickly; give self time to think before committing; don't talk until you're sure you're dealing with the right person; be sure before you decide.

Dragon Tarot Deck created and illustrated by Peter Pracownik
Published by US Games, Inc

The Lovers Tarot Deck Designed by Jane Lyle
Published by Thomas Dunne Books

Steampunk Tarot Deck Designed by Barbara Moore,
Illustrated by Aly Fell, Published by Llewellyn Worldwide 2012

If the Two of Swords appears in your reading...

Beware if you get the two of swords in a reading. Take a close look at the situation or the question you're asking about, you could be intentionally ignoring what's right in front of you. This card may be telling you to pay attention, quit waiting and take the action necessary.

Extra:

Three twos mean you need to organize or get organized

Four twos mean this is a traumatic period in your life

Here's the disclaimer: I have to stress, I am not an expert in the Tarot and I use them for myself and friends (and my characters) to help answer questions about situations and the future.

Thanks for stopping by! Have a great day.
Q

Food Fun Friday: Lemon Spritz Cookies

Welcome back to Food Fun Friday. I feel like I've been focusing on desserts, but considering how much I enjoy sweets, it's only reasonable I pay lots of attention to it. But I do promise, I'll be posting recipes for main dishes.

About a week ago, I got the munchies while watching my Saturday night programs, and I only had just enough stuff to make one of my favorite late night treat -- Lemon Spritz Cookies

Delicious Lemon Spritz Cookies

I didn't quite follow the recipe because I was missing some of the ingredients, but they still came out great.

Ingredients:

1 c butter, softened (I used shortening)
2/3 c sugar
1 egg, slightly beaten
2 1/4 c flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp lemon extract

I like a little more flavor in my cookies so I added: 

1 tsp vanilla 
1 tsp lemon juice

these are optional so you don't have to add them unless you want to.

the dough

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Cream butter; mix in sugar and egg. Add remaining ingredients and mix well. 
Roll dough into a log and refrigerate for thirty minutes. (I didn't do this because I was too hungry to wait) 

the cookie press

Place dough into cookie press and use the design you like best. Press cookies onto an ungreased cookie sheet, sprinkle with decorations, if desired.

I like the stars, but many cookie presses
 have over a dozen shapes from
hearts to Christmas trees

If you want to make them during the holidays, you can add a few drops of food coloring to make the cookies more festive.

Bake for 8-10 minutes or until edges turn golden brown.

yummy finished product

Spritz cookies can be made with or without the lemon extract. You can use almond extract, cinnamon, even pumpkin pie spice or nutmeg. The spritz cookies taste great with hot chocolate, tea, or coffee.

Enjoy!

Tarot Tuesdays: Justice (XI)

Okay, so I decided to make Tarot Tuesday a weekly thing instead of a bi-weekly thing.

Here comes the disclaimer: I have to stress, I am not an expert in the Tarot and I use them for myself and friends (and my characters) to help answer questions about situations and the future.

Today's Card:

Justice (XI)

This card is the twelfth card in the Major Arcana (The Fool (0) is unnumbered and messes it all up. LOL) Anyway, the Justice card is often symbolized by the scales.
Think of this card as and indication of balance (or unbalance) in a situation.

Meaning (Upright):

Someone has made a fair and honest decision; don't be influenced by persuasion; learn by past experiences to do what you feel is best; right decision has been made; balance; wanting justice in business or personal matters; unfair treatment causes resentment and frustration; old Karma removed by kindness and caring.

Meaning (Reversed):

injustice; possible loss; feeling inadequate and unable to change the situation; cannot change the fact that someone has taken advantage of you; stop worrying and focus energy on something new; accept this Karmic lesson and go your own way; imbalance; legal complications; uncompromising attitudes are all around you; may fail due to overconfidence; lack of balance due to unfair practices.

Dragon Tarot Deck created and illustrated by Peter Pracownik
Published by US Games, Inc

The Lovers Tarot Deck designed by Jane Lyle
Published by Thomas Dunne Books

Steampunk Tarot Deck Designed by Barbara Moore,
Illustrated by Aly Fell, Published by Llewellyn Worldwide 2012

If you receive the Justice (XI) card in a reading, it means no matter how much you might want things to be different, the situation isn't going to change. This applies to the question you're asking. Something -- the powers that be -- has looked at the situation and decided its good as-is. Best bet, learn from the experience and apply it when necessary. Pay attention to your own actions and make sure you're acting honestly with those around you.

Thank you for stopping around today.
Have a great day!
Q

Tarot Tuesday: Seven of Swords

Welcome back to Tarot Tuesday.

This is repetitious, but I want to stress again, I am not an expert in the Tarot and I use them for myself and friends (and my characters) to help answer questions about situations and the future.

Today's Card:

Seven of Swords

Sevens represent change and swords are associated with mental compatibility thinking, intellect, and conflict.

Meaning (Upright):

The path is temporarily full of troubles and problems; problems in relationships; a feeling of being cheated; wanting new experiences, but gaining them dishonestly. WARNING! possible accident or breakdown; plans may not work out; sheer bad luck; one thing after another goes wrong.

Meaning (Reversed):

No victory with problems; stagnancy; jealousy of others' success; no faith or trust in self; unhappy relationship that seems permanent; self destructive tendencies; listen for possible help or advice being offered; not all that bad; something of yours will be returned; don't let pride stand in the way.

Dragon Tarot Deck created and illustrated by Peter Pracownik
Published by US Games, Inc

The Lovers Tarot Deck Designed by Jane Lyle
Published by Thomas Dunne Books

Steampunk Tarot Deck Designed by Barbara Moore,
Illustrated by Aly Fell, Published by Llewellyn Worldwide 2012

If the seven of swords appears in a reading it could indicate that the path ahead of you is going to have problems temporarily. Be careful of the temptation to gain experience through dishonest means. The chances your plans will not work out is high and you should be careful, because the potential for a breakdown or accident is there. The seven of swords is a warning card for you. You should pay attention at this time and make sure any plans you have you've gone through all the details carefully and know where a hitch might arise.

Thank you for stopping by today. Have a great afternoon!
Q