TAROT WISDOM READINGS

Today’s interview takes us on an adventure with my recently acquired Steampunk Tarot deck.  This fascinating deck is by our well-loved tarot writer, Barbara Moore, and the talented artist, Aly Fell.

Steampunk Tarot was published in 2012 by Llewellyn.  You can also read my review of this deck at:  www.tarotwisdomreadings.com/tarotdecks/Steampunk.html

This interview is a fun story (and thus a little long) – so grab a tea, coffee, or beverage of your choice, and let yourself enjoy as we go on a journey to the land of Steampunk.

And now, let the magical adventure begin . . .

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“I must be dreaming again,” I mumbled as I picked myself up from the ground and rubbed my sleepy eyes. Every time I’m getting ready to interview a new deck of tarot cards, this seems to happen to me.

“And whatever are these clothes I’m wearing?!  I don’t own a dress like this.  Ugh, this thing that is pinching me must be what they call a corset.”

However, I rather liked this dress for some reason . . . despite the corset that has to go!  The dress seemed to have come out of another time – or is it a dress of the future?  I wondered, as I dusted myself off and admired the material and style of the dress.

“Well then, I should be used to these oddities by now.  Let me take a look around.”

“Aha!”  I spotted some kind of machine that looked like an old-time airplane among a patch of trees that partially hid the contraption.  Yet it sort of looked like a ship, too.  “That must be the time machine I arrived in . . . in this dream, that is.”  But why do these dreams feel so real to me?”  I silently wondered.

Well, speaking of “contraptions,” I absolutely MUST figure out how to get this corset contraption off of me!  I tried to find a zipper and fiddled around with some buttons, but this was proving to be quite difficult!

Just then, a bark startled me, and I lost my balance.  Had it not been for the kindly young man who saved me from falling on my behind, I would have been quite embarrassed.

“My apologies, Miss!  I didn’t mean for my dog to startle you like that.  He was just happy to meet you is all.  Are you all right?”

“Oh yes, I’m fine.  Just fine, thank you.”  I was hoping he had no clue what I had been trying to do when he suddenly appeared out of nowhere!

“But perhaps you could help me.  I seem to be lost,” I said.

“You are Velvet Angel, the Tarot Deck Reporter?  Am I right?”

“Why yes, I guess that would be me.  I wanted to interview the Steampunk Tarot deck.  And you are . . .?”

“I’m The Fool of the Steampunk Tarot, Miss Angel.  I’m here as your guide to our special city – Steampunk Land.  I’ll introduce you to the people who will be right happy to answer your questions for your news report story.”

“Oh, just call me Velvet.  And it’s a great pleasure to meet you, Mr. Fool!

“The pleasure is all mine, Velvet,” the Fool said as we shook hands.  “I represent the beginning of a brand new adventure that you will not likely soon forget.  Take everything in and enjoy the journey.  Shall we go then?”

“Certainly.  Please lead the way,” I replied.

“Oh . . . and not to worry about your aero star cruiser.  I’ll have some people come out and restore it for you.”

Aero star cruiser?  I guess I thought it was some sort of a time machine.”

“But of course it is, Velvet.  Seeing that it landed in the trees, though, it may need to be checked over before you depart.  That’s quite an interesting model you have – haven’t seen one quite like it before.”

“Neither have I.”  I mumbled under my breath.

“Before I forget,” said the Fool, “here is your identification card.  You’ll need to wear this before we get to the gates.

The Queen requires it, as she doesn’t take well to uninvited guests.  And since you have been invited, this card will be like your pass to our city.”

He handed me a card that was attached to a necklace to put around my neck.

“You are now an honorary citizen of Steampunk Land, and we welcome you as our guest!”

“Thank you, Fool,” I responded.  I put it around my neck.  Gosh, this kind of makes me feel important, even though I didn’t really consider myself a “reporter.”  Oh well, I guess that’s what I shall be today . . . in this very realistic dream, I reminded myself.

We walked down a path for a ways, and over a hill, there was the most breathtaking scene I had ever witnessed.  People were dressed in such fascinating attire that seemed to come out of the past but perhaps from the future as well.  Many people were busy amidst the hum and whirring sound of machines.  It was noisy, but not in an unpleasant kind of way.

Everything seemed to be humming in rhythms, and people were smiling and seemed to enjoy their work as they sang or hummed, too.   All sorts of contraptions were everywhere.  (And there’s that “contraption” word again – which reminds me of this corset that is now causing me to itch!)

We soon arrived at the golden gates which seemed to open magically of their own accord as we approached.  Inside the gates, it was even more intriguing to see everything close up.

The Fool’s little dog scampered off to chase some rabbits.  We walked up to the doors of the main house – which looked to be one of those fancy, beautiful homes from the Victorian Era.  The Fool and I stepped inside.

The Queen of Swords was seated, and with a hand from her husband, the King of Swords, she rose to greet us.  I wasn’t sure whether I should curtsy or what I should do, so I stood there somewhat frozen.

“Welcome to Steampunk, Velvet.  I am the Queen of Swords, and this (she looked over at her husband) is the King of Swords.”  I couldn’t miss her glance at me to ensure that I was indeed wearing the identification necklace.  This queen made me feel nervous, but welcome, all at the same time – if that is even possible.

“I trust your day with us will be all you expected.  Before we go to the garden, do you have a question you would like to ask of me to get your news story started?”

Velvet Angel:  Yes, thank you, Queen.  Can you tell me a little bit about the Steampunk Tarot, please?

Queen of Swords:  Of course.  In Steampunk land – and in the lives of people everywhere, it is ideas that fuel creativity and invention.  As you noticed, you see inventions around you everywhere here.  There is a reason for that.  I’m sure you’ve heard how the mind is a terrible thing to waste?  Well, we firmly believe that to be true in Steampunk.

And we also believe that an idea is a terrible thing to waste, too.  Yet we see people all the time who waste ideas because of one excuse or another.

Ideas start in your head.  Everything is born from an idea.  The cogs and the wheels are always turning.  From those ideas, we learn how to cut through them to find the perfect gems that are workable in the real world.  We find what is unique and useful.  We cut out that which is not useful to us.

And thus, the Steampunk Tarot is a gateway to leadership for anyone who is brave and bold enough to accept this challenge.  You must be able to lead your own life well before you can lead others.  We support new ideas, systems, communications, and inventions – all things that come from the intellect and the imagination.  If you can think it, you can plan it and create it.

This is how we are of service to our intelligent users – to bring the best leader out of them through the unique approach of Steampunk.  Tapping into those qualities, however, will require discipline, and sometimes a bit of tough love as well.

We won’t always go easy on those who read with us.  But that is because we are designed to stretch your imagination to see all the possibilities that are available to you.  But don’t be alarmed – just because we don’t always go so easy on you, it doesn’t mean that we are without compassion.  We bring you the truth, because you cannot work with sugar-coated lies.  We are direct and responsive, and we are honest.  And as you’ll find, we can be witty and fun as well.

There’s far more to us than what you see on the surface, Velvet.  By the end of this day, I’m sure you will agree.

Velvet Angel:  What makes Steampunk different from other tarot decks?

The Queen looked up to her husband, the King of Swords, to indicate that he should reply next.  He smiled and said, “Let me show you.  Please follow me into the library.”

King of Swords: There are books upon books of knowledge from which we can gain wisdom.  But everyone has interests that will differ from the next person.  So the book that is right for one person might not be right for another.  Yet some books go over well and attract a very large audience of readership.

Additionally, information is of not valuable until we actually do something with it.  The Steampunk Tarot is not just idle reading.  It is engaging.  It makes you think beyond what you are accustomed to seeing in traditional tarot cards.

And that is the whole purpose of any good book or course of study – to be engaged enough to learn and think about what you’ve read or studied . . . so that you may apply this wisdom in actual practice.

As my dear Queen explained, we are designed to get you to think by stretching your imagination.  But we are also here to drive you toward doing something with those ideas – and not wasting them.

Some decks are quite emotionally based, and we like to think of ourselves as being based upon logic, thought, and ideas first and foremost.  You need to think before you can plan and do anything worthwhile.  You need to have an idea before you can know how you feel about it.  And you need logic to help you solve problems.

The intellect may be under rated in some decks.  But with Steampunk, we’re going to give your thought processes the work out that your mind deserves.

I mean, just look at us – we are one of a kind when it comes to tarot.  We are unique.  And this difference in itself is going to get you to pay attention and explore a bit more than you may do with other decks.  And you are the one who has the control over this knowledge and what you will do with it.  Use it wisely, and if you do, it can take you far.

After enjoying tea in the garden with the Fool and the Queen and King of Swords, the Fool then indicated that we had much to explore, and that it was time for us to be on our way.

We walked through the town, and I took in the scenery that made me feel I had gone back in time.  But I guess I must have, since I apparently arrived in a time machine – or rather some contraption known as an aero star cruiser.

Oh, darn those contraptions!  I asked the Fool to direct me to a ladies room to freshen up.  I couldn’t stand another moment of this pinching, itchy corset.  THAT is one thing that I will leave back in time for sure!

The Fool escorted me into a tavern.  I found the ladies room, and after what seemed like forever, I finally managed to set myself free . . . and BREATHE!  But what to do with the corset now?  Hmmm, I’ll hang it up here in this ladies room in the tavern.  Make ‘em wonder!  LOL

With a mischievous grin on my face, I came back out to a rather nervous looking Fool who said he was getting a bit worried about me and thought he may have to find someone to check on me.

“You look different,” commented the Fool.  Did you do something different with your hair perhaps?”

I grinned.  “Let’s just say that I can breathe now, and we’ll leave it at that.”

“Very good then.  Let’s get on with the tour.”

As we walked back outside, I saw an interesting horse and a noble rider whom everyone seemed to be admiring.  I knew I wanted to ask him a question next, so I approached him.

Excuse me, Sir!  I’m a guest of Steampunk Land today, and was wondering if you could answer a question for me?  You see, I’m a Tarot Deck Reporter and was invited here to write a story about Steampunk.

He glanced at my identification card and said, “I would be delighted to help, young lady.  Please hold my wand of victory and share in the triumphant celebration.  Our victory is your victory, too.”

“Thank you so much.  This is such an honor!” I replied, as I took the wand from him and watched a magical dance of sparks emanate from the wands.  Everyone clapped and cheered.

“Now, how may I help you, young lady?  It’s my honor to be of service.”

Velvet Angel:  Can you tell me, please – What are your strengths as a tarot deck?

Six of Wands
What a delightful question you’ve asked of me!  Why, we are here to show you your own strengths and to hone and honor those assets that you have within you at any given moment.

A victory in life is never accomplished solo.  Even if you are the main contributor of something, there will always be other people and/or tools that help you get the job done and will back you up with support.  We serve as your supportive tool – to work with you and help you carry on and accomplish victories, both great and small.

As a deck, we inspire and honor the hero within you.  We motivate you to see and appreciate that even difficult situations can eventually become victories.  It does take hard work on your part at times, but you’ve got it in you to do what it takes.  Wisdom without action will never accomplish anything, so we inspire you to use that wisdom in productive ways that will propel your life forward.

As the Queen and King of Swords mentioned, everything starts with the idea, and we are here to help you take productive action on those ideas.  We are here to help you find your passion and understand where your true success lies.  And we think we are an interesting deck – which makes us stand out in a way that many people will indeed sit up and take notice.

Nothing boring here – it’s all excitement and adventure which leads you to the path of knowledge so that you can remember and utilize what you learn with us.  Education of any kind is more useful when it’s fun!

At that moment, the lady owner from the tavern came out carrying my recently ditched corset and exclaimed, “Who is bein’ the wise cracker here and leavin’ a corset in me ladies room?  Who, I ask?”  As everyone stared at her, but said nothing, she said, “Oh well, never ya’ll mind.  This one’s a dandy, and I think it’ll fit me.  Go on now, go on.  Show’s over.”

I stifled a chuckle, and composed a serious expression, and then asked the Fool if we could continue the tour.  The lady said the “show was over,” but I didn’t want to stick around and take any chances – as funny as it was.

I quickly thanked the Six of Wands gentleman, and the Fool and I made our way to a lovely garden where I saw what looked to be a statue of a hand holding an ornate pentacle.  Or perhaps this statue was some kind of mechanical device, as it looked quite unusual.

We sat down on a concrete bench.  “What is your next question, Velvet?”  asked the Fool.  You can ask now if you would like.

I looked at the statue, and then back to the Fool.  “You mean this statue thing will talk?”

The Fool let out a bellow of a laugh, and said, “No, not all things talk.  Does everything talk in your world?  Are you always this naïve, m’lday?”

“Ehem . . . well, so I’ve heard anyway – the naïve part, that is.”

“Silly lady and tarot reporter, you can ask ME questions, too.  I’m your guide, remember?  Unless, I’m just meatloaf or something.”  He looked down and pretended to be hurt at the idea of not being important enough to answer questions for a reporter.

Meatloaf?  Now that struck me as funny.  And we simultaneously began to laugh.

This adventure was fun!  And I didn’t even want to think about waking up from this dream – not yet!  Tomorrow was soon enough to get down to the business of the real tarot deck interview that I had scheduled to get done.  For now, I planned to enjoy these magical moments of adventure.

“Okay then, Mr. Fool.  I will ask my next question, but I will warn you – it’s a tough one.”

“Nothing like a challenge, Velvet.  Ask away!”

Velvet Angel:  What are you limitations as a tarot deck?

The Fool looked up to the mechanical statue – perhaps for inspiration from which to respond to my question?  He seemed to be taking it all in – almost as if this statue was silently conversing with him.

“Ahem, I did warn you that the question would be a tough one, Mr. Fool.  Would you prefer that I ask something else instead?”

“Oh no, this question is perfect, Velvet!”       

Ace of Pentacles
The question is perfect, because I am the Fool where some limitations do exist – and that is because I represent the beginning of things.  And here is the beautiful Ace of Pentacles.  Aces represents beginnings, too, you know.

So you, see, Velvet – the limitation of Steampunk is probably not all that different from the limitations of others tarot decks.

We represent just the beginning of things – the beginning of new knowledge and wisdom.  But it’s always up to you to take it and shape that as you will.

It’s up to you to make practical use of the knowledge and information you gain from us.  We can show you many things, but only you can create the experiences yourself.  We are just the beginning of all that can be.  You are the one who must nurture the roots we plant – if you expect things to grow.

We show you the potentials and what is possible for you to attain.  But you must reach out and take it and create it.  We are but a deck of cards in reality, but the practical information we offer is something that you can use as a starting point to shape a situation as you desire.

We can point out the paths that are available to you, but only you can choose to walk that path or not. Only you can choose which path you will take.  Essentially, Velvet, each person who reads with us is responsible for creating his or her own luck. We can’t do that part for anyone.  It’s up to you to nurture the desired possibilities and make changes or new creations as you deem fit.

“That’s such a wise answer for a Fool to share!  I’m impressed Mr. Fool.  Thank you!”

The Fool smiled and looked quite pleased for the compliment.

We then walked back toward another area of this amazing city.  This was a rather dusty area, but interesting nevertheless.  I spotted a sweet scene from the Six of Cups where a young man was presenting flowers to a girl.  I told the Fool that I wanted to speak with them – but first, I allowed them to have their private moment with the flowers and sweet conversation . . . trying not to eavesdrop of course.

I approached the young people and introduced myself as the tarot deck reporter who was doing a news story on Steampunk.  They seemed excited to be included in my story and eager to share with me.

“I know you both are young, but everyone here seems to be wise beyond their years, and I think perhaps you could help me out, as words of wisdom from the suit of Cups would be a lovely addition to my story.”

The young man beamed and said, “We’re honored to assist you, ma’am.”

Velvet Angel:  What are you here to teach us?

Six of Cups
Well, I know that the Queen and King of Swords may have given the impression that it’s all about logic, but we also know how much we love to give and share with our readers of this deck.

Yes, it starts with the idea and logic.  But that is just the beginning.  With Cups, there are emotions so that you can also understand how you feel about your ideas and intentions.

Take for example the flowers I just gave to this girl . . . whom I like a lot (him blushing while she is grinning from ear to ear) . . . I knew I liked her, but I also had to act on my feelings, or else she never would have known how I feel.

We teach you that an idea or a thought will eventually bring emotions into the picture.  You have to use both mind and heart to accomplish things in life.  You need a balance between intellect and feelings.  Because after all, what is an idea worth if you don’t enjoy it?  You have to know it’s right for you and that you feel happy being a part of it.

As the Six of Cups, we represent memories that can be looked back upon to bring a smile to your face in times to come.  I’m sure you will always remember your first adventure with the Steampunk Tarot – perhaps standing out even among many of your other decks.  And in those memories are also things you have learned – the lessons from the past that you are meant to remember and use in life.

We are not a hardcore deck, as we show you this gentle side to our nature.  Sometimes a truth will come to you from something in the past, and therefore, there will be times that we gently remind you of something form the past which will help show you the way to your future.

“Very well said, young man.  And I thank you and this young lady for talking with me today.  I will never forget you or this fantastic adventure in Steampunk Land, that is for sure!”

The Fool then took me by the hand and said he wanted to introduce me to the wise master story teller that everybody loved in Steampunk Land.  I was trying to guess which card it might be . . . and then we came upon a bearded man with two children seated in front of him.  It was the Hierophant.

With books on the table and the little girl taking notes, it seemed to be like an informal class setting.

The Hierophant looked up and smiled in greeting.  “Ah, hello, Fool.  Do introduce me to your friend.”

“This is Velvet Angel, a tarot deck reporter who has come to Steampunk to write about us.  She’s an honorary citizen for today.  I’m showing her around and letting her meet some of our people.”

“Very good indeed!  It’s nice to meet you, Miss Velvet.  Would you care to join us for a story today?  You and the Fool are just in time, as I was getting ready to begin.”

I eagerly accepted his invitation to join in.  He asked, “I’ll tell you what, Velvet.  If you have a question for me, I will be more than pleased to tell a story based on whatever you would like to know about us.”

“Thank you, Mr. Hierophant.  I think I’ve got the perfect question which was surely meant just for you.”  The Fool and I sat down with the children, and I then asked my question.

Velvet Angel:  What makes for a successful reading?

The Hierophant seemed pleased with my choice of question, and he began . . .

Hierophant
A successful reading, dear listeners, always comes from you.  But where you get the material for your reading may also be attributed to information and lessons that are passed down through the generations from books and teachers.

Eventually, you learn how to make the information your own as you add value to a story from your experiences.

We often think of a Hierophant in terms of a community or a group setting, like we have right now with all of us in attendance.  But did you realize that you can also be your own Hierophant as well?

A successful reading is not just about book answers, although that is where it all starts at the beginning.  A new student will study and learn from books and others.

But with time, practice, and experience, that student will spread his or wings and fly with this knowledge.  That student will become successful through a combination of group study, books, and then finally his/her own sacred beliefs that develop in time.

As the Hierophant, I am merely the bridge between the theories contained in traditional knowledge and the actual practice and experience that will be gained.  You see, some people who are new to this craft begin with a belief that they can only be right if they follow books to the letter.  But with practice, they learn to add to a reading with personal experience and beliefs they have developed.

Book learning represents merely one of the keys to the understanding that is necessary to provide a successful reading.  The other key, however, comes from you.  Therefore, a successful reading happens when one combines traditional wisdom with personal beliefs and wisdom.  It’s really not just all about a book answer, like many people believe.

When you read according to the interpretations that you see in the cards – and not just in strict accordance with a book or a manual – your reading will be successful, because it follows what you believe to be true.  You unlock the keys to your intuition, and that creates a successful reading experience that is more valuable that just what is written in a book.

The Fool and I sat in for more stories that the Hierophant shared.  We watched the little girl take careful notes, while the boy just listened.  The Hierophant pointed this out as an example of different people learning by different means.  “Some people like to read, write things down, and absorb knowledge in that way . . . while others just listen intently and take from a lesson what they can recall from memory.”

“Some people learn best in group settings.  Some like to learn by themselves through reading books.  Some people prefer structured and formal settings, while others like the informal environment best.”  He explained to us that there is never just one right way to do something. All roads will ultimately take you to the same destination.

I shook the Hierophant’s hand and wished the children well, and then the Fool suggested that we go have a drink.  I was a little bit uneasy to see that it was the same tavern we had been to earlier when I used the ladies room – and where I had left the corset which was soon discovered by the tavern owner.

Oh well, at least I can breathe now – and perhaps that corset will never be mentioned at all.

We went inside and sat at the bar, where a man seemed to have passed out from a few too many.  I asked the bartender lady what was wrong with him.

“Ah, he’s had a rough time, he has.  His wife left ‘em for another man, and ever since, he’s been here as a regular – but sometimes it’s a little hard to get him up and sent on his way.”

She was cleaning up the mess at the bar, and then noticed my identification necklace.

“Oh, you are the reporter that everyone’s talkin’ about, aren’t ya?  What’ll ya have, Honey?  It’s on the house!”

“Thank you for your kindness,” I responded.  “Being that I’m on duty right now . . . and how I really don’t want to be in that poor fellow’s condition, an iced tea would suit me nicely.”

She gathered tea for both myself and the Fool, and we chatted as if we had known one another forever.  She revealed that she was a tarot reader, too, and that she had warned this fellow at the bar that he needed to pay more attention to his marriage, or else it could be over for him.

I decided that I would ask her my next question, since she knew just about everybody in Steampunk Land.  She happily agreed to be a part of the interview.

Velvet Angel:  How should a reader approach the Steampunk Tarot?

Five of Cups
Take a lesson from this here fella at the bar, Honey.  Don’t read the cards if you’re intoxicated by anything other than life itself.  And be careful of who ya read for, too.  If someone is into his cups too much, emotionally or otherwise, he ain’t gonna remember anything ya tell ‘em.

The Steampunk Tarot is there for ya when you have spilled cups in yer own life.  So if ya wanna see what is still there for ya in the midst of upsets, the cards will gladly show it to ya.  But ya gotta be willing to pick those standin’ cups up and move forward with ‘em.

Approach the Steampunk with a willingness to see what’s out there for ya, Honey.  You gotta decide that you ain’t gonna mope around in self-pity forever – as the likes of this poor fella’s been a doin’.

Don’t go usin’ this deck with hopes to regain what’s already lost.  It just don’t work that way.  Nobody can ever live in the past.  You only have what’s with you in this moment, and it’s what you build on to create yer future.

So approach the Steampunk with the mindset to learn how to refill yer cups with somethin’ new.  You just can’t get back what’s already gone.  Nor should ya try.

After the barmaid of the Five of Cups shared her down-to-earth wisdom, she then said, “Speakin’ of what’s already gone, some gal left her corset in me ladies room today.”  She chuckled and said, “I wonder if she’s gonna miss it.  Her loss and my gain, I say.”

“So perhaps no loss at all, then,” I said as I smiled sweetly at her.

I was surprised to see that dusk was near upon us.  Where did the time go?  There were still so many people I wanted to talk to, but I knew there would not be time.  I told the Fool that I would like to talk to just one more person before taking my leave.  I told him that I would talk briefly with the next person I encountered, and then I would have to be on my way.

We left the tavern and walked down the block and turned the corner to a church.  And then I knew who would be the next person to interview.  A man was hanging in front of a window upside down!

I approached him and asked him if he needed help.  The Fool chimed in and said that this fellow does this sort of thing often, and that I need not worry.

“But why do you want to hang upside down?  Isn’t that uncomfortable?  You remind me of the Hanged Man in the Tarot.”

The upside down man replied,  “I am representative of that card you just mentioned.  I don’t need any help at all.  I’m just viewing things from a whole new perspective.  And no, it’s not really uncomfortable at all.  This is of my own choosing.”

“Well then,” I began, “perhaps you could be so kind to answer a question for me about the Steampunk Tarot . . . unless now is not a good time for you.”

The Hanged Man assured me there was no time like the present.  I explained to him how I felt strongly attracted and connected to the Steampunk Tarot even before it was published and available to the public.  

Velvet Angel:  Perhaps you, in this contemplative stance, could explain to me why I felt such a strong connection when I first learned about the Steampunk Tarot?  What drew me to you even before you were published?

The Hanged Man
That’s easy, Miss Angel. You see, you were ready to look through the eyes of Tarot from a new perspective – much like I’m doing by hanging here in a suspended fashion.

Sometimes we get stuck in life or in projects, and the only way to get unstuck is to view things from a new and unique angle.

I’m sure you’ll agree that we make up a rather unique kind of deck.  And all you needed was a unique shift in perspective.

I know you didn’t rush out to buy the Steampunk the day it hit the market.  You paused and waited before acting, and that was what we hoped you would do.  As much as you felt compelled to reach out for us, you made sure that we were what you wanted.

In fact, we also know that you sacrificed instant gratification in favor of spending some money on someone else that you love.  So when you finally allowed yourself to reach for us, the connection became all the more meaningful because of the short wait.

Those who haven’t yet reached out for us, we know the wheels may be turning as you contemplate the possibilities available by working with us.  Waiting can make the reward all the sweeter!

We offered you a different point of view as you looked through our eyes, and that connection was made.  You knew that there was something special about us, and your patient waiting for the right moment made the connection even stronger.  And now, we are here for you, and pleased to be of service.

Darkness was now upon us, and the stars shone brightly overhead in the clear skies.  With a tinge of sadness, I told the Fool that it was time for me to leave now.  He escorted me back to my time machine.

“Well, you and the citizens of Steampunk have been so good to me, and I have so enjoyed my visit.  Before I go though, Mr. Fool, would you like to ask me any questions?”

“Yes, I would, Velvet.  I thought you’d never ask!”  On behalf of myself and the entire deck, we would like to ask you this:

What have you learned from today’s adventure with Steampunk?”

I took a deep breath, and began . . .

The Star
The Steampunk Tarot sets an example of being unique and being true to oneself.  It shows me that I can reach for the stars to attain what I want.  I can find peace even when things around me are in chaos.

I’ve got a true friend in the Steampunk family.  This adventure has made me feel as though I have connected to new family-like friends in my life.  I’ve loved the adventure as I’ve conversed with people in your land who are much like people in my own world.

No matter where each of us come from, we are all alike in many ways – yet we are each unique as well.  We each bring our own contributions to the world, and we should be proud of them.

I know that if I’m feeling off course in life, I can find peace with my trusty Steampunk Tarot deck – to go on a journey of self-exploration and find the answers I seek . . . answers that are often already right here within me.

I have learned to never lose hope and faith.  We are all in this life together, both strangers and those who are familiar to us.  Guidance is always available to me, whether I just need to reach inside, or whether I need to reach out to someone else if I can’t find it within myself.  There is always hope, and one should not lose sight of that.

You’ve learned a lot, Velvet, and I suspect that you already knew many of these things.  But this journey you took with me into Steampunk has served as a lovely reminder for you, wouldn’t you agree?”

“Absolutely, dear Fool.  Absolutely!”

“They checked out your time machine, and it was all fine – just made a few adjustments to ensure that your next landing won’t get off course.”

Woof, Woof!  The Fool’s little dog came to lick my hand.  He had disappeared through the day, but now he was back.  And this time, I wasn’t startled to hear the sudden barking.

“Oh, one more thing, Mr. Fool – will you see the Six of Cups girl again?  Can you find her?”

“Yes, of course. She works in one of the factories nearby the little flower shop.”

“Okay, great!”  I plopped down on the ground and began to unlace the boots – gaining a perplexed look from the Fool.  As pretty as the shoes were, these heeled boots were NOT made for walking, and my feet could attest to that.

I handed the boots to the Fool.  “Could you give these boots to her?  I think they will be her size.”

“Oh, and the kindly tavern lady from the Five of Cups . . .”  I took the necklace from the identification card.  “Could you give her this necklace?  It served its purpose nicely, but I think she deserves to have it.”

“And here, you can keep the identification card that has my picture on it.  Something to remember me by.”

“Of course, Velvet.  I will deliver your gifts tomorrow when I finish sweeping chimneys.  After taking the day off, I will have much to do tomorrow.”

I felt sad that the time had come to say good-bye, but I knew I could not put this off any longer.  I hugged the Fool and thanked him for the most amazing time I had had in such a long while.  “Fool, I will miss you most of all . . .”

And then I awoke to the sound of chirping birds outside my office window.

Ugh, apparently I fell asleep at my desk.  But what a remarkable and memorable dream I had!  The beautiful but dated dress was gone, replaced with my familiar jeans.  And on my computer screen was a story of Steampunk – my adventure in Steampunk Land . . . already posted to the blog!

“How in the world???”

And in my email was a message from the Fool that said, “Come again and visit any time you want.  Until next time, we’ll all be missing you and thinking of you!  Watch that landing on your next visit ”

Some things will forever remain a mystery, but one thing is for sure . . . there’s hardly ever a dull moment in the adventure of a good dream.

Happy Tarot Journeys!

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