This Leo Full Moon has me thinking about cats. If you have ever had a reading with me, you have probably met my old man Jones — a little grey tabby with a BIG personality. After being my constant magical companion for nearly 20 years, on June 19th of this summer Emmett Thelonious Jones passed away peacefully in our home. He had been a powerful force in my life and losing him had created a sort of energetic vacuum. Everything about our time together had been magical, from the way we met to the beautiful moment we said goodbye.
We met on the 501 Queen streetcar in Toronto. It was 2005 and I was riding the streetcar on the way to a friends house when I spotted two kids with a cardboard box. Out of the top of the box poked a little furry head and its gleaming eyes locked on me.
“Excuse me children” I said, “but is that a box of kittens you have there?”
”Yeah! Do you want one??” the kids replied. Then they opened the box to reveal a mound of sleeping kittens, destined for the humane society. It was all too much, too cute, and too well timed (I had just cleaned out another mouse trap that morning). I honestly couldn’t think of a good reason to say NO to a free kitten. But which one should I take with me? Well, obviously I would want the one that is aware and looking at the world.
So, I picked up the curious kitten to take a closer look. He sniffed my nose and clung to my wool coat with his little claws. Every heart on the streetcar melted. Well, there’s no going back now. I emptied the contents of my purse into my pockets (two balls of yarn I had just bought at Romni Wools), dropped the kitten in the bag, and hopped of the streetcar somewhere in Parkdale.
And that’s how it started. I was 21 years old and studying jazz music at Humber College. He got his middle name Thelonious because he loved to strut across my piano like Thelonious Monk. For almost 20 years he was beside me and sticking his whiskered nose in my business. Pulling all nighters writing music scores for school, vetting all the lovers I brought home, and taste testing everything I cooked for dinner.
This was all before I knew anything about tarot or even believed in magic. Before I discovered my spirituality I struggled hard with mental illness, and Jones was with me through all of those times as well. Every time I came out of the hospital, he was there to care for me and keep me company while I pulled myself back together. I got married then divorced, and restarted my life on my own again. Jones was with me while I found my way.
It was durning the dark times of my 20s that I discovered I could read Turkish coffee cups and tarot cards. He would sit in my lap as I gave readings and studied books of old arcana. When I learned to meditate, he quickly learned the best place place to sit was in the middle of a lotus lap. I think the meditation, mysticism, and the grounding animal energy helped me heal. Meditation taught me how to bear witness to my mind, the mysticism showed me a world a couldn’t see before, and my hand on Jones’ warm body kept me anchored to this world.
Jones took his job as magical assistant very seriously. He would greet clients at the door, take his seat beside me, monitor the conversation, and sitting in clients laps when they got emotional. When we had to go fully online durning the pandemic, he insisted he still have his own chair and could be seen on-screen gazing into the crystal ball!
We knew he was sick for a long time. He was almost 20 years old and losing weight rapidly. He was so dehydrated, vet wasn’t even able to draw blood to run test. It was a hard decision to make, but I couldn’t stand to see him suffer any longer. So, we made arrangements to have him pass at home.
Doing our work was his favourite thing, so I thought it would be best to stage his passing like all of our other ceremonies. When the vet came, I made us Turkish coffee and laid out the snacks. Even though he was so frail and weak, he insisted on jumping off the couch and onto his special seat. He listened and ate cheese while we drank and chatted. Eventually he laid down to rest and we began the ceremony.
We meditated and I pulled cards for him. I held him in my lap in front of our altar and called in all of our spiritual friends to join us. I called in all the guides and spirits, angels and ancestors we had ever worked with. All the beautiful and powerful energies that flowed through our home with all the guests. I could feel them all there, holding us together in that space.
When we gave him the final dose of medicine I began to feel this intense heat building in his body. I started to feel it rising up, up through my body. Slowly starting in my lap, then through my belly and up into my heart and I started breathing rapidly and my heart was pounding. I could feel his little spirit moving through me up toward the sky. When it reached my eyes, my head erupted in light. I could see a crowd of all the Light beings waiting for him. They were all joyous and cheering and ringing bells like he was crossing the finish line of a long marathon. I couldn’t help but laugh and cry with joy as I felt their love shinning down on us.
Then, with a final breath I felt him leave me and enter the waiting arms up above. And he was gone and it was done.
I rang all of the bells on the altar as I laughed and cried. ”You did it, little man. I’m so proud of you.” I was surprised to find I wasn’t sad at all, but instead full of joy. I loved him with all of my heart and it meant so much to see all of the spirits come to guide him home.
When the spirits came, when I could feel his little spirit burning bright and hot inside my heart, it helped me to understand the actual power contained in the Light
I had been feeling so lost leading up to this moment. I was having a crisis of faith. It was becoming harder and harder for me to show up to my work everyday not knowing if how I was trying to help people was working — or even real. When the spirits came, when I could feel his little soul burning bright and hot inside my heart, it helped me to understand the real power contained in the Light
The past seven months has been both joyous and hard. I feel like I have lost my closest friend, but it has also given me perspective on my own growth and spiritual journey. I know I still have so much further to go, but I look forward to seeing him again when it’s my turn to cross the finish line.
Even though I thought it was still too soon, another little kitten wandered into my life. I’d like you all to meet little baby Merlin. He is a very floofy Maine Coon / Turkish Angora mix. He is just 12 weeks old and has some big shoes to fill, but I think he’s going to do a great job. Merlin is gentle, clever, curious and energetic, loves to cuddle, and sticks to me like a shadow. And can you believe he actually picked his own name?! He is a lovely snuggle bug and loves meeting new people. He has already started working with clients (he’s a natural) and helped me write my tarotscopes this month.
In honour of old man Jones, new baby Merlin, and the full moon in Leo, this month’s tarotscopes will be all about our furry friends.
I picked up this amazing Cat Tarot deck right after Jones passed and I have been using it for my Animal Readings ever since. My time with Jones taught me a lot about working with animal energy and I love giving readings for pets, especially since he passed.
The biggest misconception is that our pets think the same way we do, but that’s not the case. To really understand your pet you have to try to learn to think in a different way. Their energy is more open and has less defined sense of “self” the way people do. They don’t struggle with ego the same way we do. This month’s tarotscopes attempts to take lessons from our furry friends to help us live a better life, find joy, and share love.
Your faithful friend,
xo - Diana / Neon Dreamer
UPDATE: TAROT CLUB DATE CHANGE!
Normally, Tarot Club meets every first Tuesday of the month, but due to some scheduling issues at Bar Mordecai, for February and March we will be meeting the first WEDNESDAY of the month. All levels welcome! I’d love to see you there
Our next hang is Wednesday Feb 4th.
This month, in honour of Jones (and the full moon in Leo) I’ve channelled the Big Kitten spirits and written Tarotscopes for our animal friends.
You can read these Tarotscopes based on your pet’s sign, or you can read for your own signs (sun/moon/rising). Since we are deeply energetically linked to our furry companions, you’ll probably find that these ‘scopes contain a wisdom that can apply to both of you!
Cards: 7 of Pentacles, Temperance, Knight of Pentacles
My little Aries, your old toys and games don’t seem to be bringing you as much pleasure as they used to, and it’s hard to tell if you’re depressed or just bored. You seem willing to try ANYTHING to bring a sense of excitement back into your life. Tasting forbidden fruit and causing a little trouble is definitely on the table. Is it working? Sort of. But random chaos won’t satisfy you in the long run. What you truly need is a stimulating new challenge. By learning new tricks and behaviours, you’ll unlock access to a whole new world of interactions and perspectives. It’s time to level up, kitten.
Cards: The Devil, Page of Swords, Knight of Swords
Your old demons have been coming back to haunt you. It can be easy to panic and take a defensive stance—hackles raised and claws out. But if you find the courage to actually look closely at your foe, you'll see that their bark is worse than their bite. Try to interpret their message as an invitation to play, not a threat. Use these challenges as an opportunity to learn and grow. When we come face to face with a monster, we are given the choice to run away or become the champion of our fears. Which do you want to be?
Card: 8 of Pentacles, 8 of Wands, 9 of Swords
You find yourself being offered everything your heart desires. It seems almost too good to be true. Could it be a trick? You almost worry that if you accept this gift it might land you in trouble. This is because you’ve had to deal with your fair share of trouble in the past. You know how to manage it. You’re an expert at snatching problems out of the sky before they have a chance to land. Now that things have calmed down, it feels hard to put your claws away. You just need to find something else to dig into. Grab a scratching post, have a good deep stretch, and let yourself indulge in the finer things. It’s your time to rest.
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Card: The Magician, 3 of Cups, 9 of Cups
Sometimes you feel like you are on top of the world. You are the master of your domain. Clever, light, agile, brave, and fast as lightning. You share an abundance of joy with the people and furry friends you love and trust. Your bowl runneth over and you are satisfied. And then sometimes you return to that same bowl and find it is empty. It’s hard to understand why sometimes we are blessed with abundance and sometimes our cries for food go unanswered. It’s hard to figure out the pattern of these boom and bust cycles. What motivates the unseen hand that feeds us? Fear not, my kitten, and be patient. If you wait long enough your bowl will be filled again soon.
Card: The Lovers, King of Wands, The Hanged Man
Leo, we all know you are the king of your castle. You are living like royalty too! You have loving connections, you have engaging work and play, and you can feel the sun shining upon you. You have everything you need within a paw’s reach… so, why are you all hung up? Perhaps the cushy opulence of an indoor castle life has left you desiring some more wild adventures. You may live a modern like a modern kitty, but you’re still an animal at heart. Follow your instincts and find new challenges for yourself. Climb a tree, catch a mouse, or scare a dog and remember what it’s like to feel alive.
Card: 9 of Wands, Queen of Wands, 10 of Swords
Virgo, you started this winter with all kinds of ideas for projects you were going to tackle during the long indoor season. However, your favourite task has been to catch up on your rest and relaxation. And that’s okay! Not all work can be measured with KPI (Kitty Performance Indicators). If you’re feeling well fed, happy, comfy and cosy then there’s nothing more you need to achieve in this life. What should you do when you’re feeling more active? Let yourself be silly and have un-”productive” fun. Zoom up and down the stairs! Chase your tail! Flop around with your belly to the sky! And, most importantly, don’t worry about what other people will think.
Card: 5 of Wands, Strength, The Hierophant
My dearest Libra, it’s easy to get your tail in a knot when you are fixating on the teeny tiny minutiae of a project. You’ve been doing a lot of practising with toy mice, but all of this prepping is starting to become a distraction from the task at hand. If you want to catch a real mouse, you’re going to have to use your claws in the real world. Yes, there is a risk whenever you go into battle, but I know you have the strength to win your prize. Look deep inside yourself and you will find the wisdom of all the great cats that came before you. Trust this inner knowing and let it guide you to victory.
Card: Knight of Wands, 10 of Cups, 2 of Swords
My little Scorpio, you may look cute and cuddly, but you are like a wound-up spring, full of energy and ready to pounce. Your batteries feel fully charged after a nice long nap and now you’re hungry for some action. You’re feeling powerful and capable and ALIVE! You are ready to swallow the world whole! It might feel like everything is just a little beyond your reach, but it is only a matter of time before you come up with another one of your clever solutions. You’d better be careful though, or else your mischievous spirit might get you into trouble. But who’s to say you’re not looking for trouble? 😼
Card: The High Priestess, Judgement, 6 of Pentacles
Some cats are good at chasing mice and other cats are adept at seeing spirits. My cunning Sagittarius, you have always been attuned to the ethereal energies and your skills are required now more than ever. Something is stirring in the shadows and you can already sense it moving. You can feel it before we can see it—like a mouse, only you can hear scurrying in the walls. You sit patiently at the mouse hole, waiting. What do you think will emerge this time? Is it a ghost? A god? Or maybe a snack. We both know something important is about to happen. Will you be satisfied with saying “I told you so”? Or, are you ready to answer destiny’s call and use your powers to make something happen?
Card: 2 of Wands, Death, The Chariot
Sometimes, you have days where you’re focused on your tasks, totally in the zone, feeling energised, AND having a great hair day. It feels like nothing can go wrong… Until it does. Somebody always manages to barge in and destroy your peace with their totally inconsiderate noise and chaotic energy. Why? WHY? Well, my little Capricorn kitten, sometimes the vacuuming just needs to get done, despite what you had planned for the day. The best you can do is learn to be flexible and take the higher ground. Like actually find a higher perch that provides you with a better perspective (and a safe distance). Let go of what you think ought to happen and learn to see the patterns unfolding around you. Take note of the vacuuming schedule and work around it.
Card: The Sun, Wheel of Fortune, 7 of Wands
Things are looking up and you are one happy kitty, Aquarius! You have been working hard, spinning your wheels, and staying on top of your business. Now the sun is shining its light upon you and you’ve finally found your groove. The key to winning this game is to stay focussed and keep moving. However, now that you have so many new toys to play with it can be easy to get distracted and fall off the wheel. Go ahead and have fun with all this new abundance, just remember to get back on the wheel (before it loses momentum)!
Card: The Hermit, 3 of Pentacles, The Moon
When people are being loud and obnoxious, ANYONE would want to hide in a bag. Just because you’ve taken some space away from abrasive energies, does not mean you are a scaredy cat. Au contraire, mon frère! Your little retreat has created the right environment for you to go a little nuts and play with a few far-out ideas. Your secret hideout is actually a portal to another dimension where everything is painted in moonlight and you are free to explore, unbothered by the barking of dogs. I wonder, what magical new wisdoms will you discover here? And, what stories will you choose to share?
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