Miss Michele is taking a life-changing program called “The Secret Abundance Files.” It is a 12-week class. She knew when she started it was life-changing — but had no idea how much so!
Last week, week 10 of the course, during our regular Tarot Chat at The Echo of One, Miss Michele asked Serenity Bly to do a reading. Chat host Mysti also provided her own intuitive insight.
[Miss Michele] What life changes can I expect when I complete the Secret Abundance Files?
[Serenity Bly] Want me to draw cards?
[Mysti] *whispers* As long as YOU keep moving forward with the process, you will find many successes. Those moments that feel less than perfect, you must remember are building blocks to bigger and better.
[Miss Michele] Yes, please.
[Serenity Bly] OMG Wow! I need to do this course!
[Miss Michele] Why is that? <--dying to hear!
[Serenity Bly] In the past we have The Tower. Your question is future-focused so, the END of the course is when your ‘past’ card is focusing.
Before you get to that end you’re going to really rock your world. Normally we’d think of a past card as something you’ve already done.
[Miss Michele] I only have two weeks left to the course, BUT the course also provides 1 year of counseling… and networking through the International Masterminds Forum.
[Serenity Bly] Because the question is focused on something you’ll finish down the line the past is actually our present.
You have two weeks of having things shifting, changing, feeling a little scary but ultimately bringing down the walls of the old you to allow for firmer foundations, stronger walls, new beginnings.
[Miss Michele] This also coincides with the move.
[Serenity Bly] Yes, and the move is a part of the changes brought about by the course. So, it’s a very literal, ‘bringing down the walls.
In the present we see the Page of Wands.
You’re running with the ideas and inspiration you’ve been given.
[Miss Michele] <--dying to know the third card
[Serenity Bly] *grins* I should torture you.
[Miss Michele] Maybe this Tower is why I'm supposed to hold off on the [new project]
[Serenity Bly] But I can't really draw out the Page of Wands more than that. You know it's meaning as well as I do. It's moving forward, making things happen, letting the fire burn bright and really getting into it. In the future, we see The Hierophant. – Serenity Bly waits for the ohhs and ahhs
[Miss Michele] Not what I expected.
[Serenity Bly] What, did you expect the Empress?
[Miss Michele] Based on your reaction of “I have GOT to take this course.” Hierophant, to me, is structure, organization, following rules. Works in conjunction with the Hermit to indicate a period of “thinking and planning.”
[Serenity Bly] Ah, see, the Hierophant isn’t structure and organization to me. That’s where the Tarot reader comes into affect with the cards.
[Miss Michele] Yes, Page of Wands is inspiration… I will feel renewed… bright ideas, creativity. But it’s tempered by the Hierophant, knowledge and experience. From your reaction, expected World, Wheel of Fortune or Ten of Pentacles.
[Serenity Bly] In the Mythic Tarot, the Hierophant is a Centaur. He’s standing in the door of a cave, light from above, wearing a crown with his fingers poised to the sky and a scroll in one hand.
[Miss Michele] AHHH!… Totally different than my perception from the Hanson Roberts deck.
[Serenity Bly] The Hierophant is knowledge, particularly the kind that is spiritually fulfilling. It’s connection with a higher power, self-empowerment, inner growth and dominance of yourself as a spiritual and physical being. It’s about finding your inner power and seeking the wisdom within you.
[Miss Michele] OMG!! Okay!! So, once I break down the foundations of what was, I will receive the spiritual fulfillment I’ve been seeking. NOW I get your reaction.
[Serenity Bly] Well, you’re on the right path anyway. I don’t believe in ‘spiritual fulfillment’ – it implies that you’ll reach a high point from which you can’t continue to grow. Fulfilling… is an ‘in progress’ word.
I think what this Hierophant is really saying is that this course is going to let you learn about who you are, what you want, and how to make that a reality. Which, is exactly what the course is designed to do.
Note: You can learn more about the program Serenity Bly and Miss Michele are discussing at The Secret Abundance Files.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, FUTURE-TAROT!
Amazingly, it’s been a year since Miss Michele and I joined together to form Future-Tarot. From time to time, Miss Michele and I, consider our direction and purpose with the Future-Tarot website and what better time to seek answers then our first anniversary. Frequently we discuss the site from both a business and spiritual aspect, working together to decide how to proceed and what exactly we want to accomplish. From time to time we also ask the Tarot for guidance and support.
This July, Future-Tarot has been very quiet. Miss Michele and I both have busy lives outside of Tarot that split our focus and when we are away from the site it tends to give us the break we subconsciously seek. Continued growth, however, is a primary interest both for us as Tarot readers and specifically for the difference we want to make in your life.
In the past year we’ve traversed rough waters. The journey of personal growth is often one wraught with dangers. It is a long, difficult path build of ideas and inspiration and steering a ship of this girth with two hands at the helm has not always been easy. The Nine of Wands shows that journey and our progress from our earliest beginnings to the point where we’ve become quietly confident of our purpose and direction.
Now we are riding initial inspiration. Perhaps it is a case of holding on and allowing fate to guide our course but I also firmly believe that we are in control of our direction and the way we reach our future path. The flame of our ideas burn brightly, guiding our forward momentum and with all journeys we must be prepared and learn as we go forth.
The Page of Wands also indicates a dissatisfaction with our present being. I feel stagnated and a little guilty that we haven’t updated as frequently this month as we have in past months. I haven’t promoted the site at all or made particular effort to encourage interaction. Admittedly, I’ve been very ill the past two weeks but a commitment to writing regularly, giving readings, and embracing Tarot needs to be a priority if we want to see Future-Tarot flourish and this month I’ve allowed myself to do very little.
*ponders* It is interesting to see four wands come out in this reading. Obviously, our focus is on creativity, inspiration, ideas, and the mental aspect of discipline and dedication to craft for the future success of Future-Tarot. An Ace of Wands indicates a sense of finding new motivation, new passion, for the long road ahead. Opportunity is before us but having the courage to act on that opportunity will require commitment.
The Two of Wands shows this new uprush of energy and commitment formulating into solid plans and goals. Miss Michele and I recently talked with Rebecca Laffar-Smith, our web designer, about some theme changes for the website. This is perhaps part of the new creativity and inspiration the ace and two point to but I also feel like these cards are showing us the importance of taking regular action with promotion.
Perhaps it is also a sign that we need to focus on what YOU want. What brings you to Future-Tarot and what direction would you like the site to take?
Melissa, a regular listener to the RadioXShow, where Miss Michele and Serenity Bly appear to offer free readings on the fourth Wednesday of every month, wrote in requesting an L-for-Love Spread.
Overview: We have an L-for-Love spread with only one cup in the reading, which indicates that you are approaching romance with an analytical mind. Two Major Arcanas in this reading, however, tell Miss Michele that your current relationship might be “the big one.” There is significance here beyond just a fling!
Your past experience in love: Five of Swords: When we look at your past experience, revealed by the Five of Swords, it makes sense why you’re approaching romance in such a philosophical manner. You have been tricked in the past—hurt—when things were not what you expected and your lover turned out to be much more selfish and cunning than you imagined. Now, you are always counting the cards in the game of love, afraid to trust.
Your current experience in love: Seven of Cups: You are currently in the beginning stages of a very happy romance, one that seems almost too good to be true. Or, you may be involved in a romantic fantasy, perhaps with an Internet acquaintance, with dreams of something more. Either way, right now you are floating on clouds, heady with the possibilities in your future. However, because of your past experience, you are waiting for it all to come crashing down. Remember the Law of Attraction; you attract what you fear. In the sentence, “I don’t want him to leave me,” the Universe hears only the word “leave.”
What you want from a love relationship: Two of Swords: At first, this card seemed an odd draw for this position. Why would someone want to close their eyes, to not see things as they are? But the Two of Swords has dual meanings and both apply. You want to continue living in your fantasy land of the Seven of Cups… you want everything to remain perfect, even if it means keeping your eyes closed to your lover’s flaws. (While at the same time, you worry that he will be like your past lover and deceive you.) On the other end of the spectrum, what you seek in this relationship is balance, plain and simple. Someone who compliments your best traits and adds to your life without allowing you to lose yourself in the relationship.
What you need from a love relationship: The High Priestess: The High Priestess represents, once again, the number two, a need for balance. You need someone who will match you intellectually. Since the High Priestess represents a platonic relationship, friendship, trust and a strong partnership are much more important to you right now than carnal pleasures.
What you have to give your lover: Death: This is another card that seems unusual at first glance, but as we put the pieces of the puzzle together, it makes sense. You have it in yourself to give your lover a new beginning in life; the Death card, more so than a sad goodbye, welcomes a new beginning—a position, frame of mind, or life event. For this relationship to work, you must let go of your past, your fears, your relationship baggage. You have this potential. What you have to give your lover, quite literally, is a “new you!”
Possible future experience in love: Page of Wands: The outlook is good as Wands reveal action and pages are messengers, so we see a future relationship with a man who will make you feel “young at heart.” As indicated by the Seven of Cups you have jumped into the relationship head-on and it just feels right. Enjoy this time. The tarot does not want to reveal anything further than the start of your relationship, which could mean that you will have the feeling of “young love” for a long time before it transforms into a more mature relationship.
Remember, Melissa, let go of the past to manifest this great future!
Our one-year spread is always a big seller this time of year, and Tilanthis kicks it off with our first reading.
In 2008, he experienced a new job, a major move and several other life changes related to his associates and hobbies, predicted here by Miss Michele.
Let’s see what 2009 holds in store…
Overview: Looking at the year as a whole, by this time next year, Tilanthis will once again experience intense changes. His life will be very different. Lasting love was not in the cards in 2008, but January kicks off with a new love interest. The Hermit, the card for the year, indicates introspection and Tilanthis “reinventing” himself.
January: Queen of Pentacles: Tilanthis will meet a nurturing, strong-minded career women who complements him perfectly.
February: Three of Cups: This will be a honeymoon period (though not in the literal sense) for Tilanthis and his new love, marked by celebration, happiness and getting to know one another better.
March: Ace of Swords: Tilanthis faces a turning point in the relationship, when his lady’s strong wit and independence “cuts” him. There will be disagreements. It’s that magical “three-month mark” of a new relationship, and they will enter a new phase.
April: Three of Swords: March’s love problems may result in a break-up or broken heart. The combination of the Ace and Three of Swords indicates a rough spring for Tilanthis.
May: Five of Swords: May looks brighter as Tilanthis and his love interest begin talking again, but there are trust issues. Miss Michele would also like to introduce the possibility that this card doesn’t relate at all to his love relationship. Tilanthis’ “karmic debt” is that he attracts gossipers and backstabbing people. In 2009, he can begin to better deal with these personality types, taking the higher ground in all his relationships and also being more aware of this force in his life.
This assertion is supported by June’s card…
June: Nine of Wands: Tilanthis repeatedly finds himself in a game of one upmanship with people, but he will win by taking the higher ground.
July: Knight of Swords: Positive change comes in July with this Knight. Knights are action just beginning. Tilanthis is tired of sitting around waiting for what he wants to come to him. He takes initiative to go after it. However, in mid-year, he begins to lose his focus on all things romantic. Things come easily to him in career and social matters, but not in love. When it gets hard, he steps back and re-prioritizes his life.
But he’s taking some positive steps to get what he wants in Summer 2009, by going after it. Miss Michele keeps thinking of the phrase: “Storming the Castle.” But Tilanthis needs to learn balance between love and life.
August: Ace of Rods: The summer’s changes began violently, but by August, he begins to draw an effective plan, taking a systematic approach to his life changes. Miss Michele sees a new job or a promotion, or possibly even a new hobby and a whole new group of friends. Think lifestyle overhaul.
September: The Magician: This card has come up frequently in Miss Michele’s readings for Tilanthis, and is the first Major Arcana in this spread. Tilanthis will begin using his talents to the best of his abilities, taking on a leadership role or possibly even starting a new business endeavor. His networking abilities are effective and that is a key part of his life come the fall. In the spring, he felt restless and unfulfilled… he desires control, leadership and social activities and goes after them in the fall.
October: The Hanged Man: The second Major Arcana in this reading shows Tilanthis re-evaluating his life. He’s gotten what he thought he wanted, but is it really him? He tends to be a chameleon but, as such, has lost touch with his true self. The Hanged Man indicates a period of waiting in which Tilanthis looks at things from a different angle. He’s going to find a new life, new friends, new job or hobbies… but it’s really just what he had before, albeit with a fresh coat of paint. It’s not true change. Is it what he wants? Is this the path he’s destined to walk or is there something more, something different he can manifest?
November: The World: When Tilanthis makes the choice, the “World” is his for the taking.
December: Page of Rods: The Page of Rods in December shows Tilanthis looking at everything with a child’s eyes. With everything else in place, Tilanthis can once again begin his search for true love, opening his heart to the opportunities.
It’s going to be a significant fall and winter for Tilanthis. The overall theme for the year is indicated by the Hermit… it will be a year of introspection which will benefit Tilanthis come year’s end.
Please come back and tell us how the Tarot’s observations manifest!

Auria Cortes is taking advantage of the last four days of the New Year Spread sale.
It will be a balanced year, with lots of action and activity in the areas of career and learning. As is a Universal theme this year, things will get done for Auria–not considered, not planned, but accomplished!
Miss Michele is struck by one particular card in this reading, the Devil in July. For some reason, this card resonated with Miss Michele from the second she pulled it. She double-checked Auria’s blog, because, although she didn’t know why, she had a feeling this card had a very different meaning from the standard interpretation, and the answer might be found there.
The working title of Auria’s book is The Devil’s Playground. This fact was buried deep in Miss Michele’s subconscious. Looking at the card surrounding it, Miss Michele is going to jump ahead and say Auria will complete her novel in July.
But let’s start at the beginning.
January – It’s been a month of rapid, unexpected change for Auria, exemplified by the Ace of Swords. 2008 is a significant year for many people; more so than any other year in recent history, there was a marked change in the Universe’s energy from 2007 to 2008. People around me have seen it… I’ve never witnessed so many people sticking to their New Year’s Resolutions!
This same energy is strong in Auria’s life this year, and it all started with the Ace of Swords, a struggle to start a new project or switch directions (quite unexpectedly) on an existing endeavor.
February – The launch in January leads, not surprisingly, to new opportunities and new responsibilities, with the Knight of Pentacles. Knights can represent, quite literally, a person coming into your life to spark this change, or the end of a long-term condition to enter the new phase of a journey.
March – March brings Auria with an important choice to make in her life. The lack of cups in the reading tells Miss Michele this is not related to love, but in the overall way Auria lives her life and makes her income. Her very political, moral and sociological beliefs may be called into question, and she will have to either defend or deny everything she has stood for in her life.
April – April’s card, the Seven of Wands supports the Lover’s meaning, and, following 6 to 7, shows the continuation of this cycle. Auria may find herself battling with colleagues or co-workers, but it won’t be for naught. She will come out a changed woman.
May – In May, she emerges from the fight battle-scarred but stronger for it, shown by the Nine of Wands. Victorious, in fact, for the moment. But the cause of the fight (and Miss Michele wants to say this fight is an ongoing feud with someone very close to Auria) still haunts.
June – Auria is haunted because there’s something she’s still not seeing about the situation, represented in the haunting 8 of Swords card. The powerful image depicts a woman bound and blindfolded. Auria feels trapped by convention, perhaps by someone who started arguing against her chosen lifestyle in the Spring.
July – In context, now the Devil makes even more sense. The card of debauchery and immorality (or merely that which society frowns upon) Auria will feel tempted to say, “the heck with it all!” and do what she believes is right, go back to what she fought so hard for and follow it through to fruition. As noted earlier, she could reach a major turning point in her novel, either completing or selling the manuscript. If she gets a request from an agent to see the full manuscript, this will mean a lot to Auria (more than any non-writer would understand!)
August – The Six of Pentacles indicates Auria will finally get money, or a raise, she has been waiting for. But money’s not that important to Auria–as long as she has enough to live, she’s happy. She’ll donate to a charity, or donate time to charitable causes, or buy practical but appreciated for those close to her.
September – In September, Auria finds the inner Strength necessary to finally leave all the conflict of the Spring and Summer behind her. She’ll forgive those who wronged her and find greater compassion moving forward.
October – October will find Auria busy, juggling multiple projects, shown by the Two of Pentacles. It could indicate she’s still on the fence about a major life decision… now is not yet the time to make the move, but weigh all your options and consider the consequences.
November – November will bring happiness and fulfillment, with the only Cup card in this entire spread. The Ten of Cups indicates support from family and close friends, which Auria will need as she exits one phase of her life to enter another.
December – The holidays are a time of learning for Auria, as the Three of Pentacles shows up. She’ll be studying to decide on her next phase of life/project, and may even be feeling emptiness after having completed her novel, which took up so much of her life for so long.
The overall theme for the year is shown in the Page of Wands, an active little messenger. This will be the year Auria takes on any challenge, grabs life with both hands, nurtures her creativity and brushes self-doubt aside!
Please come back and let us know how things go, Auria, and thank you!