Janet Boyer

RIP Davy Jones

So sad to hear that the Monkees' Davy Jones passed away today from a heart attack at age 66. 

In memory of Davy:

-- Janet Boyer, Amazon Hall of Fame/Vine Reviewer, author of Back in Time Tarot,Tarot in Reverse (Schiffer 2012) and the Snowland Tarot (Schiffer 2013). Featured in Tales of the Revolution: True Stories of People Who Are Poking the Box and Making a Difference (A Domino Project eBook edited by Seth Godin

Homeschooling - What I Think I Do Meme

I homeschool our 13 year old, right? So I decided to make a HOMESCHOOLING meme. Yes, I really did make this (just now)!

Feel free to pass this along if you relate. ;o)

 -- Janet Boyer, Amazon Hall of Fame/Vine Reviewer, author of Back in Time Tarot,Tarot in Reverse (Schiffer 2012) and the Snowland Tarot (Schiffer 2013). Featured in Tales of the Revolution: True Stories of People Who Are Poking the Box and Making a Difference (A Domino Project eBook edited by Seth Godin

Best American Series 2011 Only $1.99 Each on Amazon Kindle Today

Having two Kindles (a 3G and the Fire), I just signed up to receive the Kindle Daily Deal last week (don't know what took me so long!), and boy am I glad I did!

I've gotten some great bargains the few days, and was blown away to find out via email that Amazon Kindle is featuring seven of the Best American Series 2011 for only $1.99 today (February 25, 2012).

I already had the Best American Short Stories 2011 in paperback, so I bought the Best American Essays 2011, Best American Science and Nature Writing, Best American Mystery Stories and Best American Non-Required Reading. Below are the direct links so you can snag yours today, too!

-- Janet Boyer, Amazon Hall of Fame/Vine Reviewer, author of Back in Time Tarot,Tarot in Reverse (Schiffer 2012) and the Snowland Tarot (Schiffer 2013). Featured in Tales of the Revolution: True Stories of People Who Are Poking the Box and Making a Difference (A Domino Project eBook edited by Seth Godin

Decorah Eagle Live Cam 2012

Oh wow! Remember the Decorah Bald Eagle that had three babies last year? Well, it's laid more eggs! Here's the live stream for you to keep track of her and offspring this year. Enjoy! 

 -- Janet Boyer, Amazon Hall of Fame/Vine Reviewer, author of Back in Time Tarot,Tarot in Reverse (Schiffer 2012) and the Snowland Tarot (Schiffer 2013). Featured in Tales of the Revolution: True Stories of People Who Are Poking the Box and Making a Difference (A Domino Project eBook edited by Seth Godin

I'm Elmo and I Know It!

Too funny!

 

 -- Janet Boyer, Amazon Hall of Fame/Vine Reviewer, author of Back in Time Tarot,Tarot in Reverse (Schiffer 2012) and the Snowland Tarot (Schiffer 2013). Featured in Tales of the Revolution: True Stories of People Who Are Poking the Box and Making a Difference (A Domino Project eBook edited by Seth Godin

Tarot in Reverse News!

It's hard to believe that there's less than 10 weeks to go before the release of  Tarot in Reverse! I'm am getting so excited about my full-color, glossy-paged beauty, published by Schiffer Books on April 28, 2012.

Well, I have a few tidbits of news to share with you all! 

Tarot in Reverse just got a fabulous thumbs-up in the form of a review by Amanda Donnelly over at the 78 Whispers in My Ear blog. You can read the review at this link.

Happy dance!

The second bit of news is that I'm taking full advantage of the super addicting image-sharing site Pinterest, deciding to create a special board consisting of all the pop culture references in Tarot in Reverse! 

This means that you'll be able to view, at a glance, every pop culture reference in Tarot in Reverse in the form of an image or video. In fact, some cards will have more than one image or video.

For example, the 9 of Swords includes mentions of the Crawling video by Linkin Park, an image of Edgar Allan Poe's "Tell-Tale Heart" and The Scream by Edvard Munch. Below is a screenshot of a few of the pins I have up so far (all the Court Cards and 10s, with some of the 9s):

 

Feel free to spy on me working on this Pinterest board right here, where I'll be adding photos and videos of every pop culture mention in Tarot in Reverse...until I get all the way up to the Aces! You can even talk to me right there on the TIR board, image by image. What fun!

If you're as excited as I am about my upcoming book, you can pre-order it from Amazon.com, BN.com, Book Depository or your favorite bookseller (ISBN-13: 9780764341014). 

Don't forget, you can experiment reading reversed Tarot card with me on the Tarot in Reverse Facebook page at this link. Come on over to "like" and play!

Thanks so much for your continued support of my work!

 -- Janet Boyer, Amazon Hall of Fame/Vine Reviewer, author of Back in Time Tarot,Tarot in Reverse (Schiffer 2012) and the Snowland Tarot (Schiffer 2013). Featured in Tales of the Revolution: True Stories of People Who Are Poking the Box and Making a Difference (A Domino Project eBook edited by Seth Godin

Dan Donche, Darkana Tarot and Public Support from the Head of the ATA

I find it intriguing, and telling, that some of the Tarot community boycotted, shunned, harrassed and/or defamed me over my fictional short story last year (which I apologized for)...but the same people publicly praise and support Dan Donche and his Darkana Tarot.

You may not recognized the name Dan Donche (that's Donche, not douche), but many in the Tarot community know him as the guy behind Innapropriate Tarot Readings. He's the person that posted this public attack on me on his ITR Facebook page (that many well-known Tarot people applauded, "liked" and spread all over their FB pages...including organizers of Tarot symposiums and fellow Tarot authors/deck creators. You can see them all on that thread in the comments section, by the way).  This classy guy has the following as his Twitter bio: Writer, amateur homeless guy, ass clown, vagina enthusiast. I would never lick a hooker in the anus. Well, maybe.

Now, Donche is drumming up support for his self-published Darkana Tarot. In fact, the Tarot community has rallied around him via Kickstarter. As of this posting, 111 people have pledged $3,451 towards his $2,000 goal.

Many laud him as a snarky genius. In fact, Alison Cross, former head of TABI (Tarot Association of the British Isles), fawns all over Donche in this post on her new court card-related blog. And guess who else is prostrating herself over him? None other than Stephanie "Arwen" Lynch, the head of the ATA (American Tarot Association). 

Interestingly, Lynch didn't allow me into her Tarot Blog Hop Facebook Group (apparently because of that short story I wrote--never mind the years I've dedicated to furthering Tarot via blogs, reviews, podcasts, books and social media). In fact, she (pubicly) tried to steer people away from a new Facebook group I created expressly for Tarot and Oracle Creators/Authors called Divinators.

The hypocrisy of the "Tarot community" astounds me. The uproar about little ol' me amounted to people getting pissed off about a fictional short story they had to actually buy and my reputation of writing honest (and sometimes, unflattering--but fair) reviews of Tarot decks and books).

Am I the only one flabbergasted that the "Tarot community" will support people (vulgar personality aside) that publicly harrass and slander other Tarotists (besides Donche) ...but boycott me?

 -- Janet Boyer, Amazon Hall of Fame/Vine Reviewer, author of Back in Time Tarot,Tarot in Reverse (Schiffer 2012) and the Snowland Tarot (Schiffer 2013). Featured in Tales of the Revolution: True Stories of People Who Are Poking the Box and Making a Difference (A Domino Project eBook edited by Seth Godin

Aeclectic Tarot Forums, Censorship, World Tarot Day...Oh My!

So how's this for censorship?

My friend Tina Brooks starts a thread on the Aeclectic Forum, the largest Tarot Forum on the web, about my upcoming book Tarot in Reverse.

Just a mere, "I can't wait for this! I have friends who don't read reversals, and I'm hoping this book changes their minds" kind of brief post.

About ten hours later, when a Facebook friend wanted to visit the thread, she discovered it gone.

Deleted.

Just like that.

If you Google http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?t=171978 you'll see part of Tina's post come up (if you click on it directly, it shows a "password" type screen...which means it was deleted).

So what do you guys think of censorship in this day and age? Now do you believe that some parts of the "online Tarot community" are seriously factured, censoring, marginalizing and/or harrassing? Or maybe you need to read this bitter, brittle, paranoid rant about me from "Den Elder" the founder of "World Tarot Day" (that I just happened to stumble upon a few hours ago) to be convinced.

You know...the the woman who couldn't keep World Tarot Day together, so she handed it over to Marcus Katz and "Tarot Professionals"?

Whacked. Just whacked.

-- Janet Boyer, Amazon Hall of Fame/Vine Reviewer, author of Back in Time Tarot, Tarot in Reverse (Schiffer 2012) and the Snowland Tarot (Schiffer 2013). Featured in Tales of the Revolution: True Stories of People Who Are Poking the Box and Making a Difference (A Domino Project eBook edited by Seth Godin

Big Fish Games Presidents' Day Sale $4.99 a Game

I love Big Fish Games and I love it even more when they're running a special!

I received a nice Valentine's Day coupon in the mail for $2.99 for one game, but while I was over at Big Fish Games buying that one--I discovered they were having another sale! (So I picked up a few more games that I've had my eye on, but was too cheap to pay the $9.99 regular price).

So, until Feburary 20, 2012, you can get any game (except Collector's Editions) for only $4.99. The kicker? There's no limit like my Valentine's coupon had! You can get as many games as you want at BigFishGames.com for that price just by putting in the word FELIX at checkout.

Enjoy, and happy gaming!

-- Janet Boyer, Amazon Hall of Fame/Vine Reviewer, author of Back in Time Tarot, Tarot in Reverse (Schiffer 2012) and the Snowland Tarot (Schiffer 2013). Featured in Tales of the Revolution: True Stories of People Who Are Poking the Box and Making a Difference (A Domino Project eBook edited by Seth Godin 

5 Love Languages - What You Speak May Not Be What They Hear

According to the book of the same name, the 5 Love Languages are Words of Affirmation, Gifts, Quality Time, Acts of Service and Physical Touch. Thing is, your love language/s may not be what your loved ones "speak" (or "hear").

You see, there's something called the "burn toast syndrome". It goes like this:

Because his wife was in bed sick, a man got the idea to make her breakfast. He lovingly squeezed fresh oranges for juice, scrambled some eggs and darkened the toast. He finished her tray with a single red rose.

Seeing her husband carrying the tray of food towards the bed, the wife sat up and smiled. As he got closer, though, a shadow darkened her face. She couldn't take it anymore. "Why do you always make me burnt toast?!" she exclaimed...the began sobbing.

Getting a tear in his eye, the husband said, "I'm sorry, my love. Because I love burnt toast, I was just trying to offer you what I would have wanted as a favorite meal".

So it goes with the 5 Love Languages. What we "need" in order for our "love tanks" to feel full may not be what our partner, child or loved ones need. Here's a quick run-down of the Five Love Languages and what they entail:

Words of Affirmations - This is when words of praise or encouragement fills up your love tank, making you feel all fuzzy and nurtured.

Gifts - This is when you receive a homemade card, a child's drawing, a present--and it sends you over the moon with feelings of well-being.

Quality Time - This is when someone spends time with you shopping, walking, talking, drinking coffee, watching movies, reading by your side...or "just doing nothing"--and you feel like a million bucks.

 Acts of Servce - This is when someone does your dishes, cooks you a meal, takes out the trash, balances the checkbook, cleans the bathroom, runs to get groceries...and your heart swells with gratitude.

Physical Touch- This is when hugs, hand-holding, pats-on-the-back, shoulder rubs, back scratches, tousling hair, tickling or horseplay makes you feel like your heart may burst.

After consider each of these, what Love Languages do you speak? What ones do your parnter speak? Your children? Your parents? Your siblings? Your friends? Remember: what you're "giving out" may very well be your Love Languages...but not the "languages" that your loved ones "speak" for a filled love tank.

Helpful books: The Five Love Languages; The Five Love Languages of Children; The Five Love Languages of Teenagers; The Five Love Languages: Men's Edition; The Five Love Languages: Singles Edition; The Five Love Languages of Apology

-- Janet Boyer, Amazon Hall of Fame/Vine Reviewer, author of Back in Time Tarot, Tarot in Reverse (Schiffer 2012) and the Snowland Tarot (Schiffer 2013). Featured in Tales of the Revolution: True Stories of People Who Are Poking the Box and Making a Difference (A Domino Project eBook edited by Seth Godin 

Google Doodle Valentine's Day Video

Awww, check out this adorable Google Doodle Valentine Video! So sweet!

-- Janet Boyer, Amazon Hall of Fame/Vine Reviewer, author of Back in Time Tarot, Tarot in Reverse (Schiffer 2012) and the Snowland Tarot (Schiffer 2013). Featured in Tales of the Revolution: True Stories of People Who Are Poking the Box and Making a Difference (A Domino Project eBook edited by Seth Godin 

Valentine's Day Tarot Reading Special

Now here this! ;o) I'm having a special Valentine's Day Tarot Reading special that ends tomorrow night. You can ask me 5 questions, any topic (romance or otherwise).

Click here to go to my main site for the super-secret page to get yours before time runs out. 

-- Janet Boyer, Amazon Hall of Fame/Vine Reviewer, author of Back in Time Tarot, Tarot in Reverse (Schiffer 2012) and the Snowland Tarot (Schiffer 2013). Featured in Tales of the Revolution: True Stories of People Who Are Poking the Box and Making a Difference (A Domino Project eBook edited by Seth Godin 

Tarot Monopoly, Tarot Tyrant and Restoring Spiritual Dignity

As some of my readers know, especially my fellow Tarot travelers, I lashed out at the Tarot community a few months back in the form of a short story. It was meant to not only flex my fictional muscles, but productively channel my frustration and disdain for some tactics in the online Tarot community. Because my short story had to be bought, from my Amazon page, I didn’t feel it was any sort of “attack”…as perhaps a blog post or social media message would be.

My disillusionment went so deep, I almost walked away from writing Tarot books, Tarot blogging and even Tarot reading.

I’ve (attempted) to make amends with those caught in the crossfire, especially those that assumed (erroneously) that I intended to paint the online Tarot community with broad strokes. However, when you have experienced the organized, concerted effort of Tarot Professionals, Marcus Katz and his minions…well, it can be easy to think “everyone is against you”.

Anytime I’ve made a misstep the last two years, real or perceived, Katz was right there to email, call and threaten a boycott to U.S. Games Systems, Inc. (when I launched their social media presence) or Schiffer Publishing (less than 12 HOURS after my short story went live…the day before Thanksgiving!).

All because of me…one person.

He threatened lawsuits when I was a part of the Tarot Guild, too, over “World Tarot Day”. It’s my understanding he did the same with TABI. The day Tarot Town opened, I joined...and was summarily kicked out the next day (without even making a post).

The private and public persecution I’ve experienced at his hands, especially the last year, would amaze you. And the ones that Katz confers “special awards” upon? Bolstered by his turgid, “Western Magic” Emperor appointments, his minions become emboldened to start “Boycott Janet Boyer” blog posts—hoping like Chester fawning over Spike that he’ll earn approval from The Boss.

Any time I tried to say anything about Katz or his ilk, I got shouted down as a “bully”. A few loudmouths parroted this perjorative so often, it stuck for many. But was it true? Of course not. I never tried to control anyone. Never hounded or harassed anyone. Pretty much kept on my own turf (my site, blogs and social media presences).

And because I’m re-entering the online Tarot community which I missed so much (and which many are realizing that not only didn’t I mean harm, but that there were some serious kernels of truth at the core of my actions), I’m almost loathe to “start shit” again (as some will probably see this).

But honestly, it’s not my intent.

You see, I just bought the book Tarosophy by Marcus Katz (second-hand, thankfully), and began reading it. I wasn’t surprised to see people gushing over it, especially since most online reviews were from those under the Emperor’s aegis. However, curiosity got the best of me…and I bought the book. (Fortunately, though, I’m not drinking the Kool-Aid).  I began to read, and on the very first page of the actual text…page 4…I was floored to read this:

"We we will not repeat the endless series of works providing permutations of meanings, catalogues of keywords or ill-considered exercises in which you learn psychotic behaviors such as 'What film stars can you see in your tarot cards'? or limiting beliefs such as 'Which tarot card are you...?' As one of my esoteric teachers once said, these behaviours and beliefs are just different flavours of the same ice cream, keeping you busy until you become worm food."

Yikes.

Anyone who has interacted with Katz (surely) knows of his sneering arrogance…but to think he actually stated his sense of esoteric snobbery blows me away. But even more perplexing, and troubling, is his assertions that he, and his organization/empire Tarosophy, are “finally restoring the spiritual dignity of Tarot”.

What in the hell does that mean?

Seriously. I’ve been chewing on his statements—indeed, the very foundation of his creed—wondering…why? Why does Tarot need “rescued” from anything? What does it need to be “restored” from? Why is he the one to do it? Why does he assume that others cannot, have not or will not?

Must we wear special underwear, making magical symbols in the sand, call on 12 ½ angels to dance on the head of a pin and do the hokey pokey between the pillars of the Tree of Life in order to be “dignified”?

If “spiritual dignity of Tarot” means that I must adopt a faux aristocratic British sneer, hide behind a PC (and others) to do my dirty work in secret, achieve a status of 93 degree Bombast, attempt to trademark Tarot “days” or “weeks” or exclude/persecute others because I feel threatened…well, then, count me out.

One of the reasons the Catholic church got so pissed when the mass and texts were delivered in English was because the “everyday” people could then read, contemplate and understand scripture for themselves. To try to throw Tarot back into the dusty halls of esoterica and “big words” bullshit isn’t restoring any “spiritual dignity” at all…but, instead, attempting to keep the cards out of the hands of the people lest they think, act and grow all on their own (and without paying one penny).

-- Janet Boyer, Amazon Hall of Fame/Vine Reviewer, author of Back in Time Tarot, Tarot in Reverse (Schiffer 2012) and the Snowland Tarot (Schiffer 2013). Featured in Tales of the Revolution: True Stories of People Who Are Poking the Box and Making a Difference (A Domino Project eBook edited by Seth Godin 

Book Giveaway: Love for No Reason by Marci Shimoff

I'm giving away a copy of Marci Shimoff's book Love for No Reason, new out in paperback from Free Press.

All you need to do is go to my personal Facebook page at this link, visit the Love for No Reason contest thread here, and then share what "little" thing you're most enamored with right now (because we all know we adore our families and pets, right?)

So far, we have wonderful contributions like knitting, coloring and playing with army men. And yes, these are all adults! :o)

You have until February 15, 2012 at 10 AM EST. All entries will be put into a random generator to pick the winner. Good luck and Happy Valentine's Day!

-- Janet Boyer, Amazon Hall of Fame/Vine Reviewer, author of Back in Time Tarot, Tarot in Reverse (Schiffer 2012) and the Snowland Tarot (Schiffer 2013). Featured in Tales of the Revolution: True Stories of People Who Are Poking the Box and Making a Difference (A Domino Project eBook edited by Seth Godin

Sense of Self

Your sense of self is who you are when you’re naked. When your spouse dies, your family disowns you, your faith disappoints you, and your friends abandon you.

Your sense of self is who you are when no one is bolstering your ego or whispering flattery or patting you on the back or encouraging your progress or celebrating your achievements.

Your sense of self is who you are apart from--or without--money, a job, children, a house or a partner.

Your sense of self is who you are without crutches, embraces or applause.

It is you, alone, on the road of life.

You entered the world naked. You will leave that way.

-- Janet Boyer, Amazon Hall of Fame/Vine Reviewer, author of Back in Time Tarot, Tarot in Reverse (Schiffer 2012) and the Snowland Tarot (Schiffer 2013). Featured in Tales of the Revolution: True Stories of People Who Are Poking the Box and Making a Difference (A Domino Project eBook edited by Seth Godin

Easy Broccoli Cheese Soup

I just made the most delicious and easy Broccoli Cheese Soup the other day!

Spying about a cup’s worth of leftover steamed broccoli in the fridge, I decided to try to make a quick soup out of it. Here’s what I put in the saucepan:

1 can cream of chicken soup
½ cup milk
½ cup water
Leftover broccoli (cut down into bite-sized pieces)
½ cup shredded Colby jack cheese
Salt and pepper, to taste

After the soup, milk and water came to a simmer, I added the broccoli pieces and cheese. Then, added some salt and fresh ground pepper and...voilà! 5 minute Broccoli Cheese Soup!

Enjoy!

-- Janet Boyer, Amazon Hall of Fame/Vine Reviewer, author of Back in Time Tarot, Tarot in Reverse (Schiffer 2012) and the Snowland Tarot (Schiffer 2013). Featured in Tales of the Revolution: True Stories of People Who Are Poking the Box and Making a Difference (A Domino Project eBook edited by Seth Godin

Valentine’s Day: A New Perspective by Elaine Seiler

I'm pleased to share this timely guest post by Elaine Seiler with you all!

Valentine’s Day is fast approaching, the day we celebrate our caring and love for one another, for our friends, family and beloveds. Thousands of roses will be gifted, boxes of chocolates, elaborate gifts and cards conveying loving and caring sentiments exchanged.

On the surface such gift giving seems sweet, and well intentioned, but is there more to this holiday? What is the bigger picture or deeper understanding when one looks with an energetic eye at Valentine’s Day? What do we learn about our culture and ourselves when we look from a multi-dimensional perspective?

In the third dimension we function primarily from our individual selves. We reach out as personalities and want acknowledgement of our individuality. On Valentine’s Day we seek and expect our loved ones to validate us with expressions of caring. Loving ourselves is not enough; we need a physical, tangible reflection of our love-ability from others.

This often leads to disappointment and frustration in a physical world, when we can’t know one another as consciously as in the energetic realms. It is up to you to convince me that you love me and that I am lovable. And that is a very tall order.

That is what causes disappointment on Valentine’s Day. The pressure of expectation becomes enormous because one individual cannot satisfy another’s expectation. Cards give way to boxes of chocolates which give way to more and more expensive physical gifts. The items given must get bigger and better to be valuable and to convince us that we are lovable. What started out as tokens of love, have become the heavy messages - I don’t love you unless I buy you X, or I don’t love you unless I take you out and wine and dine you in an over-the-top way.

When we look at Valentine’s Day from the energetic or multi-dimensional perspective, we must first become aware that the vibrations on the planet are speeding up. As they become faster, we match our vibrations to the faster frequencies in and around us and we begin to change and evolve.

We are in a bridge or transition state right now in which we are becoming more and more energetic, but are still primarily physical beings. In this state there is more awareness that we are not just individuals. This is the beginning of our understanding that we are part of the collective in a way that fully three-dimensional individuals are not. We understand mutuality, resonance and synchronicity in a deeper way. We begin to experience one another more intuitively and instinctively than ever before.

This instantaneous ‘knowing’ of ‘the other’ leads to a greater sense of being part of the collective and a more complete feeling of self-love. As this occurs, I believe we will see a shift in our rituals. We will begin to have less and less need for Valentine’s Day. The consumerism of this holiday will diminish and the romanticized notice of the other will fall away as a charming, but antiquated recognition of the time when individuals felt compelled to state their love for one another

As we change, we will become more and more able to accept and love ourselves. Every day will be Valentine’s Day as we live in a state of loving Valentine-spirit. There will be less and less need for the outward expressions of caring. Caring will be the way. Good and loving feelings will be like breathing...we don’t celebrate breathing, we just breathe. We won’t need to celebrate love; we will be love.

In the meantime, Happy Valentine's Day!

Author and energetics expert Elaine Seiler (Sigh-ler) is at the forefront of explaining humanity's "energetic evolution" and how we can cope and thrive in the face of rapid change. Elaine is a life and career coach, researcher, mother and grandmother. In 1992, after 20 years of work as a career consultant and life coach, she discovered energetics, the study and use of multi-dimensional energies and their interplay with life on earth. She is the author of Multi-Dimensional You: Exploring Energetic Evolution and Your Multi-Dimensional Workbook: Exercises for Energetic Awakening. Learn more at www.transformationenergetics.com and www.multi-dimensionalyou.com. Contact Elaine at Elaine@transformationenergetics.com

Lovers card pictured above is from the Heart Tarot.

Have You Checked Out the Tarot Pals Blog Lately?

If not, you're missing some great stuff!

We have eight great bloggers now at TarotPals.com, which just went international with the addition of blogger Jason Colmer who hails from Down Under. Woohoo!

We're on Twitter, too, at Twitter.com/TarotPals, tweeting Tarot tips, encouragement and helpful links...all in your Twitter stream. We're also on Facebook at Facebook.com/TarotPals.

You can also subscribe to the Tarot Pals Blog via Networked Blogs at networkedblogs.com/blog/tarot-pals and/or at the Google Feedburner box on the site (top right corner of TarotPals.com).

And...our blog is available on Kindle right on Amazon at this link!  By the way, if you like reading our blog, would you please consider writing a brief review on Amazon? Thanks so much!

Here are the categories we cover over at the Tarot Pals Blog:

About Us
Biz
Books
Court Cards
Decks
Exercises
Fiction and Poetry
Food and Drink
Fun and Games
History and People
Inspiration
Interviews
Major Arcana
Meanderings
Minor Arcana
Oracles
Podcasts
Pop Culture
Predictions
Q & A
Reviews
Skills
Spirituality
Spreads
Symbols and Archetypes
Tarot Card Meanings
Videos

Although I'm Editor-and-Chief and creator of the Tarot Pals Blog, I have to say that I'm greatly enjoying and benefitting from my colleagues' posts...even as a Tarot author, seasoned Tarot reviewer and Tarot reader. What a blessing! I hope that after you check out our blog, you'll feel the same.

The 3 of Coins above, the card of collaboration, is from the lovely Hezicos Tarot, created by Mary Griffin. The deck is available from the artist at this link.

-- Janet Boyer, Amazon Hall of Fame/Vine Reviewer, author of Back in Time Tarot, Tarot in Reverse (Schiffer 2012) and the Snowland Tarot (Schiffer 2013). Featured in Tales of the Revolution: True Stories of People Who Are Poking the Box and Making a Difference (A Domino Project eBook edited by Seth Godin)

Follow Me on Pinterest

A little known fact about me: I love taking pictures of flowers.

I also have a thing for spheres, hearts and bookish art. I even have a Pinterest board with over 140 Tarot books from my collection of 200+.

Would you like to take a peek and maybe follow me on Pinterest? It's very easy to to do: just visit Pinterest.com/JanetBoyer and spend some time looking around.

Feel free to drop me a note while you're there...right on any of the pictures that catch your fancy. Hope to see you there!

-- Janet Boyer, Amazon Hall of Fame/Vine Reviewer, author of Back in Time Tarot, Tarot in Reverse (Schiffer 2012) and the Snowland Tarot (Schiffer 2013). Featured in Tales of the Revolution: True Stories of People Who Are Poking the Box and Making a Difference (A Domino Project eBook edited by Seth Godin)

CaseCrown Blue Case for Amazon Kindle Fire

My CaseCrown case for Kindle Fire just arrived via FedEx...and it's wonderful!

I had a hard time making up my mind as to what color I wanted but ultimately chose the dark navy blue; I figured it would be less distracting than the chartreuse one I was eyeing. ;o)

The case arrives in a stiff plastic packaging that easy to open. Then, you just unfasten the velcro tab (that holds the Fire in place), remove the padding inside, slide in your Fire and re-fasten the velcro tab under your device to hold it in.

Tada! That's it!

Watch the video on Amazon; the CaseCrown coverworks just like the video shows. The material feels like leather with thick, tight stitches. It even smells good...sorta like a new car smell! The inside is a soft, attractive suede-like material that's a few shades lighter than the outside "leather".

I particularly like the magnetic cover that safely encloses the Kindle Fire; some covers are pretty, but don't have this important feature (I suppose to mimic the look and feel of an actual book..?).

My only criticism is that the built in "stand" only holds the Fire in the landscape position...not portrait. This matters a wee bit to me because I have severe tendonitis that causes numb and/or painful hands, and I prefer reading my eBooks in the portrait orientation.

This is a great holder that will leave your Kindle Fire protected and add very little weight to the device. Highly recommended!

-- Janet Boyer, Amazon Hall of Fame/Vine Reviewer, author of Back in Time Tarot, Tarot in Reverse (Schiffer 2012) and the Snowland Tarot (Schiffer 2013). Featured in Tales of the Revolution: True Stories of People Who Are Poking the Box and Making a Difference (A Domino Project eBook edited by Seth Godin)

Big Kindle Boogie - 75 Free Kindle Books on February 2, 2012

Talk about a deal for we Kindle fanatics!

Bestselling thriller writers J.A. Konrath, Blake Crouch, J. Carson Black, Lee Goldberg, and Scott Nicholson team up to give away 10 Kindle Fires, 75 ebooks, $300 in gift cards, and a $500 library donation today, February 2, 2012.

You can see the individual listings of all the books at the Big Kindle Boogie blog, some bundled into an omnibus.

I got mine a few hours ago...now go get yours!

P.S. You know, I just have to say, I'm a Mind/Body/Spirit author (traditionally and self-published) who is now foraying into fiction writing (eep)...and I've not seen a more supportive group of people--of each other's work and success--than fiction writers. Nothing like the M/B/S world (contrary to what some may think). These guys are an inspiration! I love the win/win philosophy of life.

-- Janet Boyer, Amazon Hall of Fame/Vine Reviewer, author of Back in Time Tarot, Tarot in Reverse (Schiffer 2012) and the Snowland Tarot (Schiffer 2013). Featured in Tales of the Revolution: True Stories of People Who Are Poking the Box and Making a Difference (A Domino Project eBook edited by Seth Godin)

Writer Hazard: The Dangers of Switching Genres

So I wrote this little short story last year involving a Tarot podcaster, conference and a murder.

As some of you might remember, it caused a major brouhaha—including a rather widespread hatefest involving contacting the publisher of my upcoming book (got a real lovely call the day before Thanksgiving from the owner…less than 12 hours after the story went live on Amazon), as well as individuals threatening other Tarot artists/writers to disassociate themselves from me (or else), warning Facebook friends of mine that we shared to unfriend me (or else), calling for mass unfollowing of my Twitter account/unliking my BITT, TIR and Snowland FB pages, widespread “boycott Janet Boyer” blog posts…and even rallying cries to burn my first Tarot book.

One publisher of Tarot decks even banned me from posting on their Facebook page and blog (regardless that I hadn’t visited their social media presences for some time). Others actually stated that I’m capable of murder, was plotting murder and/or should be sued for my “criminality”.

Some spent their time speculating on my mental state, including throwing around psychological disorders and what meds I must be on (or should be on…or, perhaps, am not taking). About a dozen wrote nasty “reviews” of my short story on Amazon, showing their true colors (that bled rather differently than their “loving earth mama” or “I’m so spiritual” online personas).

One even went so far to lay out a curse-laden blog rant, saying she hoped I burned in hell…and that all sorts of bad things would befall my family.

More widespread than you thought, huh?

Of course, I didn’t answer most of these public antics, even when they involved fellow Tarot deck creators or artists lying about their associations with me or otherwise throwing me under the bus amidst the mass hysteria.

And really, this post isn’t about the appalling behavior of many in the online Tarot community, which made them look far, far worse than my first attempt at publishing a short story accompanied by a clear description, including a caveat (that they had to buy via Amazon, mind you).

If I weren’t a stronger woman, I may have given up both Tarot writing and fiction writing in the face of such pettiness, assumption and revulsion. Granted, the last three months haven’t been the easiest.

But it has gotten better!

You know, when you show a different side of yourself that others don’t want to see (or don’t expect), some crazy things can happen. This is why some couples split up when one individual starts to show her whole self (that she hid during dating) or when another begins a path to spiritual growth…and his partner would like him to stay just as he is, thankyouverymuch.

Sometime, somewhere, someone got it into her head that working with/reading Tarot equals spirituality, godliness or perfection (read: in alignment with my idea of what is “right” or “good” or “appropriate”).

Deepak Chopra once said, “The measure of your enlightenment is the degree to which you are comfortable with paradox, contradiction and ambiguity”.

Obviously, most are not even in the ballpark of enlightenment, because any action that violates a preconceived expectation or desired response results in the types of “micro” things I described earlier. Not surprisingly, these types of behaviors are the seeds to what causes rifts, marginalization, bullying, bigotry, discrimination, violence, war and genocide on the “macro” level.

Interesting, no?

So what does this have to do with “switching genres”?

Well, writers take pennames for a reason. The most common reasons are twofold: 1. They want to “hide” a side of them (from family, faith, culture, tribe or employer) 2. They want to differentiate one “side” of them from another

Take, for instance, author James Scott Bell. I’ve known him as an author of excellent writing craft books but, until recently, I didn’t realize he was also a Christy-award winning Christian novelist.

Last year, Mr. Bell decided to create the penname K. Bennett, saying it was to help him separate his new fiction series from his past work…especially for the sake of his readers. What is he now writing about? A female zombie lawyer practicing in L.A.!

Brilliant…but, knowing how pitchfork-prone Christians can be, I can totally see why he decided on a penname for his zombie-at-law series. (For the record, I used to be an ordained Pentecostal pastor…so I know of what I speak).

Turns out, many in the online “Tarot community” are quite pitchforky, too. Had I written my short story under a pseudonym, I may have avoided all this vitriol (maybe not, but who knows?) Individuals went so far to assume that the twisted protagonist in my short story WAS me, that the scenario was based on “real life” (yeah, like I have dozens of bottles marked XXX laying around my house)…and that I was plotting to do what my protagonist did. And that my fictional story was actually a “rant” based in actuality.

Bizarre, huh?

Many who glom onto the “Tarot community” label find comfort and support among their fellow “Tarotholics”. Why? Because they have been marginalized from their own family, community or faith of origin for thinking or being “different”. Ironic, isn’t it, when “one of their Tarot own” acts or thinks differently…and receives similar treatment by their hands.

Now, the reason Stephen King, Joe Hill, Dean Koontz, John Sandford, Chelsea Cain and Jeff Lindsay don’t get this kind of reaction is because they have built their careers or writing about twisted, violent and/or repulsive folks.

But what happens if you start out as a minister? A Christian author?

Or, like me, someone known for her Mind/Body/Spirit non-fiction?

Ouchies.

People don’t like that. (Anne Rice, anyone?)

They want you to stay in that box they’ve built for you. They want to be able to predict and approve of your behavior. No coloring outside the lines. No flexing the creative muscles. No writing outside of your traditional genre. No “acting differently” from what they think the box defines as “appropriate” to your personhood, authorhood or even your “spirituality”.

When you see it here in black and white, it looks pretty absurd, doesn’t it?

And yet, it happens all the time for those who decide to march to a different tune. Some, with minor, albeit troubling, consequences (like mine). Others, with far more serious (even deadly) results.

So other than losing your preexisting author platform, are there dangers to switching genres as a writer? Absolutely.

I just hope your genre switcheroo, should you choose to accept it,  is less painful and messy than my own has been…

-- Janet Boyer, Amazon Hall of Fame/Vine Reviewer, author of Back in Time Tarot, Tarot in Reverse (Schiffer 2012) and the Snowland Tarot (Schiffer 2013). Featured in Tales of the Revolution: True Stories of People Who Are Poking the Box and Making a Difference (A Domino Project eBook edited by Seth Godin)