The Mythical World of Tarocchi

All posts have been moved

2010-08-13T14:53:00.003+01:00

To make it easier for my students I have moved the novel to the tarot course site at http://www.worldwidemediums.net/

Are you still interested?

2009-10-07T09:27:00.003+01:00

NOTE: If you are new to this blog and want to read the novel from the beginning click here

Hi Folks,

I have been working on the novel on my computer, but as so few people are leaving comments I am not sure how many people are reading the blog and if you are really interested in me continuing with it.

Therefore, I thought I would wait and ask for your opinion. If you would like me to continue please leave a note below. If enough people respond positively I will of course begin posting again.

Knight of Swords : Into the fray

2009-08-10T13:19:00.002+01:00

NOTE: If you are new to this blog and want to read the novel from the beginning click here

A little light listening for you whilst you read the article.

Tuesday 20th January

We spent the night in another hotel and this morning the same routine – out of bed, onto the horse, eat and talk while we travelled. Eating was proving to be a little difficult because everything tasted like metal due to the overpowering stench of his armour.

Throughout the morning I was treated to Sir Galahad's critique of my situation once again. He couldn't seem to resist telling me where I had gone wrong in his opinion and how the situation should have been dealt with and what I should do once we reached Swordonia. He really was the most unfeeling oaf I had come across in a long, long time.

What tickled me was that he saw himself as the hero who had come to rescue me (never mind the fact that I didn't want to be rescued) and saw it as his duty to set me straight and deliver me to where he reasoned my problems could be solved and I could find a way home.

As we neared Swordonia we could hear the sounds of what sounded like a battle. We broke into a gallop and soon came across several men on horseback fighting. Sir Galahad unceremoniously lifted me down onto the ground, dropped a pack down beside me and told me that Swordonia was half an hour that way. Without a by your leave he galloped off towards the battle.

Well, I was obviously out of his mind now that he had found another cause. It struck me that Sir Galahad would only ever be happy when he had a something to fight for, someone to rescue or a campaign to lead.

I sighed and turned toward Swordonia, feeling battered and bruised from the journey on the horse and properly scalded by the critical words of Sir Galahad. Sir Galahad indeed!

Please feel free to leave suggestions for an Elvis song to accompany each section (card) in the comments section below.
To read the traditional tarot articles which accompany this novel please visit
Traditional Tarot Articles

To learn tarot for yourself please visit the
Worldwide Mediums and Psychics Online Tarot Courses

Knight of Swords : It's Illogical

2009-08-10T13:11:00.003+01:00

NOTE: If you are new to this blog and want to read the novel from the beginning click here

A little light listening for you whilst you read the article.

Sir Galahad (I still found that name to be rather OTT) informed me that it would take a few days to get to Swordonia and that while we travelled we could discuss my problem and how to solve it so that I could get back home. After a couple of hours travel (the same journey had taken half an hour in a car) we stopped at a hotel for the night and he told me to be ready to leave at dawn the following day.

Monday 19th January

The following morning I was woken by the clanking of his armour way before he knocked on my door. You have no idea how loud that armour is when walking on wooden floors. It sounded like an elephant was walking up to the door. What a wake up call.

He informed me that we would be eating breakfast while we travelled and that we must 'move with all haste' to Swordonia. When I complained and told him that I usually started the day with a pot of tea I was informed that he had provided bottles of water for the journey and that all my needs had been taken care of. When we got outside he just lifted me up and plonked me on the horse and then mounted up behind me. He handed me a bacon cob and a bottle of water and we set out. Have you ever tried to eat whilst riding a horse and with the stink of armour in your nostrils? Not pleasant I can tell you.

As soon as we had finished eating he broke into a gallop. Within half an hour I felt like every bone in my body had turned to jelly and my back had been rubbed raw by his armour. I had to scream to him to stop.

“Do you always travel at full tilt?”

“My lady, 'tis the only way. To walk or canter would be to waste time.”

“Well, you're killing me, so can we please slow down?”

“Methinks my lady is becoming emotional and emotions just get in the way of solving thy problems. But no matter, we can discuss thy problems and thy quest whilst we travel.”

Overly emotional. He's killing me and he's telling me I'm overly emotional. If I didn't think it would hurt my hand on his helmet more than it would hurt him I'd give him a bloody good slap.

He told me that Madge had informed him of what had transpired with my family and how I had booked a holiday to get away from it all and then ended up in Tarocchi.

“My lady, it doth seem to me that thy actions were illogical. Thy achieved nothing by running away from the fight. The logical thing to do as head of thy family would have been to take over the arrangements and stop the arguments.”

“But it doesn't work like that. You have to take into account the feelings of everyone involved.”

“My lady, feelings are irrelevant. To solve any problem thy must put aside all feelings and discuss the problem in a logical manner. It is the only way.”

“I disagree, feelings are very important and if they are not taken into consideration it can cause all sorts of problems within the family.”

We argued back and forth for the best part of an hour but he was not going to be convinced that everyone's feelings had to be accounted for. The only thing that mattered to him was the logic of the situation.

He informed me that the reason we were going to Swordonia was that he felt the solution to my problem was to be with people who used their heads rather than their hearts to solve problems. He didn't seem to care whether I wanted to go there or not.

“You weren't Mr. Spock in a previous life were you?”

“My lady?”

“Star ship enterprise.”

“My lady?”

“Never mind. It was just my little joke.”

You know in all my imaginings about knights in shining armour coming to my rescue it never once occurred to me that they would be anything life the oaf I was travelling with. In my imagination knights had always been romantic, courteous, willing to do anything to ensure a ladies comfort, goes down on one knee to declare undying love. I'm absolutely positive that's everyone else's idea of a knight in shining armour, isn't it? When you think of Sir Galahad do you imagine for one second that he would be a rude, inconsiderate, unfeeling facsimile of Mr. Spock. I think not.

The story continues with Knight of Swords: Into the fray

To learn tarot for yourself please visit the
Worldwide Mediums and Psychics Online Tarot Courses

The Knight of Swords: Knight in Shining Armour

2009-08-10T13:01:00.004+01:00

NOTE: If you are new to this blog and want to read the novel from the beginning click here

A little light listening for you whilst you read the article.

Gaia had left me to think over what she had said and after a while I started walking back along the path to Pentacle Village. As I walked along I could here the clip-clop of a horse coming toward me. I looked up and nearly fell over where I stood. Coming towards me on the most enormous horse I had ever seen was a fully armoured knight. His armour gleamed so much it was almost as blinding as Gaia's light.

As he came up to me he reined in his horse and dismounted. He walked towards me and then knelt on one knee at which point I nearly collapsed in hysterical laughter. Honestly, you have never seen anything so awkward as knight in full armour trying to get down on one knee. And he squeaked!

“My lady, allow me to introduce myself. I am Sir Galahad”

Oh now come on!

“Pardon!”

“The lady Madge hath informed me of thy plight and I hastened to find thee so that I might offer thee my assistance.”

By now I had tears streaming down my face trying so hard not to laugh.

“Oh, my lady, please driest thou tears. Fret not, for I promise thee I will aid thee in thy quest.”

“I'm not crying, I'm ... Are you for real?”

“Real, my lady?”

“You're not on your way to some fête or something are you? Fancy dress ball?”

“No my lady, the winter fête isn't for some weeks yet”

“You're for real? Your a real knight? And your name is Galahad?”

“Why yes my lady, I am a knight of Swordonia. My father is the King of that realm.”

I should have known. I've seen stranger things in Tarocchi. Why not a full blown knight in shining armour?

“I understand thou comest from a far land my lady. Doest thou not have knights in that land?”

“Does opening the door for you and then only on a first date count?”

“My lady? Excuse me for being so forward my lady, but doest thou always wear such manly clothes?”

Manly! Bloody cheek! How rude can you get. Oh boy, I can see there were going to be some problems here. 21st century woman meets knight in shining armour. He's expecting a woman to be all frilly and swoon all over the place and I'm used to fighting my own battles and putting up my own shelves. This is going to be fun.

“This is the way women dress where I come from.”

“How interesting. I would like to visit thy land my lady. Perhaps when we have completed thy quest I could escort thee home?”

Mmmm, taking him home would be very interesting indeed – he would show the men in Birmingham a thing or two I bet. Getting a parking permit his horse might be a bit of a problem though – not to mention it's droppings!

He turned and mounted his horse then moved over next to me. He told me that we had no time to lose if I were to complete my 'quest' and literally hoiked me up in front of him on the horse. When I tried to argue with him he told me that he had considered my plight and determined that the best way was for him to take me to Swordonia where he I would be able to complete my quest and get home. It didn't matter how much I argued he was determined that he knew best and that I would come to see his way of thinking. It seemed he was going to be my knight in shining armour whether I liked it or not. And to make it worse his armour stank to high heaven!

The story continues with Knight of Swords: It's Illogical

Please feel free to leave suggestions for an Elvis song to accompany each section (card) in the comments section below.

To read the traditional tarot articles which accompany this novel please visit
Traditional Tarot Articles

To learn tarot for yourself please visit the
Worldwide Mediums and Psychics Online Tarot Courses

The World: Love is spiritual goal

2009-08-02T14:26:00.005+01:00

NOTE: If you are new to this blog and want to read the novel from the beginning click here

A little light listening for you whilst you read the article.

After walking for about ten minutes something suddenly occurred to me.

“Hold on a sec, what has this got to do with achieving goals which is what I thought you were all about?”

“Finally thinking are we? Yes, I am all about letting people know when they have achieved something in the psychical world. But our lives are not just about the physical are they. Just as important is our spiritual life – remember that we are a spiritual being contained in a psychical body and even when that physical body is finished with our spirit lives on. So, some would say that our spiritual life is even more important.”

“I still don't get it.”

“Being spiritual isn't some airy fairy concept where we send our minds off into who knows where to learn the 'truths' of the world or to communicate with incarnate spirits. It's about the way we live our lives on this earth, about how we treat people, how we care for them, what we do for them.”

“And what's that got to do with achieving goals?”

“Wouldn't you like to be the best person you can be. Wouldn't you like to help as many people as you can? Wouldn't you like to help other people be the best they can be? Aren't they worthwhile goals?”

“Yes, but I don't think people consciously aim for those goals do they. It's not something people set out to do like setting up a business or taking flying lessons.”

“Nevertheless, people do achieve those goals. And in a multitude of ways. Let's take love as an example.”

Did you hear me groan on the inside? Right now love is not a subject that I want to hear about.

“Do you remember when you were a child how your grandma used to bake cakes for you when you were upset? Do you remember how she used to make you feel better? To you she was just giving you cakes to cheer you up but in reality she was giving of herself to make your world a better place.”

Those cakes were delicious and I can still taste them and remember the smells that came out of her kitchen. Funny, I never considered that as spiritually giving. Memories came flooding back of another cook in my life who made my world so incredibly wonderful just with a simple plate of food.

“And lets not forget romantic love.”

Another inward groan.

“When we fall in love we are opening our hearts to the other person. We are letting them inside our world. We fall over ourselves to do things for them. And that person who feels so loved reflects that love out to the world and the people around them.”

“Erm, I don't see how falling in love is a spiritual achievement.”

“Can't you? I know you're grieving now but do you remember how it felt when you were in love and part of another persons world. How you opened your heart and mind to him. How you went out of each others way to make each others worlds better?”

“Well, yes – it was wonderful. But it's all gone now. He's gone.”

“Does that make it any the less special? Any the less spiritual? For the time you were together and in love you were opening your hearts to each other, teaching each other about your individual inner lives. So isn't falling in love a wonderfully spiritual goal.”

Ok, now my head was spinning and while I could understand what she was saying with my heart putting it into words that I could say to someone else I simply couldn't imagine. Physical goals and spiritual goals seemed so far removed from each other it was difficult to believe that Gaia could represent both of them.

“Whether its a subject we love that we want to pass on in order to help other people or a person we love – parents, family friends – doesn't really matter. It's the love we feel that enables us to help other people and that should be our ultimate spiritual goal in life.”

“And that's where you come in to this equation. Stop denying the spiritual goals you have already reached in helping other people, in opening your heart and letting others see the real you.”

The story continues with The Knight of Swords: Knight in Shining Armour

Please feel free to leave suggestions for an Elvis song to accompany each section (card) in the comments section below.

To read the traditional tarot articles which accompany this novel please visit
Traditional Tarot Articles

To learn tarot for yourself please visit the
Worldwide Mediums and Psychics Online Tarot Courses

The World: Spiritual Goals

2009-08-02T14:14:00.005+01:00

NOTE: If you are new to this blog and want to read the novel from the beginning click here

A little light listening for you whilst you read the article.

Sunday, 18th January

This morning I went for a walk to clear my head. After all the celebrating last night my head felt like it was full of cotton wool. I found a little river just outside the village and sat down beside it. I've always found being near water to be incredibly soothing.

“Hello there.”

I looked up to find Gaia walking towards me. That light she emanates sure didn't do anything for my headache.

“Feeling grouchy are we?”

She turned off the light (don't ask me how - I'm just the observer here you know) and laughed at me.

“Is that better?”

I managed a smile and she sat down beside me.

“It is a little much isn't it. But I do love the dramatics of it. It sure does make everyone sit up and take notice when I come into their lives.”

“Not half as much as the being nearly naked all the time.” I snapped.

A cup suddenly appeared in her hand and she bent down to dip it into the river. She handed it to me and told me to drink it as it would make my head feel better if I rehydrated myself. And I just know she was laughing at me even though all she did was smile.

“I know this isn't the best timing in the world but we do need to talk you know.”

“We do? What about? Have I reached the goal I needed to in being here in Tarocchi?”

“Not yet, no. But you know I don't just bring messages of physical accomplishments – I also bring messages about spiritual achievements and I think it's time you acknowledged yours.”

“!!!!!!!”

“Don't look at me like that. You are fully aware of what you have achieved over the years and yet you always downplay them as if they are of no importance whatsoever.”

“I don't think in the grand scheme of things that my accomplishments are that important.”

“Oh, stuff and nonsense woman! You know as well as I do that each and every single persons spiritual accomplishments are very important. Every single spiritual lesson we learn has an effect on those around us and that has a butterfly effect on the rest of the world. Now don't tell me your not aware of that!”

“Well, yes, but I don't think I really have that much effect on people.”

“Oh my, we really are in denial aren't we. You really do need a wake up call, don't you.”

This was getting just a little confrontational for my liking and I certainly didn't like being called out on what was going on in my own head.

“Let's start with something you can easily understand, shall we? You spent years learning tarot and had many teachers. In turn you decided to teach tarot. You decided to pass on what you have learnt. You decided to help other people to learn tarot. And no doubt in turn others will decide to teach tarot.”

“Yes, but that's hardly spiritual is it?”

“But of course it is. Do you remember the lessons both spiritual and physical that you learnt about your life and others just by studying the cards?”

“Well, yes of course I do – I'm still learning them.”

“And don't you think that those people you teach learn similar spiritual lessons from their study of the cards. And that they in turn pass on what they have learnt.”

“I suppose so.”

“There's no suppose about it. Even if you only taught one person the lessons inherent in one card, that would have a butterfly effect as they too would pass on their knowledge. You may not be aware of it, but the effect is definitely there. And for every single person who learns even the simplest lesson and helps their fellow man the world is a better place.”

“I guess.”

“The same applies through every walk in life. No matter what a person does if they help others and pass on what they have learnt the world becomes a better more spiritual place. Even if they don't pass on what they have learnt, that person becomes a better human being.”

“Come on I think you need to take a walk and clear your head more.”

She dragged me to my feet and just about stopped me toppling into the river. She laughed again and told me to cheer up or else. There is nothing so irritating as a cheerful person who is intent on dragging you out of a mood when you want to wallow in it.

The story continues with The World: Love is a Spiritual Goal

Please feel free to leave suggestions for an Elvis song to accompany each section (card) in the comments section below.

To read the traditional tarot articles which accompany this novel please visit
Traditional Tarot Articles

To learn tarot for yourself please visit the
Worldwide Mediums and Psychics Online Tarot Courses

The World: Physical goals achieved

2009-08-02T13:58:00.005+01:00

NOTE: If you are new to this blog and want to read the novel from the beginning click here

A little light listening for you whilst you read the article.

Although nothing has really happened, the past couple of days have gone quite quickly. I've helped Madge spring clean the house (rather early for a spring clean I thought) and prepare the garden ready for the spring planting. Today we were sat in the conservatory after breakfast talking about the events since I arrived in Tarocchi. I told her that I thought maybe I had learnt enough about myself and that I should try to get back to my world. So she packed me up a picnic and off I went back to where I had originally met Henry with the hope of getting home. I got completely lost and ended back in Pentacle village again without even having stopped to eat my picnic.

Madge laughed when I arrived back at number three and told me that I obviously have more to learn and I was welcome to stay. Rather than waste the picnic we had it for our lunch whilst Madge showed me endless photographs of Robert and Jane. I have to say I was feeling quite frustrated as I felt I had learnt quite a lot about myself and couldn't imagine what more I needed to know.

After dinner that evening we were all sat in the living room when all of a sudden the room was lit up with the most amazing glowing light. Madge and Henry jumped up to look out of the window and then rushed to the front door. A lady who was barely covered by a single small sheet literally glided in through the door – I swear her feet weren't touching the floor. She gave off a shimmering light that lit up the room as if the sun had come in with her.

“I'm here to see Jane.” she said.

Jane at that point was rushing down the stairs and skid to a stop in front of the lady. The lady handed Jane an envelope which she tore open and for a few minutes just stood staring at the piece of paper she had taken out. All of a sudden she let out a whoop and started jumping up and down. Then she rushed around the room hugging everyone. Finally she flopped down into one of the chairs and just sat grinning at the piece of paper.

“Mom, I've passed, I've passed.”

“Well, lets have a look then dear. How well did you do?”

“See for yourself – four A's and a B.”

Madge took the paper from Jane and looked at it and then passed it to Henry. They both congratulated and hugged her again and then Henry went off to fetch a bottle of wine and some glasses. After we had toasted Jane's success Henry told her that she now had to seriously consider what she was going to do with her life.

“Who was that lady?” I asked.

“Oh, I'm sorry dear, I should have explained. Her name is Gaia and she is known as the World. She lives in Major Village and when she comes to visit you just know that something wonderful has happened.” said Madge beaming.

“Yes, but it's always something you've worked hard for. It's not just out of the blue. In our Jane's case she has studied hard and has passed all her exams. She has reached the goal she set herself years ago and now because she has achieved so much she has the freedom to choose what she is going to do with the rest of her life.”

“I can't believe that I don't need to study any more. I can throw away the books and get on with my life.”

Henry spluttered and then laughed.

“Oh no, young lady – believe me, you NEVER stop studying and learning. We are all students of life and that has a LOT of lessons to hand out to each and everyone of us.”

“Oh Henry, don't get all serious. Let her enjoy this moment.”

“I'm not, I'm laughing at the fact that she thinks she's learnt everything she needs to. Do you remember being young and foolish. Oh, to be young and foolish again.”

“But dad, I'm not foolish.” said Jane stamping her feet in indignation.

At which we all collapsed laughing knowing that she couldn't understand what Henry had meant at such a tender age. And the truth is we were all wishing we could go back to that point in our own lives and do it all again.

The story continues with The World: Spiritual Goals

Please feel free to leave suggestions for an Elvis song to accompany each section (card) in the comments section below.

To read the traditional tarot articles which accompany this novel please visit
Traditional Tarot Articles

To learn tarot for yourself please visit the
Worldwide Mediums and Psychics Online Tarot Courses

4 Pentacles: People First

2009-07-12T12:56:00.004+01:00

NOTE: If you are new to this blog and want to read the novel from the beginning click here

This afternoon I was helping Madge to weed the front garden when we heard a lot of shouting coming from number four. There was a battered car parked outside and as we looked up a man came stomping out of the house with four children in tow. He looked very annoyed and the children didn't look too happy either.

“That's Tristan. He's Thomas' brother. Though two different people you're never likely to meet.”

Before I could say anything Tristan came over dragging his children along with him.

“How are you Madge? And this must be Polly? How very lovely to meet you. How are you finding your visit with us? Learning everything you need to?”

The questions went on and on and he had a huge grin on his face. He did indeed seem like the very opposite of his brother. For one thing he was smiling which seemed a bit odd considering that he had just obviously been arguing with his brother. I looked towards the house and Thomas was stood on the doorstep with a very disapproving look on his face.

“Oh, ignore him. Stodgy old fool that he is. All he cares about is money, money, money – never a thought for his family. He's one of the wealthiest people in Tarocchi and can't even lower himself to help his brother out of a spot of bother. Lost a bit on the stock market I did. Oh well, never mind. At least the kids are happy. Have to rush – promised to take the kids for an ice-cream.”

As they drove off Madge burst out laughing.

“Did you realise he's reversed?”

New students always presume that reversed means 'bad'. As the four of pentacles shows its not always as bad as it may seem and often it is merely a case of perspective. One man's rubbish is another man's treasure!

“Money slips through his fingers like water. What he makes one day he loses the next.”

“Oh dear, how does he survive?”

“Like most of us – with the love of his family and friends. But, that's the problem with Tristan. He puts his family and friends first and doesn't concentrate on business like his brother does.”

“But surely that's a good thing?”

“Yes, family and friends are always important but he must get very stressed out when he can't pay his bills and has to go cap in hand to his brother.”

“I take it that was what all the shouting was about?”

“I guess so – it normally is.”

I watched as the car disappeared down the street and then turned and saw Thomas still stood on the doorstep shaking his head and looking very glum indeed.

I for one think that if I were the four of Pentacles that I would rather be more like Tristan and poor with the love of family and friends than like Thomas who was rich and successful but who didn't have a friend or partner he could turn to when things got him down.

The story continues with The World: Physical Goals Achieved

Please feel free to leave suggestions for an Elvis song to accompany each section (card) in the comments section below.

To read the traditional tarot articles which accompany this novel please visit
Traditional Tarot Articles

To learn tarot for yourself please visit the
Worldwide Mediums and Psychics Online Tarot Courses

4 Pentacles: New Visions

2009-07-12T12:46:00.003+01:00

NOTE: If you are new to this blog and want to read the novel from the beginning click here

Tuesday 13th January

This evening Madge, Henry and I went next door to number four. I have to say it is a beautiful house but it felt like a show home rather than somewhere to sit in comfort and relax. As beautiful as it was it certainly wasn't the kind of home I would want for me or my family.

We were shown into the living room by the butler (a butler no less!) and Thomas greeted us warmly. He seemed quite a different person from the man we had met yesterday. After seating us and offering us drinks he started chatting with Henry about a new project he had in mind. The two men poured over blueprints and documents and were very animated whilst discussing the project. This certainly was a different side to Thomas.

The four of pentacles is also known as the lord of earthly power.

Dinner was served in the dining room and the two men continued to talk about the new building that Thomas was proposing. When the conversation died down I decided to ask Thomas a few questions.

“Don't you have any family Thomas?”

He looked sad for a moment and then explained that when he was a teenager he thought he had all the time in the world for romance and family and that he should concentrate on building his business so that he would have the means to support a family. And he had succeeded. He now had the means with which to support a family – in fact, he was so successful that he could afford to buy anything he wanted. The problem was that in the process of becoming successful the years had passed and he had become set in his ways.

“I'm afraid the opportunity for romance doesn't present itself to me very often and even when it does I don't seem to have the time for it. Women seem to get upset with me when I spend so much time working and not enough time with them and eventually we part.”

“But surely you are successful enough now that you could spend less time at work and more time on your personal life?”

Thomas bristled and told me that he remembered what it was like to be poor and nothing on this earth would ever induce him to relax enough to take time off work and making money. No way was he ever going to be poor again. And besides he had this new project to get off the ground and that was going to take all his attention for the next several months at least.

It that the conversation turned back to the plans for the new building and continued until we left shortly before midnight.

Before we went off to bed I told Madge and Henry that as much as I wanted to be successful I honestly couldn't imagine a life where achieving that success could came before friends and family.

The Story continues with 4 Pentacles: People First

Please feel free to leave suggestions for an Elvis song to accompany each section (card) in the comments section below.

To read the traditional tarot articles which accompany this novel please visit
Traditional Tarot Articles

To learn tarot for yourself please visit the
Worldwide Mediums and Psychics Online Tarot Courses

4 Pentacles: The trappings of success

2009-07-12T12:29:00.004+01:00

NOTE: If you are new to this blog and want to read the novel from the beginning click here

“Good Morning Thomas.”

“And where are you two fine ladies off to on such a cold morning?”

“Oh, just into Major for a bit of a shopping spree.” said Madge.

“Then perhaps you will allow me to give you a lift into town then.”

Thomas opened the back door of the car and held it open whilst we climbed inside. After he had climbed in himself and instructed the driver to take us to his offices he introduced himself to me and then opened his briefcase and took out some paperwork.

“You ladies will excuse me won't you, only I have a fair amount of work to complete before the day is out.”

I was a little taken aback that he would offer us a lift and then apart from the initial introduction proceed to ignore us and carry on with his work. I looked at Madge and she simply shook her head slightly so I sat back and said nothing. The car we were in was obviously very expensive. All wooden detailing with exceptionally comfortable seating and carpeting. And yet it wasn't ostentatious. The man who owned the car was obviously very wealthy but was by no means the type to put it out there on display. The suit he was wearing was very well made but understated.

The car stopped outside a block of offices and the chauffeur opened the door for us and we all climbed out.

“Perhaps I can interest you ladies in a spot of lunch later. I'll be available at one o'clock sharp and will meet you in the restaurant.”

He walked off without even waiting for an answer and went through the revolving doors of the office block.

I was flabbergasted. Talk about a royal command! He obviously presumed that we would be there at one o'clock and didn't wait to find out if it would be convenient or not.

“Ignore him dear, that's just his way. He's used to people doing as he says and doesn't stop to think whether we might like to join him or not.”

The car drove away and I stood looking up at the massive glass fronted building which seemed to go on forever.

“He's a very successful man you know. Started investing when he was only a teenager and has worked very hard to get where he is now. He owns that building outright you know and many more around Tarocchi. He even owns the shopping mall where we are going.”

The 4 of pentacles is ruled by the astrological sign of capricorn who is the embodiement of success through work.

“But he was so rude.”

“Yes, I'm sorry to say that's just his way. When his mind is on work he doesn't have time for small talk and comes across as a little abrupt.”

“A little ...”

“Don't worry dear, you will probably learn more about him at lunch. Let's forget him for now and indulge ourselves in some shopping.”

We spent the morning in the shopping mall and at one o'clock made our way to the restaurant. We found that a table had already been booked and the head waiter took our coats and bags and led us to a table. We barely had the chance to sit down when Thomas arrived. He ordered a bottle of wine and handed us the menus.

“I've been wanting to meet you Polly, but work has to come first and I don't have much time for socialising.”

“Oh ….”

Before I could say anything else Thomas went into a monologue of how he had started out with just a couple of pounds and through very careful investment had worked his way up to the position he now enjoyed. He talked all through lunch and never seemed to expect us to say anything. It was truly impressive how he had managed to work himself up from nothing to being a very wealthy man but at the same time I felt he didn't really have any social graces and that we were just there for him to talk at rather than have a conversation with.

At the end of the meal Thomas told Madge that he would like us to come to dinner tomorrow evening as he had some business to discuss with Henry. He told us to enjoy the rest of the wine and got up and left without saying goodbye.

“Well, I never!”

“Polly, don't get yourself all excited. You have to understand that Thomas isn't used to dealing with people in a social situation. If we had been businessmen then conversation no doubt would have been two-way and very entertaining.”

Madge explained that in the process of building up his business that Thomas had forgone marriage and a family, that he never entertained unless it was a business meeting and simply did not understand small talk. She said that he seemed like a very lonely man.

“Being successful is all very well and there's no denying that he's worked very hard to get where he is but having no family and friends is a high price to pay for that success in my book.”

The Story continues with 4 Pentacles: New Visions

Please feel free to leave suggestions for an Elvis song to accompany each section (card) in the comments section below.

To read the traditional tarot articles which accompany this novel please visit
Traditional Tarot Articles

To learn tarot for yourself please visit the
Worldwide Mediums and Psychics Online Tarot Courses

Intermission

2009-07-12T12:04:00.003+01:00

NOTE: If you are new to this blog and want to read the novel from the beginning click here

Saturday, 10th January

The last week has flown by so fast and nothing has really happened but it has given me breathing space to take in all the things I have learned so far. Madge and Henry have shown me how vital it is to keep balance in all areas of my life and Timothy has shown me how a good work ethic can bring rewards that exceed our expectations. The experience with Mr. Diablo has shown me just how easy it can be to be sucked in by false gods – money, possessions and power – and go down a road you hadn't envisioned yourself following. And the lovely young Richard has shown me that study at any age can help you to achieve anything you want to if you just put your head down.

These are things that I had already learnt in my life but it was nice to have them laid out in front of me so that I don't forget where I want to go and what I am prepared to do to get there. Sometimes we need reminders of life's lessons so that we don't veer off the path we have set for ourselves.

Monday, 12th January

At breakfast Madge declared that she was taking a day off all the cooking and cleaning and spending the day on a major shopping spree.

“I've saved for months and now I think I have earned a little day out. I've set a pan of stew to simmer on the cooker so we don't need to worry about rushing back to prepare the evening meal. You will come along won't you Polly? It will give you a chance to see Major and all it has to offer.”

I said that I would love to as I had heard so much about Major. I helped clear away the breakfast dishes and by the time we had washed them and put them away all the others had left for work and college. We put on our coats and hats and stepped outside the front door. As we walked down the path the man from number four came out and bid us good morning.

The story continues with 4 Pentacles: The trappings of success

Please feel free to leave suggestions for an Elvis song to accompany each section (card) in the comments section below.

To read the traditional tarot articles which accompany this novel please visit
Traditional Tarot Articles

To learn tarot for yourself please visit the
Worldwide Mediums and Psychics Online Tarot Courses

Page of Pentacles: Delivering the message

2009-06-21T12:21:00.005+01:00

NOTE: If you are new to this blog and want to read the novel from the beginning click here

A little light listening for you whilst you read the article.

Richard seemed to be very different to his brothers. Much more grounded and realistic about life and what he needed to do to ensure a successful career. He even had a part time job as the local postman to pay for his studies.

“Do you enjoy your job as a postman or is it just a means to pay for your studies?”

“Being a postman is just part of my duties as a messenger. I am responsible for all the messages sent by telephone and fax machine. And I also run the local email server. And yes, I do enjoy it as I'm the one who gets to deliver all the good news. My brothers are the ones who deliver bad news – and it doesn't always get there on time either. Rupert is always too busy playing football to bother with his duties and Raphael thinks that his spiritual healing is more important than being a messenger.”

Each of the Pages in the Minor Arcana are traditionally thought of as messengers.

“Oh, so it's good news you are delivering today?”

“Yes, this telegram is for Thomas at number 4 Pentacle Street. I guess he must have made yet another killing on the stock market.”

I asked if he had opened the letter and if that was how he knew what was in the letter and he explained that all the messages he delivered were about business or finances and therefore it was a safe bet that Thomas had made yet another lucrative business deal.

“If not, one of my brothers would have been delivering the telegram.”

The Story continues with Intermission

Please feel free to leave suggestions for an Elvis song to accompany each section (card) in the comments section below.

To read the traditional tarot articles which accompany this novel please visit
Traditional Tarot Articles

To learn tarot for yourself please visit the
Worldwide Mediums and Psychics Online Tarot Courses

Page of Pentacles: Failure to Launch

2009-06-21T11:59:00.004+01:00

NOTE: If you are new to this blog and want to read the novel from the beginning click here

A little light listening for you whilst you read the article.

As we walked down the street towards Pentacle a young man who could easily have been the Pages twin came bounding towards us kicking a football ahead of him.

“Hi Rupert.” shouted Richard.

Rupert grabbed his ball and came running towards us. Richard introduced his brother but before I could even say hello to him he rushed off saying he couldn't stop because he was on his way to a football match with his mates.

I asked Richard about him and he told me that Rupert was reversed. That he thought because he was the King's son that he didn't need to study and plan for his future and that his dad would supply all the money he needed for the rest of his life.

“If he's older than you, doesn't that mean that he will be King some day?”

“Yes, it certainly does, but Rupert thinks he was born into that life and that he doesn't need to study anything at all about how to run the kingdom and that everything will just fall into place for him. In the mean time he just doesn't bother with anything at all except playing football.”

I dread to think what type of kingdom Pentacle would become with a person like that as the King! I sure hoped I wasn't going to be still in Tarocchi when that came to pass. Even Kings need to study their profession so that a kingdom is run properly.

As we came into Pentacle village we came across another young man sat on a bridge with his legs dangling over the side just staring off into space. Richard tapped him on the shoulder and he looked round a little surprised to see us.

“This is my younger brother Raphael. He spends hours here meditating.”

We chatted to Raphael for a few minutes and then went on our way towards Pentacle village.

Richard explained that Raphael was also reversed but not in the way that Rupert was. While Rupert believed that everything would be provided for him Raphael had decided that he wanted a more spiritual life than most and that merely earning money and the day to day slog wasn't for him. Raphael had decided to exit the rat race and become a healer.

“But how will he provide for himself and his family when he is older?”

“Well, he seems to think that the Lord will provide and he doesn't need to do anything to ensure his future. He reckons that just because he is more spiritual than most that everything will be provided for him as and when he needs it. I think he's in for a very big disappointment in life.”

I couldn't help but agree – even priests have to study in the seminary and need to have a roof over their heads and put food on the table. Relying on the Lord to provide everything he was going to need seemed very short sighted to me.

The story continues with Page of Pentacles: Delivering the Message

Please feel free to leave suggestions for an Elvis song to accompany each section (card) in the comments section below.

To read the traditional tarot articles which accompany this novel please visit
Traditional Tarot Articles

To learn tarot for yourself please visit the
Worldwide Mediums and Psychics Online Tarot Courses

Page of Pentacles: Learning the ropes

2009-06-21T11:25:00.006+01:00

NOTE: If you are new to this blog and want to read the novel from the beginning click here

A little light listening for you whilst you read the article.

“I'm sorry but I don't know your name.”

“Oh, I should have introduced myself earlier – my name is Richard. I'm the page of Pentacles and I'm on my way to Pentacle Street to deliver the mail.”

“So you're the local postman then?”

“Well, it's only a part-time job while I put myself through college and hopefully university. Eventually I hope to join the blacksmith's shop and work under Timothy. Who knows one day I might even have a shop of my own.”

Richard explained that he had known Timothy the blacksmith since he was a small child because he did a lot of work for his father the King of Pentacles.

“I've always admired him and dad says I can't go far wrong if I aim to be half the man that Timothy is. It was Timothy who insisted that if I wanted to become a blacksmith that I had to make sure I studied hard at school and passed all my exams and now I'm at college.”

“Surely an apprenticeship would have been better if you want to become a blacksmith?”

Richard explained that you have to have an in-depth knowledge of English and applied maths to become a blacksmith. That you have to understand about working within fine tolerances in order to work with metals.

“I could be working on anything from a simple candle-stick to the metal work required to support a building. Getting measurements slightly wrong might not hurt too much if I'm making a candle-stick but it would be disastrous if I got something wrong whilst working on the metal work for a building.”

Richard told me that after college he hoped to go on to university to study metallurgy. He told me that not only would it give him the knowledge he needed about metals as a blacksmith but that it would also give him the choice of going into engineering instead.

“So, it's not set in stone that you will be a blacksmith then?”

“Well, yes and no – a blacksmith is what I have always wanted to be and that's what I am studying for but I have to keep my options open just in case there are too many blacksmiths in the market when I have finished my degree. If that is the case, then the subjects I have already studied will enable me to go on to studying engineering instead.”

“You seem to have it all planned out very carefully.”

Richard told me that if you want to get on in life you have to have a plan and be prepared to study everything you can to make that plan come to fruition. It reminded me of being fourteen and finding my gran's tarot cards and wanting to be the best tarot reader on earth. At the time I thought it was all about intuition and didn't realise that there were a zillion books out there that I could study to learn about all the different nuances of tarot. Of course, there weren't any tarot courses that I knew of (this was before the internet existed and I thought the tarot was just for someone who was born with 'psychic powers') and so had to learn everything through trial and error.

“Don't you get stressed out with all the studying and exams? I remember when my daughter was studying for her A levels she nearly had a nervous breakdown.”

“No, not really. I enjoy learning everything and I know that in the end it is for a reason and therefore I dedicate myself to so many hours of study a day. And the exams are just a yardstick of what I have learnt so far so I don't really stress too much over them.”

The Story Continues with Page of Pentacles: Failure to Launch

Please feel free to leave suggestions for an Elvis song to accompany each section (card) in the comments section below.

To read the traditional tarot articles which accompany this novel please visit
Traditional Tarot Articles

To learn tarot for yourself please visit the
Worldwide Mediums and Psychics Online Tarot Courses

Strange coincidence

2009-06-21T09:55:00.007+01:00

NOTE: If you are new to this blog and want to read the novel from the beginning click here

After a couple of weeks off while my son was visiting I signed in to see how far I had got with the story and a strange coincidence struck me.

In the three of pentacles I had worked in the personality of the love of my life who passed away in March 2008 - just my way of making sure that his memory lives on. When I logged in to check where I needed to start again I noticed that the blog had attained a follower - Smith150 - and it just so happens that my loves surname was Smith. I have to admit that it gave my heart just the tiniest little jump. Who knows maybe he is watching from heaven above.

The story will continue with the Page of Pentacles, hopefully by the end of the day.

The story continues with Page of Pentacles: Learning the ropes

Please feel free to leave suggestions for an Elvis song to accompany each section (card) in the comments section below.

To read the traditional tarot articles which accompany this novel please visit
Traditional Tarot Articles

To learn tarot for yourself please visit the
Worldwide Mediums and Psychics Online Tarot Courses

3 Pentacles: Successes and Rewards

2009-05-31T18:46:00.008+01:00

NOTE: If you are new to this blog and want to read the novel from the beginning click here

A little light listening for you whilst you read the article.
The Elvis song chosen represents the Three of Pentacles Reversed.

3rd January

The following morning I was out of the door before Timothy arrived. I was looking forward to spending another day with him and was ready bright and early. I stood beside the gate of number two and watched as he walked towards me. He didn't stride along as if he were in a hurry but he didn't take his time either. He walked with a swagger that I found distinctly appealing. I liked the way this man moved.

He greeted me with a cheery good morning and tucked my hand into his elbow again as we started to walk. I realised that he had a way of making everyone around him feel wanted and comfortable in his company. We walked up to the castle and into his workshop where the apprentices were waiting for us. Two other men were waiting outside the workshop. They wanted to commission him for some work on their homes and he told them that he would be happy to discuss their requirements this afternoon after they had installed the gate for the king.

Two of the apprentices lifted the gate while another picked up some tools and we all walked around the base of the castle to a little garden that was outside the castle kitchens. The apprentices set to work digging out some soil and installing the braces for the gate. Timothy stood watching over them whilst they worked making suggestions here and there but on the whole leaving them to get on with the work.

I must admit I was bemused. I couldn't understand why such an amount of work had gone into making a gate to protect a few vegetables. I thought a plainer gate would have done the job just as well. Timothy told me that it didn't matter that the gate would only be seen by the kitchen workers. What mattered was that he and his team had produced the best possible gate with the materials they had and the time they had. Yes, a plain gate would have done the job but when they could make something more beautiful with the same material, why not do it. It wasn't a matter of just doing a job but doing it to the best specifications you could manage.

When the gate was in place the kitchen workers all admired it and said what a good job everyone had done. They were smiling and heaping praise on the apprentices while Timothy stood there looking proud of the team.

The King of Pentacles came along to inspect the work and spent a few minutes chatting with Timothy about further work he wanted done around the castle. As the King walked off Timothy once again took my hand and placed it in the crook of his arm. We walked back to the workshop where he called all the apprentices together and congratulated them on another job well done. He told them how proud he was of their work and the way they had all pulled together as a team and that there would be a bonus in their pay packets at the end of the week.

The Page of Pentacles arrived with a payment from the King and a wad of papers detailing the other projects the King wanted to get started on. The Page said he was on his way to Pentacle Street to deliver the post and would be happy to have some company on the way if I cared to join him.

Timothy took my hand and kissed it - as he did so I was looking into his eyes – such an unusual mixture of colours – blue with tiny specks of green and a little brown streak in one area. He told me what a pure pleasure it had been to have my company over the past couple of days but that he supposed he should let someone else enjoy my company for a while. As he let go of my hand and winked at me I thought how easy it would be to fall for this man.

I sighed and turned to walk back towards Pentacle Street with the Page.

The story continues with Strange Coincidence

Please feel free to leave suggestions for an Elvis song to accompany each section (card) in the comments section below.

To read the traditional tarot articles which accompany this novel please visit
Traditional Tarot Articles

To learn tarot for yourself please visit the
Worldwide Mediums and Psychics Online Tarot Courses

3 Pentacles: Materials and People Handling

2009-05-31T18:10:00.006+01:00

NOTE: If you are new to this blog and want to read the novel from the beginning click here

A little light listening for you whilst you read the article.
The Elvis song chosen represents the Three of Pentacles Reversed.

I watched as they unloaded all the supplies that the dray-man had delivered. Everything was put in its place and nothing was left where anyone could trip or fall over it. Timothy put on huge leather gloves and selected a piece of iron bar from the pile. He weighed it in his hands and then pushed it gently into one of the forges. Every so often he would pull it out and check it and then push it back in. He later told me that you could tell if the metal had reached the correct temperature by the colour the metal had turned. Too cold and it would be too brittle to work with, too hot and it would be too malleable and equally unworkable.

“You need to have patience and wait for the metal to reach the right temperature before working with it but you also have to keep a careful eye on it so that it doesn't get too hot. Every metal has it's own working temperature and we have to work within fine tolerances.”

I watched as he bent the bar around a standing bar and the apprentices passed him callipers and hammers as he needed them. It was like watching a well oiled machine working – almost like a dance with every step carefully calibrated. The apprentices were there at the right time to hand or take away the tools as needed. I was amazed at the sheer physical strength the work required whilst at the same time their work was turning into the most beautifully crafted gate. It was a sheer pleasure to watch them turn bars of inert metal into a useful and beautiful commodity. It seemed almost magical watching the transformation.

During the afternoon tea break I sat with the apprentices while Timothy chatted with the King of Pentacles who had arrived to check on the works progress. They seemed to be laughing and joking as they measured and compared the finished product to the specification drawings. It hardly seemed like a blacksmith talking to his king – more like old friends who respected each others place in the world.

“Did you know that he's known as the Lord of Material Works?” asked one of the apprentices.

“He's an artisan. He knows his materials as if they were a part of him. He can tell you exactly what each piece of metal can be used for and its tolerances. We are ruled here by Mars in Capricorn.”

I remembered the book that Madge had given me which listed all the ruler-ship's for each of the people in Tarocchi but I had left it on my bed back at two Pentacle Street.

“Mars is an achiever. He is passionate about what he does and is goal oriented and intensely focused. Capricorn instils that work ethic that enables him to turn all that ambition into tangible goods. He's a very earthy man.”

It all made sense – although I hadn't really noticed it before I now realised he was indeed ambitious. It just wasn't an obvious trait as all his energy seemed to go into the job. He channelled his ambition into the work of the moment, ensuring that every tiny detail was taken care of. I noticed the apprentice he hadn't been too pleased with sitting over to one side with a sullen look on his face and asked about him.

“Oh, he's reversed - all Mars and no Capricorn. He's just as ambitious but he has no ethics with which to temper his ambition. He rushes through everything thinking this will make his fortune but he never really achieves anything because he never does a job properly.”

They all got up just as the King of Pentacles and Timothy came out of the workshop. The sullen lad stayed where he was. The King and Timothy stood looking at him for perhaps thirty seconds – it seemed such a small amount of time and yet it seemed to stretch on forever. The King shook his head, bid Timothy good day and walked away. Timothy disappeared into the office, came back out and threw a few coins on the floor in front of the surly apprentice.

“I'm sorry lad but I'm letting you go. I've tried my best with you but you just don't seem to want to learn and I won't put up with the shoddy work you turn out or your attitude any longer.”

He took me by the arm and led me back into the workshop and explained that he wasn't going to allow his reputation or that of his workshop be affected by the lad.

As we walked back to Pentacle Street later that evening Timothy told me that tomorrow they would be installing the gate they had just finished and invited me to come along.

The story continues with 3 Pentacles: Successes and Rewards

Please feel free to leave suggestions for an Elvis song to accompany each section (card) in the comments section below.

To read the traditional tarot articles which accompany this novel please visit
Traditional Tarot Articles

To learn tarot for yourself please visit the
Worldwide Mediums and Psychics Online Tarot Courses

3 Pentacles : Team Work

2009-05-31T18:02:00.005+01:00

NOTE: If you are new to this blog and want to read the novel from the beginning click here

A little light listening for you whilst you read the article.
The Elvis song chosen represents the Three of Pentacles Reversed.

2nd January

The following morning at 7am on the dot, Timothy knocked the door. As we started to walk up the hill towards the castle he again took my hand and tucked it into his elbow. He told me that this morning he was putting the finishing touches to a project for the King of Pentacles and wanted to ensure that everything was running smoothly. He also warned me that whilst the blacksmiths shop was in full swing that I had to sit where he told me and not get in the way.

“With hot and heavy metal flying around the place we don't want you getting in harm's way do we?”

I smiled. He seemed so brotherly and fatherly all rolled into one. He genuinely cared for my safety and the safety of everyone in the blacksmiths shop. When we arrived he took a stool from the office and set it about half way up the workshop against the wall and told me that I should be able to see everything from the stool and again warned me that safety was very important and not to move without his permission.

There were already several people in the workshop and he explained that they were apprentices. He walked over to the forges and seemed to be checking their temperature. He talked to a couple of the men and then patted them on the back when he walked away. I presumed he was pleased with their work as he had a huge grin on his face.

He disappeared into the office and came out a few seconds later tying a leather apron around his waist. He wore a leather cap which kept his hair out of his eyes. Come to think of it I don't think I've ever seen him without a cap of some sort on his head.

I spent the next couple of hours watching the apprentices work and Timothy checking their work with callipers of various types. He always seemed pleased except when it came to one young man. Every time he checked his work he frowned and didn't look happy at all and the young man always seemed to have to repeat the work he had been set.

Later when we were sat outside the workshop on a bench having lunch Timothy explained that the lad in question really wasn't interested in being part of a team.

“He always thinks he knows better than everyone else in the shop. He's only been at it a few months – I took him on as an apprentice as a favour for his dad – and he just doesn't seem interested in anything but his own way. He doesn't listen to those who have more experience than him. He rushes through jobs without thinking about them or planning them out and nine times out of ten he has to redo the work which puts him in a foul temper. Quite frankly, I think I'm going to have to let him go sooner or later.”

“Oh. Is he that bad?”

“Unfortunately yes. We have a reputation here of being the best of the best and the quality of our work is known throughout Tarocchi. I don't remember the last time I passed a piece of his work as being good enough to be sent out to a customer. He's also rude to the customers and the people who supply our materials. No one wants to work with him and no one wants his work.”

Timothy took off his cap and wiped his hands through his hair. He seemed genuinely sad that he hadn't been able to get his work ethics through to the lad. I got caught up in watching a curl that had fallen in front of his eyes and had the craziest urge to push it out of the way so that I could look directly into his eyes. Luckily the moment passed when he stood up and declared lunch over. As he did so a dray clattered through the gates of the castle and Timothy turned to wave to him.

The dray-man pulled up with a smile and shouted down that he had all the supplies that had been ordered and the two of them spent the next twenty minutes checking the order and the quality of the steel while I just sat there in the winter sun watching them.

I have to admit that I really liked the way Timothy treated people. Every person he spoke to he gave his full attention to, listened carefully to everything they had to say and smiled constantly. If he disagreed with anything they said he was always respectful but firm – never belittling ideas.

“Even the tea-boy is a valued member of the team. Without him the whole team would fall apart.”

He winked at me as he took my arm and led me back to the stool I had been occupying earlier.

The story continues with 3 Pentacles: Materials and People Handling

Please feel free to leave suggestions for an Elvis song to accompany each section (card) in the comments section below.

To read the traditional tarot articles which accompany this novel please visit
Traditional Tarot Articles

To learn tarot for yourself please visit the
Worldwide Mediums and Psychics Online Tarot Courses

3 Pentacles: Making Plans

2009-05-31T15:09:00.006+01:00

NOTE: If you are new to this blog and want to read the novel from the beginning click here

A little light listening for you whilst you read the article.
The Elvis song chosen represents the Three of Pentacles Reversed.

Timothy led me around the dance floor as if he had spent every minute of his life dancing. I couldn't believe that such a big man could be so unbelievably graceful.

“Timothy, you're such a wonderful dancer.”

“Why thank you Polly. How very gracious of you to say so. I've always believed that if you are going to do something that you should learn to do it to the best of your ability.”

“Oh, I think it's more a case of natural ability going on here.” I laughed.

We did a few turns round the dance floor and I have to admit I felt so much better in Timothy's company. I felt I could trust him. When we got back to the table we talked about his work as a blacksmith and he invited me to see his workshop up at the castle the following day. We managed to leave the nightclub without bumping into David Diablo again and Timothy gave us a lift back to Pentacle Street.

After breakfast the following morning Timothy arrived and Madge encouraged me to go off to the castle with him.

“A more reliable fellow you couldn't find in the whole of Pentacle. You'll be safe with Timothy.”

We walked up to the castle and through the wrought iron gates. As we passed them I noticed Timothy smile and run his hand along them. He shouted 'good morning' and 'happy new year' to everyone we encountered. He always seemed to be smiling. There were several workshops all around the base of the castle, none of which were open for business but all seemed to have someone standing talking outside and everyone seemed to be happy.

We walked up to a workshop that had an anvil on a sign hanging over the door. Timothy took out a huge key and pushed open the huge double doors. I don't think I've ever seen such organised chaos in my life. Timothy showed me all around the shop pointing out the various tools and what they were used for. At the back of the workshop were three giant forges and beside them were water butts. In one corner was a huge coal store. Down both sides of the workshop a bar was attached to the wall and draped over it were tongs and callipers of so many sizes it was hard to believe that they were all used. Down the centre of the workshop were anvils and workbenches. All the workbenches had holes drilled into the top and various hammers were slotted into place. Right by the door was a small office space with shelves for drawings and plans. It all looked so much tidier than I would have ever expected a blacksmiths shop to look. Timothy explained that every single tool in the workshop had a home and when it wasn't being used he expected the apprentices to store them in their proper place.

“Makes it easier to find what you need when you need it.”

I asked him about shoeing horses and he laughed and told me that it was farriers who shod horses not blacksmiths. Apparently everyone made the same assumption. Note for future reference – don't ask stupid questions.

I found Timothy one of the easiest persons to talk to I had ever met. He was endlessly patient explaining the uses of the forges and anvils and what each tool was used for. He had back home what we would call a 'black country' accent and I could have listened to him talk for a pastime.

After he had locked up his workshop he took my hand and tucked it into his elbow as we ambled back to Pentacle street. He chatted as we walked down the hill and told me all about his career as a blacksmith. He told me how he had spent seven years as an apprentice and then had worked his way up until finally he was the blacksmith to the castle. He talked about his work with pride but didn't seem to be egotistical about it. Just simple pride in a job well done. He told me that one of the most important parts of any job was preparation.

“Whenever I get a commission I talk to the patron to ensure I understand what he wants from the project. It's important not only for me to understand what they want but for them to understand what is possible and what is not. I also have to make sure that I have the tools to do the job and that it is possible to get the right materials, so I talk to my suppliers and make sure they have the stock in hand and that they can deliver in time. Communication between everyone involved in the project is of vital importance to the planning of any job.”

He explained how planning was part of the success of each project. How if you take the time to plan out a job instead of leaving it all to luck the project was more likely to succeed. As he left me at the door of number two he invited me to come up to the smithy the following day and see how everything worked. I accepted and he told me he would pick me up at 7am sharp the following day.

The story continues with 3 Pentacles: Team Work

Please feel free to leave suggestions for an Elvis song to accompany each section (card) in the comments section below.

To read the traditional tarot articles which accompany this novel please visit
Traditional Tarot Articles

To learn tarot for yourself please visit the
Worldwide Mediums and Psychics Online Tarot Courses

The Devil's Trappings

2009-05-27T09:03:00.011+01:00

NOTE: If you are new to this blog and want to read the novel from the beginning click here

I turned to see Mr. Diablo striding towards us as if he had some sort of mission in mind and I was fairly sure going by our first encounter that the mission involved me in some way. I quickly turned back towards Madge hoping that he would bypass us but he pulled out a chair and sat down at the table. Madge sighed and Henry looked as if he was about to have a fit. Mr. Diablo grinned. Not a pleasant grin at all.

“Well my dear, as your host I thought it would be rude of me if I didn't come over and spend at least a short time with you.”

I honestly didn't know what to say. Go away and leave me alone didn't seem to be the polite thing to say and it probably wouldn't have worked anyway. He clicked his fingers in the air and within seconds a tray of drinks was placed on the table. He grinned again and shuffled his chair nearer to me.

“So, how do you like my little nightclub then? Tastefully decorated don't you think?”

Well if you could call gold leaf on nearly every surface tasteful but I found it to be a tad gaudy myself. Obviously I couldn't say that so I just nodded. He asked if I was enjoying my stay in Tarocchi, whether I was comfortable where I was staying, whether I was getting my questions answered to my satisfaction. All I could do was sit there and nod. Everyone else at the table seemed to have been struck dumb.

“You know while you're here you can have the use of any one of my numerous cars if you wish.”

Madge seemed to hold her breath and shook her head ever so slightly.

“Thank you so much for the offer.” I said “But I don't think I'll be staying long enough to need a car much.”

“Well the offer is always open should you change your mind. And if you need a break from your travels you can always come and spend a weekend on one of my yachts or we could always fly up north into the mountains for a weekend.”

“No thank you – as I said I don't think I'll be stopping long enough to take advantage of your offer.”

Suddenly, a diamond encrusted necklace appeared dangling from his hand and he held it out to me.

“Perhaps you would care to accept this gift from me – a mere trifle – there's plenty more where that came from if you'd care to join me for a time.”

The penny dropped. He was trying to impress me with his position and money and entice me with expensive gifts. He honestly though that 'things' would win me over to him. Luckily I'm older and wiser than I once was. I'd met people like this who thought that the most important things in life were position, control and money. My mind drifted back to memories of sitting on a beach with Andi – the moon was full, we were in love and happy to curl up on the beach eating fish and chips and natter about silly things. No contest really. Suddenly, I didn't feel so intimidated by Mr. Diablo and his stupid grin was beginning to get on my nerves.

“Really, Mr. Diablo, what you have to offer doesn't interest me in the slightest.”

I turned to Timothy and asked if he would be kind enough to dance with me. With one of the most sincerest smiles I've ever seen, Timothy stood up and offered me his arm.

“With pleasure Polly. I thought you'd never ask.”

As he guided me onto the dance floor I had the feeling that I hadn't seen the last of Mr. Diablo. Not by a long chalk.

The story continues with 2 Pentacles: Making Plans

Please feel free to leave suggestions for an Elvis song to accompany each section (card) in the comments section below.

To read the traditional tarot articles which accompany this novel please visit
Traditional Tarot Articles

To learn tarot for yourself please visit the
Worldwide Mediums and Psychics Online Tarot Courses

The Devil's past misdemeanour's

2009-05-25T11:47:00.013+01:00

NOTE: If you are new to this blog and want to read the novel from the beginning click here

Jane dragged me past him and we looked for Madge and Henry who we found seated at a table on the far side of the room. The men were just coming back from the bar with a tray of drinks. Henry placed a glass in front of me and said that considering what had just happened he didn't think it would be wise to buy me alcohol and so had got me some fruit juice instead and he hoped that was OK with me. I couldn't really argue with his logic although right then a southern comfort or two would have gone down very nicely.

“If that man comes over here tonight Polly, don't let him drag you away to see his etchings whatever you do. You stay right here with us.” said Madge.

Quite frankly, the last person I wanted to be near was Mr. Diablo so I was quite happy to sit and simply watch the proceedings. Madge kept up a running commentary on who was who and what they did. Who was related to who and what was happening in their little world. I had to stop myself giggling quite a few times at the various fashion disasters around the room but everyone seemed to be wearing similar clothing so I guessed it was the norm for this place.

“You see that woman over there.”

Madge was pointing to a small woman who seemed to want to disappear into the wall she was leaning against.

“That's his first wife. I'm sure I'd never want to be in her shoes the poor love. Led her a right merry dance he did. The bruises she used to have all over her was nobody's business. And she used to tell people it was her fault and that he didn't really mean it. Swore blind he loved her and that he always made up with some very expensive gift or other.”

I felt sorry for her. I'd been in the same position myself many years ago and I knew how hard it was to get over something like that. It takes a lot of soul searching to realise that some people were just made that way and that the fault lies with them and not you.

“But she's the lucky one. He threw her over for someone else.”

“Oh but the second wife had a bit more about her, didn't she mom. She got out darn fast once she worked out what he was like.”

“That's true enough Jane. She wasn't dazzled by his charms so much as the first wife was. And she wasn't stupid enough to believe she could change him. Leopards never change their spots as the saying goes.”

Lucky woman I thought to myself as I watched the first wife. She was obviously still suffering from the psychological damage wrought by her marriage to Mr. Diablo. I wondered if she still thought she could change him. She was obviously still enthralled by him judging by the way her eyes tracked him around the room. Some people just can't seem to escape their demons.

Jane nudged my elbow and nodded towards a woman who had just walked over to Mr. Diablo and possessively hooked her hand under his elbow.

“Now that's one I'll never understand. She seems to revel in it all. As long as he keeps the expensive gifts coming she's more than willing to overlook all his misdemeanour's. Totally ignores the fact that he's having affairs by the bucket load as long as he buys her something expensive as an apology.”

“Is that the third wife then?”

“Oh no, the third wife got hooked on drugs and is constantly in and out of rehab. The fourth wife is over there at the bar. She's alcoholic and spends her life in so much of a fog that I don't think she even realised he divorced her.”

“Fifth wife then?”

“No, his fifth wife is now over at the church. She managed to get away from him but at the same time became such a goody two shoes that people round here are scared to speak to her for fear that she will start preaching to them. She's managed to get herself reversed but its almost as bad as being upright in her case. She's become so moralistic and fond of preaching that she never seems to have time to enjoy life any more.”

“So the woman with him is his sixth wife?”

Madge nodded and as she did her eye's seemed to double in size.

“Ooooo, look out, he's coming our way.”

The story continues with The Devil's Trappings

Please feel free to leave suggestions for an Elvis song to accompany each section (card) in the comments section below.

To read the traditional tarot articles which accompany this novel please visit
Traditional Tarot Articles

To learn tarot for yourself please visit the
Worldwide Mediums and Psychics Online Tarot Courses

The Devil's first bite

2009-05-21T19:08:00.009+01:00

NOTE: If you are new to this blog and want to read the novel from the beginning click here

The queue to go into the nightclub had moved slowly but we finally reached the entrance and as we did Madge turned to me and told me to remember her warning about Mr. Diablo. As we handed over our coats I heard a voice behind me.

“Well, hello. What do we have here then. A visitor from the other land I see. Welcome to my world.”

It was pure honey and gravel mixed together to make the deepest, sexiest voice you've ever heard. I turned towards the voice and nearly fell over. Coming towards me was the most graceful, the most lithe, the most handsome man I'd ever set eyes on it my life. His hair was as black as night and his eyes as green as a cat's. He took my hand and grinned at me like a wolf that had cornered its prey.

Insane images started racing through my head - Grace Kelly being kissed by Cary Grant, Faye Dunaway in the arms of Steve McQueen, Kathleen Turner seducing William Hurt, Jennifer Grey dancing with Patrick Swayze, Demi More making pottery with Patrick Swayze (time to investigate the fact that Swayze popped into my mind twice), Kelly McGillis making eyes at Tom Cruise, Sharon Stone on top of Michael Douglas.

My heart was hammering and I was so hot I was starting to feel dizzy. Jane nudged me in the ribs and told me to get a grip but the images just became more intense – memories from my own life. In the back of my car with a certain blacksmith in woodland near woodgate valley, in a walk in shower, by a lake in Edith Weston, a night spent in a hotel in when we wanted to escape the world. Every hot night I'd ever had started rushing through my mind – images on top of images leaving me breathless.

“Stop it! Polly come on!” shouted Jane.

She knocked Mr. Diablo aside, grabbed me by the arm and dragged me back out the door. She pushed me ahead of her and past everyone else who was going into the club.

“Don't you know that's how he hooks you into his world? He gives you everything you think you want just so he can get his claws into you. And once he's hooked you it's the very devil trying to escape again.”

The images faded and my heart rate started to return to normal. I was feeling pretty confused but at the same time I wanted those images back.

“I don't understand what just happened.” I said. “All these images starting racing through my head.”

“It's David Diablo – he did that to you. He put those images in your head. It's one of the things he does to entice you into his world. What did he put in your head? Money, a job you want? The latest gizmo?”

“No, it was images of .. oh, never mind, it doesn't matter.”

We walked round for a couple of minutes and then headed back to the club.

“This time when you look at him, take a good look and try to see past the charm and good looks.”

We walked back inside and David Diablo was still there greeting the people of Tarocchi. He still looked as good as the first time I had met him but now I could see the horns and the tail and the chains he held loosely in his hand.

The story continues with The Devil's past misdemeanour's

Please feel free to leave suggestions for an Elvis song to accompany each section (card) in the comments section below.

To read the traditional tarot articles which accompany this novel please visit
Traditional Tarot Articles

To learn tarot for yourself please visit the
Worldwide Mediums and Psychics Online Tarot Courses

Devilish Warnings

2009-05-19T01:41:00.018+01:00

NOTE: If you are new to this blog and want to read the novel from the beginning click here

Wednesday, 31st December – New Years Eve

Well, I have to say the past few days have fairly flown by. I've made a few attempts to get back but no luck yet. Madge says that this is because I have more questions than they can answer and that I'm obviously going to need to visit with more families in Tarocchi before I can find my way out of here. I have spend a lot of time pondering my own financial situation whilst helping Madge and Jane to prepare their outfits for the new year's eve party. It's being hosted this year by Mr. Diablo in the village of Major and by all accounts most of the people of Tarocchi attend the yearly knees up. Mr. Diablo owns the local nightclub and therefore better fixed than most to host the new year party.

The Devil is associated with the Astrological sign of Capricorn.
21st December to 19th January.

We spent a couple of hours getting ready for the new year's eve party. Jane lent me some clothes and make-up and Madge some jewellery. Not really my idea of fashion but I felt that wearing my own clothes would make me stand out like a sore thumb.

“Now listen dear. Before we set out tonight for this party I feel I need to warn you about David Diablo. He comes across as a very charming fellow but be warned – he's been married several times and has umpteen children and he just loves to draw the unsuspecting into his world.”

“Isn't he the host of the party? The man that owns the nightclub?”

“Yes dear, not the sort of place I would normally frequent but the nightclub is the only place big enough to hold all the people of Tarocchi. One night a year in that place is enough for most people but some love it there. You'll see for yourself this evening.”

I noticed a strange look pass between mother and daughter and wondered what on earth was so bad about this place that it had them on tenterhooks. Was she worried about her daughter being near this man or me? If it was me she was worried about she was wasting her energy as I wasn't staying in this world long enough to become embroiled with any man.

“Timothy from number three will be giving us a lift into Major. He's just finished a project up at the castle and has hired a car for the night as a treat from the proceeds.” said Jane.

“Oh but doesn't he deserve it. The man is such a hard worker and very particular about his work and really does earn every penny he gets. Anyway, its time we went downstairs as we don't want to keep the men waiting now do we?”

Outside the front door the men were waiting beside a limousine. Henry stood beside the rear door opening it for the ladies. We climbed in and Henry got in behind us. Robert got into the front passenger seat beside Timothy. Henry shook his head when he noted that Robert had got in the front of the car.

“That boy has no shame. He's probably badgering poor Timothy about some project or other. And on new year's ever too. I'm sure he's had dealings with David Diablo the way he's so totally obsessed with work.”

The Story continues with The Devil's first bite

Please feel free to leave suggestions for an Elvis song to accompany each section (card) in the comments section below.

To read the traditional tarot articles which accompany this novel please visit
Traditional Tarot Articles

To learn tarot for yourself please visit the
Worldwide Mediums and Psychics Online Tarot Courses

2 Pentacles: Lack of Balance

2009-05-19T01:35:00.012+01:00

NOTE: If you are new to this blog and want to read the novel from the beginning click here

Friday, 26th December

I came down to breakfast on boxing day to find the whole family except Robert there. Madge was saying to Henry that he really needed to have a talk with that boy and get him upright again. When I asked what the problem was Henry told me that Robert was a workaholic and that even though it was the holiday period Robert was at work. He allowed Capricorn to hold sway over his life and never allowed Jupiter in the door. As such he was constantly running round doing things that could have waited till tomorrow instead of resting or having fun when there was plenty of time.

Robert portrays the Two of Pentacles Reversed. He fails to balance his home and work life and hence is life is out of balance.

“Lack of balance going on there me dear. But he won't listen to advice and won't entertain the thought that he could actually enjoy what he's doing rather than let it rule him. It's one thing making money and securing your future but there's no point if you can't enjoy your life in the process. Too much Capricorn – not enough Jupiter! All work and no play that boy.”

The story continues with Devilish Warnings

Please feel free to leave suggestions for an Elvis song to accompany each section (card) in the comments section below.

To read the traditional tarot articles which accompany this novel please visit Traditional Tarot Articles

To learn tarot for yourself please visit the
Worldwide Mediums and Psychics Online Tarot Courses

2 Pentacles: Balancing home life

2009-05-19T01:29:00.016+01:00

NOTE: If you are new to this blog and want to read the novel from the beginning click here

Thursday, 25th December

I don't really remember much of yesterday except that every member of the family apart form Robert was busy making plans for today. Henry was somewhere finalising some end of year sales while Madge and Jane did the advance cooking and decorations for today's dinner. I was of course invited to stay and I have to say that the spread they lay on was magnificent. Despite all my efforts to get away I had managed to still spend Christmas day in a family atmosphere. And now I was missing my family and wishing I had spent it with them. I hoped they weren't too worried by my disappearance.

Robert seemed distracted throughout lunch but made efforts to be polite and kind (after Henry had reminded him that I was a guest in the house). And after lunch we all moved to the living room where Madge served us the most exquisite Christmas pudding and a rum punch.

“She's a marvel isn't she” said Henry looking at his wife. “She is a master at ensuring that everything in the house runs smoothly. She balances our diet and still manages to come up with the most delicious meals. No dieting around here I can tell you.”

Madge portrays the upright interpretation of the Two of Pentacles - she is constantly making decisons that keep the household and her families lives in balance without upsetting the status quo.

You could see that he truly loved and admired his wife and respected her position in the household. He spent nearly an hour telling me how she managed to ensure the whole house ran smoothly, how she always ensured that everything was spotless and clean and yet never nagged if something got spilled – she just dealt with it in good humour.

“A ray of sunshine in our lives that woman is – always cheerful no matter what life throws up at her. Always just deals with life's ups and downs without getting all upset about it”.

The story continues with 2 Pentacles: Lack of Balance

Please feel free to leave suggestions for an Elvis song to accompany each section (card) in the comments section below.

To read the traditional tarot articles which accompany this novel please visit
Traditional Tarot Articles

To learn tarot for yourself please visit the
Worldwide Mediums and Psychics Online Tarot Courses

2 Pentacles: Associations

2009-05-19T01:24:00.010+01:00

NOTE: If you are new to this blog and want to read the novel from the beginning click here

After Jane had gone off somewhere I asked Madge about Jupiter and Capricorn and the balance she was talking about. She told me that the house was ruled by Jupiter in Capricorn and that each member of the family had to balance the energies of the planet with the sign in order to remain upright. She showed me an appendix in the back of the book she had given me that showed which houses in Tarocchi were governed by which planets and signs. She explained that Jupiter was a planet of expansion and loved nothing more than to spend, spend, spend but that Capricorn was a sign of limitation and always thought of the consequences of that spending. At the two pentacles street each family member had to remember that and ensure that the two were kept in balance or they could end up reversed as Jane had with her store cards. If they allowed either Jupiter or Capricorn to have more sway than the other the consequences could be disastrous.

She also explained that each house in the land had a numerical association and that the number two was also associated with balance. I can't for the life of me remember what the other villages were called but she explained that the Pentaclions – those that lived in the village of Pentacle – were associated with the element of earth. That made them practical, solid down to earth people. They were hard working and conservative.

Madge drew a pentacle on a piece of paper and explained that the five points on the star represent the head, hands and feet of a person. The circle surrounding the five points was the energy of a person. When the pentacle was upright it indicated that the head ruled the heart and that the feet were firmly planted on the ground. However, when the pentacle was reversed it indicated that the feet were above the head, no longer planted on solid ground and that the heart tended to rule. Hence Jane's wishing to have the shoes and going for a store card when she knew that she couldn't really afford them. Desire and emotions got in the way of practicality and she ended up in a reverse position.

I didn't mention that that was precisely how I had ended up in the same predicament myself with credit cards and loans. I had no intentions of laying out to this incredibly practical woman just how much of a mess I had got myself into.

The story continues with 2 Pentacles: Balancing home life

Please feel free to leave suggestions for an Elvis song to accompany each section (card) in the comments section below.

To read the traditional tarot articles which accompany this novel please visit

Traditional Tarot Articles

To learn tarot for yourself please visit the
Worldwide Mediums and Psychics Online Tarot Courses

2 Pentacles: Balancing Jupiter and Capricorn

2009-05-19T01:17:00.009+01:00

NOTE: If you are new to this blog and want to read the novel from the beginning click here

Tuesday 23rd December

The next morning dawned clear and bright but it was incredibly cold. I quickly washed and dressed and went downstairs. Robert and Henry had already disappeared off to work but Jane was still sat at the breakfast table.

“Uni has broken up for the Christmas break so I thought I'd spend some time with you if that's OK Polly?”

“Yes, of course, but I was hoping to try again and find my way back to the bed and breakfast today.”

“Oh, that's OK. I'll walk with you and we can have a chatter on the way. Come and have some breakfast first.”

Madge and Jane talked about what was happening over Christmas while I ate my breakfast. To be honest I barely ate anything as I was now worried that maybe, just maybe, I really had stumbled into a mythical world and that I wasn't going to be able to get home any time soon. I worried about the kids and the manager of the bed and breakfast. Would she have phoned the kids or even the police because I had disappeared? I dreaded the uproar my disappearance would cause and worried how I would explain it. Who was going to believe that I had gotten lost and ended up in some weird place called Tarocchi? And if I even dared to mention the places association with our Tarot cards I had the feeling that I could very soon be locked up in a padded cell. Well, by the police anyway – my kids already thought I had a screw loose and I didn't think they would be in the slightest bit surprised at my story.

Madge told us to wrap up warmly and not to stay out to long in the cold as she didn't want to be nursing either of us through Christmas. Jane and I set out on the path away from Pentacle village and I told her a little about my life. She didn't seem to be paying much attention so I stopped talking and just walked beside her. She seemed so tense and kept biting her lower lip. I finally had to ask what was wrong as it was obvious the girl had something on her mind.

“Well, mom and dad don't know but I'm afraid I've gone and got my self reversed and I'm trying to figure out a way to get myself upright again.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, mom and dad pay for uni for me so that's OK. And I had a little Saturday job to help pay for all the little personal things that I want like clothes and make-up. The trouble is that a few months ago I saw this pair of shoes that I just had to have but I couldn't really afford them. Well the lady in the shop offered me a store card – you know buy things now pay later. The trouble is that I just kept charging more and more things to the store card and now I've gone and got myself into a bit of a pickle. The money I earn at the Saturday job isn't enough to cover the payments on the store card and I'm really worried about how I'm going to manage”.

I could certainly relate to that predicament. I was also in trouble with credit cards and loans and couldn't work out how I was going to pay it all back and pay the normal bills at the same time. I suggested that when she got back that she should lay her cards on the table and ask her mom and dad for help. Yes, they may be a little upset but when all is said and done Jane was their daughter and they would want to know about her problems and help her to sort them out.

We said goodbye at the spot I had met her dad and she waved as I once again set out on the path I thought would lead me to the bed and breakfast. I know, I know – why did I bother? After an hour of wandering about I came across Jane in the same spot I had left her. She said that her mom had said she should wait and that it had given her time to think over my advice about approaching her parents with her problem.

And I finally had no choice but to accept that I was stuck here and the only thing to do was go back to the house and talk to Madge and Henry and hopefully once I had figured out how to balance my finances I would be able to find a way out of this strange world. If what they said was true finding the answer to that problem should release me from this place.

Back at the house Madge made us all tea and we sat in the living room. Jane broached the problem of her store card and to be honest I thought Madge took the fact that her daughter had run up a huge debt in her stride.

“Jane, you should know by now, at least you're old enough to know that in this house we have to balance Jupiter and Capricorn. Now I can understand how lucky you must have thought yourself when Jupiter popped in to your life and presented you with the store card but you should have thought of the balance of Capricorn. How were you going to earn enough to pay it all back? Oh well, what's done is done and there's no point crying about it. Go off and get some paper and pens and we will see if we can work out a budget so that you can pay it off”.

They sat there for about an hour discussing how much time Jane could devote to the extra work she was going to have to do to pay it back. Her mother drew the line at her taking time out of her studies and said that she would just have to earn money around the house. They made up a list of jobs Jane could do and how much Madge was prepared to pay her. Finally Jane gave a great big grin and said “Oh, I do feel better now that I have made the decision to tell you mom. And I know that if I stick to what we have agreed I can get myself back in balance. I'm so excited I almost feel upright already you know.”

The story continues with 2 Pentacles: Associations

Please feel free to leave suggestions for an Elvis song to accompany each section (card) in the comments section below.

To read the traditional tarot articles which accompany this novel please visit

Traditional Tarot Articles

To learn tarot for yourself please visit the
Worldwide Mediums and Psychics Online Tarot Courses

2 Pentacles: Lord of Harmonious Change

2009-05-19T01:08:00.007+01:00

NOTE: If you are new to this blog and want to read the novel from the beginning click here

As we walked along he told me that he ran two businesses but they were related in some ways. He sold both computer peripherals and electronic goods and that currently with Christmas coming up business was good and with how well sales were doing he was able to put aside a good sum in his savings account ready for the slow period in late January and February. He said that he still had some decisions to make regarding the stock levels over the next three months but that could wait till tomorrow and it was nothing that couldn't be sorted with a little study of the past trends. He just had to dig out last years sales books and do a little research before he made his decision.

“Everything is a question of balance. Balance the books and the stock and the business will thrive.”

We finally came to the spot where he found me yesterday and he handed me my bag. “Well, I won't say goodbye my dear, because unfortunately I don't believe you will be able to find your way back but I will wish you luck anyway. I'll walk back slowly so that you can catch up to me and have someone to chat to on the way back to Pentacle street.”

I thanked him for his kindness and assured him that I would have no problem whatsoever finding my way back now. He raised his eyebrows and wished me luck again before slowly starting back down the path to Pentacle street. As lovely as he and his family was there was no denying they were a bit weird and I couldn't wait to get back to the bed and breakfast. I started out in the direction I was sure the cliff path was in but within twenty minutes I was hopelessly lost. Twice I retraced my steps to the spot where Henry had left me and twice I ended up getting lost again. It was now freezing cold and looked like it might snow and I don't think I've ever felt so alone in my life. I couldn't seem to get back to the bed and breakfast and my only alternatives were to stay out in the freezing cold or to go back to number two Pentacle Street. Finally common sense won out and I headed back down the path that Henry had taken. I caught up with him just as he got to the gate of his house.

“Ah, I thought as you had been such a long time catching up to me that just maybe you had managed to find you way. Never mind, I really didn't expect you to. Come on in out of the cold and we will see if we can get Madge to put the kettle on for us.”

Feeling badly defeated and out of sorts I followed Henry into the living room where Madge fussed around poking the fire to ensure we were warm and fluffing up pillows on the sofa. When Madge disappeared into the kitchen to make some tea Henry told me that he thought it was time that I accepted that I wasn't going to get out of Tarocchi until such time as I had accepted the fact that I was here for a reason and that reason was that I had important questions in my life that needed to be answered. He told me that deep down in my heart I knew I needed to answer these questions and that is why I had been guided to Tarocchi. He told me no one found their way here against their will or without good cause.

Madge came back in with a tray of tea as Henry was finishing his explanation (which I still wasn't quite willing to accept).

“As we are the first family you have met in Tarocchi I have a feeling that one of your quandaries in life must be about balancing your work and family life. Or perhaps your finances?”

“Well yes, but doesn't everyone have those same quandaries? We all struggle to balance work, family and finances.”

“Yes dear, but it must have been playing heavily on your mind to land up here and in particular in this house.”

“I don't understand. Why particularly this house?”

“Well, Henry here is also known as the Lord of Harmonious Change so I suspect that you have been thinking how you can change your situation without upsetting the apple cart. Thinking of making changes to your life so that you can bring everything into balance.”

Later that night as I lay in bed I kept going over and over what they had said and how it related to my own life. I was having difficulties balancing the books. I had taken on too much credit and now was worried about how I was going to manage to pay it all back. I was also having difficulty balancing the family as each one of the kids wanted my attention and it was proving impossible to do so without going round in circles and running myself into the ground.”

The Story continues with 2 Pentacles: Balancing Jupiter and Capricorn

Please feel free to leave suggestions for an Elvis song to accompany each section (card) in the comments section below.

To read the traditional tarot articles which accompany this novel please visit

Traditional Tarot Articles

To learn tarot for yourself please visit the
Worldwide Mediums and Psychics Online Tarot Courses

2 Pentacles: Spreads and Balances

2009-05-19T00:57:00.020+01:00

NOTE: If you are new to this blog and want to read the novel from the beginning click here

“A Spread?”

The way a reader lays the tarot cards out in a pattern is know as a 'spread'.

“Yes dear, when someone who is reading the tarot cards in your world lays them out in a particular pattern. In our world that means that a group of the people get together to discuss a situation that a person finds themselves in. If we can, we point the person in the right direction, give them the right information to help them and hopefully help to solve any problems they've got.”

I must have looked confused because she told me not to worry and that eventually I would be able to remember everything about Tarocchi and besides I had my little book to help me. I tried to protest that I wouldn't be needing the book as I would be leaving but she just laughed and offered me another cup of tea. As I took the offered tea Henry came in through the kitchen door.

“Praise be to Jupiter! Lamb! My favourite.”

The Two of Pentacles is associated with Jupiter in Capricorn

“Oh hello dear, did you have a good day at work? All the stock sorted? All the finances balanced?”

He placed the pentacles he had been juggling on the dresser and walked over to kiss Madge on the cheek. “Yes dear, how about you? Did you balance the household budget? Get the shopping done?” Did you decide who to send cards to?”

“Yes dear, everything's in balance with me today.”

The number two is associated with balances of all kinds.

He turned to me and asked how my day had been and I explained about getting lost again and again. He promised that after dinner he would take me to the spot where he found me but told me not to get my hopes up and that I was here for a reason and until that particular mystery was solved he doubted very much that I would find my way back.

Robert came in with a scowl on his face and muttering to himself about not being able to balance the books and orders going out late. Madge and Henry looked at each other but didn't say anything. Obviously something wasn't right with Robert and I didn't know whether they were avoiding the subject because I was there or what but the atmosphere certainly had cooled when Robert walked in the room. Henry shook his head and sat down at the table just as Jane came in carrying the post.

“I met the Page on my way to college this morning so I took the post from him to save him walking all the way to the end of the street.”

Each of the Pages in the Minor Arcana are traditionally thought of as messengers.

She handed her mother a couple of letters and stuffed one in the back pocket of her jeans.

Henry turned to me and explained that the Pages were the messengers in Tarocchi and that they dealt with all the letters, emails and faxes across the land. Apparently, the Page of Pentacles was doing the job part time at the moment whilst he studied for his degree in communications.

Dinner was lovely with Madge being the perfect hostess. Henry tried to explain the physics behind Tarocchi's move away from my world but once again it went straight over my head. After dinner Henry said we may as well get my little walk over and done with and besides he could do with walking off his huge dinner as he felt slightly out of balance due to eating so much. He handed me my coat but shouldered my backpack himself and then picked up the pentacles that were laying on the dresser and started juggling with them as we went out of the door.

The Story continues with 2 Pentacles: The Lord of Harmonious Change

Please feel free to leave suggestions for an Elvis song to accompany each section (card) in the comments section below.

To read the traditional tarot articles which accompany this novel please visit

Traditional Tarot Articles

To learn tarot for yourself please visit the
Worldwide Mediums and Psychics Online Tarot Courses

2 Pentacles: Feeling Frazled by Reversal

2009-05-19T00:40:00.025+01:00

NOTE: If you are new to this blog and want to read the novel from the beginning click here

The Two of Pentacles is associated with the 1st Decan of Capricorn.
21st December to 30th December.

Needless to say that of course, I ended up back at 2 Pentacles Street around about midday. I won't go into the boring details of how I went round in circles again.

Madge ushered me into the living room and told me to take the weight off my feet while she made us a cuppa.

As she came in carrying a tray she said “You poor dear, you must be quite exhausted after all that tramping around. You know it would help a lot if you simply accepted that we are telling you the truth and that you really are in a different world.”

The trouble was that even though everything here seemed quite weird – the clothes fashion really was out of this world – it still seemed logical to me that someone should be able to help me get back to the cliff path. Madge promised me that when Henry got home this evening that she would ask him to walk with me to the spot he found me at yesterday. In the meantime, she had menus for the Christmas period to organise, a budget to sort and cards to write. She gave me a book on the history of Tarocchi and left me with a pot of tea.

The book was interesting to a point – it detailed how people from many lands had come to make up the clans of the Tarocchi. It even explained how the Tarocchi people had come to be displaced from our world in space and time but I have to admit that most of it went over my head and I wasn't inclined to believe it anyway. With the words on the page making no sense and the lack of sleep the night before I drifted off to sleep whilst reading about the various astrological associations with the people of Tarocchi.

I woke some hours later to the smell of roast lamb and voices coming from the kitchen.

“Ah there you are my dear. Do you feel refreshed after your little nap? Did you enjoy the book? I've telephoned Henry and he's promised to walk with you this evening but you will stay to dinner first won't you. No point in the pair of you going tramping all over the place without a good meal inside you. Sit down, sit down, make yourself at home.”

Robert who was sat at the kitchen table pouring over some accounts ledgers was muttering under his breath about people who waste time and energy and who should just accept the facts as they are presented and get on with dealing with the real problems.

“Oh ignore him dear – he's been reversed recently and feeling a little frazzled as a consequence.”

A card that is turned upside down is known as 'reversed'.
When a card is reversed the energies of the card are blocked in some way

“Reversed?”

“Didn't you get that far in the book deary. Never mind. You can keep the book for as long as you are in Tarocchi to refer to on your travels. It gives you all sorts of information that you'll need to know whilst you stay here.”

“I'd better not keep it as I'll be going back after dinner. And I need to get in touch with my family to let them know I'm OK. They will be worried sick that I've not made my usual phone call this morning.”

Madge told me that they wouldn't even presume that I was missing as time in my world stopped the minute I entered Tarocchi and when I finally left it would be at the exact second in my world that I had left it. I really wasn't in the mood to hear more weird stuff especially about disappearing worlds and physics that I didn't understand. I know that we all have our own little fantasy worlds in our heads but this was just going too far. And Roberts muttering was really beginning to get on my nerves.

“What do you mean he's been reversed recently – did he have an accident of some kind?”

She laughed. “No dear, the best way I can explain it is that like the tarot cards in your world which can be upright or upside down - reversed is the proper word – each family member here can also he upright or reversed. Upright is the natural state of affairs for the members of each particular family but sometimes situations occur that can cause the natural state to be blocked in some way. That's what we call reversed – just as your tarot cards can be in a spread?”

The story continues with Spreads and Balances

Please feel free to leave suggestions for an Elvis song to accompany each section (card) in the comments section below.

To read the traditional tarot articles which accompany this novel please visit

Traditional Tarot Articles

To learn tarot for yourself please visit the
Worldwide Mediums and Psychics Online Tarot Courses

Escape Plan #1

2009-05-18T21:06:00.013+01:00

NOTE: If you are new to this blog and want to read the novel from the beginning click here

Monday, 22nd December

I hardly slept all night and when I did I dreamt of cards floating around in the air and people stepping in and out of them. When my alarm went off I quickly washed and dressed and slipped downstairs and out the front door, closing it as quietly as possible as I left. I headed away from the house up the street that I had first come down with Henry the afternoon before. As quickly and as quietly as I could I headed for the spot that I had met Henry. I knew that from there I should be able to find my way back out onto the main cliff path and back to the bed and breakfast. I hoped the landlady hadn't been worried by the fact that I had been out all night. And I fervently prayed that she hadn't phoned the kids to report my disappearing act. I could just imagine the uproar a phone call like that would have created back home.

After a couple of hours walking I knew I was hopelessly lost. I tried to retrace my steps a few times but just became more and more confused as to which way was which. Thankfully there were still a few sandwiches left over from my lunch yesterday but they weren't very appetising. I finally found the road back into the village and I reasoned that if I started out again from the village I should be able to retrace my steps. So off I went again, positive I was following the exact same road I had come into the village with yesterday and therefore equally positive that this time I should be able to make it back to the cliff path. Another hour later found me back at the village – I had gone round in circles again!

I decided that the best thing to do was knock at Henry and Madges' door and ask for directions rather than getting lost again.

“Oh there you are my dear – I expected you back well before now. Henry and the kids have left for the day and oh my, you look so exhausted. Why don't you come in and I'll make you a nice cup of tea and a bit of breakfast.”

“Oh, I was hoping to get directions back to the place where I met Henry yesterday.”

“I know dear, I know. But we did warn you didn't we. Until you have the answers to your questions you won't be able to find your way back. Even if I tried to take you myself we would just end up lost and back here again.”

“Couldn't you just draw me a map so that I can get back.”

“Yes, of course dear, if that's what you want. But I can tell you now it won't do any good. And you may as well sit and have something to eat and drink before you try again.”

So, I wearily trudged after Madge into the kitchen and gratefully accepted a cup of tea while she set about making breakfast. While she was cooking she chattered on about getting over to the shops in Major (apparently all the shops were in Major) and getting the supplies for the Christmas period in. She said I was welcome to join her for the walk if I fancied it but I told her that I'd rather find my way back if she would be kind enough to draw me a map. She shook her head and went over to the dresser to get a pen and paper. She told me that she was happy to draw the map for me but she had the feeling that it wasn't going to do me much good. She said not to worry and that if I ended up back in the village before she got back from the shops to just let myself in the back door and make my self a cup of tea and put my feet up. She said she had the funny feeling I would be staying for Christmas and how nice it would be to have someone different to chat to.

The story continues with 2 Pentacles : Feeling Frazled by Reversal

Please feel free to leave suggestions for an Elvis song to accompany each section (card) in the comments section below.

To read the traditional tarot articles which accompany this novel please visit

Traditional Tarot Articles

To learn tarot for yourself please visit the
Worldwide Mediums and Psychics Online Tarot Courses

Tarocchi and the Tarot

2009-05-18T20:31:00.015+01:00

NOTE: If you are new to this blog and want to read the novel from the beginning click here

“Have you heard of the tarot.” Henry asked.

“Well yes, they are fortune telling cards aren't they?”

Tarot cards are in fact much more than a mere divination tool. The right reader can help the seeker answer questions in many areas of their lives.

“Yes deary.” said Madge “I guess that's the way your people see them. From what we can gather from people who have visited us before, your people have a pack of cards called the tarot. We call them the game of life.”

“We believe the word tarot comes from Tarocchi – the land where we are now. When we disappeared from your world we became myths in the eyes of your people. And somewhere along the line your people made these cards called the Tarot and those cards depict each of the families here in Tarocchi.”

“I don't mean to be rude but you don't seriously expect me to believe this do you? I was in Towyn in Wales this morning and now you want me to believe I've somehow entered a mythical land where people are portrayed in fortune telling cards.”

Henry patted my hand and looked genuinely concerned. “I'm sorry my dear, I know its a lot to take in.”

“I'll start dinner shall I? You will stay with us tonight won't you deary? I know you're feeling very concerned and upset but you won't find your way back through the fog tonight.”

“No, that's true” said Henry “In fact, you won't be able to find your way back until you have found the answers to the questions whizzing around in your head.”

“I'm sorry – what do you mean? Surely I'll be able to find my way back in the morning.”

“Well deary, our experience is that when people from your world manage to find this one generally they aren't able to find their way back until they have some questions answered by the people here. It may be of course, that your questions can be answered by Henry and myself and you'll be able to find your way back in the morning. But our experience is that you'll have to visit more than just our little family before you get all your answers.”

“Questions? What Questions? I don't have any questions except how do I get out of here?”

Madge looked at Henry as if expecting him to explain and when he didn't she sat back down at the table and took my hand in hers.

“Deary, you must have many questions about what's happening in your life, what's going to happen, where your life is leading you, yes?”

“Well, yes but what has that got to do with me going back in the morning?”

“It's here in the land of Tarocchi that you will find the answers to all those questions and until those questions are answered most people can't find there way back. Don't worry dear, you will be well taken care of while you're here. You'll find everyone here loves to have visitors from your world and makes quite a fuss of them.”

“But, but..”

“I know deary, it's a lot to take in. Well you can't get back tonight so why don't you relax for now and we will have dinner – the kids will be home soon – and after dinner Henry and I will explain more of our world for you. Would you like to freshen up dear? Henry, show Polly to the guest room. It has it's own bathroom dear so you needn't be worried about being disturbed. You go freshen up dear and when you're ready come on down.”

Henry picked up my bags and gestured for me to follow him. We went up stairs to a room that could hardly be called a guest room. It was sumptuous and the bathroom had a huge spa bath that looked so tempting. Henry placed my bags on a blanket box at the end of the bed (a four poster would you believe) and told me to take my time as dinner would be at least half an hour.

When he closed the door behind him I sat down on the blanket box. What on earth was I going to do? Surely they had lost the plot. I needed to get out of here as fast as possible and get back to the bed and breakfast. I made up my mind to get up as early as possible in the morning and sneak off before they woke. No way was I staying here any longer than was necessary. Yes, they seemed like a very nice couple but they had obviously got a screw or two loose. A Mythical land indeed! The Tarot indeed!

Well, I can't do anything about tonight. I'm stuck here for the night so I might as well try to make the best of it. So I took my wash bag out of my backpack and headed for the bathroom. When I'd washed and freshened up I put on clean trousers and blouse and left my walking clothes laying on the blanket box ready for my quick escape in the morning. I took a deep breath and opened the bedroom door and headed downstairs.

Back in the kitchen I was introduced to Jane and Robert. Jane looked to be about seventeen or eighteen while Robert looked to be in his early twenties. Although they tried not to make it obvious they looked at me like I was a curiosity from a strange land. Well, if they believed as their parents did then I guess I was. The kids seemed normal and for that matter so were Henry and Madge (if you ignored their strange story of mythical lands). Dinner was a lovely roast with plenty of fresh vegetables and I wondered how on earth Madge had managed to cook up such a delicious dinner at short notice.

Jane told me that she was at university studying business management while Robert sulkily told me that he hadn't got time to eat let alone chat as he was so busy at work and needed to get back as everything was in such a mess. After dinner Robert disappeared, presumably back to work and Jane went out with a couple of friends.

I offered to help Madge with the washing up but she refused and said she had her routine and would be just as happy if I would just chat to her and tell her something of my world while she got on with her chores. So I told her a little of my family and how I had ended up taking the walking holiday. She didn't say much but I could tell she wasn't overly impressed at my management of the situation with my family.

When she had finished her chores she made a pot of tea and we took it into the living room where Henry was reading his newspaper. She guided me to a huge sofa and handed me a cup of tea. We spent the evening discussing Tarocchi. That is to say she told me all about the land while I sat there ever more disbelieving and praying for the night to pass quickly so that I could get out of there.

According to Madge, the Tarot pack in our world was made up of seventy-eight cards. Each card depicted a family or a member of a family in the land of Tarocchi. She told me that these cards were similar to the pictures on the doors of each home in Tarocchi. So, the card depicting two Pentacle Street had a picture of Henry on it and in our world was called the two of pentacles. Some cards had one family member on the them others had several family members but they all accurately depicted the situations that the families found themselves in. Each card and therefore family had a numerical association, an astrological association and so forth. I lost track of all the associations she came up with and my head was fairly spinning by the time I was shown to my room again.

I changed into some nightclothes and set my travel alarm for 5.30am – surely they wouldn't be up that early and I could slip away before any of them woke.

The story continues with Escape plan #1

Please feel free to leave suggestions for an Elvis song to accompany each section (card) in the comments section below.

To read the traditional tarot articles which accompany this novel please visit

Traditional Tarot Articles

To learn tarot for yourself please visit the
Worldwide Mediums and Psychics Online Tarot Courses

A Hidden Land

2009-05-18T20:16:00.014+01:00

NOTE: If you are new to this blog and want to read the novel from the beginning click here

As we entered the village I noted that all the houses looked very posh with well manicured lawns and clean windows. In estate agent speak, this was a good place to move to – always check out how well cared for the surrounding houses are before deciding to move into an area. If the occupants take care of their homes and gardens they are likely to be solid, down to earth people who care about their surroundings and neighbourhood. But that castle at the end of the street was a bit sparkly for my tastes and probably most people that I know.

As we walked closer to the houses I noticed that each of the doors had a picture on them. I couldn't quite make them out until we turned into the gate of number two – the first house on the left hand side of the street. As we walked towards the door I noticed that the picture on this door was of the gentleman I was with. Although whether he was indeed a gentleman had still to be decided in my mind. You hear stories don't you. Oh well, I was here now.

“Madge.” he shouted as he opened the door. “We have a visitor love.”

He pushed the door open and gestured for me to enter the house so I stepped over the threshold into the hallway which had lovely old mosaic tiles on the floor and rosewood panelling. He gestured me to continue on and as I turned a lady came out of the kitchen door.

“Well Henry, what do we have here? Welcome, welcome, my dear. Come on into the kitchen and I'll get you a nice cup of tea. Henry, where did you find her? How did you get here my dear? Oh, I'm bombarding you with questions and you're barely through the door. Come on this way.”

We followed her into the kitchen and she waved me to a chair by the kitchen table while she scooped up the kettle and went to the sink to fill it up. After she had lit the gas and placed the kettle on it she turned and looked at me and then up at her husband.

“Well, Henry, are you going to tell me where you found her? Sorry dear, my name is Madge and you are?”

“Polly. I met your husband while out walking and a fog came down and he invited me to come and stay here as he reckoned I wouldn't be able to find my way back to the bed and breakfast place I'm staying at until the fog lifted.”

“Quite right, quite right. No, I'm afraid you wouldn't be able to find it deary. Not until you've had all the answers to the questions spinning in your head. Henry, have you explained to, Polly is it, have you explained where she is?”

“Well I did try, but I think she thought I'd lost the plot so I figured I'd bring her home to you as maybe she'd be more comfortable hearing it from you my dear.”

“Quite right, quite right. Oh dear, well I guess this is going to come as a bit of a shock to you. Are you open minded dear? I don't quite know where to begin. Sugar dear?”

All the time she had been talking she had been making tea, setting the cups on the table and cutting up what looked like a delicious cake. She handed me a cup and a slice of cake.

“Well my dear. Where to begin. Well, the land you are in is called Tarocchi. I know you've probably never heard of it except perhaps in myths in your land. I know, I know, sounds fantastical I know but there you go. Tarocchi is in fact a hidden land. Well, from your people anyway. Very few of you find your way here and we have no idea how you manage to find us but those who do seem to have a great many questions.”

“A hidden land?”

“We didn't used to be deary. I don't know how we came to be hidden and no doubt someone in Major will be able to tell you.”

“Major?”

“Yes, dear its one of the villages – there are only five villages here – and I'm sure someone there would be able to fill you in on all the details of how we came to be hidden from your people but I'm afraid I don't really understand all the science and physics behind it. We do know from people that have managed to find us before that we are a myth as far as your people are concerned.”

The story continues with Tarocchi and the Tarot

Please feel free to leave suggestions for an Elvis song to accompany each section (card) in the comments section below.

To read the traditional tarot articles which accompany this novel please visit

Traditional Tarot Articles

To learn tarot for yourself please visit the
Worldwide Mediums and Psychics Online Tarot Courses

The Road to Pentacle Village

2009-05-18T20:05:00.018+01:00

NOTE: If you are new to this blog and want to read the novel from the beginning click here

“Tarocchi?”

“Oh dear, oh dear, yes, it's where you are now, it's what we call this little world of ours.”

“World?”

“Well, come along then dear, before it gets too late and I'll introduce you to the family. I guess you can stay with us tonight and then we can make plans for the rest of your stay in the morning.”

“No, no, it's OK, I'm staying in a little bed and breakfast just a few miles up the road.”

“Ah, yes, well, I don't think you'll be able to get back there tonight my dear. And I can't just leave you here all alone, so you'd best come along with me and meet the missus.”

Rather reluctantly I gathered up my things intending to head back to the bed and breakfast and away from this strange man. After all, you can never be sure when you meet strangers just what their intentions are can you. As I looked around I realised that I couldn't seem to remember which direction I had come from and a thick fog was coming down.

“Like I said, I don't think you'll find your way back to wherever you came from tonight”. Don't worry I live just over the hill there in Pentacles village and if you're not comfortable staying with us you can always stay at the castle.”

Pentacles is a suit in the Minor Arcana of the Tarot.
The others are Wand, Cups and Swords

“Pentacles? Castle?” I've never heard of it and I didn't realise there were any castles around here. I certainly didn't see any when I was up on the cliff top a few hours ago.”

“Mmm, I guess you wouldn't have. You see you've somehow wandered into Tarocchi which, by the way is supposed to be impossible and its very rare anyone ever manages to find their way in here.”

“Tarocchi? Impossible? What do you mean, impossible? I just came round the cliff top over there and I'm sure when this fog lifts I'll be able to find my way back.”

“Somehow, my dear, I feel that for the moment that you won't be able to. I know this may sound fantastical to you but you've somehow managed to wander into a land which exists outside of your space and time. I'm sure someone told me that you people have myths about our land – is that right?

“Are you trying to tell me that I'm in some mythical land?” OK, so we definitely have a nutter here. Mythical land indeed.

“Well, as far as your people are concerned yes. But we do exist, we are not a myth as you can clearly see by the fact that I'm stood here right in front of you. You must have had an awful lot of questions in your mind to have been able to find your way in here.”

Yeh, like how the hell do I get out of here and away from this mythical nutter. Why oh why is it always me that attracts them?

“Look my dear, I know I must seem very strange to you”. No kidding. “But, if you come over to the village with me I'm sure things can be explained to your satisfaction and we can find somewhere for you to stay for the night. My wife would be very pleased to meet you, I'm sure.”

Reluctantly, very reluctantly I followed him. I didn't have much choice really. It was either stay there in the middle of nowhere and wait for the fog to lift which could take all night, or try to find my way back to the bed and breakfast and I didn't really fancy my chances in the fog. So, I followed him, wondering what on earth I was getting myself into. Somehow, Christmas with a bickering family didn't seem quite so bad at that point.

We came to a village with just a few houses - there was just one street with five houses on either side and a small castle at the end of the road. There was a sign post to the side of the road welcoming visitors to Pentacle.

The story continues with A Hidden Land

Please feel free to leave suggestions for an Elvis song to accompany each section (card) in the comments section below.

To read the traditional tarot articles which accompany this novel please visit

Traditional Tarot Articles

To learn tarot for yourself please visit the
Worldwide Mediums and Psychics Online Tarot Courses

Entering the world of Tarocchi

2009-05-18T19:38:00.010+01:00

NOTE: If you are new to this blog and want to read the novel from the beginning click here

Sunday, 21st December

Early on the morning of 21st December after eating breakfast and putting my packed lunch into my holdall I set out for my first hike. Despite it being December I was fairly warm as I followed the coastline. At one point during the morning when I was quite high up on a cliff I could see what seemed to be an outcropping of land that was only attached to the coast by a small strip of road. It looked from my vantage point as if there were no buildings or roads and I decided that not many people would be in that area so it would be a lovely place to have my lunch.

So I followed the coast road again and just after midday I crossed from the mainland to the outcropping I had seen from the cliff. The area was stunningly beautiful and I took plenty of photos to show the kids when I finally decided to go home. After walking for about twenty minutes I found a little copse of trees with a small stream running through it and the winter sun shining down. The perfect spot for my first picnic. So, I spread out my blanket on the ground beside the river and started delving into my pack. It was almost as if I was in another world ….

So, nice day, nice picnic, escaped the family and Christmas, sitting in peaceful bliss wrapped up in the winter sun – you get the picture? Something just had to break the mood didn't it. Sigh!

I heard his voice first ..

“If you move all the computer equipment from warehouse 'A' into warehouse 'B' that will leave room for all the electronics equipment in warehouse 'A' and all the staff will know where each type of component is kept”

“Ah yes if you sell off the shares from the telephone company and put the money into the savings account that will ensure we have enough savings to pay the bills in the quiet lull we always get in January”

“Yes, each type of component can be kept in a different area of each warehouse”

“Well yes, as I feel the telephone company shares are heading for a dive and the savings interest rate is rather high at the moment”

Was this one conversation? And what on earth was he doing out here in the middle of nowhere interrupting my picnic? Always the way isn't it – you finally find that idyllic spot to relax in and up pops some nutter.

I turn round toward the voice and over a slight rise in the path a man comes walking in a most peculiar dancing step and juggling two huge coins in his hands. He has a blue-tooth headset in either ear and is chattering away. He obviously wasn't expecting to see me as he nearly dropped his coins in shock but deftly managed to catch them and recovered quite nicely.

“Hello” he says “you aren't from round here are you?”

“Hello” I reply “no I'm not, I'm from...”

But before I manage to finish my sentence he asks how did I manage to get here as I obviously wasn't from one of the clans judging by the way I was dressed.

“Clans?”

“Oh dear, you're not supposed to be able to get in here. Never mind. I say, it's a bit cold to be having a picnic isn't it”

“Escaping the family and Christmas and .. ”

“Ah, know the feeling. Oh well, now that you're here I guess you'll be spending Christmas in Tarocchi”

The story continues with The road to Pentacle Village

Please feel free to leave suggestions for an Elvis song to accompany each section (card) in the comments section below.

To read the traditional tarot articles which accompany this novel please visit

Traditional Tarot Articles

To learn tarot for yourself please visit the
Worldwide Mediums and Psychics Online Tarot Courses

Escaping the real world

2009-05-18T19:37:00.011+01:00

NOTE: If you are new to this blog and want to read the novel from the beginning click here

Saturday, 20th December

So, on the 20th December I drove the couple of hundred miles to Towyn in Wales and booked into a little bed and breakfast on the sea front. The lady who ran the place was very surprised to have a customer at that time of the year and made it very plain that although I was welcome to stay over Christmas that no way on earth was she cooking a Christmas dinner and that I would have to make do. The relief on her face was comical when I told her that all I would be requiring each day was breakfast and a packed lunch and dinner as I would be spending my days hiking. She obviously thought I was a bit of an idiot and walked away muttering under her breath.

The story continues with Entering the world of Tarocchi

Please feel free to leave suggestions for an Elvis song to accompany each section (card) in the comments section below.

To read the traditional tarot articles which accompany this novel please visit

Traditional Tarot Articles

To learn tarot for yourself please visit the
Worldwide Mediums and Psychics Online Tarot Courses

The Story Begins ....

2009-05-18T15:30:00.014+01:00

Introduction

Somewhere on this earth, there is a mythical land called Tarocchi. There are many myths about Tarochii; some say you can gain all the answers to life's big questions in this land but most people scoff at this idea. They may have a point as it is difficult to believe that one single place on earth could possibly contain all the answers to billions of peoples questions. Especially as its said that there are only 78 families in this mythical land. And to cap it all, 78 families who never change – the members of each family never grow beyond the age they are at now. Fantasy Land eh?

Another rumour about Tarocchi is that there are only five clans in the land – the Majorettes, the Wandellas, the Cupolas, the Swordonians and the Pentaclions. Each clan is said to live in strictly defined areas of this mythical land. The Majorettes live in the central lowlands while the Wandellas live in the south of Tarocchi (apparently near a volcano). The Cupolas live to the west near a huge lake that has a magnificent waterfall. This waterfall runs off the mountains to the North where the Pentaclions reside on a plateau that is said to have the most fertile soil in the land. The Swordonians live alone off in the far east of Tarocchi – it is said that they are a fearsome people but this is only rumour as in fact they are quite a learned people. But you know what rumours are like – never touch on reality do they!

It is also said that the people of Tarocchi have a unique way of interacting and trading with each other. They come together in a unit known as a 'spread'. No one knows precisely how many people from each clan come together in these spreads and there's many a discussion (or argument depending on who's in the bar) about precisely what a spread is and how the people of Tarocchi decide who is going to be present in the spread or even what the spread is meant to do once they have gotten together.

Another rumour states that the reason Tarocchi cannot be found is that the land is outside the normal rules of space and time. The land pops up here and there in different places on earth and at different times. The most outrageous of these rumours is that one person in Tarocchi can be residing in the 16th century on the islands of New Zealand whilst another can be in the 21st century in the middle of Europe.

With so many fantastic rumours it is no wonder that there are those who believe in this mythical land – we all like to have our little fantasies – and would like to gain answers to the mystery of life. Of course, there are those who proclaim it a figment of the imagination and even if the place did exist they wouldn't go there for love nor money.

But, I can tell you not only does this mythical land exist but I have had the honour of living there for a year. That year of my life was quite an experience I can tell you and it's a good job I kept a diary while I was there or I'd never be able to remember half of what I saw and experienced.

I decided to publish my diary in the hope that it would end all the arguments in pubs and universities around the world. Although, maybe that's asking a bit much as people DO love to have a good row don't they. I fully accept that there are people out there who won't believe that it is possible to visit such a mythical land.

I have to admit that the comments made by my family and friends when I got home made me wonder whether I'd dreamt it all up but I DO have my diary as proof – least ways, I think it's proof that I'd been to the wonderful mythical land of Tarocchi.

So, how did I end up in Tarocchi? Well, that's a story in itself but I shall try to keep it short….

With just a couple of weeks to go to Christmas I was becoming really, really stressed. There were the endless conversations about who was going to who's house for Christmas dinner. The usual comments about if so and so was coming you could leave me out of it and I'll go to uncle Ben's instead.

There were the arguments about what so and so should buy little Jordan and whether it was suitable for his age and the comments on how difficult it was to buy for Rhiannon because she had an obsession with miniatures.

How so and so had sent us a card and therefore we should send them one or who wasn't sending who cards because they never sent one anyway. Whether we should have the traditional turkey or whether we should have a change and go for lamb or beef instead.

It was enough to drive even the calmest of personalities to insanity. So, I made a decision. I was sick of this year after year and for once I was going to put my foot down and opt out of the whole charade. I decided that I was going to go on a walking holiday and everyone else could go jump.

Well, the uproar you wouldn't believe. My daughter had a fit of apoplexy at the thought that she would have to cook dinner herself and even by her own admission she'd never had the time or inclination to learn to cook. Her partner just looked gob-smacked that I could even think of leaving the family at Christmas and walked around shaking his head. She had a row with my eldest son who thought that Christmas was just something to get through and that I should be allowed to opt out and go my own way if I wanted to. And my youngest son (who could always shout louder than anyone I know) stood there ranting and raving calling me every fool under the sun.

The comments ranged from but you'll miss out on seeing all the family to what sort of bloody fool goes off on a walking holiday the week before Christmas.

The story continues with Escaping the real world

Please feel free to leave suggestions for an Elvis song to accompany each section (card) in the comments section below.

To read the traditional tarot articles which accompany this novel please visit

Traditional Tarot Articles

To learn tarot for yourself please visit the
Worldwide Mediums and Psychics Online Tarot Courses

An idea comes to life

2009-05-18T15:14:00.007+01:00

To make it easier for my students I have moved the novel to the tarot courses site at http://tarot-novel.tarotcourses.net

Hi folks,

Well this is the first post on the new blog so I guess I had better explain myself. I am a tarot teacher and run online tarot courses at http://www.worldwidemediums.net/

A few weeks ago when trying to think of ways to help my students I came up with the idea that instead of writing the traditional tarot articles it would be better to bring the tarot to life with stories.

I was initially going to start with the fool and then hit on the idea of writing it as a diary. All tarot cards have date associations so I made myself a little table of those dates and decided to start at christmas. So, the cards are out of traditional order but in date order and I think it works better when using the tarot to write a novel.

I had first thought that I might write the whole thing and then send it to publishers but then I reasoned that the chances of it actually happening are quite slim (just thought : I shoulda done meself a tarot reading on the possibilities shouldn't I). So, I will be working for the next year or so on two blogs : this one holding the story of the Mythical world of Tarocchi and another one with traditional interpretations. I'll post the link for the blog with traditional interpretations as soon as I've set it up.

Happy reading folks. I would love to know what you think about the story so don't hesitate to leave comments - and don't forget to post links on your websites and blogs. Oh, and if a publisher happens by and would like to publish the novel I can always leave the last post of 'well now ya gotta buy the book to read the rest of the novel'. I can hope can't I l:)