WINTER 2023 ONLINE RETREAT

Are you looking for an engaging learning experience this winter that will enrich your understanding of yourself and how you interact with others?

Have you ever wondered why sometimes you feel inspired one moment, overly emotional the next or unusually practical and analytical at other times? 

Do you find yourself noticing certain repeating traits and behaviours in yourself and others and want to understand more about what makes people “tick”?

Our human personalities are made up of four distinct modes or ways of being which align with an ancient Greek theory known as The Four Elements which is at the heart of many personality typing systems like Myers-Briggs. This fascinating approach to understanding ourselves also resides within the mysterious and beautifully illustrated cards known as the Tarot.

Courting the Elements is my new ONLINE “retreat” program that introduces you to a lesser-known part of the Tarot referred to as the Court Cards while at the same time revealing a whole new way of understanding yourself and others.

This 6-week journey will take you deep into the realms of the Tarot Courts … peopled by Kings, Queens, Knights and Pages who rule their courts of Fire, Water, Air and Earth. These royal characters will be our guides in discovering how the elements mix and merge in our own personalities as well as those we interact with on a regular basis.

You don’t need to be a tarot reader have to know anything about the cards to benefit from this fascinating journey of self-discovery as we explore the four elements and how they influence our personality and ways of being in the world. Even if the Tarot has never been of interest, you will find it’s imagery a fascinating “illustrated” way of approaching the study of human behaviour and personality typing.

Why Tarot? Here’s a little background …

Mention the word “tarot” and most people immediately think of fortune telling and questionable characters claiming to know your future. But over hundreds of years, mystics, artists and psychologists have transformed what was essentially a parlor game into a source of wisdom and a system for self-exploration.

Each new generation has sought to evolve the Tarot’s form and reinterpret it in ways relevant to their time. It is in that spirit that I am offering this course, not to make you into a Tarot reader, but to help you relate this ancient wisdom tool to your own life in a way that is relevant and personally meaningful.

If you are not familiar with the Tarot, it is a deck of 78 richly illustrated cards divided into two sections: the Major Arcana that represent life’s big spiritual lessons and the Minor Arcana which reflects our daily trials and tribulations. But there is another part of the Tarot known as the Court Cards. These sixteen lesser known but vitally important cards, provide fascinating insights into understanding ourselves and others, operating much like personality typing systems like Myers-Briggs but in a far more fun and accessible way.

In this “retreat”, we will focus on these sixteen “royal” cards which can be broken down into four families with four members each. Once you understand their individual characters and stories you will begin seeing them reflected in your own ways of being and those of others you interact with on a regular basis. Intrigued?

Courting the Elements runs six weeks from January 29 to March 12.

The format is self-directed with short and easily digestible daily lessons, a creative component to help you make a tangible map of your journey and the option of participating in live weekly Zoom calls and an online forum where you can share your journey with fellow travellers.

The “retreat” like approach will reconnect you to yourself and others in a whole new way, allowing greater understanding of yourself and more empathy in your personal interactions with others. Simply put … it is a fascinating study of human nature.

Program Fee $275 + HST

Courting the Elements will combine reflections on your life, prompted by the imagery of the 16 Court Cards, with contemplative and creative activities such as:

• Creating or compiling a “deck” of your own images and symbols that will be a touchstone and record of your journey, the characters you meet and how they represent aspects of yourself and those around you.
• Answering questions and prompts for self-reflection, journaling and creative writing.
• Fun ways to apply your new-found wisdom in your personal interactions and on your life journey.

I am passionate about the Tarot and have been studying and working with it for over 30 years. At this point on my own journey, I am delighted to be offering this course as a culmination of that work.

So … are you ready to “court the elements” with me this winter by journeying with the Tarot Kings, Queens, Knights and Pages to discover the keys they hold to new realms of understanding?

This program is a good fit if …

• You are able to devote a little time each day this winter (approximately 15-30 minutes) to a bit of reading, reflection, and creative play.
• If you are new to Tarot and curious about it but don’t know where to begin
• Are looking for a way to apply the timeless wisdom of the Tarot to everyday life.
• Are already familiar with the Tarot but looking for a new perspective that will enrich your understanding in a whole new way.

Here’s what previous participants have said about my online “retreats” …

“The course’s framework of six daily lessons, each building on the last day’s lesson plus a day of rest in between, was flexible enough to be done outside of a weekly timeframe while providing that option. The course structure program enabled both intense singular focus and a flow of progression as desired. It exceeded my expectations. I wanted to enrich my spirituality, and this did so and continues to do so.”. ~ Elizabeth S.

“I really enjoyed your course and now have a greater understanding of the cards, it especially changed my perception of them and I am not so intimidated by them now. I will keep working on bettering my skills with the Tarot thanks to you.” ~ Nicki

“This was more than a fantastic course; it was an amazing process. Through the cards I learned a lot about who I am, not who I’ve been told I should be. CJ, you created a remarkable space for self-discovery. You made the material approachable and relevant to where each of us is in our life’s journey. Thank you and my fellow seekers for sharing your experiences and showing me new ways to tap into and trust my intuition.” ~ Jane

“What an excellent journey! I didn’t know anything about the Tarot, but this informative course led us through the cards in an interesting, engaging and non-threatening way. Not too rushed. Not too dense. Plenty of opportunity to reflect on our own life journey and how the Tarot relates to it. Just a fun and informative 6 weeks … looking forward to learning about the other cards!” ~ Anne

“I always enjoy seeking more growth and understanding. I valued the lessons and the insight they brought. I loved the set up and activities. I like how each week built upon the next and like that each week the days were patterned in their topic. I looked forward to it each day.” ~ Barb

How it Works

Each day will have a short lesson (available through a dedicated platform on my website) that focuses on a single topic, activity or creative prompt. The amount of time you devote to the material is totally up to you, but you are encouraged to carve out some sacred time for yourself daily and/or weekly in order to receive the most benefit from this program.

The course materials will be presented in a variety of formats including PDF’s, video or audio which you can read, view and listen to at any time. No technical expertise is required as the formats will be easy to download or view/listen on your laptop or other device.

Live Zoom sessions (one per week) will allow for companionship and sharing your experiences as well as being inspired by how others are engaging with the activities. All sessions will be recorded and available to listen to afterwards for those who cannot attend live. In addition, there will be an optional online community forum for sharing ongoing thoughts, discoveries and creative exercises with your fellow journeyers.

Program Fee $275 + HST

If you have questions about whether this program is right for you please email artist@dancingmoondesigns.ca

Your Guide for the Journey

CJ Shelton is the owner of Dancing Moon Designs, a bricks & mortar studio and gallery as well as a virtual space for exploring art, nature and spirituality through creative, mindful and earth-based practices. An artist and illustrator with over 35 years of professional experience, CJ is an award-winning arts educator, workshop facilitator, spiritual counsellor, Tarot reader and shamanic practitioner.

CJ’s passion and purpose is to inspire and guide fellow seekers on their creative and spiritual journeys through her “circles” of community for artistic expression and explorations of the soul and spirit. By teaching self-awareness, mindfulness and creativity CJ, opens other’s eyes to the meaning, magic and mystery of Nature’s Great Wheel of Life.

Dancing Moon Designs is dedicated to creating an environment that is inclusive of all.

Please note there are no refunds for online courses.