Diving into Divination

Dear Readers, I wanted to take a moment to catch you up on life in the Pacific Northwest at The House of Hunt residence. For those readers who follow the turning of the Wheel; Mabon occurred the weekend of Folsom and in every sense it was a time of gathering, gratitude and abundance. We came together to celebrate and share the fruit of our creative labors. Night and day were in equal balance, and The House members were all together in our former home of San Francisco.

The Wheel now prepares to turn again. The nights have grown colder; the fiery colored leaves that were shaken from the trees during the tornado now lay under foot, sodden with recent rainfall. The winds of change have arrived, riding on the back of a tornado no less, a powerful metaphor indeed.Summers End is almost upon us; Samhain, Halloween, All Saints Day and Dia de Mortes, lay just around the corner.  For some it is a time of dress up and candy, for others a more solemn occasion of remembering those that have passed to the other side, where the veil that separates this life from the next is at its thinnest. For a few of my readers it is also a time known as the Spiritual New Year.

It is in this time of change, where the witching hour draws close that I sought out a decidedly magical friend of mine, Nick, from Page of Wands Tarot. Nick did a reading for me last week, a tarot reading that is. I had a question and I needed some advice on the outcome of two different choices. I know you have been in this situation, dear reader, where it just seemed impossible to untangle the plusses and minuses from one choice to another, no matter how hard you looked. I could feel the wind on my back urging me to make a choice and yet which choice to make. So it is with this metaphoric fog in my brain, I knocked on the door of Page of Wands Tarot. The outcome of our encounter was insight, clarity and thankfully no more fog.

Over the next few months I will be introducing you to some of the performers in The House of Hunt and some of the fabulous people we spend time with. October, felt like the perfect time to introduce you to Nick, our divination expert.

Nick how did this begin for you?

I have had a fascination with tarot since my early teen years. However, it was not until 2013 that I actually began to study and read tarot for myself. During one of the darkest times of my life, it served as a tremendous source of centering, direction, and reassurance.

How did you start doing tarot for others?

As I began to dig deeper into this craft, others began to come to me seeking the same guidance that I had found for myself. This is what inspired me to start Page of Wands Tarot. I created a platform that allows me to help others with the skill that I have developed. Just like the page of wands “himself”, my hope is to boldly explore new territories seeking truth and enlightenment.

What is the most memorable experience with Tarot that you have encountered?

My most memorable tarot experience was the day that I decided to go buy my first deck (which is still the one I use to this day). I remember getting back to my car and opening it for the very first time. I was so excited!!!! My intuition was telling me that that step was the beginning of something which would change my life in a very positive way.

 

 

What does this weekend mean to you and how will you be celebrating?

For me, Samhain is a time for being open to learning from the past. Many different traditions recognize the thinning of the veil between physical and spiritual during this time. It is often filled with many different ancestral traditions, which for me can include learning from one’s past self.If any of my readers wish for your services how do they get in contact with you and how do you do your readings?

I can be contacted directly through my Facebook Page. I do intuitive tarot reading, readings can be conveyed face to face or via email, text, Skype, Facetime, etc.

How much are your readings?

This is a donation based service (recommended donation $10-$20). It is my goal to make this accessible to as many people as possible.

Well dear readers whatever you believe in, may your forthcoming weekend be all that you need and desire it to be. Until next time, hold onto your hats and may your cauldrons be ever full.

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Grit and Glamour and Gorgeous

 

Friday night I attended the opening night party of the Gorgeous exhibition at the Asian Art Museum.  The theme for the evening was Grit and Glamour, and the dress code was to show it all off by dressing up or down.

The Asian Art Museum is on the list of things in my life that make me just a little more whole, and a lot more sane.  From the moment I walk up the steps through the large doors and into the cool foyer, I feel as if I am I returning home.  I breathe deeply filling my lungs with the familiar air and my heart beats a little more quickly.

Let me back up just a little here.  A number of years ago I used to work for a theatre company a few blocks away from the museum and so I became a member and the museum became my neighbor.  It was a place of meditation and thought, and a place to spend time with pieces so familiar they became like old wise friends.

To cut a long and ambling story short, my theatre eventually closed, my membership lapsed and I was just too busy to do the item on my list of things that make me a little more whole and a lot more sane.  (Note to self here; if I am drinking too much caffeine, too stressed to do yoga and too busy to do the things that keep me sane, STOP, back up, and reprioritize.)  However I digress, two or more years passed and I visited the museum from time to time but not in the same way.  Mainly I dived in for lunch or taking friends to visit, but not wandering free and ambling wherever my instincts guided me. 

Then Friday happened.  One thing after another uncoiled itself in such a way that fighting the chaos would have been, well stupid frankly.  Sometimes, you just have to ride the bull and go with it wherever it takes you. The bull metaphor has nothing to do with mechanical bulls, in case you were wondering.  Grit and Glamor was not something I could say no to.

 

“Are you trying to seduce my fetishistic heart with your exquisite beauty juxtaposed with grit?”

 

“Is that a challenge to my senses?”

 

Well then Museum full of wonder, I accept your challenge!  Violate and enthrall my senses!  Let’s see what you have!

For my fetishistic followers curious as to my costume for the night, let me to elaborate. I chose a richly embroidered Ralph Lauren jacket.  A vintage piece from the runway, my choice was deliciously inspired by the exquisite metal work and sumptuous detail of the elephant seat; otherwise known as The Howdah.

My shirt was by Betsy Johnson.  It was black, full of ties, tight lacing, and my nod to grit. My belt was Moroccan and bought some years ago in New York in the meat packing district during its rebirth from meat packing to fashion, and the wrapping of an alternate kind of meat.  Our meat, food for thought indeed!  My True Religion jeans, faded and aged, a uniform of sorts, keeping things understated. Boots, much like hats and gloves are a signature of mine. Boots mean business.  Boots keep your feet and legs protected from the elements, from hidden dangers, and you can kick ass in a pair of boots both literally and metaphorically. If you need to deal with grit, wear a pair of boots I say.

Here I am reminded of that oh so iconic image in the Museum’s exhibition; Christian Dior shoes, and a pair of filthy swollen feet.  The image poses the questions, “What kind of a night did this woman emerge from? Was it a night of pain or pleasure or both?”  I have to admit I am not hideously repelled by her filthy feet, so much as reminded me a little of my own misspent youth and dangerous adventures.  Whatever your adventure I go back to my previous statement, “you will always fare better in boots.”

Gloves of course, black, Italian, and leather, the hands are both seen and unseen, a handshake is felt and yet touch is limited to the press of the leather against your skin.  My hat, a darling little top hat with a veil that touches the bridge of the nose.  The veil, what is seen and unseen appears as a striking metaphor to much of the captivating photography. Marilyn 28 yrs old, Las Vegas Nevada $30, so powerful, so profound an image.  The subject matter challenges you to look and see the person behind the role of the streetwalker, or cross dresser.  Who is she?  I am limited to this image, the angle it was taken and the expression on her face.  She presents as female so that is something of the story she tells you.  Her eyes keep you transfixed with their beauty, their sadness and their survival.

I could continue, but frankly the whole premise of the exhibition is that it’s really not about what anyone else thinks, it’s about what you think. What is gorgeous to you and where does it come?

So that’s your tease from The Fetishist.  If you can make it, I urge you to go and let me know what you think.

Bravo to the curators Allison Harding and Forrest McGill for a phenomenal exhibition.

Friday night I returned home, my membership renewal for 2014 was in the mail the following morning.

 

P.S. I took the Gorgeous Artwork Quiz and ….

“You are Elephant seat (howdah)

Regal yet decidedly sensuous, you command attention wherever you go. You value high service, quality craftsmanship, comfort and opulence—your tastes are beyond exquisite. If you have one flaw, it would be your supercilious nature: You can come off a bit arrogant and ‘above it all.’ Still, you have class and gentility to spare, and those who meet your sky-high expectations are lucky to bask in your dazzling light.”

 

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