Sunday, August 26, 2012

THE “RUBIK’S CUBE” OF ORACLES


By Judy Jennings    © Copyright 2012

People have been consulting with oracles throughout history.  Sticks, stones, bones, leaves…all have served as vehicles of the intuition for centuries.  More recently, roughly over the last 500 years or so, the Tarot has developed from a hidden book of arcane knowledge into a popular phenomenon.  These days there are dozens of decks to choose from and books on the subject galore.  The modern day intuitive has a range of options that includes many different styles and the opportunity to select for personal rapport. 

Tarot offers considerably more layers of meaning than most other oracles, and thus reading the cards is an exercise that encourages contemplation.  Not only are there 78 cards with as many different meanings, but every card can express in three different ways.  Numerology has a prominent influence in the Tarot, as well, as do Astrology and the principles of Ying and Yang.  Understanding the patterns and threads that appear in a reading is comparable to working a puzzle, in a way, a sort of psychological Rubik’s Cube.  Today we’ll discuss the three different types of expression.

 The three types of expression are integration, equilibrium, and disintegration.  Simply put, this means that the forces described by each card can play out in our lives in three different ways.  There may be integration, where the qualities expressed in a card are in the process of becoming included into the personality.  There is equilibrium, where a person maintains a successful, on-going balance of the forces described, and finally, there is disintegration.  This last state can represent undesirable personality traits associated with a card.  An ill-dignified Empress, for example, could suggest disorganization, lack of responsibility, excessive sensual desires, or emotional vulnerability.   

The Devil is another good example.  Integrating the best qualities of this triumph most likely equates to a developing sense of humor and a growing awareness that our limitations are self-imposed.  Equilibrium reflects in a person who is able to enjoy their own desires without being consumed by them.  Disintegration of the forces shown in The Devil is the realm of the dark side, where power and sensory experience are all that matters. 

This is an occasion where time spent in simple contemplation of the cards will add greatly to your understanding.  If you’re interested in doing an exercise with your cards, lay out all 22 mjor arcana and consider how each one has three different possibilities.  You may find it will make a noticeable difference in your ability to interpret the cards later.

Now that you’re thinking about three possible types of expression, how do you know which direction a card is taking in a reading?  There are several clues to look for.  Surrounding cards tell most of the story, and the nature of the question can have influence as well.  The position of the card in the reading may be significant.  Strength in the position of an obstacle would call for a very different interpretation than the same card in the position that represents the Self, for example.  If you read reversals, a reversed card is an indicator of disintegration. 

Metaphorically, these three types of expression are linked to the three phases of the Sun; dawn, noon and dusk.  Psychologically, they address the waxing and waning of the human experience.  In a reading, however, they offer practical advice about navigating the flux of our daily lives.  In this way, Tarot is a unique tool and an incredibly dynamic oracle in motion!



Monday, August 20, 2012

CELEBRATE THE EMPRESS!


By Judy Jennings    © Copyright 2012




Cheers, my friends, let’s raise a toast to the Empress!  Here’s to feminine intuition, creative imagination, and the generation of ideas! 

Since each of the triumphs has an important message about the human experience, you might ask what’s so special about The Empress?  Why the party?  The Magician and The High Priestess represent the two hemispheres of the human brain, wouldn’t you think we’d be carousing about them instead?

Forces found in The Empress are the unbridled joy of a young girl who has not yet learned fear, and the surging passion of a woman who is powerful, loving and loved.  It is the intuition of a man who has the courage to be open. A strong connection between the natural environment and The Empress is found in every version of this card, and she’s also known sometimes as Lady Luck. When we toast to The Empress, we’re celebrating the very best possibilities for our lives!

Safety and self-preservation are strong themes in this domain, for the forces here are protective and concerned with our well-being.  Psychologically, The Empress is a symbol for the embrace of Mother Earth and the promise of fertility.  Astrologically associated with Venus, The Empress shares the same nature as the planet, which is said to rule the sense of touch and exhibit a strong influence on desires.  The Goddess Venus is a mother-goddess, presiding over childbirth, and she is patroness of love, beauty and art.  Other ancient goddesses are represented in the Rider-Waite imagery, as well:  The ripening wheat in the foreground is sacred to Isis, Hathor and Ceres, as are the Cypress trees in the background to Venus.  Flowing water suggests the stream of the subconscious that began with the Priestess, and the lush garden setting connects the Empress with the Magician.

Another dominant theme in the realm of The Empress is the power of deductive reasoning.  A blend of conscious and intuitive processes, the ability to combine those qualities has been formed by the previous integration of the traits found in The Magician and the High Priestess.  With both aspects working together in harmony, the personality bursts into a state of abundant, possibly even chaotic growth.  This state of mind acts as the doorway for the personality from one stage to the next.

Traditionally, The Empress is considered to be the most feminine card in the deck.  There are additional meanings as well.  In a reading opportunity, bounty, pleasure, good health, good fortune and pregnancy are all possible interpretations.  On the other hand, it might suggest the need to defend against trouble or illness, depending on surrounding cards.  A person represented by The Empress will be generous and loving in relationships.  This is someone who is optimistic and able to overcome setbacks.  Inspirational to others, this person has a gift for self-expression, a high degree of creativity, a nurturing state of mind and of course, a strong ability for deductive reasoning.

Paul Foster Case wrote that “Psychologically, The Empress represents subconsciousness as the mother of ideas.”  He also suggested that metaphorically, the qualities of this card extend well beyond traditional interpretations, including the perfect balance of Ying and Yang and the perfect union of male and female.  Case even went so far as to describe The Empress “The One Unisexual Universal Parent”.

Leaving that with you as food for thought, we’ll wrap up on a practical note:  The Empress is a free-spirited card of joy!  Anytime it appears well-dignified in a reading is a cause for celebration!  Give some thought to how the qualities of The Empress apply to you.  Meditate on The Empress to stir the Imagination.

Thursday, August 2, 2012

HOW TO CHOOSE A TAROT DECK?


By Judy Jennings    © Copyright 2012

"The triumph of Love, not only over hate, but indifference as well."  -Paul Foster Case

“What is that, and why is it eating a dead fish?”  My friend’s question wasn’t something you’d ordinarily expect to hear said about the Strength card, but I could see her point.  The demonic figure in the Deviant Moon Tarot version of Strength is shown battling the beast within, a slithery thing with a fish-like head and a mouthful of wicked teeth.  In contrast to most other versions of the eighth triumph, Patrick Valenza’s Deviant Moon Strength is brooding and edgy.  Is that a bad thing?  Not necessarily.  Is it an image that works for everyone?  Of course not.  Does it have the same meaning in a reading as the Strength card from the Rider-Waite deck?  Most assuredly not.  Even though both of these cards share certain aspects as well as the qualities of the number eight, the illustrations add an additional layer of intuitive meaning.  The Steampunk Deck is another example of this genre, popular but dark.   

There are other extremes as well.  The modern-day student of the Tarot can find decks filled with herbs, astrology, Norse mythology, medieval European fantasy and Jungian archetypes, to name only a few.  The well-known Tarot de Marseilles is reminiscent of the earliest known decks (which are Italian in origin), and is the most popular deck among Latin countries.  The Rider-Waite pack, originally published in 1909, was created by Arthur Waite and artist Pamela Coleman Smith.  Dr. Waite was a member of the Hermetic Order Of The Golden Dawn, an occult society based in Great Britain that saw its heyday during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.  Members of that order are said to use the Tarot for contemplation rather than divination, and the Rider-Waite deck is Dr. Waite’s effort make the spiritual and metaphysical aspects of the Tarot understandable to the public.  Good grief!  If you’re just getting started, how do you know which deck to choose?      
Tarot de Marseilles

  People take a lot of different approaches to that question.  Many, like myself, experiment with several decks and eventually settle on the one that speaks the most clearly.  After more than three decades at my side, my weathered Rider-Waite deck feels like an old friend and trusted advisor.  On the other hand, some people surround themselves with a variety of decks and use different ones for different situations.  Do you know any collectors of Tarot decks?  If so, ask if you can see them!  Try doing a reading with a deck you haven’t seen before, if possible.  Ultimately, your choice of deck is a matter of rapport and intuition. It’s a little like learning about wine:  Reading about wine will increase your knowledge, but you can’t actually discover what you like best until you start tasting! 

The Rider-Waite deck is a good starting point for any student of the Tarot, regardless of what deck you ultimately choose as your favorite.  The symbolism is fairly obvious and is designed to present ideas that are consistent to all Tarot decks. 

The Tarot is a tool that can help keep a person in balance, both in mind and Spirit, so it’s important to select a deck that strengthens those feelings within yourself.  Anyone who reads Tarot for other people has a responsibility to interpret the most positive patterns shown in the cards, and the duty to not frighten anyone with anything that is said about the cards.  That consideration may influence your choice of deck, as well.  Whatever deck you choose, know that if you approach your cards with a quiet mind and an open heart, they will speak to you in a voice that is greater than just your own.