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ELEMENTS FOR TRANSFORMATION by Jim Loftus New and interesting products for enhancement of the body, mind, and spirit Welcome to Elements. Inner explorations seems to be the theme of the moment, and perhaps this is the ideal time for introspection, prior to the coming out of Spring. We've taken stock of the past, and made our resolutions for the future ... but where are we now? Likely you are familiar with the saying, "When the student is ready, the teacher will appear." Could it be that, at least in some circumstances, we are both the student and our own teacher? TAROT DE PARIS Paris is the city of lights, the romance capital, and the inspiration for many artists and The extraordinary power and intensity of Tarot de Paris reflect the energy and inspiration of its creator and the city. The result is a deck of 78 breathtaking photomontage images incorporating a dazzling array of classic and contemporary art and architecture. Both the Major Arcana and Minor Arcana are illustrated, with the 22 Major Arcana cards portraying the stages of the Fool's Journey and the four suits of Minor Arcana expressed as the elements of Fire, Air, Water, and Matter. With a fully illustrated book detailing each card and offering a number of new readings devised for this deck, along with a stunning silk cloth, featuring the rosette window of the Notre Dame de Paris printed on it, for laying out the cards, Tarot de Paris is a major new envisioning of the Tarot. While the deck can be a revelatory experience for the novice as well as the experienced, dedicated Tarot reader, those new to Tarot will do well to remember that this is Thomas' modern interpretation of a system of knowledge that is centuries old. Tarot de Paris INNER OUTINGS
Charlene Geiss has kept a journal almost from the time she could write — or use scissors and paste — and her journals are more than just a chronicle of her days and thoughts. They are works of art, combining writing and drawing with collage, and becoming unique and beautiful expressions of the complexity and joy of life. Charlene began teaching others to journal in this manner a few years ago and, with the help of veteran writer Claudia Jessup, she created a deck of cards and a book that could assist readers and journalers to tap into their inner creative energies and by so doing to discover their truest selves. Journaling and writing books have been popular for many years, but now research shows that keeping a journal can be good for your physical as well as your mental and spiritual well-being. The Diarist's Deck consists of 33 unique and beautiful cards, each with a "legend" that corresponds to a question or statement that will inspire a journal entry. The questions appear simple, but they will open readers' minds. The accompanying art is designed to encourage deeper and deeper exploration into readers' inner souls. The text in the 144-page Book of Exploration expands on the legend of each card and provides further questions and statements to stimulate the imagination and help reach back into memory and forward into dreams. More than eighteen writing techniques are suggested, as well as non-writing techniques such as collage and drawing for self expression. The many prompts will help journalers, artists, and those who thought they had little to say discover their own personal style. The deck is designed to be used again and again. Depending on the mood and circumstances in which a journal keeper finds themselves, the legends may seem funny or poignant, bring up sadness or explore problems or frustrations. Each time a reader chooses a card for inspiration, they will discover new depths in both the words and art. The title says it all: Take your "inner" self on an outing; bring the best of your self up from the depths and explore it, discovering in the process how to use these inner outings to make your life more meaningful and to fully experience the joy and beauty around you. Inner Outings INNER CHILD CARDS
Not at all a re-interpretation of the standard Tarot, the authors have assigned an archetypal childhood story to each image in the traditional Tarot deck. They declare the deck excellent for dream work and healing, as the whimsical, colorful art and familiar characters will awaken dormant emotional memory that has been trapped in long-forgotten childhood stories. Because of their playful nature, these cards are equally well suited for use with children. Isha Lerner has a worldwide practice as an astrologer, tarot consultant, and flower-essence practitioner. She is the author of the Power of Flowers book and deck and the forthcoming Inner Child Cards Workbook. Mark Lerner has extensively researched the correlations between tarot, astrology, fairy tales, psychology, and healing for thirty years, and he is the publisher of the astrological magazine Welcome to Planet Earth. Inner Child Cards THE VODOU BOX
Originating in West Africa and drawing from other religions like Catholicism, followers of Vodou believe the soul is present everywhere — not only in people, but animals, rivers, trees, and mountains. The fears associated with Vodou have more to do with a lack of understanding. This set focuses on the traditional Haitian version of Vodou (and utilizes the traditional spelling as opposed to the more common "voodoo"). The 96-page hardcover book that accompanies The Vodou Box details many aspects of Vodou, such as information about the spirits of Vodou, making your own altar, rituals, and much more. With samples of rituals, charms, and altars, The Vodou Box provides real history and knowledge beyond the stereotypes. Illustrated with art from Cuba, Haiti, and Brazil, this box includes a portable altar as well as a colorfully painted spirit bottle, traditionally used for communicating with the spirits and warding off evil and negativity. The Vodou Box Elements features some of the more interesting and delightful items to be found on your local merchant's shelf, or on your local website. If you have questions about these items or their uses and applications, please use the contact information given to get answers directly from the sources. They will be glad to respond to your inquiries. Do you know of a product that you'd like to see reviewed in Elements? Please let us know about it.
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writers, but what many people aren't aware of is that for centuries Paris has been a center for mystics and practitioners of New Age spirituality. Tarot, for example, first achieved widespread popularity in the court and high society of Paris when, in 1392, King Charles VI of France became the royal recipient of a deck of Tarot cards, painted by Jacquemin Gringonneur. The seventeen surviving cards from this deck are on display at the National Library of Paris. Internationally exhibited artist J. Philip Thomas has now created from over twenty years of photographs the Tarot de Paris, a book and Tarot card system that features the mystical symbols in the art and architecture of one of the world's most beautiful cities.
Charlene Geiss began the Diarists' Workshop in Santa Fe and developed Inner Outings to help beginners embark on their inner journey -- and to encourage and support experienced diarists to freely write their personal stories. As Charlene says, "I estimate there are hundreds of thousands of blank journals sitting in homes and offices collecting dust, even as they call to their owners to record something of that person's day, a recent event, or an important memory. Are we unable — or terrified to write? There are dozens of reasons one should keep a journal, and as many forces preventing us from getting started or going deeper."
With over 100,000 copies of the first edition sold in seven languages, this new and updated edition of the Lerners' popular Tarot deck is designed to reawaken and heal the child in each of us. Inner Child Cards is a Tarot system that helps the user interact with the world's most potent archetypes from childhood fairy tales, and gives adults an especially clear reflection of the child within and imaginative access to the soul's own personal truth. 
Vodou has long been one of the most vastly intriguing yet misunderstood religions in the world. For many years it was associated with curses, dolls and pins, but Vodou is actually a religion based more on the belief of spirits.All content and articles copyright ©2002 by Lightworks Inc except where noted. All rights reserved.