On his way to an important business meeting in Chicago, Arte Shaw dies of unexplained circumstances on the flight. At his funeral, his wife, Anita, is approached by his long lost cousin, Penny, who shows her a photo of a supposedly cursed family ring. Lying, Anita says she never saw the ring before. Later she encounters it again it in Arte’s personal effects and wonders if Penny’s claims are true. Her sister, Emmy, convinces Anita to keep it, dismissing Penny as the family nut. Twenty-eight years later, Anita is shocked when her son, Art, finds the ring and asks to wear it as his wedding band. Will he live to tell about it?
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Nightmare
Copyright ©2011 Annette Shelley
ISBN: 978-1-55487-807-9
Cover art by Angela Waters
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher.
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Smashwords Edition
Nightmare
Tarot: The Moon
By
Annette Shelley
Dedication
For Mark who wants me to write more about curses…this one’s for you, bro!
To Jay and Tina—thanks for all you do.
Special thanks to my editor Kay. I originally began this in 2005 and without her help, this book would not have seen the light of day.
Tarot Card: The Moon
If you happened to read my other story, The Glob, in the Tarot series, you know I’ve had a lifelong fascination with the occult and specifically the Tarot. After studying Tarot with a master teacher some years ago, I’ve been continually fascinated by the symbolism in the cards and their ability to work as guideposts for us on our journey through life.
The Moon card is one of the most difficult cards in the Rider Waite to interpret, and yet it is one of the most alluring. It was the one I was most drawn to when picking my cards to write about. Why? Because the Moon is multidimensional and complex. My metaphysical studies say the Moon is akin to our feminine nature, receptive, attractive, allowing, as opposed to the Sun which is the masculine side of our nature. All beings, be they male or female, have aspects of both feminine and masculine as part of their energetic selves.
The Moon can also relate to our subconscious minds, artistic creativity, psychic development and perceptions and perhaps insanity.
If you think about the real moon, we know beyond shadow of doubt now that people and animals behave strangely during the full moon. Emergency rooms are often jam packed, police are inundated with disturbances and normal civilized society goes a little wacky one night of every month.
Astrologers and other mystics often plan their paths according to Moon cycles. If you want to bring things to you, do it in the evenings leading up to the full Moon during the cycle known as waxing. If you are trying to rid yourself of unwanted energies, do that after the full moon as it begins to get smaller, during the waning cycle.
The Moon card speaks about things not being as they appear–what seems to be mild mannered, even kind and benevolent during waking hours may become something sinister and mysterious during the night. The Moon can provide one with a paradigm shift taking away all preconceived notions about how you relate to certain objects, people or places.
We all have a shadow side. Every person has the face they present to the world, the mild mannered, kind, positive person who is normally seen during daylight hours, going to work, relating to friends and family. Underneath that happy exterior are the tormenters of our subconscious minds–the unrealized dreams, regrets and dark secrets we wish we could bury forever before anyone finds out about the real person beneath the façade.