Melissa Cynova 
Liz sent me a copy of her book “Going Beyond the Little White Book” a few months ago. I promptly lost it, because that’s how I do. When I ran into her at Reader’s Studio in New York this month, it took me a second to put the face with the name with the book that I lost. Then I got another copy! Yay! I didn’t think I’d be able to read it this month, because it’s been kind of hectic. Yeah, turns out I don’t need sleep after all. I stayed up WAY to late (on a school night) powering through this fantastic book.
My favorite part was how she broke each card down by how you might see it in a reading. In a career-related reading, in a relationship reading, other possibilities. Ten there are questions to consider when the card appears in a reading. This is fucking brilliant. I remember being nearly in tears when reading about the Hierophant and wondering what in the HELL that old fart had to do with my friend’s boyfriend. I would have KILLED for this book when I was 14. And even though I’ve been reading since before LIz was born, I learned a few new twists on my trusty cards.
Buy this book. Trust me. It’s rad.
xo Lis
LFT Questionnaire
1. What you appreciate the most in your friends.
Their openness, humour, and ability to accept.
2. Your idea of happiness.
I find I’m happiest when I have freedom to choose how I want to spend my time. Anything can happen from there.
3. Your idea of misery.
Being told what to do, how to be, what to wear, what to say and what not to say. Feeling controlled or being pressured to bow to someone else’s expectations or ideals is really a no-go for me.
4. Where would you like to live?
If I could live anywhere and money and other practicalities were not part of the equation, I would move to New York City or London, England in a heartbeat.
I’ve always been drawn to California for some reason, even though I’ve never been there.
Another alternative – and this is only a dream now – would be to live in my family’s old home, which was sold a while back.
5. Your favorite colors and flowers.
Most of my clothes are black, so I guess that says something about my favorite colors.
I don’t know much about flowers. When I’ve been lucky enough to receive them, I’ve usually been given roses, so those tend to bring up good memories. I dry them and hang them up at home.
6. Your favorite poets.
Where to start? My mainstays are Lynn Crosbie, Daniel Jones, Anne Michaels, Lydia Lunch, Exene Cervenka, Chandra Mayor, Jim Carroll, and Patti Smith. I have revisited their work many, many times over the years.
7. Your heroes/heroines in fiction.
Ponyboy Curtis from the Outsiders by S.E. Hinton, Nothing from Lost Souls by Poppy Z. Brite, and Andrea Marr from Girl by Blake Nelson.
8. What role does divination play in your life?
First, it is a big part of my spiritual path. I feel it helps me to stay connected to my higher aspects and energies that I can’t necessarily access through everyday dialogue. It’s a bridge between the tangible realm that we move through and the spiritual realm that moves along side of us.
9. Your heroes/heroines in real life.
I wouldn’t say I have specific heroes because this list is always shifting and growing. Usually, the people who inspire me the most are the ones who are living their lives on their terms. I admire people who are open about their sexuality, who question societal constructs, and who aren’t afraid to question and confront the status quo.
There continues to be so much repression and so much pressure to conform in this world. It’s not always easy to speak up because we can feel like we have a lot to lose. Every time I see someone taking that risk I am reminded that it’s important to use our voices.
10. What is your present state of mind?
Busy and inspired – though that’s my usual mode of operation. I’m usually creating something, or working on ideas for my next phase of plans.
11. What is your favorite tarot deck or divination tool?
My favorite is the Sharman-Caselli tarot deck. It was the deck I learned on and it’s the deck I still use as my main go-to for client readings. It stays quite true to the RWS but it has so many clean, detailed images that seem to reveal so much.
I do work with other decks, but that’s the one that seems to resonate with the most people, most often.
12. Your favorite songs?
Oh wow…okay, this is a tough one to narrow down. Here’s a condensed list:
“Head Over Heels” – Tears for Fears
“Such a Shame” – Talk Talk
“I Don’t Believe In You” – Talk Talk
“Life’s What You Make It” – Talk Talk
“Eyes of a Stranger” – Payolas
“Holding Back the Years” – Simply Red
“New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84)” – Simple Minds
“Burn” – The Cure
“Killing Moon” – Echo & the Bunnymen
13. What is your favorite word?
Oracular.
14. What is your least favorite word?
I hold a lot of trauma from a past life as an office worker, so anything jargon-y sucks for me. Like “synergy.”
15. What sound or noise do you love?
Birds early in the morning. My cat purring.
16. What sound or noise do you hate?
Random banging or hammering. Anything jarring that becomes a distraction.
17. What turns you on?
Ideas and possibilities.
18. What turns you off?
Knee-jerk reactions, over-inflated egos, and clichés.
19. What is your favorite curse word?
Fuck, of course.
20. If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?
“You did a good job.”
