I gave a talk at the College of Psychic Studies recently on the art of tarot, which barely scratched the surface of what is a fascinating subject. Who was the first tarot artist? Who came up with the concept of the Major Arcana or triomfi (triumphs) first?

Where did the artist get his inspiration, the one who first produced the Triumphs (the Majors)? The medieval mind had no problems thinking symbolically. Mystery plays were performed regularly, immense tableaux with music and floats. The plays could last for days and usually featured biblical scenes or morality plays. They were staged by various guilds and the morality plays, particularly, would have featured allegorical, moral characters; like the Emperor, the Chariot, Justice, Death and so on. Perhaps one of the artists involved with these mystery plays have produced a series of symbolic images to trump the suits, in the new card game of tarocchi being played. Perhaps it took shape in a conversation in a tavern one evening. Or, perhaps, one of the city-state princes had been brought a pack from the Moorish lands and commissioned his court artist to add to it. However it happened, the triomfi appeared, beautiful, exotic, and powerful, and took the population by storm.

In the records of Charles VI’s treasurer in 1392, we find this intriguing reference: ‘paid to Jacquemin Gringonneur, painter, for three packs of cards, gilded, coloured, and ornamented with various designs, for the amusement of our lord the king, 56 sols of Paris’. Were these a beautiful set of what we now think of as the Minor Arcana, painted for Charles VI, or did they include the Majors? Unfortunately – as usual with the tarot, we’ll never know unless someone invents a time machine, as none of the cards survive. If these were the triomfi, was Gringonneur the inventor of the Major Arcana?

Scholars now consider that playing cards were brought into Europe, probably through Venice, from the Mamluk empire. There was a long tradition of card-making in Egypt (cards have been found dating to the late 12th century), but this does not mean that the images of the tarot Majors originated in the Egyptian Book of the Death (one of the myths of tarot created by Court de Gébelin, a French Mason and occultist, in the late 18th century). However, in medieval times there were direct trade links with Muslim countries, and an inventory of the Duke of Orleans’ possessions (1408) details a ‘Saracen card deck’. Juzzo da Coveluzzo specifically refers to the cards as a ‘Saracen invention’.

The images of the Major Arcana, which are thought to have appeared separately and a little later than the Minors, clearly derive from the European medieval mind-set, although with a few interesting touches. The Papess, for example, was based on the story of a female pope (Pope Joan). The Hanged Man is now seen as a pagan reference to Odin gaining wisdom by hanging himself on the world tree, or gods such as Attis, sacrificed each year to ensure fertility. However, in medieval times thieves or traitors were sometimes hung upside down, and one or two decks show money falling from his pockets. Here we see the Hanged Man grasping two money-bags which are presumably his ill-gotten gains. An alternative suggestion is that this represents Judas.

The Wheel of Fortune was a favourite medieval reference. You could be a king one day and a pauper the next: medieval people tended to have a healthy respect for fate, given that they were often at the receiving end of power-hungry princes. Internecine wars were frequent, and the princes might ride high for a while and then lose their war with a consequent loss of prosperity for the population.

Unfortunately these tiny images cannot display the artistry of the earliest extant cards, which were produced mainly for the Visconti family. There are 239 cards in total produced for the Viscontis, which may comprise eleven distinct groups of cards. The Cary-Yale Visconti tarot, from which I’ve drawn these images, is a particularly fine set which unusually has four extra female knights.

The first decks could have been roughly drawn on card, copied from the ‘Saracen’ examples. Later when the aristocracy discovered them, they would have been commissioned from artists like Bembo or Gringonneur. These first tarot artists were probably illuminators, rather than mural artists; used to working with miniatures and gilding. Most of them were probably Italian, and must have been craftsmen (or women) rather than monks. The early decks were used for gaming (which is presumably why the church objected, which it did, strenuously and regularly – and, ironically, these objections are the only evidence we have regarding the first appearance of the tarot).

(to be continued)

The Art of Tarot is a post from: Tarot Card Meanings - How They Can Help You Today

The Art of Tarot is a post from: Tarot Card Meanings - How They Can Help You Today

Following their successful Foundations of Tarot last year, Hilde Liesens and Cilla Conway are running A Journey through the Major Arcana on the 21st August 2010. They will look at the origins, myths, history and lore of the tarot, while guided visualisations allow you to vividly experience the myths and archetypes of the Major Arcana as an initiatory journey through life. Practical demonstrations, exercises, and experiential practice will demonstrate how you can start to read the Tarot for wise guidance and insight into life’s challenges. People are always astonished at how accurate their tarot reading can be, using these methods.

The second workshop, on the Minor Arcana, will be held in September, allowing you to practice and get to know the cards. Then, using elemental correspondences, numerology, and the traditional meanings, Hilde and Cilla will offer practical methods to familiarise yourself with readings, spreads, reversals etc. Exercises and story-telling, drama and role play will enable you to read well without having to learn the meanings by rote.

Venue: Atlantis Bookshop, 49a Museum St., London WC1 (nearest tube Holborn or Totterham Court Road)

Date: 21st August 2010

Time: 10.30 for 11 a.m. – 5.30 a.m. with breaks for lunch and tea (biscuits, coffee and tea provided)

Cost: £50 for each workshop, £90 for both if paid in advance

To book: Atlantis Bookshop – 020 7405 2120

Tarot workshop is a post from: Tarot Card Meanings - How They Can Help You Today

Tarot workshop is a post from: Tarot Card Meanings - How They Can Help You Today

My experience has been that the tarot does not deal in polarities. It makes no value judgments about right or wrong. Although it suggests ways through the various dilemmas of life, it has no agenda. You can move on or stay where you are; you can be enlightened or at the beginning of your journey; either way, the tarot will help.

People, however, are less equitable. A client I had a while back was struggling with judgements based on polarities. In the reading the tarot made it obvious that it was the right time to manifest her dreams, and she said she had already begun a new healing practice. However, she added, her old work kept growing leaving no space for the new. That is usually a sign that for some reason you aren’t ready to move on. As the reading progressed, I realised that the main issue was an inner struggle between light and dark. The client considered herself very much a light worker and, while she did not deny the presence of the shadow, she saw it in traditional terms – dark = evil, temptation, vs. light = good, purity.

The problem came sharply into focus when she drew the Deva card Kali Dance. This is a card of power – and shadow – indicating a huge amount of energy that is not being expressed creatively, in which case it can often turn back on you. Illness, obstacles, psychological issues can ensue. She then told me about her various encounters with the Shadow, and I could empathise completely – if you feel something is evil and a threat, your unconscious will comply, giving you images that are terrifying and dangerous. It is difficult – if not impossible – to change that perception.

My work with the tarot and The Devas of Creation has confirmed time and again that having such fixed views on the different polarities can be very damaging. The shadow (the dark) may well be demonic but, unless our actions make it so, it is not evil. Anger, fear, envy, jealousy, rage – these are all natural feelings that need to be honoured, their origins questioned rather than suppressed. In fact, if you journey into those feelings and dialogue with the shadow, you’ll often discover that the challenge they contain is to expand your perceptions. By ignoring the challenge, you become rigid, fearful, and limited. By acknowledging it and taking it on, however, the Shadow becomes your Ally, which enables you to integrate it. Thus you become more conscious and more unified – surely the goal of anyone interested in spiritual development.

It seemed to me that my client was holding back on making a commitment to her new work – her soul’s calling – because she had stayed with just one poliarity, the light worker consciousness. The unification was missing. It would take a leap of faith – and a lot of work – to get there.

Courageously, she asked what would happen if she did somehow manage to take on both aspects of herself.

The tarot card she drew for this question was the 7 of Cups – the card of vision and dreams, the culmination of the Grail Quest – which again emphasizes the amalgamation of light and dark. The Deva energy was Emergence. There seems little doubt that if she can let go of this very polarised way of thinking, the blocks preventing her new work will lift and she’ll be able to channel a far greater degree of energy.

.

Does the Tarot deal in Polarities? is a post from: Tarot Card Meanings - How They Can Help You Today

Does the Tarot deal in Polarities? is a post from: Tarot Card Meanings - How They Can Help You Today

The way intuition works is weird. It is definitely like something other that kicks in. Normally with tarot you work with a low-level intuition – i.e., the base meanings are mostly the same but in each reading they may change slightly; you get a slightly different sense of what the card may mean to this person; or you find yourself saying – or seeing – something that you haven’t said or seen before. So for example, with the Lovers: with one reading the card will be about change, about growth, and about becoming mature. For another reading, it might be about a relationship that has become too stifling and the client needs to move away into the big world.

But as I say, that’s all low-level intuition. Sometimes, though, something else kicks in. The client is often someone who has done a lot of work on themselves so is very aware; or they are pretty psychic themselves. And then, it’s like a path opens up onto a different plane altogether, and information floods through. It’s not INFORMATION like writing on the wall (although it might be for some people); with me, it’s quite subtle and sometimes sounds a bit crazy – but if I trust it, it usually opens up all sorts of avenues for the client.

The trouble with it is that it is so ‘other’. It doesn’t feel like thinking usually does. Trying to explain it is almost impossible, but when I was trying I wrote ‘it comes through’ or ‘something opens up’. Is this opening up to the right brain, or to some other dimension? Who knows? I think this question is one I must put to other tarot readers and psychics to discover how they see it. Meanwhile, if you have any thoughts on this, please send them in!

Strange thing, intuition is a post from: Tarot Card Meanings - How They Can Help You Today

Strange thing, intuition is a post from: Tarot Card Meanings - How They Can Help You Today

I offer this without comment – not so much tarot and astrology as predictions based on astrology. It’s taken from an email sent from Louise Lamont to Paul Lowe (PaulsList@lists.paullowe.org)

Date: Mon, 24 May 2010 23:47:32 +0800

Subject: Astrological changes

Within three short months we see 15 – yes, 15, major celestial configurations blaze us with change. This is condensed and powerful energy. Time of Radical Shift A Look into the Coming Cycle by Maurice Fernandez (evolutionary astrologer) Greetings. I feel compelled to write this note about what we astrologers are seeing coming. We are in the beginning of a very [sic] unique time in history that will redefine the foundations of our lives. The astrological circumstances are uncommon and very dramatic. Change is likely to affect every level of our being, even though each person will feel it differently and in varying degrees of intensity. I’m writing this note so that you may make better use of this time and understand what it is about.

As astrologers we are aware of cycles that affect our existence; because this coming cycle is very unique, I feel it is important to share this information. I will try to keep it simple and not burden you with a long text and excessive details. There are multiple planetary bodies that are gradually forming a very particular and rare alignment. This configuration began to form during the fall of 2008. Politically, that time was when the economical crisis exploded and when US president Barack Obama was elected. The configuration will move into a second phase during November 2009 and January/February 2010 (when Saturn moves into the Cardinal sign of Libra and will form powerful angle to Pluto in Capricorn)… The third phase is probably the most dramatic and intense, and will occur from the end of June to the end of July 2010, when all the factors of the configuration will align together in a cross at the very beginning of the Cardinal signs in astrology. (Cardinal signs are the signs of new cycles.) The planets in question are Pluto, Uranus, Saturn, Jupiter, and Mars. These planets are slow moving bodies and therefore it is absolutely exceptional that these slow moving bodies end up all aligned in a cross on these very sensitive degrees! In normal circumstances, some people go through changes while others continue their routine. Here the alignment is so strong and dramatic that everyone’s life can be considerably affected. it is likely that your life will not be the same by fall 2010!

The question that often arises is:” Is it bad, or is it good?” The answer is that it depends on the way one deals with the events; a conscious approach can make a difference. One thing for certain: do not expect security, consistency, and predictability during this time. Reality is bound to change fast and so it is better to move with the flow, while remaining conscious of what is going on. Flexibility is one of the most important assets during this time. This influence is analogous to a gigantic wave forming: you can ride that wave and go farther than ever expected – experience a powerful transformation that can elevate you to new heights. But this wave can also destroy a lot of what you are currently attached to. Redefinition may occur in different fields: you may change vocation, relationships, location, mindsets, to name but a few. New people will move into your life, current ones may leave. New ideas and projects will develop and you may feel inspired to completely reinvent yourself! The cards are re-shuffled! This is a time of an awakening, an internal and social revolution. Everything is shaking up. Everything. From November 2009 until August 2010, nothing will stay still. It can be very good, but you have to learn to navigate these changes and seize opportunity when it comes. Don’t try to have it all perfect, don’t try to keep the cake and eat it: change can take you to a completely new and perhaps higher level of what you are about, but you will have to let go of your security during this time.

It is a time for risk, reinvention, new ideas, new concepts, new vision, and the impetus to make it happen. Marriages may break, jobs and possessions may be lost, people may get sick, and simultaneously, new relationships may emerge, new passion may awaken, a completely new lifestyle is in the making…You are embarking on an adventure whether you know it or not, whether you like it or not. My suggestion: make peace with the idea, don’t resist the adventure. If you accept it, you will make the best of it. If you fight and resist it, you won’t win. This is what I mean by being open to risk taking. it may be time to take that “plunge!” Risking does not mean giving in to every silly venture. It is about hearing a calling for truth. Things you have denied, postponed, avoided, feared, but things you know were true. This is a time to be more truthful and follow your calling.

Collectively, while the forces of corruption and manipulation may attempt to control the course of events, they are bound to disintegrate. Scandals will continue to hit the news. Natural events will continue to shake the earth. At worst, a war may break during summer 2010 or later because dramatic changes can spur fear and conflict…. But it does not have to go that way; we are creators of our own destiny in the midst of the given circumstances. As you go through these changes, it is crucial that you take good care of your immune system because as positive as changes may be, they can overwhelm you and weaken your immune system: eat more healthily, avoid fast sugar, exercise, take time out of the intensity loop, do not let negativity take over – these are basic tips that can keep you grounded.

Importantly: the situation heating up is like a piece of molten iron that can be beaten into a better form – personally and collectively. Be an ambassador of good and avoid wasting time on trivial details. For example, as we see the earth being depleted and all resources and species dwindling, people waste time arguing if global warming is or is not happening. If it is man-made or not. IT DOESN’T MATTER! What matters is that the natural world is vanishing before our eyes because of our misaligned actions: excessive pollution, deforestation, and peaking toxicity levels are a reality beyond global warming debates.

Similarly, the economy is not likely to stabilize any time soon. But perhaps, necessarily so. And so it will be with many other aspects of your life … you will not have immediate answers. … When the cycle will complete, new circumstances will emerge… This cannot be artificially rushed. These dramatic times are an opportunity for us to restructure our lives, personally and collectively. As many things are being redefined, we can relinquish bad habits and attachments, open up to new ideas, and invest in what works rather than settle for immediate gratification. Patience is another essential asset.

In this context, do not expect others to change for the better if you don’t do it yourself. We blame governments and project our frustration on distant “evils,” but fail to open our hearts ourselves. Being pro-active may work better than being self-righteous. … There will be a price to pay. If you lose something or someone, understand this is the sign of these times, use a crisis to venture into new horizons and create something new. Understand this is an adventure and risks must be taken. Understand that this is not a time when we can expect security – we are in transition… Support your friends and family, we all shall need one another for support during this transition time. Cultivate your spiritual practice: this, and a good diet, are both important for your mental and physical health. Do your best to do good: whatever you seed now will have an effect now and later. There is probably more than can be said and explained, but you get the point. An incredible opportunity is arising, now and throughout 2010. This type of cycle has not happened in recent history. We can expect a certain level of destruction to occur – that is the price to pay. But the prospect of experiencing an awakening and creating a better future is within reach. We are now in the midst of a revolution – a cultural, social, and political revolution. On a personal level, it is a conceptual, emotional, and spiritual revolution. Truly, it is in the making!

IMPORTANT DATES TO NOTE:

June 25 to August 5, 2010

November 1 to December 26, 2010

Tarot and Astrology:Times of Radical Shift is a post from: Tarot Card Meanings - How They Can Help You Today

Tarot and Astrology:Times of Radical Shift is a post from: Tarot Card Meanings - How They Can Help You Today

The underlying message of all oracles:

‘We will now show you a little part of its divine intention, a part that pertains directly to you. Be assured that you are not alone. You belong to the Matrix that holds and beholds us all.’

So, if we have eyes to see and ears to hear, the message is that the universe is both intelligent and purposeful.

Taken from ‘When Oracles Speak‘ – Diane Skafte

Oracles is a post from: Tarot Card Meanings - How They Can Help You Today

Oracles is a post from: Tarot Card Meanings - How They Can Help You Today

Mark your diaries – July 31st, 10am-5.30pm – if you’re anywhere near London, the first Exploring Tarot 2010 seminar will be held at the College of Psychic Studies (South Kensington). Emily Carding will talk about her new Transparent Oracle and how Tarot & Oracles combine; Martin Jeffrey will look at archetypes, and Avril Price will discuss Spirit & Spiritualism. My angle will be the creative process of making your own tarot deck – I found that the process led me into a world which was deeper and richer than our own. Now it’s often called the OtherWorld; back then (1973) I had no words to describe it, but the gifts it gave me were immeasurable.

Ticket price is £40 – call 020 7589 3292

Exploring Tarot Seminar 2010 is a post from: Tarot Card Meanings - How They Can Help You Today

Exploring Tarot Seminar 2010 is a post from: Tarot Card Meanings - How They Can Help You Today

I sometimes ask the Tarot to predict the outcome of various situations. Putting myself on the line like this is an interesting challenge!

So, earlier this week I drew a few cards to look at the results of the UK General Election (the voting for which ended nearly an hour ago). This evening I realised that if I want to make this a prediction, rather than a corroboration (or contradiction), I needed to get writing!

The first card was The Wheel (change, a major shift), and Healing/Compassion from the Devas of Creation. Well, we know the country does need healing; the economy is in a parlous state and because of that, many people are feeling vulnerable and short of money. Not only that, with the economies of Greece and Spain down the pan – and owing massive amounts to all the other European countries – we may all need quite a lot of compassion in the next few months.

I then asked about the next prime minister and got the impulse to draw 2 cards (a hung parliament?). The first was the Nine of Rods reversed [Wands] – a strong man but wounded, and very defensive (maybe with a few blind spots) (Brown, I assume).

The other was someone lying down, back towards us, looking at all the energy flying around. The meaning for that card (7 Discs) is an observer, someone who watches everything before he acts. It was also reversed, which I interpret to mean that he is waiting, or may have waited for rather too long before taking any action. There’s also a need to look honestly at one’s motivation before acting. I guess this is the Liberal Democrat Nick Clegg (one of my criticisms of the LibDems was always that they didn’t see themselves winning until quite recently, after Clegg impressed everyone in the televised debate). However, the reversals could refer to a hung parliament. If I remember right, the last time we had one (a hung parliament), the governance of the country ground to a halt because the politicians were so busy blocking along party-political lines that total paralysis ensued. We need some new blood, a new vision, an Obama – rather than the bunch of immature, greedy, short-sighted politicians we have. My father used to say the only good politician is a dead one, and I have to say I think he’s right – the only time you hear what good people these guys are, is after they kick the bucket.

So … let’s hope that it is a shift of the wheel, a new era, as the cards first said, rather than a hung parliament, which might have just been a bad interpretation. I don’t see how a new era can dawn if we have a hung parliament. Anyway, whatever the outcome, may the Devas bring some healing and compassion (and vision) to all of us.

12th May – Well, it seems my prediction was correct in that after 5 days of watching and waiting, with Nick Clegg holding the balance of power, he and the LibDems are now helping the Conservatives form a government. After Brown resigned yesterday afternoon I was concerned that Clegg would try to ally himself with Labour instead – and I think 3 terms of Labour is more than enough. So yes, a big turn of the wheel. Let’s hope that instead of playing their normal political games, this coalition continues to pull together for the good of the country. With the economy still in a complete mess and a desperate need for intelligent farsightedness, we cannot afford to have our politicians scoring off each other like kindergarten kids.

What can Tarot Card Meanings tell us about the UK Election result? is a post from: Tarot Card Meanings - How They Can Help You Today

What can Tarot Card Meanings tell us about the UK Election result? is a post from: Tarot Card Meanings - How They Can Help You Today

When we get to the higher numbers, we often can gain insight into their meanings by looking at the divisors (in this case, 2 and 7). Two is feminine, primarily about balance or tension between opposites, while 7 is one of the powerfully magical numbers. Fourteen takes those qualities and shifts them into an even more potent combination.

14 is often associated with the moon, as it takes the waxing moon 14 days to reach full moon, and 28 days to complete the full lunar cycle. Lunar deities are often associated with the underworld – presumably because of the fear of those nights when the moon was dark. In ancient Babylonia an Akkadian poem describes how the ruler of the Netherworld, Nergal, was translated from heaven down to the underworld, with an escort of 14 deities. In Egypt, another ruler of the dead, Osiris (whose wife, Isis, was a lunar goddess), was cut into 14 different parts by Set, his dark brother.

In Islam, a religion where lunar symbolism plays an important role, there are 28 letters in the Arabic alphabet, 14 ‘solar letters’ and 14 ‘moon letters’. The Hurufis, working in the late 14th century, combined letter and number mysticism with physical attributes of the body and found that the words to depict hand and face (yad and wajh, respectively) both have a numerical value of 14. Another Islamic link to 14 is a Shiite reference to 14 innocent saints.

Similarly, In Christian lore, we hear of fourteen helping saints who assist in dangerous situations: kindness allied to reason. Various churches and monasteries were erected in medieval times to these heavenly helpers, the Vierzehnheiligen in Franconia being the best known.

These qualities may go some way to explain the potency of the number in the Temperance card in the Tarot. It is depicted as an angelic figure, pouring liquid from one vessel into another. Some have linked the figure to Aquarius, the water carrier, and to the Egyptian Hapi, god of the Nile; either way the symbolism contains elements of fruitfulness and inspiration. The word Temperance  in the tarot is used here in its alchemic sense (the right mix of ingredience in the right proportions at the right time – the hieros gamos, or sacred marriage). It might be relevant here to recall the story of the marriage of Cana, where Christ who transformed water into wine, as one of the meanings of Temperance is a deep balance, and transmutation of energies. We might also see it as replenishment of the conscious mind through creative interaction with the unconscious.

Number fourteen marks the completion of the Minors with the Kings of each suit. The Kings usually depict mature men – the emphasis being on attitude rather than age.

The King of Swords represents the detached, rational, intellectual male who dislikes emotional outbursts, staying detached if at all possible. He is difficult to get close to; if you’re in a relationship with someone like this you’ll find him at his best in games of strategy, looking down from his mountain-top and moving humans about like chess pieces. In older times he would be a warrior, while today he might be a philosopher, scientist, mathematician, politician.

The King of Cups, in contrast, is someone who understands the emotions. He may not find it easy to express his emotions, but he feels very deeply. He’s usually an older man, someone who has gone through the mill; he may be a divorcee, and often still has emotional baggage from previous relationships. He has drained his cup but still needs support, indeed negatively aspected he may be a bit of a parasite.  At his best, though, he is a warm, genuine, generous family man.

The King of Discs is strong, practical, and hierarchical. He is good with money, likes to deal with real-world issues, and is intelligent, acute, forceful and charming. He has a grounded physicality and assurance which is very attractive. Feelings of controlled sensuality and power emanate from him; he may well consciously generate these feelings for his own ends. He often lacks subtlety and imagination, but this is not a man to cross. Anyone trying to better him or take advantage of him might be advised to think again. His ruthless egotism and need to control can make him a dangerous enemy.

Finally, the King of Rods or Wands. As King of the creative suit and (in the Intuitive Tarot, the King of Air), he is equally as charming as the King of Discs but at his best has real depth and power. He has learned to ground his energy, through his staff (which symbolizes his inner vision, as well as his potency). He is perceptive, intuitive, and keenly self-aware; he could be a charismatic leader, teacher or spiritual searcher. However, negatively aspected he can be arrogant, manipulative, so sure of his own judgment that he becomes tyrannical. Alternatively he may become a shape-changer, never settling, never fulfilling his manifest destiny.

Of all the kings he is most aware of the unconscious and can work with it. Because of this understanding and talents this man can do great good – though you’ll have to be strong to keep up with him.

Fourteen: the Higher Helpers is a post from: Tarot Card Meanings - How They Can Help You Today

Fourteen: the Higher Helpers is a post from: Tarot Card Meanings - How They Can Help You Today

At a tarot cafe recently we were discussing the end of times (as one does – nothing like a tarot cafe to get some good discussions going). I decided to ask the tarot about this – is it going to be in 2012, as the end of the Mayan calendar seems to have indicate, or what is coming?

I drew one card, and three more fell out, so I read them all.

The Hermit. It doesn’t look like this is Armageddon. It does, however, look like we’re all going to have to do some soul-searching. This is about a withdrawal – from the rat race, from the status quo, and from the familiar. We follow our sole/soul light from the lantern, and go down into the dark, surrounded by fears of the unknown.

Most people will avoid this journey into themselves. We fill our lives with noise, with material things, houses and mortgages and cars, in order to avoid that dark place within. But – as we see from current society – the lack of substance that results is a soul-sickness which ultimately ends in some sort of a crash, a war or a plague, an enforced re-evaluation. You’d have thought that the recession, and all the other ills we’ve created, would have made us think, but no – still we carry on regardless.

The Wheel. There is a big shift coming though. We have reached the end of one cycle, and it’s time to move on to the next. Again, this is not Armageddon, it’s relatively gentle (far gentler than we deserve, I think). It is an opportunity to change our perceptions and thus improve our lives. We can rewrite the future if we change the way we see things – indeed, we must rewrite the future. We cannot go on the way we are.

What’s good (and a little surprising) about this is its apparent gentleness. This is not the Tower or Judgment. The Wheel is the cosmic cycle, the natural flow of things. Nevertheless, it is the end of an era and change will come – is coming, and our only choice is to move with it or fight it. Either way, the world will change.

Five of Cups. This is the card of grief, loss and sorrow. It’s not terminal – we will recover – but at the moment we need to stay with that grief.

Grief is not something we enjoy. Clients are often scared that you’ll tell them there are difficulties ahead. Actually, though, trying to avoid difficulties is worse than experiencing them. To live – to be alive – often means we have to feel. Again, as stated with the Hermit, most of the stuff we surround ourselves with is a means to avoid facing difficult emotions. Perhaps this is why we refuse to acknowledge the parlous state of the world.Here, though, it isn’t enough to acknowledge it – we’ve plenty of doom and gloom merchants rubbing our noses in it. But none of them actually express the pain and sadness we must all feel, at some level, about what we’ve done – and are still doing – to the earth and our fellow humans. If we can feel that – truly grieve for what we’ve accomplished – then we have a chance to move on into the future without destroying ourselves.

The Four of Cups. Is this looking further into the future, or is it again about the grief we need to feel right now about what we’ve done? The four is about satiety, passivity, draining energy (as a description of our current state of lassitude and apathy, this could not be bettered). It also points out that, although we have lost something precious (the overturned cup), we still have huge gifts being offered to us which we are ignoring. The world is still beautiful, still there, still our birthright. It’s up to us now. There are huge numbers of us who know things can’t go on, and if we banded together instead of feeling it is all too big and too awful, we could change the world.

The Four also indicates that there’s a need to clarify goals and identify what’s important to us, instead of bewailing what’s gone.

Gaia. To get a feel for the energy around us, and the protection and challenge for us now (with reference to the ‘End of Times’), I drew one of my Deva cards (http://www.devasofcreation.com). The Devas often cut to the heart of a question, and this was one of those times, as Gaia appeared (you have to look quite closely at this card to see Gaia herself – she’s in the centre at the top, her arms enfolding the world).

This is the crux of the question. At the time I read it as Gaia herself taking a hand in the story – she can choose at any time to shrug and say enough. In the last few days she’s coughed – or perhaps it was just a little burp (the volcano in Iceland) – and thousands of people are stranded away from home because the planes are grounded. She isn’t well, let’s face it – pollution, deforestation, water and oil running out because of our profligacy and greed. What happens when she really gets sick?

It’s time for us to wake up.

Tarot Meanings and the End of Times is a post from: Tarot Card Meanings - How They Can Help You Today

Tarot Meanings and the End of Times is a post from: Tarot Card Meanings - How They Can Help You Today