DEVIL DOG

By Judy Jennings © Copyright 2012

What’s the best way to learn the meanings of the cards?

To be honest, that’s a trick question.  In our study group, we read, compare decks, and discuss endless variations in the ways people interpret each triumph.  Contemplation, intuition, and time spent all play a role in learning the Tarot.  Ultimately, though, there’s no substitute for personal experience.  Take the story of the devil dog, for example.

Devil Dog came to me when he was a year old.  “He’s half-Pug!” my friend Vicki said excitedly, describing the foster she’d just brought home from the dog park.  He’d already been adopted from the Humane Society, she explained, but apparently it didn’t work out.  “He’s really cute.  I wonder why that man was going to take him back?” she mused.  “His name is Diablo.”

When I met the devil dog I was immediately smitten, sucker for one of the cutest faces I’ve ever seen, and optimistically changed his name to Shadow when I adopted him.  That was Vicki’s idea, actually.  “It sounds sort of the same at the end, so it should be an easy transition for him,” she advised.  “And it’s not so dark.”

As it turns out, Shadow’s other half appears to be Beelzebub.  He’s my own small version of “the World’s Worst Dog” from the book “Marley And Me” by John Grogan.  He will eat your dinner right off your plate, pulls food off the counter, and knows how to open the refrigerator door.  He bursts out the front door every chance he gets, and is sociopathically reactive to large dogs, particularly German Sheperds.  Once on a walk, he tried to attack a Seeing Eye dog. 

I know what you’re thinking.  “It’s never the dog, it’s always the owner” is something I believed, too, until I met Shadow.  But let’s not quibble.  The point is what happened recently after The Sun turned up for me as the outcome in a quick four-card reading for the day.

Shadow has given me the slip in a variety of ways over the past five years.  One of the most dramatic was his escape from a Pug Halloween party over or through a six-foot fence, while the other seventeen (real) Pugs in attendance clustered around their people in hopes of food.  A search of the grounds had just started up in earnest when I got a call from a neighbor three blocks down the street.  “He trotted into my apartment like he owns the place,” the woman told me.  Through the kindness of strangers and the foresight of a pet ID tag, the devil dog has been rescued on various occasions after dashing into traffic, running away on Thanksgiving, and popping in uninvited at the group home down the street.  Shadow loves people and will gladly allow any friendly stranger to detain him, so he’s happily hopped into people’s cars or in one case, been carried home upside down like a baby.  (When I saw them approach, he wasn’t even squirming.)  The one thing the devil dog will not do if he is on the loose, however, is to allow me to come within three feet of him.

I pulled The Sun one morning last week before going to work.  It was the fourth card in a series of four, representing the way my day would ultimately manifest.  By 5:30, however, my feet hurt, my back was sore, a customer had shaken a box of candied fruit in my face because she felt the price was too high, and my nerves were on their last jangle.  What had happened to the happy, blessed day I’d felt so entitled to after turning up The Sun? 

It only took a moment after arriving home for the devil dog to set that idea straight.  Although I joke about it, I know that if Shadow keeps getting away from me like that, one of these escapades will most likely be his last.  So when he unexpectedly pushed between my legs as I came in the door (a move he’d never made before), my heart rose up into my throat.  Instantly the pitch-black Shadow vanished into the dark and I ran after him in despair, knowing I’d never catch him.  Intervention was my only hope.  I caught a glimpse of the devil dog rounding the corner ahead, and tried to hurry up.  Suddenly I heard a voice.

“I’ve got him!” Vicki was calling.  Sure enough, as I made the turn, there was Shadow, sitting politely at my neighbor's feet.  Help was there exactly when and where I needed it that evening.  Before that, I would have associated that kind of fortuitous coincidence only with the Wheel of Fortune.  Now, my understanding of The Sun will forever embrace the idea of Serendipity.

That’s how you learn the meaning of the cards.  You live them.    

THE HERMIT: THE EVOLVED PERSONALITY

By Judy Jennings © Copyright 2012

The ninth major arcana represents the personality at the pinnacle of development.  Ascending the heights of the mountain of the Great Work has not always been easy, but all of the tools gained during progression through the realms of earlier triumphs are now at hand as the Happy Traveler arrives to take up the Light at the summit.  Wrapped in a gray cloak of Wisdom and offering the illumination of Truth to others on the same path, The Hermit commands all of the powers of The Magician, as evidenced by the glowing wand that creates a direct channel between Heaven and Earth.

Tarot de Marseilles

Unlike some of the other major arcana, symbolism in the The Hermit is minimal, limited primarily to the Wand, lantern, robe and mountain.  A symbol, in relation to the Tarot, is an image that defines a particular kind of energy.  When we talk about symbolism, therefore, we are discussing energies, rather than abstract ideas.  The energy described in The Hermit is that of a learned person who has withdrawn from the material world and its petty preoccupations, but is still eager to share with other seekers.  Spiritual retreat is also suggested.

Jungian Tarot

In numerology, 9 is the number of completion.  In Tarot,  major arcana 0 through 9 outline the qualities of a healthy personality, culminating in The Hermit.  With the introduction of the tenth triumph, The Wheel of Fortune, the eye of Tarot turns from personal development to broader cosmic influences.  The Hermit, then, is the conclusion of a very personal series of cards, each of which represents a different state of mind.  The psychologically fit Traveler is someone who has integrated all of these qualities into the personality.  Remember, however, that there are three possible types of expression for the energies that are described in the triumphs:  Integration, Equilibrium, and Disintegration.

Jean Dodal Tarot

In its most positive expression, The Hermit represents a state of mind where personal and universal consciousness merge, resulting in a sense of profound meaning.  The
Traveler transcends the normal trappings of human consciousness and becomes One With All That Is.  Race, gender, status, politics and dogma are meaningless in this state of mind, part of a world the Traveler has moved beyond.

Thoth

Practical application associates a strong sense of self-reliance with The Hermit.  A person represented by this card in a reading will be unselfish, unassuming, helpful and dependable.  This is a calm and precise person, possibly a scientist or researcher.  Other people look to this person for guidance.  A mentor might be indicated.  In some situations a Spirit-renewing retreat or vacation may be encouraged. 

Deviant Moon Tarot

Other times this card can suggest a sense of isolation.  If ill-dignified or reversed, The Hermit might refer to bad advice, excessive solitude, or denial.

In its finest expression, however, the energies found in The Hermit are full of joy and satisfaction, even mystical experience.  The Hermit is the goal of the journey that began in The Fool.  Both represent the same Higher Source.  In The Hermit, we find the Traveler with great meaning at hand and a youthful Spirit in heart. 

STRENGTH: LOVE TRANSFORMS THE BEAST WITHIN

By Judy Jennings © Copyright 2012

Ruled by fiery Leo and assigned the Hebrew letter Teth, meaning “snake”, Strength is the energetic eighth major arcana in the Rider-Waite pack.  Qabalists assign the sense of taste and the function of digestion to the letter Teth, while Leo governs the side, back, heart and spinal column.  Paul Case writes in relation to this card that “Regulation of diet is at the bottom of practical magic”.  Many modern health practitioners say the same is true for healing, as well.

The implication of serpent-power links Strength directly to The Magician.  In the Layout of Three Worlds, major arcana 1-21 are laid out in three horizontal rows of seven cards.  In this layout Strength rests immediately below The Magician, forming a connection between the first set, the World of the Higher Mind, and the material realm of the second set.  The second set addresses ways in which to bring the higher qualities of the first set into our daily lives.  Notice that The Magician’s belt is a serpent biting its own tail, signifying endless transformation.  The aspects found in The Magician carry over into Strength.

The energy of Serpent-power is vast.  Meanings include astral light, cosmic electricity, universal life principle, conscious energy, secrecy, subtlety, wisdom, redemption, salvation, reincarnation, regeneration, immortality, illusion, and endless transformation and conversion.  Did I miss anything?

Notice also the Infinity symbol over the heads of The Magician and the woman in Strength.  The meaning of the Strength card is made clear by the mutual figure eights and the association of the serpent.  The state of mind expressed in Strength is one where the personality faces the world with all of the forces of The Magician in hand, as the attention of the Tarot begins to turn to the manifestation of Spirit in the material realm.

The background in this version shows an open plain, suggesting conditions of nature rather than those of human construction.  The mountain carries the same meaning it did the first time it appeared in The Lovers, a reference to the Great Work.  The woman’s yellow hair identifies her with The Empress, ultimately Venus, and therefore with creative imagination.  The crown of flowers on her head signifies life in the organic form, while her white robe suggests a pure state of mind.  The chain of roses around her waist represents the artistic adaptation of desire, one of the most important qualities of this triumph.  “When we learn how to weave our desires together into a chain, rejecting all desires which are incompatible with our main purpose, and co-ordinating those we do decide upon as fitting to our purpose, we shall be able to make wonderful applications of creative imagination to the control and direction of the serpent-power”.  –Paul Foster Case. 

While the allusion to the serpent is a sign of connection to higher power, the presence of the King of Beasts represents not only human base instinct, but the consciousness of the animal kingdom.  In the Rider-Waite version it appears that the woman may be pressing the mouth of the lion closed, but the idea of suppression is far off-track from the true meaning of Strength.  In all older decks and many modern versions, the woman is opening the mouth of the beast, an action that suggests giving voice and conscious human direction to these forces.  The message of the eighth triumph celebrates a coalition between higher consciousness, raw instinct, and the natural world. It is Love that is the ruling force in Strength, for love is always triumphant, not only over hate, but over indifference as well!

In a reading, this triumph might refer to a healer or benevolent leader.  A person represented by Strength will be an excellent judge of character and realistic in their expectations of others, not easily fooled.  This is someone with high standards and a sense of determination.  Other traits are self-assurance, sincerity, warmth, affection and protectiveness.  This is an expressive personality, someone who is cultured, refined and artistic.  Other meanings might include a situation that calls for a compassionate approach, or one that requires the seeker to draw from deep inner resources.

I’ll leave you today with another quote on the forces of Strength from Paul Case:  “When we assimilate the hostile, destructive, dangerous, wild forces in nature to the use of mankind, we add to those forces the quality of human consciousness…What matters, therefore, is the kind of patterns we set.  Our mental patterns are determined by self-conscious interpretation of experience.  Let observation and attention (the Magician) be faulty, superficial, negative or fearful and the resulting sequence of subconscious reactions is bound to be destructive.  Thus the spoken word and unuttered speech of thought (the Chariot) will be vehicles for a destructive pattern, and we shall set wild beasts at our own vitals.  Change the pattern, and you change the result.  Make it accurate, profound, courageous, positive.  Then you tame the lion, and he becomes your servant.”

THE CHARIOT: PURSUIT OF THE GREAT WORK

By Judy Jennings © Copyright 2012

The triumphant seventh trump in the Rider-Waite deck is packed with symbolism representing a personality actively engaged in pursuit of the Great Work.  The attributes of the previous six major arcana have been integrated, and the seeker has gained awareness of the personality as a sort of fenced-in area where Universal forces are in motion.  Terrestrial and celestial energies are working together to bring about the manifestation of ideas from the subconscious mind.  The power of Synergy, defined as the cooperation of two agents to produce a combined effect that is greater than the sum of their separate efforts, resonates in The Chariot. 

Tarot de Marseilles

The powers of Speech and Language are also closely associated with this card.  The buildings and fence in the background represent human adaptation of the natural world, and the fence is a specific reference to language and speech.  These constructions suggest accomplishment through a high level of communication.  The correct choice of words can be a matter of consideration when The Chariot appears, as can matters of control, safety and refuge.

Thoth 

A person represented by The Chariot in a reading is a caring individual, sensitive to feelings and understanding of all types of human conditions.  Psychic ability may also be suggested.  This is a dynamic personality with the ability to hold a family or group together.

Tarot of the Siddhe

Often The Chariot will refer to a situation in a reading, rather than to a personality.  At times this card will mark an accomplishment, refer to a possibility for advancement, or cast a favorable light on moving ahead with a project or idea.  The astrological sign associated with The Chariot is Cancer, ruled by the Moon.  Accordingly, it is the Warrior Goddesses Athena, Artemis, Diana and Dike who accompany The Chariot, indicating, if well-dignified, a time for great confidence! 

But what if the cards surrounding The Chariot are troubled or reversed?  A struggle or conflict might be suggested, possibly involving personal safety.  There are almost certainly power and control issues in play.  There may be momentum working against you.  The worst possible scenario is a Chariot careening out of balance and out of control, a life held hostage to movement lacking in direction and devoid of meaning.

Dragon Tarot

Although I didn’t realize it until recently, The Chariot has been my personal card for almost a year.  The more I think about it, the more sense it makes.  This has been a year of motion for forces both around me and within.  My job environment, health, finances, happiness, creativity and relationships have all gone through changes and gained momentum in this past year.  Some of that has been wonderful and some difficult, but when I look back, it all adds up to one of the most profound years of my life.  Tarot has been an anchor of positive energy throughout, a navigational tool of sorts, helping me to remain calm and maintain perspective along the way. 

Herbal Tarot

The words of Holly Near, singer/songwriter and political activist, succinctly sum up the spirit of The Chariot, no matter what your age.  Addressing a crowd of Baby Boomers earlier this year, referring to a police action on an Occupy! movement encampment, Near issued this stirring challenge to her aging audience:  “Get out your canes and your walkers.  Get your wheelchairs rolling!  Get yourselves out there and put yourselves in between our young people and harms way!”  It turned out, as Near tells it, that the police cancelled the 11 p.m. raid that night for fear of inciting a riot, but as one young Occupy! organizer put it, “At 10:45 all these old people showed up.  It was awesome!”  Apparently some of those folks haven’t been the same since.  The Chariot, whether it be about the strength of your personality or a metaphor for a placard-wielding wheelchair warrior, is a card about forces in motion and a sense of purpose.  It heralds energetic movement in an enlightened direction, and celebrates the triumph of civilization over savagery.

It’s easy to figure out your card for the year, by the way, you simply add up all the numbers in your birthday plus the year.  The sum of 01-01-2012, in my case, is seven, hence The Chariot.  You can figure out your life card the same way, using your year of birth instead of the current year.  If your birth number is double-digit, reduce it again.  21, for example, becomes 3.  A birth number that corresponds to two major arcana like that means you have an inner and an outer life.  You show one face to the world but wear another at home.

Meditate on The Chariot to summon the idea of Success.

ALICE'S RELATIONSHIP LAYOUT

By Judy Jennings © Copyright 2012

One of the great things about getting together with other people to discuss the open-ended topic of the Tarot is that I learn something new every time.  That’s not just a figure of speech, because I say it after a year of meetups where I’ve walked away from all 27 with a new thought in my head each time.  Many thanks for that!

This week, Alice taught a new layout that’s specifically about relationships.  It can be any kind of relationship.  It might be with another person, but not necessarily.  One could also use this layout to examine a relationship with a job or a pet, for instance.  The subject of the reading yesterday was about the relationship between two fictional characters in a developing novel.  Even though this layout is unusually specific in its perspective, there’s a wide range of creative applications. 

There are nine initial cards in this layout.  After the shuffle and cut, three cards are placed to the left, and then another group of three on the right.  At this point, the seeker decides which set represents who.  Once that’s made clear, another three cards are laid out above the two existing sets, known as the bridge.  The card on the left is about the character represented by the three cards on the left below, while the card on the right is symbolic of the other.  The middle card references the dynamic between the two, and all three together tell a story about the relationship.

This layout is different from many not only because of the pattern of the cards and its specific focus on relationships, but because it draws heavily on a story-telling approach.  Much emphasis is placed on the body language of the characters on the cards, and whether they are looking toward or away from each other.  In the reading shown above, we see two Knights facing each other across the Ace of Pentacles.  This might tell the story of two entrepreneurs with different business styles who are about to start a joint venture, for example, or two travelers starting out on a journey together.

The two characters shown below share common interests, but the one on the right is more cerebral than the other, and probably more of an idealist.  The character on the left is a happy, outgoing person with strong connections to friends and community, and plans that have already been set in motion.  Their counterpart on the right has some exciting projects that are moving towards completion, and which are likely to involve young people.  As you practice this layout keep the storytelling aspect close at hand, it’s an essential component for the reading.

This layout is a specialist in the field of interactions, especially useful when you seek clarity about how you relate to someone or something.  As in any reading, more information may be revealed by turning up another card that has reference to a card already in the reading.   After this is done, you may want to conclude the reading by laying out three more cards directly above the bridge.  Consider these final cards not as part of the story, but rather, as a last bit of advice from a Higher Source.

Practice on yourself and your friends, if they’re interested.  (Make sure to tell them it’s PRACTICE if you do.)  Take pleasure in discovering your own particular knack for developing the stories, and enjoy the moment when you realize you now have confidence in this new layout!

THE MERRY LOVERS!

By Judy Jennings © Copyright 2012

Rider-Waite

Meaning is multi-faceted in The Lovers, as it is in all major arcana, but in The Lovers we find exceptional versatility. Whatever deck you usually prefer, the symbolism used in the Rider-Waite illustration is worthy of a few moments of close consideration because of the very specific messages contained within.

Haindl Tarot

The angel Raphael has taken different guises in the Tarot through the ages, including that of the mere Cupid, but in this classic RW interpretation, the angel of the air is an important emissary of the Radiant Solar Energy represented by the Sun in the background.  Translated from Hebrew, Raphael literally means “God heals”, and in Islam this angel is Israfel, blower of the trumpet.  Recognition in three major world religions lends a powerful credential to the importance of the symbolism of Raphael in the sixth triumph.  Raphael symbolizes Superconsciousness, and suggests a connection between the forces found in this card and the state of unlimited possibility found in The Fool.  The discussion of Superconsciousness that began in he preceding Hierophant continues here, as well. 

Russian Tarot Of St. Petersburg

The presence of the angel in relation to the positions of the figures below contains an essential lesson about the nature of the human psyche:  We cannot look directly on the face of the Divine.  To enter higher consciousness, one must channel the conscious mind to turn to the subconscious, where it is possible to discern messages and clues.  In the sixth triumph, Raphael radiates a promise that the seeker who approaches in this manner will be answered in a voice that is larger than just one’s own.  Harmony between the inner and outer lives is the prevailing message of The Lovers.

Mythic Tarot

It is here that the Great Work is introduced, symbolized by the mountain.  The potential for every person to create something that is greater than the personality is a vital component of The Lovers.  The Great Work is specifically referred to by the mountain seven times in the major arcana.  It can be illuminating to consider the cards together; lay out triumphs 6, 8 (Strength), 9, 14, 17, 20, and 0.  What do they have in common?

The nudes are another symbol that appears five times in the major arcana.  The last four are contained in the final few triumphs, after the personality and life experience have been well established, while the naked Lovers burst early onto the scene of personality development, demonstrating that an open heart and mind are vital for a healthy psyche.

The trees behind the Lovers hold some interesting meanings, as well.  The lush garden setting is evocative of Eden, and therefore, the man of Adam.  Behind him, a tree with twelve flaming fruits represents the signs of the Zodiac and the personality types associated with each one.  Three branches of each flame indicate the possibility for three different types of expression, or ultimately, 36 different types of personalities.  On Eve’s side, the apple tree suggests the five senses, although in the RW version, only 4 are shown.  This Garden of Eden symbolism also brings up the idea of Eve’s Choice.  Perhaps that’s where the fifth apple went.  The idea of choices, and whether they be for good or for ill, has long been closely associated with The Lovers.

Zombie Tarot

The idea of marriage is frequently a possibility when The Lovers appears in a reading.  Mary Greer writes that The Lovers has to do with relationships of any kind, and that it associates “the cards on either side in a reading in balance or attraction”.  She also emphasizes that the personality found in The Lovers is able to apply “the moral responsibilities learned in the Hierophant to human interactions”.  This card could represent a successful love relationship, or a group that works together harmoniously.  Six is the number that is most in balance with all other numbers, and social consciousness is a strong quality of this triumph.

Connolly Tarot Deck

A person represented by The Lovers will have a cheerful, positive attitude and the virtue of patience.  A good listener, this is an intelligent person who radiates warmth, sensitivity, and kindness.  The ability to settle disputes may be suggested, as well as a love of domesticity.  This is someone who is in touch with both the creative and intellectual aspects of their personality. 

Meditate on The Lovers to strengthen the spirit of Cooperation.

Give some thought to your own Great Work.

Many thanks to Killian for sharing her great collection of Tarot decks!

Gilded Tarot

Medicine Woman Tarot

Modern-Medieval Tarot

Touchstone Tarot

 

OPEN MINDS AND HIDDEN TALENTS

By Judy Jennings © Copyright 2012

Someone asked me recently how many different ways there are to do a Tarot reading?  That’s like trying to count the stars in the sky, or more to the point, like trying to guess the number of people who have ever consulted the cards.  It’s sort of like a fingerprint, everybody has their own style. 

Take the French woman in our Tarot Meetup, for instance.  “I used to read the cards professionally,” Giselle told us, “but I do not like to read them for myself, that is why I came to this group.  When I was doing them professionally, the shop owner would ask the client first what kind of reading they wanted.  If they wanted uplifting and motivational, he did not send them to me.  Once,” she confided, “a woman ran out of the room shouting after her reading, she was so angry!  But the next day she came back to tell the shopkeeper that everything I said had come true.”  How dark could she be, I wondered, when some of the cards are so unwaveringly positive?  Do they not speak for themselves? 

Next, Giselle demonstrated how to get your personal life card, as well as a card for the year, through numerological reduction.  My card for next year, coming up soon with my birthday in January, is Strength.  I was thrilled, because I love that card.  It speaks to me of compassion and self-discipline, and the triumph of love over hate and indifference.  “This will be very difficult,” announced

Giselle.  Her reply to my question was a swift stroke of prophetic insight.  “Well,” she intoned, “you will become stronger because you will somehow manage to survive.”

Suffice it to say that the same cards in the exact same layout will turn out to have different implications if interpreted by Giselle and myself.

I once visited a web site with a slogan posted emphatically at the top of the page that read “We guarantee no one will ever be frightened by anything we say regarding the cards”.  Whew!  Is that really necessary?  Personally, I didn’t feel the need to run shouting from Giselle’s interpretation of my card for next year, because I know that the truth of what she saw will be tempered by the truth I know, as well.  Getting other people’s perspective is a good thing.  But yes, I suppose some people do fear the cards…and in that case, what is our responsibility to those people as interpreter?  Do we have one?

“Who wants a reading?” was the question that started off yesterday’s “Exchange Readings!” session, and eleven hands shot up immediately.  “Who wants to do a reading?” was the next, but this time only two hands went up right away, followed by a rippling mutter around the table about being “kind of rusty”.  A little encouragement was all it took, though, and soon I found myself gazing in awe as the quiet, gentle Iris delivered one profound utterance after another in a seven-card layout that she “just kind of made up for myself”.

The energy of eleven people commenting on a single reading was almost dizzying at times, frankly, but I’m a Capricorn and we’re like that.  We got in about six readings in two highly charged hours, using almost as many different decks.  The moral of this happy story is simply this:  Don’t be afraid to experiment!  Make up your own layouts.  Try decks you haven’t used before.  Then keep the best of what resonates with you and discard the rest. 

Everybody was so intent on the readings yesterday that no one was really interested in discussing the questions I wrote on the board, though, leaving me without the fodder for this article that I’d been hoping for.  I suppose I’ll leave them with you then, instead.  How do you feel when you read the cards?  Do you have a personal philosophy about how you approach a reading?  I’ll leave you to ponder the first on your own, and chip in on the second.  I do take a specific approach to readings.  I look for patterns that suggest the best course of action for going forward.  Everybody does that, right?  Or not?

We’ll wrap up for now with a look at Iris’s Seven-card Layout.  Enjoy!  Then try making up your own.

1.    Focus/Desire

2.   Home/Family

3.    Finances

4.    Work/Career

5.    Physical Body

6.    Romance/Pleasure

7.    Unexpected

¡CELEBRAR LA EMPERATRIZ!

Written by Judy Jennings © Copyright 2012
Translation by Abby Wine

Saludos, mis amigos, ¡vamos a hacer un brindis a La Emperatriz! Saludamos la intuición femenina, la imaginación creativa y la generación de ideas!  

Como cada uno de los triunfos tiene un mensaje importante acerca de la experiencia humana, podría preguntar ¿qué tiene de especial La Emperatriz? ¿Por qué la fiesta?   El Mago y La Sacerdotisa representan los dos hemisferios del cerebro humano, ¿no crees que estaríamos de juerga con ellos en vez de ella?

Las fuerzas que se encuentran en La Emperatriz son de la alegría desenfrenada de una joven que aún no ha aprendido el miedo, y la pasión creciente de una mujer que es poderosa, amante y amada.   Es la intuición de un hombre que tiene el valor de ser abierto. Una fuerte conexión entre el medio natural y La Emperatriz se encuentra en todas las versiones de esta tarjeta, y ella también se conoce a veces como La Diosa Fortuna. Al brindar por La Emperatriz, ¡estamos celebrando las posibilidades mejores para nuestras vidas!

La seguridad y la protección de uno mismo son los temas fuertes en este campo, porque las fuerzas aquí son de protección y se tratan de nuestro bienestar. Psicológicamente, La Emperatriz es un símbolo para el abrazo de la Madre Tierra y la promesa de la fertilidad.   Astrológicamente asociado con Venus, La Emperatriz comparte la misma naturaleza que el planeta que se dice gobierna el sentido del tacto y ejerce una fuerte influencia sobre los deseos.   La Diosa Venus es una diosa madre que preside sobre el parto, y ella es la patrona del amor, la belleza y el arte.   Otras diosas antiguas están representadas en las imágenes de la carta de Rider-Waite, también:  El trigo maduro en el primer plano está consagrado a Isis, Hathor y Ceres, al igual que los árboles de ciprés en el fondo consagrado a Venus.   agua que fluye sugiere la corriente del subconsciente que se inició con La Sacerdotisa, y el exuberante jardín conecta a La Emperatriz con El Mago.

Otro tema dominante en el ámbito de La Emperatriz es el poder de razonamiento deductivo.  Una mezcla de los procesos conscientes e intuitivos, la capacidad de combinar estas cualidades ha sido formada por la integración previa de los rasgos que se encuentran en El Mago y La Sacerdotisa.   Con ambos aspectos trabajando juntos en armonía, la personalidad se revienta en un estado de crecimiento abundante, posiblemente incluso lo caótico.   Este estado de la mente actúa como la puerta de entrada para la personalidad de una etapa a la siguiente.

Tradicionalmente, La Emperatriz se considera la carta más femenina en la baraja. Hay significados adicionales.   En una lectura, la abundancia, el placer, la buena salud, la buena fortuna y el embarazo son todas las interpretaciones posibles.   Por otra parte, se podría sugerir la necesidad de defender contra los problemas o las enfermedades, dependiendo de las cartas alrededor de ella.   Una persona representada por La Emperatriz será generosa y amorosa en las relaciones.   Se trata de alguien que se siente optimista y capaz de superar los contratiempos.   Edificante a los demás, esta persona tiene un don para la auto-expresión, un alto grado de la creatividad, un estado de la mente con la cualidad de crianza, y por supuesto, una gran capacidad para el razonamiento deductivo.

Paul Foster Case escribió que "Psicológicamente, La Emperatriz representa el subconsciente como la madre de las ideas".  También sugirió que metafóricamente, las cualidades de esta carta se extienden mucho más allá de las interpretaciones tradicionales, incluyendo el equilibrio perfecto de Ying y Yang y la perfecta unión de lo masculino y femenino.   Case incluso describio La Emperatriz al superlativo "La Unica Madre Unisexual Universal".

Al dejar eso contigo como alimento para el pensamiento, vamos a terminar con una nota práctica: ¡La Emperatriz es una carta del espíritu libre y de la alegría! ¡Cada vez que parece bien digna en una lectura es un motivo para celebrar!   Piensa un poco en cómo las cualidades de La Emperatriz se se aplican a tí.   Medita en La Emperatriz para estimular la imaginación.