Tag Archives: Tarot

November 14, 2012 · 15:19

Fortune X

Fortune is often, incorrectly, interpreted as a change in fortune, hopefully for the better. This is a major Arcana card and is not concerned with such mundane issues as money and material fortune.

Consider the construction and obvious method of movement the wheel represents. The wheel is in perpetual motion, forward and reverse. If the wheel is not in form, then the progression is greatly impacted if not halted completely.
We are only as complete as our acceptance of new experiences. With each turn of the wheel; we are offered a choice and it is up to us whether or not we choose to roll with the punches, gain momentum and move forward.
The wheel rolls with or without us; we can delude ourselves into thinking events depend on us but the wheel will prove us the poor fool – the fool lacking in spiritual wealth. No one is as poor as the individual who lacks awareness and has no concept of potential.
In its most positive, Fortune represents someone who has deep self-knowledge and is always ready for whatever the next turn of the wheel presents, be it good or “notta-so-good”. This individual understands that every situation presents a chance to learn. If the card is placed in such a way as to not indicate a person but rather a potential event, something is in the wind for us. Check the surrounding cards for clues as to origin or potential.
In its shadow element, Fortune is willful stasis, fatalism and an unwillingness to search out self-awareness, knowledge. In other words, a thumbing of one’s nose at the fates/universe. Never a wise move but we all have free will, how and when we use it, depends on our acceptance of Fortune as the wheel.

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November 13, 2012 · 04:59

The Hermit IX

I love this card. This one, we can take at face value; The Hermit. He is telling us that it is time to take a break, to go into seclusion for a while.

Life is so complicated, so rushed that often, when in pursuit of our goals, we lose touch with ourselves on that all important inner level. The Hermit reminds us, in no uncertain terms, that we need to stop and re-access. While we may be acquiring things outwardly, we are not acquiring what we need inwardly. We aren’t wrong to have that outward goal but it can’t be at the expense of our inner light.

True success and personal growth can’t happen unless our progress is inner as well as outer. The deep person. The inner voice that speaks to us and reminds us that we are not the answer to the world’s/our employer/our S.O’s problems.

The Hermit manifests when, while we may seem to be busy little bees, “getting ‘er done“, we have a sense of superficiality to our lives. Something isn’t right, there’s an overwhelming sense of “Is this it? I have that new wide screen 3D state-of-the-art television but something is missing here…”

When we take the shadow side of the Hermit, he manifests this darker side as the desire to fill our lives with more THINGS, with more people, but the feeling persists. Something is missing.

And something is, we are multi-dimensional – we are a structure if you prefer. If we do not maintain the foundation, keep it in good repair, the other levels are weakened.

The Hermit wants us to take it all down a notch and re-evaluate our lives. He isn’t going to give you more material wealth, he isn’t going to clear the career path – he will help you to find something far more valuable. Yourself. He is there to remind us all, we were nothing and to nothing we will return. It isn’t depressing – it is a solid statement of fact, all the things in the world can’t change the inevitable. A huge bank balance can’t buy the inner happiness and peace that we all seek.

You can see the shadow side of the Hermit in many of the famous and infamous people who flood our newspapers, our televisions, sound systems and magazines; the ones who are always out there buying more and more, drinking more and more, carousing on grand levels until their castles built on clouds in the sky, start to fall to earth as do they.

They are searching; something isn’t right in their world. They have a gnawing need for more but haven’t clue #1 as to where these missing pieces of actual satisfaction can be found. In their fever to find this level of happiness that they thought would, magically, appear with fame and fortune, their own inner voices are becoming more and more faint, replaced by that overwhelming need to fill a void, to attain something…although they are not so sure about what the “something” might be. The desire for more, more, more becomes an overwhelming addiction. They are chasing the dragon.

They should serve as a lesson for all of us. These people who seem so much larger than life. They are simply balloons, blown up out of proportion, with no solid foundation or substance and when they leave, they will simply shrivel and disappear.

The Hermit can apply to relationships as well but not as often. If he appears in regard to a relationship issue, he indicates to us that either we need to find ourselves before committing to someone else or that the relationship, as it stands, requires more work on the foundation. Roses and dinners are fine but they don’t sustain us when we are alone, together. We must be able to connect on a far deeper level than just physical attraction and we can’t do that unless both parties are stable on all levels, conscious, sub-conscious and spiritual or the unseen, if you prefer.

If the Hermit graces your reading, take the step back, seclude yourself and re-assess what you are doing, in all facets of your life. Are you truly happy or are you just amassing the things that the material world tells you, will make you happy? Direct your goals to the less tangible. Find, nurture and maintain the inner self – the rest will, eventually, fall into place without taking over and forcing you to be the hamster on a wheel of perpetual motion.


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November 12, 2012 · 10:19

The Devil XV

*Synchronicity at its finest…I always have music playing when I write; a random playlist.  I am sitting here, putting my words together to start the piece and what starts to play?  The Number of the Beast – Iron Maiden; blew coffee on my monitor…too funny!”

The Devil.  The scapegoat of the religious and fearful.  The fall guy for the coward.  But, this isn’t his domain in Tarot and this card, perhaps above all others, requires that the reader approach without preconceived notions of the Devil.  Religion changes as the world moves forward.  The concept of the Devil must change as well. 

This card is the ultimate expression of irony.  We create our own realities, in this realm and thenm, we end up wailing, moaning and fighting against what WE created. 

The representation here shows the Devil as a goat, grinning out at us and he, absolutely, deserves that grin; our own concepts, our own magnum opus, is taking control.  The Art is on a rampage.  Instead of the masterpiece existing as our creation, it is now a dominating force.  

Consider Frankenstein and his monster – the initial dream, the theory was good but it quickly spiraled out of control devouring all sense of equilibrium, of our internal sense of balance.   

This is a loss of perspective.  We’ve created something and we’re now obsessed with making it bigger, larger and to hell with anyone standing in our way. (Pun not intended, just kind of happened).  In other words, we’ve lost sight of ourselves. 

It was all good and then suddenly, it has all gone all bad – out of control and there is no one to blame but us.  No scapegoat, no fall guy.  This is our own personification of the concept of the Devil but as he does not truly exist?  We must understand that we are to blame, we are our own Devil.  Creating our own monster.

The Devil dominates this realm and can allow us to completely enjoy the material and human desire but the risk of losing sight of perspective walks with the Devil, holding hands. The two are inseparable.  We embrace the creative energy of Art but must always guard against the creative force taking control and turning a situation at best or us, at its worst, a destructive force.

The Devil, in the Tarot, can be a really funny guy – he represents our own human desires but in balance and giggles away as we allow them to take control, thereby becoming our own “devil” per se.

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November 10, 2012 · 11:22

Adjustment VIII

You go when the cards call you, hence, the “two-fer”.

The Chariot tells us we are on the right track and moving forward. Adjustment tempers that gung-ho environment by reminding us that we have to tune things up, regularly; tighten the bolts, examine the chassis for fault lines, make sure the our steeds are healthy and strong and do a thorough check of the wheels.

Human beings are often off-balance and we should all take a few moments, every day to ensure that we are as tuned up to move ahead as we can be. Freud illustrated the mind’s balance using the precept of the Id, the Ego and the Super-Ego. The Id is all about want – the Ego is all about making the Id happy but does his best to show the Id the pro’s and the cons of this “I WANT!” thing through reality checks. The Super-Ego is the conscience. The Super-Ego expects the Ego to do its job with the Id and prevent narcissistic choices based on the Id’s attempts at immediate gratification. Sometimes the Id gets out of whack and dumb choices are made simply because we WANT.

For example:

  1. Buying the pair of shoes we cannot afford and in an amount that would pay a week’s groceries,
  2. The fling with the co-worker even though we have a S.O. in our lives.
  3. The “one for the road” while we are fully aware that this will put us over legal limits.

These are common examples of the Id pushing its way past the Ego and duct taping the Super-Ego’s mouth shut however, luckily for us, in these instances, when all parts are functioning as a workable personality unit – the Ego would come along and gently pull the Id aside for a word:

  1. Come on now, these are way too expensive and we need to fill the larder. The cupboard is bare. The shoes may go on sale and if we put a little aside, we can buy them later.
  2. Not a good plan, old chum. This can lead to all sorts of problems. This is betrayal. The S.O. would be devastated. What if the fling is the Fatal Attraction type? Getting one off is not worth blowing up our home life. Stop, think and maybe we should walk away from this one.
  3. Another one would taste good, for sure, but if we get into that car, we can get into big trouble. We could well lose our driving privilege. We’ll have to take that shoe money and pay for that “one more” to the nth degree. This is breaking the law and really? We could always have that “one more” in the safety of our home.

The Super-Ego is the conscience that sits in judgment of the two buddies – Id and Ego. He is the one that can annoy us the most – he’s “I TOLD YOU SO!!” The voice we really don’t want to hear.

So Adjustment tells us to make sure our three personality parts are getting along. The Id perfectly welcome to his/her I WANT…after all, if we don’t want, then we don’t strive forward. The Ego allows us to determine if that “want” is viable and keeps the Id as choice as opposed to action. The Super-Ego holding watch and not getting too holier than thou, allowing for choices based on sound decision making principles before pronouncing judgment.

All forward motion requires us to ensure that we are on the right path and we haven’t deviated at all, through selfishness, greed or any other less than stellar impulse. This is the card of being reasonable and balanced in all aspects of life, from our work-a-day to personal relationships, even our health. This is tune-up card, a reminder card that we aren’t all that and a bag of chips – that we need regular rest stops in order to check our personal maps and make damn sure we’re still heading forward, on the right road.

In the shadows of Adjustment is the Super-Ego taking over and creating, in us, self-righteousness. Or the Id, causing us to make stupid choices based on unbridled want, un-tempered desire. It’s the decision taken purely because it is to our advantage with the knowledge that it places others at a disadvantage, purposely. It is narcissism at its finest. ME AND MY WANTS are more important that the right choice.

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November 10, 2012 · 09:39

Chariot VII

I like this card. This is the path found. Moving forward, with strength and determination, confident that the universe is unfolding as it should and the individual has his/her place in the cosmic play.

The “found” self with a plan, set in motion. This isn’t an esoteric designation per se – it is a material card. Found self has balanced out and found the road to be travelled and is doing so with courage and fortitude. This card tell us the we can overcome all obstacles, the inner shadows the prevent us from growing, the dark sides of our psyche that keeps us tethered in place, can be harnessed and used to fuel the, absolutely, necessary forward motion of self. Those big wheels will keep us rolling as long as we have our road planned out before us. This is a card of success – homework done, preparations completed and off we go!!!

Trouble is indicated if the card is ill-defined in its placement because Chariot can also show us a situation that is steamrolling ahead with no plan and as a result, the journey will end badly. The wheels will fall off this particular trolley. The trip was not properly planned out, the Chariot runs roughshod over anything in its path until that path either throws up an immovable object or the path simply disappears into oblivion – the Chariot and rider falling into the abyss.

Most of us have had the Chariot, in its ill-defined placement, carry us off. This isn’t a kidnapping. We allow ourselves to be carried off. This is the situation where people beat their breasts and cry out that “Things just escalated!!” The consequences are not their fault! Oh yes; yes – I’m afraid they are. This is impulse, unimpeded by common sense or logic. Going off half-cocked, to battle, with an empty holster and bare ass hanging out; impulse. There is a difference between being spontaneous and being an impulsive knothead. The Chariot warns us of the difference. Spontaneity can be the excellent paintjob on the Chariot, the streamers or cool reins to the horse but impulsiveness in the Chariot without a proper circle check – the bolts not tightened or the reins uneven. A stone in the hoof of our horses that will bring the journey to an abrupt halt, all because we didn’t move forward with thought and logic. Crash and burn.

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November 9, 2012 · 21:16

The Lovers VI

This one is tricky. When someone sees this in their reading, right away the breath hitches and the eyes get starry – a tall dark stranger is on the way! Hold on up there, Hoss. The Lovers, like all the cards in a deck and particularly the Thoth deck, is complex and multi-dimensional representation.

The interpretation is totally reliant on the position of the card in the spread; the cards that “surround” the Lovers must be taken into consideration.

Looking at the card, there is the joining of the forces – the light and the dark. In the corners of this card stands Lillith and Eve; the light and dark side of the feminine and the message that love is balanced as are all things above, on and below our awareness. Love has to be tempered with this balance, otherwise we may end up with obsession or if too much of the light – we can see our partner through rose coloured glasses, a projection of what we want the individual to be as opposed to reality. Or worse, turn ourselves into martyrs for love or the need for love. Love, itself, is not a fantasy or dream state; it is a viable emotion but one that must be tempered with logic and rationale.

This balance, when the card appears in such a way as to not pertain to a relationship, indicates the need for clear headed decision with all factors weighed. An emotional response to a life situation is not a bad thing, as long as it has been examined rationally. Yes, this is entirely possible and is the best way to make this sort of decision. Cold logic is not conducive to a successful personal or interpersonal life. One must always temper emotion with logic and logic with emotion. The balance, the twins coming together.

In the area of relationships or the search for a soul mate, the Lovers remind us that in order to be two, we must be one first. In other words, we have to understand ourselves, our inner being otherwise we risk projecting what we want on to someone else and end up disappointed when they don’t live up to or rather mirror the image we have created. The Lovers are one, that come together to be two with deep understanding of each other but each as an individual as well.

The lighter side of the Lovers will indicate free will and decision based on the joining of the heart and the head – not one to the exclusion of the other.

The darker side of the Lovers is particularly nasty – obsession and projection of self/desire onto someone else – this would be common in a stalking situation. Someone who has unreal expectations of another, setting them on a pedestal and then reacting badly when it becomes obvious that the individual is simply human. This is an ill-conceived decision card, warning the individual that more balance needs to be injected.

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November 8, 2012 · 05:53

The Hierophant V

The Hierophant is the deeper meaning card. He is belief. He is the representation of the continual search for the higher purpose. He recognizes higher purpose in all situations, in all events – he knows that these things have hidden meanings that need to be searched out, examined and applied to belief.

He tells us to always look below the surface, never to take anything at face value. The material that we search out, in our daily lives, is of far lesser importance than the higher goals. Every event has a deeper meaning, a lesson that we may learn to become more spiritually aware. He is a priest – a teacher, the shaman or wise man/woman. He shows us the way but will not lead us there until we are able to understand the journey.

In relationships, he can indicate the soul mate or if he is ill-placed, someone who is not true to our basic moral foundations, our spiritual selves or a situation that places our higher self in jeopardy, a job perhaps that demands less than ethical behaviour or pushes us to become shallow and material minded.

He expects us to manifest our inner selves to shine outwards. He is that never ending search for the larger truths. A card of realization and meaning. The spiritual sought after and revealed.

In a material situation – he tells us to look deeper. To understand why we want what we want and to determine if this want is based on shallow purpose or this desire has the capability to elevate our consciousness. Making us better people.

Should his placement in a spread be less than favourable – he can represent intolerance and an esoteric arrogance, the fundamentalist without true understanding, regardless of the belief system. He shows us that scales cover the eyes and need to be removed to see the real or whole picture in a situation.

He is the false leader, the individual with the diplomas on the wall but no real concept of what has been learned. The information memorized but not understood.

The self-proclaimed expert or guru. Ill-placed, he is a danger to our deeper selves and this makes him a dangerous threat.

On the light side, he is a true mentor or a wonderful opportunity to dig deep and widen our understanding of what lies below our surface, the surface of a life event or help us to recognize a soul mate, to become a better soul mate.


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November 7, 2012 · 05:11

The Emperor IV

(Yesterday’s installment was delayed by external forces.)

The Emperor. The Father figure. Good or bad, depending on your life experience with your own father. He has two sides and the smart Emperor knows when and how to apply both. He is the human male archetype. The realist, the logic driven personality. The protector. Where the Empress is art in the abstract, the Emperor is the architect – beauty in the linear. Both have their merits but one cannot be permitted to exclude the other and both attempt to do just that, in their shadow manifestations – their dark sides, if you will.

The Emperor may be telling us to think with our heads and not our hearts. This is applicable in life, love and the work environment. Perhaps our job is pissing us off in lumps and our instinct is to tell the boss “Take this job and shove it.” The Emperor warns us that this is never a good plan. A good plan is based on planning – perhaps stockpiling some money away so that should we decide that we’ve had enough, we won’t end up at the food bank. Scruples are necessary to life but so too, is eating.

Order is his watchword – perhaps the individual has too many pokers in the fire. He tells us to pull a few out and concentrate on one. Jack of all trades but master of none is not his purview. He is of the mind that if you choose a job, you do it properly, you do it well. You should never be ashamed to attach your name to it. He is security and structure. Stability and continuity. Responsibility and a trustworthy character, a courageous leader.

This card is the logical brain speaking when placed in a positive light; again, the interpretation is reliant upon the Emperor’s relationship with other cards in the spread.

The shadow or dark side of the Emperor is the authoritarian parent who brooks no argument, no compromise. He sees the world as being an attacking force on his, carefully, constructed existence and will fight to the death, even when, quite obviously, wrong. He can’t see the other side of the coin, particularly if it is of the emotional or creative bent. He can be despotic in his relationships to others. His logic, his linear line of being can become a prison. He is of closed mind.

He can represent a point of view – unbending, unable to compromise or “walk in someone else’s shoes.”

In a more creative interpretation – the Empress is the natural world, the tree hugger and the Emperor is necessary industry. They can work together but it takes much compromise and empathy from both.

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November 5, 2012 · 08:33

The Empress III

The Empress. Now, this card is of the down to earth variety. The Empress domain is that of the earth mother sort and all that this encompasses. She is human love or the need thereof, she is growth – touch, feel, fertility – giving life. She is abundance and sensuality. She represents security or again, the need for security. Safety. She is the Earth Mother symbol.

On the down side – the Empress – again, depending on her placement and the influences surrounding her in a spread, can show all those earthly vices and failures in character, like greed, selfish indulgence, avarice – the infertile personality – barren and devoid of caring and empathy. Laziness, apathy, pointless promiscuity. Earthly and human characteristics.

The Empress is the feminine – she is strength through love and support. She is the foundation, the very essence of physical life and mutual existence. “The hand that rocks the cradle and behind every man” type of thing – woman as the true strength in life, love and family.

She can represent a new addition to a family or a new opportunity centered around the tangible. Think creative or creation and you have the Empress. Think of total destruction, rending of foundations and again, you have the Empress. She is a wonderful force and a terror of magnitude.

The Empress is the life source. The incredible power of the natural world to create but also to destroy…absolutely. The cycle of life is embodied in the Empress; often, something must die in order for something else to live. So she is that complete cycle. She tells us of continual growth, that we must continue to grow. We need to tap into the natural world for inspiration. Without growth, there is only death, there is only a barren existence. Nothingness.

She embodies nature at its most beautiful and if one is not careful and respectful? Nature at its most catastrophic. Be careful how you deal and interpret the Empress – for all her wonder, she can reduce even the most powerful to dust.

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November 3, 2012 · 10:09

Magus – I

This is the Magus. He has chosen his direction; he has a goal and will achieve it. The Magus can be blinded by his intent of direction and goal however. He can be narcissistic when his shadow nature is permitted to take over.

The Magus is that first decisive step – he steps forward with intent and directed purpose. He sees what he wants and he is convinced that he is strong enough to attain it. He is willing to act, unlike his predecessor, The Fool. He is realization, manifesting the result through his will to succeed.

This is a good thing and of course, a bad thing. He has established a strong concept of his direction, of his idea of attainment – he has the energy, he has the strong will and isn’t afraid to work toward it but on the other hand, sometimes he can blind himself. He can become the ego on two feet. He can be aggressive to a fault. The Magus, when in his shadow self or his dark side, can be prone to misuse his power, his influence over others. The goal can quite possibly become the need to satisfy himself immediately. He is “I WANT!”

So before nurturing the Magus side in our personalities, it is important to remember to be grounded and aware. Ambition is a good thing but needs to be tempered with self-awareness.

A true Magus is honest and open, good people will love him for these qualities, but these same qualities can create many enemies who have embraced their shadow selves.

So how would this be interpreted in a spread?  Well, I’ll have to generalize because the impact or significance of the Magus would need to be analyzed by the relationship to other cards in the spread.  The overall picture, if you will.  The Magus can be the individual for whom you are reading, in which case, gentle reminders to temper the “Full Steam Ahead!” tendency with thought as to who may be adversely impacted.

The Magus can indicate the need to have confidence in a decision, (as this is a Trump or Major Arcana card) that must be made for the individual’s benefit.  Again, depending on the spread, the Magus can also indicate that this type of individual, this Magus will have or is having an influence on the life of your subject (often referred to as the querent).  A quick look to the surrounding cards can tell you if this Magus is a good Magus or the other type, the egomaniac – the narcissist or the “Stalker” personality.


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