A guest post from Kirsten Weiss, author of contemporary mystery The Mysteries of Tarot
The Mysteries of Tarot: A Work of the Imagination
How to Read the Cards for Transformation
When Tarot reader Hyperion Night sent his manuscript, The Mysteries of Tarot, to a friend to edit, it was a simple guide to reading Tarot. Hyperion couldn’t anticipate that his editor’s notes would evolve into a murder mystery, or that his friend would go missing. Shockingly, the annotated manuscript eventually made its way back to Hyperion, who forwarded it to the authorities.
Now this astonishing Tarot guide is available as a book. The Tarot guidebook features:
• Tarot basics―How to manage different interpretations of cards in a spread, how to read court cards, and a clear and simple method for dealing with reversals.
• Detailed card breakdowns― Keywords, flash non-fiction narratives, and a deep dive into the symbols of each of the 78 cards of the Major Arcana and Minor Arcana.
• Questions to apply to the cards for transforming your life―Insightful questions for each card to help you dig deeper into your Tarot reading practice.
Bonus feature: the guidebook also includes his editor’s comments on the more esoteric and philosophical interpretations of the Tarot, as well as his notes on the baffling mystery that engulfed him.
Gain deep insight from the cards, transform yourself, and solve The Mysteries of Tarot with this work of experimental fiction that’s part Tarot guidebook, part murder mystery.
Excerpt from The Mysteries of Tarot
The Moon
Messages from the unconscious. Mystery. Confusion. Dreams. Illusion.
Last night, I dreamt of a departed aunt I’d had a contentious relationship with. She walked down the hallway of my apartment and sat beside me in the living room.
Suddenly I remembered she was dead and understood I was dreaming. But instead of the dream ending, like it usually does when I become aware, we talked—the kind of talk we’d never been able to have when she was alive. She apologized for some things she’d said and done and helped me understand why she’d said and done them. And her reasons weren’t awful. They made a lot of sense.
I apologized too, because I hadn’t been innocent in the turn our relationship had taken. We forgave each other. I woke up feeling lighter. Free.
The Symbols
I’m still not sure if it was “only” a lucid dream or a visitation from my relative. I don’t know if it matters. It was all very lunar, very moonlike. And not just because the Moon card can represent dreams. Moons with their waxing and waning also represents illusion and confusion, messages from the subconscious crawling up out of the muck like that lobster creeping from the water in the card. A dog and a wolf, representing the refined conscious and the more primitive subconscious, howl at the moon’s light.
And all of those things had been at play in my life. I’d created a false—or at least incomplete—story in my mind of the cause of my estrangement from my relative (illusion/confusion). But the truth bubbled up from my subconscious in last night’s dream. If it hadn’t, I’d still be carrying that burden.
What Does This Card Mean for You?
When the Moon card appears in a Tarot reading, it suggests we may not be seeing things clearly. But the truth is out there — or in there, as the case may be.
How can you bring your subconscious impulses or knowledge into conscious light? The road between the two towers in the card is long, dark, and winding. Have patience. Be brave.
Notes: The Moon
44 As to The Moon, I feel like I’m swimming in it. At first my father’s death seemed like an accident, a fall from the balcony outside his bedroom. He’s been drinking more than usual lately. But the servants swear he wasn’t drinking that night. And the balcony railing is low. He could have fallen by accident.
I keep replaying our last conversation. Had he been thinking then of taking his own life? Was that why he’d come to see me? Because he knew I’d been a failure when I’d tried my hand at self-deletion? Maybe he wanted me to talk him out of it?
I don’t understand. But I’ll try to keep up with the daily edits, where I feel I have something to add. I need to keep my mind busy. -T
Guest Post from Kirsten Weiss
Q: What’s your favorite tarot card?
A: The Star
I draw Tarot cards for myself on a fairly regular basis both for insight and inspiration. When I turn up the Star card, I always get a tiny hit of joy. Within the Tarot’s vast tapestry of archetypes and symbolism, the Star shines as a beacon of hope, inspiration, and renewal.
As a mystery writer, I find inspiration in the Star’s creative energy. It encourages us to tap into our imaginations and unlock our true potential. When we embrace the Star’s energy, we open ourselves up to new ideas, fresh perspectives, and the ability to weave captivating tales of intrigue and suspense.
Here are some of its other meanings:
- Illuminating Guidance: The Star’s radiant light pierces the darkness, guiding us towards clarity and understanding. It reminds us to have faith in our own intuition and to trust that even in the most challenging times, there is always a glimmer of hope to be found. The card encourages us to navigate our paths with confidence, knowing that the universe has a plan for us, and all we need to do is follow the guiding light.
- Healing and Renewal: In the Star’s tranquil waters, we find solace and healing. The card represents a soothing balm for the soul, reminding us to take time for self-care, reflection, and rejuvenation. It speaks of releasing old wounds and embracing a fresh start—a reminder that even in the darkest moments, there is always the potential for rebirth and growth.
- Cosmic Connection: The Star serves as a reminder of our connection to the vast cosmos. It invites us to look beyond the material world and explore the infinite possibilities that lie within the universe. This card inspires us to recognize that we are part of something greater, and it urges us to seek our place within the grand tapestry of existence.
- Serenity and Balance: The Star’s presence signifies a harmonious balance between the conscious and the unconscious realms. It invites us to find peace within ourselves, to trust in the divine order of things, and to surrender to the flow of life. By embracing the Star’s serene energy, we can navigate the mysteries of our own lives with grace and equanimity.
If you encounter The Star in a Tarot reading, take a moment to bask in its radiant light. Allow its message to guide you towards hope, healing, and renewed inspiration. Embrace its cosmic embrace and let it illuminate your path through the enigmatic maze of life’s mysteries.
About Kirsten Weiss
Kirsten Weiss writes laugh-out-loud, page-turning mysteries, and now a Tarot guidebook that’s a work of experimental fiction. Her heroes and heroines aren’t perfect, but they’re smart, they struggle, and they succeed. Kirsten writes in a house high on a hill in the Colorado woods and occasionally ventures out for wine and chocolate. Or for a visit to the local pie shop.
Kirsten is best known for her Wits’ End, Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum, and Tea & Tarot cozy mystery books. So if you like funny, action-packed mysteries with complicated heroines, just turn the page…
Giveaway
Kirsten Weiss will be awarding a $10 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
Thanks for stopping by Kit ‘n Kabookle! If you dig books as much as I do, I’d love to connect on Goodreads. Lately, I’ve read…
Thank you for hosting.
Thanks for hosting The Mysteries of Tarot today!
This sounds like an interesting story.
I find Tarot interesting. Sounds like a good read.
I first came to love your work through the Wit’s End series. I am so excited about this! I’ve always found tarot interesting and now to have in mystery format? Fantastic!