Luminous Shadows: Embracing the Eclipse’s Dual Nature
Laetitia Barbier
Cartomancer, Teacher, and Independent Researcher.
Program Director, Librarian, and occasional Curator at Morbid Anatomy.
Author of "Tarot and Divination Cards: A Visual Archive".
Taurus Sun, Taurus Moon, Leo Rising
Brooklyn, New York. USA.
Hello there, it's Laeti! I'm thrilled to have received an invitation from Mariia to contribute to her fantastic blog. What's currently occupying my thoughts? Frankly, it's the eclipse, aligning intriguingly with Mercury in retrograde. Certain cosmic events are notably impactful, resonating deeply within us and influencing our external circumstances. My friends have been quite vocal about the astral tumult this period appears to usher in. While I'm no astrologer – my visually-oriented mind struggles to grasp the intricate, abstract dance the zodiac performs above us – I've decided to delve into this unique celestial event through a Tarot spread. How to best navigate this ambiguous energy? What aspects of our lives need reevaluation? How can we exploit the potential that entropy sometimes brings? And importantly, how do we remain flexible while being attentive to our emotional necessities? Let’s find out!
God creating the Sun and the Moon: British Library Additional MS 18856, f. 5v
Luminous Shadows: Embracing the Eclipse’s Dual Nature - Tarot Spread
After shuffling your cards, feel free to arrange them in a geometric pattern that resonates with you.
Card 1: Reflections on (Mis)Communication
This first card illuminates areas in your communication that need reevaluation, not only in how you express yourself but also in how you listen to others. It can pinpoint strategies to navigate misunderstandings during this period and suggest ways to manage delays in receiving the answers you need.
Card 2: The Dark Side of the Eclipse
In our reading, the second card delves into what may be emerging from the shadows. It symbolizes inner truths or changes rising to the surface, guiding you through your introspective journey.
Card 3: Emotional Currents
The third card captures the heightened emotional sensitivity typical of this astrological period. It interprets the emotional energies surrounding you and advises on how to handle them constructively.
Card 4: Motion and Transition
Here, the focus shifts to adaptation and flexibility. This card aids in understanding how to manage unexpected changes or disruptions, imparting wisdom on maintaining balance amid shifting circumstances.
Card 5: Lunar Blossoming
Finally, this card embodies the potential for personal growth and healing. It offers insights into using this period for self-improvement and identifies areas of your life that may benefit from focused attention and nurturing.
Laetitia in the Ideal Palace of mailman Ferdinand Cheval.
French born, Laetitia Barbier is a cartomancer, teacher, and independent researcher. Graduating from the Sorbonne in 2009, Laetitia worked with Morbid Anatomy from 2012 to 2024 as the program director, librarian, and occasional curator. She published "Tarot and Divination Cards: A Visual Archive" (Cernunnos / Abrams Books), prefaced by Rachel Pollack in 2021, and collaborated on the Tiger Tarot, by the symbolist artist Lori Field in 2022.
Laetitia teaches tarots and other historical systems of cartomancy for cultural institutions around the globe. She has notably worked with Greenwood Cemetery, Fotografiska NY, The College of Psychic Studies, and The New York Public Library. In recent years, Laetitia has been hosting a virtual salon on Patreon, dedicated to Tarot and its poetic derivatives. She regularly welcomes passionate guests who, like her, treat Tarot as a form of expression in its own right and defend its artistic integrity.
She works and lives in Brooklyn, New York.