Ronda Snow's Blog, page 12
August 2, 2015
Great Abide Back from Vacation: How to write an indie e-book
As I see it anyway….
Choose your favorite way of making words…pen&paper, voice recorder, computer, shaky crayon on a napkin, stone slab and chisel…your choice.
Down a double espresso and/or the large adult beverage of your choice.
Take a deep breath and spew words about ideas that you love.
Revise and edit to your heart’s content.
Grow a spine! Stop revising and editing already!
Are you still revising and editing?
Seriously, it’s never going to be perfect. Knock it off already. Just get used to the idea that you are going to have to cut the cord on this thing and let it loose whether YOU are ready or not. The book is probably much more ready than you are. (alternative: hire an editor to tell you when it’s ok to pry this thing out of the death grip you have on it)
Format according to your chosen platform’s style guide (i.e. “Building Your Book For Kindle“)
Follow the upload instructions on your favorite self-publishing platform (Kindle Direct Publishing or what have you)
Have another espresso and/or adult beverage
Hit publish. Hope for royalites.
If the process doesn’t mildly terrify you, repeat until it does.
Come to the sudden chilling realization that you are now an author.
July 26, 2015
Blogcation in Meatspace
Taking a cyber sabbattical, even from Tarot. I predict a swimming pool and book writing time in my future.
Will be back the first week in August with Great Abide, Tao Te Ching (Putkonin version) Chapter 11.
Have a great week everyone!
July 22, 2015
Q&A: Cups of Foolishness or Playful Happiness?
Readings are only $5 per card, e-mail and audio don’t need an appointment. Just visit http://www.ModernOracleTarot.com and use the handy order form to get yours.
Originally posted on
Q: What does the Fool and 10 of cups mean in a reading?
A: It depends.
I read Tarot intuitively. As I see it, Tarot is just the doorway to insight…the cards are just paper and pictures, but they lead to more than just their meanings. They are a springboard to set intuition into motion. You can read the whole process in more detail in #PeaceTarot, but to answer your question today, let’s back up a step and give these two cards a little context.
First look at the order the cards turned over…which came first. If you think of the major arcana card, The Fool, as representing more energy and change while the minor arcana card represents a settling of energy and grounding of energy which direction are things flowing? Is this a hint that things are revving up (first 10 then fool) or are things quieting down…
View original 365 more words
Quick Reminder
E-mail Tarot readings are still available 24/7 no appointment needed, but please expect some delivery delays as I spend time with my family.
Thank you
July 3, 2015
Card of the Month from Modern Oracle
“Just Do It”
To borrow a phrase from a old shoe ad.
A classic interpretation for the card is “daring”. That is a little more risk taking and devil may care than than I like. I think of this as the warrior’s card.
We think – as we should. We plan – as we should. We hope – as we should. We dream – as we should. Without action, what good can thoughts, plans, hopes, dreams and all good intentions do?
In the ever-present search for balance, action without thought is just a useless. You could even say stupid. Wisdom and Action are the yin and yang of pretty much everything.
The knight asks what have you been over-thinking? What have you dreamed of…but not acted upon? Is it time to act? Or, on the other hand, have you been acting without thinking? Rushing in where angels fear to tread?
I think of this less as “daring” and more of a “warrior” card. Like a Kung Fu master.
NEW!
Want the convenience of a computer but want to keep the human touch?
New on http://www.ModernOracleTarot.com
AUDIO recorded readings – no appointment needed
Real Time readings via skype or google hangouts
video readings coming soon.
June 25, 2015
New Menage A Tarot Podcast: Tarot and Personal Boundaries
Tarot and Personal Boundaries
http://traffic.libsyn.com/menageatarot/13_Episode_13_-_Tarot_and_Personal_Boundaries.mp3
In this episode of Menage A Tarot, we talk about where we draw the line in doing readings, what is in and out of bounds in our reading practice, issues with other readers and more. One topic that came up is local laws and the “for entertainment only” disclaimer we so often see on Tarot and psychic sites.
On one hand, laws against “fortune telling” are as narrow minded, fear-driven, superstitious nonsense as the fraudulent activity they aim to end. Crazy as it may seem, I actually support the legal prohibition against that kind “fortune telling” because it really is impossible to predict the future, whether it is for a fee or not. People who claim to make “100% accurate predictions” or claim to fix your love life really are, in my opinion, out to bilk money out of vulnerable people. They also ruin the public perception of intuitive work for those of us who want to help and read ethically.
I approach Tarot with much of the same ethical attitude that is taught in Reiki, mainstream medicine, and any other health care – because I believe it is a healing modality just as valid and effective as any other form of spiritual guidance, stress reduction or mind-body healing. I don’t have the science to prove it other than individual anecdotes – but that doesn’t mean it isn’t true. The Higgs Boson has existed – valid, real, true – since the beginning of the universe, but we haven’t had the hard scientific proof until a few years ago. Just because the hard science data hasn’t yet been compiled doesn’t mean the truth of thing doesn’t yet exist. The validity of Tarot and intuitive work…their role as a valid choice in a healthy mind-body-spirituality balance…isn’t erased just because no one has taken the time or spent the resources to compile a study.
That being said, this seems like this is the perfect time to let you know just exactly how I approach Tarot readings. This is what I think an ethical Tarot practice should be like…but of course opinions vary.
Tarot readings:
Should be clear, kind and compassionate – never frightening or intimidating.
Can help you learn, grow spiritually, understand your situation, solve problems more creatively and make more productive decisions.
Can not predict the future, fix your situation, or read what other people feel,think or will do.
Respect each individual’s spirituality, and does not require certain beliefs for the reading to “work”
give helpful suggestions, but never prescribes specific actions – such as regularly scheduled readings or special services the reader offers for additional cost
Respects privacy, always
Are not the place for medical or pregnancy questions. Those questions are for health professionals.
Should have prices and business policies clearly stated in advance. Mine are HERE
Please enjoy the new episode! If you have any questions about ethics and tarot readings please let me know HERE or at modernoracletarot@gmail.com
To catch up with past Menage A Tarot episodes, please visit www.menageatarot.com, iTunes, Stitcher, or TuneIn
June 19, 2015
Q&A: Will Jon Snow Return Next Season?
I don’t know about THAT Jon Snow…
But the one I’m married to is appearing live with Pittsburgh’s “alternawave” alternative indie rock band Egomyth tonight at the Bloomfield Bridge Tavern – 9 pm opening for Grand Bell (artist of the week on WYEP)
Egomyth will also be appearing at the Hop House in Greentree tomorrow night June 20, 2015 at 8:30 pm opening for Under Indictment
Want a preview? Check out their Reverbnation page for tracks and videos. Jon is the drummer for “Wiles of the Devil” “Movement is Life” and “Sins of Another”
********
I’ll be on blog-cation next week but e-mail readings are always 24/7 no appointment needed over on www.ModernOracleTarot.com
Next available phone or in-person Tarot appointments: June 30
May 31, 2015
Great Abide: Tao Te Ching Chapter 10 (Amy Putkonen Version)
To see the full Tao Te Ching version please visit www.taotechingdaily.com
Carrying your spirit
and your animal nature within,
can you keep them as one?
Can you nurture your life energy
to achieve the softness of a newborn?
Can you polish the mirror
of your deepest reflections
until you are without flaws?
Can you care lovingly
for your kingdom
while remaining unknown?
Can you stay receptive
to the life and death of all beings?
Can you remain innocent
in the light of pure awareness?
The sage nourishes and develops all things,
yet makes no claims;
Leads, yet does not control.
This is the profound mystery of Tao.
They say you can’t put toothpaste back in the tube. You can’t put time back in the clock, or un_see or un-learn. Life has its ravages and realities.
But then, why would you want to? The innocence of a baby is a beautiful thing, but vulnerable. Developing our character is a worthy thing, but unending. Polishing a mirror is well and good, but that only reveals more imperfection. The more aware and enlightened we become, the more innocence fades. The more life we live, the more foibles we find…but the more wisdom we gains. The sage knows that some artificial construct of perfection is unattainable. Perfection, instead, lies in the imperfection, in the way things are right now.
Think of the things you wish to accomplish. How do you feel?
Now think that things right now are all as they should be, right at this moment. How do you feel now?
It seems like a contradiction, but is part of the obvious and mysterious of the Tao.
May 30, 2015
Q: Will I find someone nice soon?
From http://www.modernoracletarot.com. Have a question for “one card daily meditation reading” like this one? Come on over! All readings are now $5 per card. One card readings are only available by phone and e-mail. Individual in-person readings only offer 5 and 7 card layouts. You are always welcome to come visit the other rooms in the “blog cabin”
A. We’ll get to the Tarot deck in a minute, but bear with me for a bit…this needs to be said first.
Do I see you finding someone nice soon? No – not because you won’t meet someone, but because I don’t predict the future…no one can. Whether you meet someone or not rests in your hands, and to some extent theirs. The things you do and choose will determine that…not some vague fate or destiny. The old ways of knowing the universe said that…back when we thought the earth was flat. Now we know better. We know of quantum physics, and multiple dimensions and so much more. My goal with Modern oracle readings is to bring Tarot in alignment with the modern world, in other words, the whole point of this is to help you to put your life on the path toward love coming into your…
View original 656 more words
May 27, 2015
Odds ‘n Bobs
A few different things going on lately, mostly over in Tarot land on www.ModernOracleTarot.com.
NEW EPISODE OF MENAGE A TAROT PODCAST
“21st Century Tarot”
http://traffic.libsyn.com/menageatarot/12_Episode_12_-_21st_Century_Tarot.mp3
In this episode we discuss how Tarot has changed coming into the 21st century and the impact modern society and technology has had on the ancient art.
NEW! REDUCED PRICES on INDIVIDUAL IN-PERSON TAROT READINGS
Five cards for $25
Seven cards for $35
In your home or agreeable public place within “Neighborhood Service Area” only
NEW! PRIVATE LESSONS or small group WORKSHOP
LEARN HOW TO READ TAROT
Based on my e-book “#PeaceTarot” – private lessons include paper copy of the workshop edition
Enhances your own intuition
Learn to do daily meditation readings for yourself
Does not train or certify you to read for other people
Well, scratch my back with a hacksaw…
I’m one of the “Best Fortune Tellers in Pittsburgh”
via pittsburg.cbslocal.com / kdka.com (2013)
For full Tarot details or to subscribe to the FREE blog and get daily meditation style Tarot readings in your inbox, please visit www.ModernOracleTarot.com
