THE FOUR SUITS: TEAM PLAYERS!

By Judy Jennings © Copyright 2013

When looking at the minor arcana, it’s helpful to take a somewhat different approach than to the majors.  The minors have more of a group identity than the triumphs, so to speak.  While the triumphs certainly do work in concert, they also stand strongly on their own, each with a specific energy and message.  The cards of the four suits, on the other hand, represent tendencies and influences, and depend heavily on the context of their suit and surrounding cards in a reading.  

Now, this does not by any means suggest that the minor arcana is less important than the triumphs.  The four suits offer an infinite tableau of the human condition, without which the Tarot would be stagnant, locked into mental and spiritual boxes without any of the variables that make each person’s life unique.  Tarot is an incredibly moveable oracle, able to navigate and advise on the turns of daily life as they take place.  None of that would be possible without the four suits.

Four is the number of stability, measurement, and order.  Four expresses energy that secures us in the world. The cards numbered four in the minor arcana all refer either to the celebration of an accomplishment, or a period of reevaluation.  The Emperor, the fourth triumph, symbolizes the power of the personality.  All of the cards numbered 4 have to do in some way with our well-being in the material world.  Cards numbered 1, 2, and 3, whether in the suits or the triumphs, have to do with inception, conception, and formation.  Cards bearing the number four move away from the idea of developing a foundation, and focus instead on a stage of interaction with the world.  It’s not random that there are four suits, instead of three or five, for example.  Four is a number of power, and the four suits are the agents of the triumphs, elaborating on the ideals set forth in the “big” cards, offering practical advice on how to incorporate these qualities every day.

Each suit has its own intrinsic nature.  Wands bear the character of Fire, and all of the implications associated with fire.  Let your mind run with this for a moment.  What does fire suggest to you?  Whatever it is you feel as you close your eyes and conjure up the image of flames is the essence of the suit of Wands.  Wands represent the Spirit and the realm of ideas, as well as passion, desire and motivation.  Fire has a life of its own, an energetic connection with the environment, and this principle is very much alive throughout the suit.  In a reading, Wands will always refer to activity.  

Polarity is found in the juxtaposition of Wands and Cups, representing the elements of Fire and Water, creating steam.  When cards are next to each other in a reading they interact and form patterns.  The compatible Wands and Swords presenting next to each other might indicate a smooth progression, for example, while a Wand and a Cup together might suggest some kind of tension, like sexual tension.  It’s important to recognize that the tension of polarity between the suits isn’t confrontational,  It’s simply a matter of an energetic exchange.  Wands and Swords are yang suits, while Cups and Earth are ying.

It’s interesting to note that there are variations on the suit of wands in different decks.  Some decks use Rods, and others Staves.  Some even employ Branches.  What’s the difference?  Why is this important?  All of these bring certain shared ideas to the suit, such as motivation and desire, but consider the different uses for each of these objects.  A Wand is a tool of The Magician, and implies heightened spiritual awareness and deliberate intention.  A Stave, by contrast, is designed to be a weapon.  The Rod carries implications of ceremony, power, authority, and even punishment, while the Branch is a simple construct of nature.   This is something to consider in your choice of deck.  Which of these realms speaks most clearly to you?  

Cups bear the qualities of Water, and represent the subconscious mind.  This is a receptive, reflective suit, but it should never be confused with passive.  Far from it.  Cups and Wands work together just as The Magician and The High Priestess do, a balance of conscious self-awareness and subconscious knowledge that sets the stage for a healthy personality.  You might even say they represent the two different hemispheres of the human brain.  The receptivity of Cups is that of the subconscious, which takes in everything without a filter.  Cups carry all of the meanings of the High Priestess herself; intuition, hidden knowledge, duality, reflection, receptivity, and the source of emotion.  Cups are especially compatible with Pentacles.

Another designation seen is some decks for Cups is the Chalice.  As with Wands, this adds a layer of meaning to the suit.  A Chalice is a ceremonial tool, while a Cup is a vessel, a difference that directly impacts the emotional content of the cards.  This is why some people read multiple decks, selecting different packs for different occasions.  Decks speak differently, even though they use a common language.  

Swords are the suit of Air, and represent mental and psychological processes.  Sharp-edged and pointed, the Sword is a versatile instrument that may be used either as a tool or a weapon.  Swords refer to the cutting edge of decision-making, and to the skills of communication.  They also discuss fear, anxiety and neurosis.  Of all the suits, Swords carry the most troubled images; blindfolded eyes, bindings, sorrow and conflict.  In a reading, however, Swords can be extraordinarily versatile, and ought not to be relegated to a box of problems.  Consider the pervasive nature of Air.  The processes symbolized by Swords shape and direct everything we do, every action that we take.  As human beings, we each face the propensity for negative, fear-based thinking, and this is reflected in the suit of Swords.  Correspondingly, we also carry the potential to rise above that primitive reaction to the world, and to become empowered.  The Aces represent the best qualities of each of the suits, and the Ace of Swords is the card of a champion.  There’s a bold promise contained in the suit of Swords, an assertion that we can weather the difficulties that life throws at us and still remain mentally and psychologically strong. 

Pentacles, sometimes called Discs or Coins, represent the element of Earth and have to do with our well-being in the material world.  The image of the Pentagram is a symbol of the five senses, and the Pentacle is one of the four tools seen on the table in front of the Magician.  This is the suit of practical matters.  The story that’s told in the suit of Pentacles is one where the traveler navigates the path of life to a happy ending.  Again, Tarot shows potential.

Tarot is really a map of sorts, offering guideposts along the road of life, consistently pointing in the direction of meaning.  Meaning is, after all, the point of this whole business, is it not?  Long after the money’s been counted and forgotten, the value of a person’s life is measured by the way they touched the world and the people around her, or him.  Tarot will speak to you of meaning, or if you prefer, the cards will stick to practical matters and everyday concerns.  In any case, Tarot is a tool to help with the consideration of the best course for going forward.  

The four suits and the triumphs work together as a dynamic, energetic entity.  The suits live on our level, share the common concerns of humanity, and tell the story of a life filled with simple pleasures and everyday victories.  The combination of forces represented in the four suits is a composite of both the vagaries and the rewards of the human experience.  Consider other powerful fours in your world, such as the four seasons,  and four square walls.  Think of the four suits not as an addendum to the major arcana, but rather, as the messenger that speaks to the needs our our daily lives.  

TAROT AND THE IMPORTANCE OF NUMBERS

By Judy Jennings © Copyright 2013

Welcome to the realm of the four suits!  We rejoin our Happy Traveler after our journey through the triumphs to find her well outfitted with tools she acquired along the way.  Dancing to the beat of life, The Fool is now learning to navigate the routines of the everyday.  The details that occupy our daily lives can readily be seen in the suits:  Love, financial difficulties, friendship, anxiety and philanthropy are just a few of the conditions expressed in the minor arcana.  The psychological and spiritual qualities required to successfully negotiate these particulars are the lessons that are taught in the triumphs.

Any discussion of the four suits must begin with the meanings of numbers 1 through 10.  Quite simply, the essential meaning of each of the minor arcana is based on the intersection of the specific number of the card, plus the general qualities of the suit.  In other words, the energy expressed by the Ace of Wands is a combination of the number 1, representing initiation, and the suit, symbolizing motivation and Spirit.  One interpretation of the card in a reading, then, might be an inspired new idea.

It’s impossible to overemphasize the importance of understanding these basic numerological meanings.  Keep a cheat sheet with your cards until you memorize them, if you need to.

 THE OCCULT MEANING OF NUMBERS:

0.   Infinity, super-consciousness, unlimited potential.

1.   Conscious self-awareness, initiation, inception, focus.

2.   Duality, reflection, alternation.

3.   Growth, development, expression, networking of 1 and 2.

4.   Calculating intelligence, order, measurement, classification, benevolence.

5.   Adaptation, versatility, mediation, midpoint between beginning and completion.

6.   Harmony of opposites, reciprocity, equilibrium, love.

7.   Synthesis of preceding numbers, the unfinished Great Work.

8.   Infinity, alternating cycles, the idea that opposites are the effect of the same cause.

9.   Completion, attainment, fulfillment, the end of a cycle.

10.                 Balance of self-awareness and universal consciousness.  Transition.

A grasp of these occult meanings lends great insight into the Tarot, even for the novice.  Without any further study, you already know something about the Aces, for example.  You know they all address the start of something new in some way.  You also know they’re concerned with concentration and priority.  The number 1 is a statement that says “I am”.  When an Ace appears in a reading, the energy of intention is always at work. 

The cards numbered 2 are in contrast with the Aces in the same way The Magician and The High Priestess demonstrate the principle of Yang and Ying.  Another way to look at it is that these combinations literally represent the activities of the left and right hemispheres of the human brain.  Aces, therefore, symbolize the rational, self-aware part of the mind, as well as beginings.

2 then, epitomizes the right brain and the intuitive, creative side.  2 is often said to represent duality, but in truth, Tarot doesn’t dwell in duality.  The black and white perspective, and indeed, the very idea of good and evil, do not exist within the triumphs.  Instead, 2 portrays balance, cooperation and harmony between the inner and outer lives.  Reflection and polarity are strong aspects of the number 2.

3 is a networking of the energies described in the Ace and 2. The qualities found in 3 are what happens when the first two cards of the suit work together.  3 concludes a growth spurt of sorts that takes place at the beginning of each suit.  Things take a different turn after the mission of the 3 has been accomplished.

4 represents a time of maturation.  Making assessment and taking measure are functions of 4.  Each of the cards numbered 4 has to do with the ways in which we face the world on a very practical level, and each has much to do with our security and solidity.

The mid-way point of a journey is shown in the minor arcana that bear the number 5.  The qualities of the suit have developed and become established in cards 1-4, then sort of “hit a wall” at the number 5.    This is the point where grief accumulates, process becomes gridlocked, disrespect rules the day, and financial difficulties abound.  The conditions described in the number 5 are defining moments for the seeker.  How one incorporates the lessons brought with the 5 is an important choice that determines how the rest of the story will play out.

The Happy Traveler pulls out of this funk with the arrival of the 6.  Difficulties diminish in the face of increased support and healing.  Conflict resolves into cooperation.  Whatever story is being told shifts away from middle ground here, and begins to move towards conclusion.

A pattern has become apparent in this progression of numbers by this point, the same pattern as the one shown throughout the major arcana.  Each number, just like each of the triumphs themselves, has a quality that contrasts with the preceding.  The even numbers tend to represent stabilizing forces, while odds symbolize energies that promote growth and change.  

After the happy 6, we see the juxtaposition of polarity again with the 7.  Paul Case wrote that the number 7 has a specific relationship with the Tarot.  In general, 7 is a synthesis of all preceding numbers, and in regards to Tarot, it represents the unfinished Great Work.  Why are the cards numbered 7 so troubled, then?  What happened?  Things were going so well back at 6!  The realm of the 7 is a point where the Traveler encounters a difficulty, loses clarity, or otherwise stumbles off the path for a moment.  Previous matters are still seeking resolution.  Still, the processes that develop in the cards numbered 7 are ones that ready the Traveler to carry on to the end of the story.

The number 8, like the 0, can be written repeatedly without lifting pen from paper.  This suggests infinity.  The double loops in the 8 represent alternating cycles.  Motion and high energy are emphasized in all of the cards bearing 8.  The journey is still very much under way, but the destination is about to come into sight.

9 is the final chapter of the stories told in the suits.  The context of the 9 in a reading is very much dependant on the surrounding cards.  Each 9 has the potential to play out in three different ways; through growth, equilibrium, or decline.  Take the 9 of wands, for example.  It might indicate a project that’s taken off successfully and calls for energy and attention to keep it on track.  That would be growth.  Or perhaps the project has been completed, and it becomes a building block for the next stage.  That’s equilibrium.  On the other hand, maybe the project didn’t work out well at all, leaving you unsupported and on the defensive.  This principle applies to all of the cards and is an important aspect in a reading. 

10, then, is not the number of completion, as that task belongs to the 9.  10 is the number of transition.  It is the start of a new story, built on the path the Traveler has taken to that point.  Again, meaning in a reading has everything to do with understanding which of the three expressions is being shown.  Is the card talking about growth, decay, or balance?

A great way to become better acquainted with the suits is to lay out cards 1-10 of any one suit, and tell yourself a story about it.  What’s going on in the Wands, for instance?  An inspired idea, perhaps?  Maybe our hero has an urge to write a play.  What do the following cards suggest for our aspiring young playwright?  Have fun with this.  Name your character.  Story-telling is a pathway into a time-honored realm that finds no real welcome in a techno society.  Step into it, and loose your imagination!  

THE ANGEL SPREAD

By Judy Jennings © Copyright 2013

It’s been quite a journey for our Happy Traveler over this past year!  Beginning with “Day Of The Fool”, published June 2012, the Traveler-that’s you and me-has followed the path of the triumphs through this blog. 

Honestly, writing this series has had a profound effect on my own understanding of the major arcana.  This has been particularly true of cards beginning with Key 13, Death, and those following.  Many times when I wrote about one of those cards, I found myself wading through that force acting in my life at the same time.  In the process, I’ve gained a tremendous amount of insight and let go of a lot of fear.  In that way, it has been a very good year.  I hope some of you have joined me!

 I like to think of this layout a gift from the universe, a prize of sorts for completing this part of the journey.  Feeling restless recently, I found myself wanting to use a different layout than usual, but unsure about which one.  I chose a significator representing what was on my mind, and placed the next card in a position that just felt right.  I did this six more times, and then looked at the shape on the table.  It me think of an angel.

Use this layout specifically to seek advice from your spirit guides, or as a way to form a prayer. 

The Angel Spread

POSITIONS

Read The Head First, Then Read All Other Cards From Left To Right

The Head:  The matter that’s on your mind.

Right Wing Tip (to your left):  The best possibility in this situation.

Right Wing:  The path to this possibility.

Left Wing:  A symbol of your higher self.

Left Wing Tip:  Advice from your higher self.

Body:  Environment

Body:  Assistance that’s available to you.

Feet:  Outcome

We’ll use my reading as an example.  I chose The Sun as Significator because it had just shown up as the card representing myself in another reading, and I wanted to know how to express that as fully as possible.

This past year has led me to a time of new beginnings in almost every aspect of my life.  The Angel’s Right Wing says that these changes will turn out to be enormously satisfying, and that one of the most positive things I can do right now is to look to my friends, who will be there for me.

The Angel’s Left Wing bears the symbol of a Spirit Guide, and the advice that it’s time to lay down old attachments, which are no longer of use.

The body shows a generous, stable friend, and a strong community.

Great joy awaits in the outcome. 

 

Enjoy this layout!  Use it in times when you need to be reminded that  your are still connected to energies greater than yourself. 

21. THE WORLD: THE SPIRIT SOARS!

By Judy Jennings © Copyright 2013

It's been quite a journey for our Happy Traveler, this trek along the path from Magician to The World!  The trail has led through lands of free will, followed by regions that are clearly beyond personal control. Constantly weaving between conscious and subconscious worlds, growing wiser with every step, the Traveler must navigate the domain of the 20th triumph as the final challenge.  It is this soul-changing journey through Judgement, a realm that strips away the last vestiges of ego, that finally admits the Traveler to the state of liberation and fulfillment found in The World.

Imagine the personality as an eggshell.  Inside this shell resides the higher nature of a person, protected until the Spirit is ready to soar.  All of the preceding triumphs merge into The World, where the qualities discovered along each step of the way find perfect harmony, releasing the cosmic Dancer in all of us.  The forces found in The World are the real focus of meditation, and the ultimate outcome of concentration.

The positive state of mind found in The World is also very much a celebration of time and the wisdom that it brings.  Only through the passage of time are self-created illusions torn down, allowing us to reach completion.  In this state hypocrisy is eliminated, desire becomes crystallized, and truth is revealed.  To the person who seeks to be of service, this process is a blessing. 

Metaphysically, The World embodies Nirvana, a transcendent state where suffering and sense of self no longer exist.  The energies at work in the 21st triumph are those through which a person gives up the misconceptions that prevent true inner freedom.

Whenever it appears in a reading The World is an auspicious card that suggests triumph and great success.  A door may be opening, possibly onto career opportunities or international travel.  The World promises rewards, fulfillment and freedom in one's life.  Expanding horizons are strongly indicated.  In some cases the success represented may be of a particularly spiritual nature.  there is a strong connection to the world community, as well as with the workings of cosmic forces.  A person represented by The World has the ability to create happiness around them.  This is a wise person, possibly a teacher or elder who has great positive influence.  This person has honorable intentions and works for the greater good, rather than personal advancement.

The ancient Greeks had two words for time, kairos and kronos.  It is Kronos we know as the proverbial Father Time, symbolic of an inevitable tide that eventually washes away all mortality.  Kairos is a different sense of time altogether.  When we experience kairos we are a part of time, rather than its subject.  It is the total absorption of being in love and the transcendence of meditation.  Kairos is in play anytime we are completely engaged in something so deeply that we lose track of time, so to speak.  

The energies of both kairos and kronos are strongtly engaged in the 21st triumph.  Kronos leads us to the state found in The World, where we are lifted by kairos as the ego loses attachment to the world of the material and the superficial.  The Fool becomes the Dancer in The World, as time becomes timelessness and the cycle readies to begin all over again.

20. JUDGEMENT: JOURNEY THROUGH THE UNDERWORLD

By Judy Jennings © Copyright 2013

The wisdom contained in the symbolism of the Rider-Waite deck is far more ancient than one might think at first glance.  Once you peel past the obvious layers of Christianized images, it's possible to find deep archetypal clues and ancient pagan meanings that carry well beyond our simplistic Western belief in good and evil.  Take, for example, the cross on the shield of the Charioteer, the breast of the High Priestess and the flag in Judgement.

In this symbol one finds reference to Hecate, ancient Goddess of the Crossroads.  Hecate is by no means the only venerable deity to put in an appearance in the RW deck.  Hermes is represented in The Magician through astrological attribution.  Hathor, the great Earth Mother, is found in several triumphs including the Empress, Strength, Justice and The Star.  There are others:  Ceres, Ceridwen, and Iris also inhabit the Tarot.

Discovering these kinds of clues has been one of the great joys for me as we've traveled the Fool's Journey through these pages over the past year.  Even so, the realization that lit up the room as I prepared to write about Judgement was unexpected:  In Tarot, the twentieth triumph represents the Underworld.  The most surprising thing is that it took so long to recognize that.

That's how it is with Tarot.  Learning never stops, unless you do.  Understanding, when it comes, is like the lifting of a veil.

Traditional Western philosophy doesn't contain an Underworld, per se.  The Catholic state of Limbo might come to mind, but a journey through the Underworld is a rite of passage, rather than a condition of stasis.  The vindictive Hell of the punishing patriarchal God of the Protestants is another psychological gambit altogether, a contrivance used to control the behavior of followers.

Symbols, cultures and philosophies may vary throughout the ages, but human experience is consistent.  To journey through the Underworld is to go through a soul change.  It is the reaction we feel at the diagnosis of a terminal illness, for example, or the response to the death of someone very close to us.  The Traveler enters the Underworld, depicted here as a Judgement call, through any soul-changing circumstance or event.  It's helpful to remember that when this card presents in a reading, it is referring to the state of mind of the seeker in response to an event, rather than to the event itself.  The forces that are expressed in Judgement do not take place on the physical plane.

Numerological reduction links Judgement, 20, with The High Priestess, 2.  This indicates that the state of mind found in Judgement is the ultimate conclusion of the mental processes that began in The High Priestess.  Considering the focus of The High Priestess, then, will shed light on the meaning of Judgement.  The energies described in The High Priestess are concerned with the subconscious mind, hidden knowledge, and universal consciousness, qualities that frame the path leading to Judgement.  Paul Case wrote that Judgement is the final card in a series that begins with the High Priestess.  Contemplation of this group can be illuminating.  They are major arcana 2-5-7-11-14-17-20.

If you compare this series with the series given along with The Sun (see last post) one thing becomes immediately apparent.  Both series share only one card, The Chariot.  What are the implications of that?  

The Chariot is a triumph of surging energy, intensely connected to universal forces strongly manifesting in the material world.  The Charioteer is an individual whose Spirit and personality are in synch and able to take up the reins in order to serve as a channel for Higher Power.  When taken in the context of the series of cards originating in The Magician and The High Priestess, this confident, dynamic force is a powerful and necessary expression of both the conscious and subconscious minds. 

The state of mind shown in Judgement is a state where the ordinary limitations of the personality are overcome.  The waters of the subconscious that began flowing in the robes of the High Priestess now form the lake upon which float the final vestiges of the personality.  This is a state of  mind where one manner of thought gives way so that another may be brought to life.  Ordinary conditions and typical understandings are reversed here.

In a reading the end of one phase and the beginning of another is often indicated by the appearance of Judgement.  If a situation is changing it is likely to be from one extreme to another.  An honest evaluation of one's efforts may be indicated.  Completion, decision, or termination might be suggested.  In some cases Judgement can mean that something hidden has come to light.

A person represented by Judgement is someone who prefers to work quietly behind the scenes until their idea is ready to show the world.  this person has a strong ability to affect changes in other people.

It is the passage through the state expressed in Judgement that readies the Spirit for the transcendent joy shown in the next triumph, The World.  Pamela Coleman Smith's  depiction of the Angel Gabriel in Judgement brings a message of gladness and welcome.  Once a person begins to journey through this state, the realization follows that there is nothing to fear here.  This is truly the destination we have sought for so long.  

Meditate on Judgement for Vision.

Associated Deities:  Pluto, Shiva, Yama, Mantus, Dis, Prcus, Osiris, Hades.

19. THE SUN: THE GOOD LIFE

By Judy Jennings © Copyright 2013

The 19th triumph is a joyful affair!  As any student of world history knows, the Sun has long been a symbol for the electric, animating force of life in many cultures.  In Tarot, The Sun is not only a symbol for divinity but a link to other ages as well.  While modern day thought positions the Sun as a single-minded male deity harkening back to the ancient Egyptian Sun God Rah, the implications contained in the 19th major arcana range far wider than that.

The concept of Higher Power conveyed in this triumph is a psychological homage to the three phases of the Sun that rises over our heads every day.  Dawn, noon and dusk are more than the turning of the Earth, they are aspects than manifest constantly throughout our lives on material and spiritual levels.  We begin our lives, our days, and each of our projects to see them play out a common theme every time.  We begin, we build and we decline, both on a daily basis and over the span of years.  This cycle has a profound effect on the human spirit.

Although known as a monotheistic culture, Christianity reflects this by espousing the Father-Son-Holy Ghost trinity.  Pagans in the Dianic tradition honors the Mother-Daughter-Crone, and Hindus find their trinity in Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva.  According to astrologer Alan Oken, the Persians, Babylonians and Egyptians also had their trinities, all of them ultimately relating back to the Sun as the primary Universal Life Force.

As with all major arcana numbered 10 or higher, insight into the goals of The Sun may be gained through numerological reduction.  19, the number of The Sun, reduces to 10, and then again to 1.  This suggests that the Higher Power demonstrated here is directly concerned with both the workings of Karma and the expression of free will.

Understanding may also be gained through a comparison of each triumph with the preceding card.  The major arcana work together in a sort of alternating current, each containing energy that is opposite in nature from the one before.  In The Moon we find changes taking place in the personality, driven by strong subconscious influences.  The Sun, by comparison expresses a state where the energies of all previous triumphs have been fully incorporated into the personality, and the traveler walks in a state of grace.

Other important information about The Sun may be found by examining the Layout Of The Three Worlds.  (For more on this, see "The Three Worlds Of The Major Arcana", posted April 2, 2012.)  In this layout, The Sun is directly linked with The Hierophant and The Hanged One, suggesting that the three work together towards a common purpose,  The Hierophant expresses a state of belief, the revelation of hidden knowledge, and the attitude of attentive listening, all qualities belonging to an enlightened mind.  When these aspect are manifested in the material world, it leads to the state of acceptance and unusual perspective found in The Hanged One.  How these two ally to result in the radiant state found in The Sun is a matter for your contemplation as you study this card.

Symbolism in the Rider-Waite deck strongly personalizes the Higher Power shown in the 19th triumph, as is obvious from the human countenance imposed on the face of The Sun.  This force is beaming onto the child and the world below with deliberate intention.  A yellow Sun in the RW deck always connotes a personal Higher Power, in contrast to the white Sun shown in The Fool, where the energy is vast and universal, concerned only with potential and possibility.  The Sun o the 19th arcana, on the other hand, is shown as an intimate, living entity.  The child, who bears the same red feather and wreath donned by The Fool, is naked, a symbol of openness and ascension.  The child is, in fact, The Fool, the very same traveler at the pinnacle of the journey.

The four sunflowers reiterate the power of four that is demonstrated throughout the Tarot, from the steadying influence of The Emperor to the expansive four suits.  More specifically, they represent the four realms of life in the material world:  Mineral, vegetable, animal and human.

The stone fence carries the same meaning as the fence in The Chariot, human adaptation of the natural environment and the power of speech and language.  The horse represents primal energy.

According to Paul Case, The Sun is the final card in a series of seven that expresses "self-conscious intellection".  Having a penchant for the mysterious, Case did not elaborate further after offering this clue, leaving us to our own conclusions.  It's interesting to consider that these are the triumphs that speak to conscious self-direction and the exercise of free will.  The cards are major arcana 1-4-7-10-13-16-19.  A few things become apparent upon laying them out.

The Wheel of Fortune sits solidly in the middle.  the cards on the left (Magician, Emperor, and Chariot) all contain higher qualities that have to do with how we project ourselves into the world.  The cards to the right of The Wheel (Death and The Tower) show the forces of the inevitable, and lead to the extraordinary promise found in The Sun.  The idea that the energies of Death and The Tower revolve around conscious thought is a matter for consideration.  

The three-phase aspect is demonstrated in these seven cards, as well.  The first three cards, 1-4-7, are the dawn of thought and the development of personality.  The Wheel turns at the "noon" of our lives, leading inevitably to a later time when the idea of control must be relinquished.  The wonderful promise contained in the Tarot, detailed in these seven cards, is that this seeming loss of control is the path that ultimately leads to the radiant state found in The Sun.

Anytime The Sun appears in a reading is a cause for celebration!  This triumph brings a promise of the good life:  Health, a happy marriage, great partnerships, success, attainment, achievement and joy.  The Sun suggests high energy and vitality.  The seeker is well advised to pursue any opportunities that may be present alongside it.  The resolution of a problem may be indicated.  A person represented by The Sun is a principled individual with a strong spiritual aspect.  Ths Sun suggests Divinity within each of us, and the possibility of unlimited spiritual growth.

Meditate on The Sun for Joy.

18. THE MOON: THE SHADOW SIDE

By Judy Jennings © Copyright 2013

That which is known to you, but not to others.
That which is known to others, but not to you.
That which is known to yourself and others.
That which is not yet known.

Aspects of the Shadow Side, like the four suits of the Tarot itself, express in four essential ways.  If you're like me,you've already spent a good portion of your life believing the Shadow Side within yourself is a force to be tamed, avoided or eliminated.  Perhaps you fear it.  Consider, however, our journey through the triumphs and the message that's been demonstrated repeatedly along the way:  A meaningful life is built on the foundation of a harmonious, loving relationship between the conscious and subconscious minds.  The realm of the Shadow Side is to be embraced.

The Moon represents a state of extreme influence from the subconscious mind, when awareness is heightened and the mind is receptive.  here in the flickering shadows, stirred up by the previous activities of The Star, cosmic direction is received and understanding is expanded.  The Moon represents a time of increasing awareness that the greatest function of the personality is to serve as a vehicle for the expression of higher ideals.

A simple example demonstrates the energies at work in The Moon.  It's easy to understand that the human eye cannot look directly into the Sun, which in Tarot represents Higher Power, matters of the Spirit, and the source of all life.  The Moon, on the other hand,offers the radiance of Universal Light in a form that can be gazed upon, danced under, and romanticized.  In the shadows cast in this light we find the personality emerging from the idea that we are all separate, isolated beings.  The traveler on the path of the Great Work surfaces from the pool of the subconscious to pass through the domains of the material world and make her way past the boundaries of that which is already known.  The creative force is in full form here, and dreams and other messages from the subconscious may be more prolific than usual.

The Moon represents the Fourth Stage of Spiritual Enlightenment, where the knowledge gained in The Star is incorporated into the personality.  In its highest expression, it is a symbol for the evolution of consciousness and the development of wisdom and awareness.  It's said that soul of a person is represented in The Moon...but what is the soul?  Paul Case describes the soul as the link between Spirit and Matter.

In The Moon, the soul of the traveler walks in both light and shadows, aspiring to move beyond the limitations of the material world and social conditioning.  There's a compelling connection with Higher Power, as the traveler builds on understanding that has been gained through meditation.  This is a time when the mind is open and receptive, and imagination runs high.  Psychic ability is at its most potent in this state.

Whenever The Moon presents in a reading you can be sure that creative juices are flowing, intuition is strong and changes of some sort are taking place  in the personality, for The Moon dwells in both shadows and ascension.  The traveler follows the path past conventional notions and ventures out onto the astral plane, where she begins at last to scale the highest summits of the Great Work.

The destination of this, which has been mapped out all through the major arcana, is found in the numerological reduction of the number of the card.  The Moon, 18 becomes 9, and in that we find a mystery revealed, for this clue points to the state of mind exhibited in The Hermit as the ultimate purpose of the path shown in The Moon.

The track of the traveler on the Fool's Journey rises and falls along the way, passing through both light and shadow, but continually moves in the direction of the Great Work.  Now, at the stage expressed in The Moon, the traveler is for the first time fully aware of this purpose and consciously participating in its fulfillment.  Slipping through the shadows and bathing in the reflecting moonlight, she presses onward, not completely sure where this road will take, but confident that she is heading in the right direction.  The journey has become its own reward.

17. THE STAR: THE QUEST FOR TRUTH

By Judy Jennings © Copyright 2013

For the better part of this past year we've been traveling through the major arcana.  We've discovered the pathway of the development of a healthy personality, learned the qualities of an enlightened mind, and have come to an understanding that a truly meaningful life depends on a harmonious working relationship between the conscious and subconscious minds.  As the journey has continued, we've felt the effects of influences beyond our control and received guidance regarding the most positive ways to deal with change.  By the time we passed through the forces expressed in Death into the highly energized state found in Temperance, it's possible that we may have also stumbled into a vague understanding of another great truth that is told in the Tarot:  We are not really separate beings, isolated and alone.  The states of mind demonstrated throughout the major arcana are intrinsic to the human condition, shared by all of us.  The journey revealed through the triumphs is a thread that ties us together, countless souls on a common pilgrimage.

Most recently our trek has ushered us through conditions of extreme emotionalism, unreasonable restrictions and the sudden breakdown of former beliefs.  We emerge from that chaos to find a familiar face, someone who we've already met several times along the way.  Who is the woman in The Star, and where else have we found her?

This is Hathor, most ancient of Earth Goddesses, known in her earliest form as the Horned Cow Goddess.  Hathor is Mother Nature in her most benevolent aspects.  Fishing in the waters of the subconscious for the unknown, Earth Mother greets us with the gift of meditation and points the way towards psychological healing.  She stirs the pool of universal consciousness and creates vibrations that are the beginnings of new ways of thinking.  The healing power of meditation is the focus of The Star, and is the key to regenerating the Spirit following the effects of The Devil and The Tower.  It's also instrumental for the control of the lower instincts that reside in the personality, as shown in Strength.

Hathor has appeared in a variety of forms as we've traversed the Fool's Journey, beginning with the Hoigh Priestess, who refers to the ancient Horned One with the crescents on her head and at her feet.  Earth Mother bursts forth in The Empress and again in Strength, then wields the sword of Justice that follows the turning of the Wheel of Fortune, on which her name in inscribed in its archaic form, ATOR.  The four triumphs that represent Earth Mother-The Empress, Strength, Justice and The Star-have a powerful rapport between them, which is to be considered when they present together in a reading.  The energies in these cards work in concert.

Symbolically, the knee on the Earth and the foot on the water suggest balance between the physical realm and the subconscious mind.  Water flowing into the pool signifies interaction with cosmic influences, while that pouring onto the ground indicates a modification of the five senses.  The Star is a promise that meditation has the power to heal not only the mind, but the body as well.  The seven small stars in the background represent the seven chakras.

I a reading, the appearance of The Star always encourages the practice of meditation and points the way towards psychological healing.  A person represented by this card will be highly intuitive and eager for the truth.  Courage, loyalty, hope, inspiration, unselfish aid, gifts of the Spirit and great love are qualities that are associated with this triumph.  This is someone with a strong commitment to the common good.

Meditate on The Star to quiet your mind and develop new ways of thinking.

  

16. THE TOWER: BLINDING REALIZATION

By Judy Jennings © Copyright 2013

The chained lovers that we last saw at the feet of The Devil plunge headfirst from the lightening-struck Tower, conscious and subconscious minds upset from their usual beliefs by a sudden flash of insight.  This Tower has been built on superficial observation, ignorance, apprehension and mistrust.  Foreboding as it seems, the energy represented by the destruction of The Tower is actually key to moving on from the spiritually stagnant state expressed in The Devil, where the travelers are completely ruled by their emotions.  The Tower suggests that unexpected awareness provoked by forces beyond our control is a vital part of the process of freeing the personality from the domination of emotion and false reasoning.  It is only in this state of mind that existing patterns truly break down in order to create new ways of thinking.  Think of the energy expressed in The Tower not as a static presence, but rather as a dynamic, ever-changing force, constantly in motion in our lives.

The lightening that strikes the Tower is the same Higher Power summoned earlier by The Magician.  It shares the identical meaning as the scepter of the Emperor, the wand of the Charioteer and the scythe of Death.  It is the exact same energy that shines from the lantern of the Hermit, and the force that turns the subconscious mind, and the lightening bolt striking it represents breakthrough moments or realization. 

Blown off its perch by the lightening, the crown is a symbol of the belief that the material world is all that matters.  It represents lack of higher purpose and the idea that we are all isolated being ruled entirely by our own will.

The Tower itself, built of stone, represents subconscious activity that has taken form in an idea and manifested into physical reality.  Stonework in any form, whether it be towers, fences or thrones, is always symbolic of the idea of subconscious whenever it appears in the Rider-Waite deck.  Brickwork in particular connotes the powers of speech and language.  Hence, we know that a breakdown in communication is a strong implication in this triumph.  Twenty-two falling Yods, from the Hebrew alphabet of 22 letters, further associates the qualities of speech and language with this card.  Another clue that indicates the importance of those qualities here is found in the numerological reduction of the number 16.  The number of the Tower reduces to 7, assigned to The Chariot, which embodies the idea of having mastery over one's own words.  In The Tower, of course, that self-control slips away.

Metaphysically, the Tower represents the second state of spiritual enlightenment, where the traveler is confronted with the sudden destruction of former philosophy.  The Tower is a celebration of the dissolution of the notion that we are all separate, isolated beings.  Flashes of illumination lead to a deeper understanding of the relationship between the conscious and subconscious minds.  The unruly energies shown in The Tower have tremendous potential to awaken higher consciousness.

In a reading the Tower indicates sudden change above all else.  A flash of intuition may be suggested, or an illumination glimpse of truth.  On the other hand, depending on the surrounding cards, it might indicate the ruin of one's plans or refer to a group where communication has broken down.  The element of the unexpected is always in play when The Tower presents.

If The Tower should represent a person, it will be someone who is resistant to external rules and regulations.  Past traditions and present realities will never satisfy this person, whose energy at its most positive seeks to serve in the greater good of humanity.  This is someone who is independent, self-motivated and idealistic.  In some cases, the appearance of The Tower may signify a breakthrough regarding some type of mental block or personality disorder.  Socially, it can represent liberaton from the restrictions of cultural expectations.

Meditate on The Tower for Insight.

DEMYSTIFYING THE DEVIL

By Judy Jennings © Copyright 2013

There's no doubt that The Devil is one of the "hot button" cards in the Tarot, or to put it more plainly, it's one of the cards that scares people.  Let's see if we can demystify this bad boy!  First of all, put your old notions of fire and brimstone away:  The Tarot doesn't include the idea of Good vs. Evil.

Before you glance over that statement and read on, let's give it a moment's consideration.  The Tarot does not dwell in the realm of good and evil.  What does that mean to the Western mind?  The concept of that duality is so prevalent in our culture that it's a foundation for our thinking.  To move beyond that childlike outlook is the first step toward taking personal responsibility not only for our actions, but for our thoughts as well.  Tarot teaches that there really is no Devil, and no outside force that can overcome the Spirit against our will.

Rachel Pollack writes "The common image of the Devil is simply a mixture of Pan and other competitors to Christ".  Early references to the fun-loving Pan may have been usurped during the middle ages by the Devil, which is known to have appeared later than other major arcana.  The pagan Pan is mirthful and randy, unapologetically promiscuous, and carries none of the ponderous negativity of the demon found in our modern versions of the Tarot. The quality of mirth is an intrinsic and very positive aspect of the Devil.  After all, what provokes humor?  Shortcomings, incongruities, and foibles.  Yet the result is the amazing healing force of laughter, which has the power to purify the subconscious mind and infuse the Spirit with joy.  

The spiritual incongruity expressed in The Devil is the longing for freedom coupled with the inability to see the clear path toward it. Instead of lifting off their chains, the bestialized lovers remain bound to ignorance and materialism, believing that what we see is all there is, and that appearances are all that matters.  In this state of mind, the development and potential shown in the earlier triumphs is not being expressed.  Still, human nature does not truly strive to be free until we feel our limitations, so in that sense the restrictive nature found in the Devil is a necessary part of the human experience. The Devil personifies the idea that we are victims of circumstance, and at the same time, offers clues about how to free ourselves from that mindset.  The first stage of spiritual enlightenment is shown here, where we begin to realize that limitations are imaginary, and happiness is a choice.

The Devil in the Tarot is not an expression of Dark as opposed to Light, but rather of a multidimensional realm where the traveler navigates the maze of human ability and desire.  As she enters into the realm of the last seven triumphs, the traveler will have need of all of the tools gained from preceding cards.  The compassion and self-discipline found in Strength, which resides directly about The Devil in the layout of the Three Worlds, are of utmost importance to the traveler who is attempting to move past the forces of inertia.  

Meditate on The Devil to better understand the meaning of Freedom.  

  

TIPS FOR GETTING TO KNOW YOUR NEW TAROT DECK

By Judy Jennings © Copyright 2013

You’ve been wanting to learn about Tarot for a while, and you finally went out and got yourself a deck.  Now that you actually have cards in your hands, what’s the best way to get started? 

All Tarot decks consist of 78 cards that include four suits and 22 major arcana.  There are many other types of decks that don’t fit this format, and those are called Oracle decks, rather than Tarot.  Each Oracle deck is unique according to the ideas of the creator.  Tarot decks, on the other hand, work within a common model and share certain themes, even though there are many different styles of decks available.  Most people begin their study of the Tarot by learning the meanings of the major arcana, also known as triumphs.  Here are four tips that will help you to develop not only an intellectual understanding of the cards, but an intuitive and very personal response to them as well. 

Cracking open a few books is a prerequisite, to be sure.  Two of my favorites are “The Tarot:  A Key To The Wisdom Of The Ages” by Paul Foster Case and “Seventy-Eight Degrees Of Wisdom” by Rachel Pollack.  Both focus exclusively on the major arcana, but there are many other books available as well.  The Rider-Waite pack is an excellent starting deck, because the symbolism is specific and fairly obvious.  Many people use it to learn, then eventually move on to another deck that may suit them better stylistically, while others like to use different decks for different occasions.  Some resonate with the Rider-Waite deck and stick with it, like myself.  I’ve used the same pack for over thirty years, a deck someone gave me in 1978.  That’s all a matter of preference and style, though, and more clarity about that will come later.  For now, just concentrate on getting a feel for the basic meaning of each triumph in whatever deck you have.  Learning the traditional definition is the first way to get to know a card.

As you learn about each major arcana, always consider it in the light of the previous card.  The triumphs don’t operate in isolation, they work together to form a map, and each card represents a step along the path of the human life.  For example, the Tower, which suggests a mind reeling from the sudden destruction of old ideas, is followed by the Star, which signifies the healing power of meditation.  The latter is completely dependant on the former.  Without the forces described in the Tower, the traveler wouldn’t be able to move into the state found in the Star.  It is only with the breakdown of the limiting beliefs of the past that a person can truly delve into the pool of the subconscious.  As you come to understand the triumphs, remember that each one expresses a state of mind that is a direct result of the energies found in the previous card.

Now that you have a basic knowledge of traditional meanings and an awareness of the Tarot as metaphysical map of sorts, you’re ready for the third tip.  This is where it gets personal.  Living with the cards is the way to best way to breathe life into your new deck.  That’s another way of saying there’s no substitute for personal experience.  Try picking a card for the day, or a card for the week, or however often you have the attention to do on a regular basis.  Draw the card in the morning and reflect in the evening on how it may have represented your day.  Think of it as a meditation.  In time, you may begin to perceive themes associated with certain cards, particular meanings that you could never learn from a book.  Tell yourself (and others) the stories of how the energies described in the triumphs have appeared in your own life.  Try and think of a time when you were in the state of mind expressed in each major arcana as you learn their meanings.  Tell your stories.

The other tip for today is to try and view the card you’re studying in as many decks as possible.  This may be even more important for the experienced Taroist than the novice.  Working with an unfamiliar deck insists on an intuitive response, because the subjective tone of the illustration has a great deal to do with the interpretation.  It’s not apples to apples, after all, because every variation of a card invokes a slightly different perspective.  Some early versions of The Lovers, for instance, show Cupid about to fire on three human figures below, while others, including the Rider-Waite, contain an angel blessing two people beneath.  Since an angel is a far more highly evolved being than Cupid, we know intuitively that the different cards are addressing somewhat different energies.  Ultimately, the best deck for you is the one that speaks to you the most clearly.

Handle your cards a lot.  Your learning process will involve all of your senses and all of your moods.  It will highlight your successes and help you learn from your mistakes.  Tarot is a tool that assists navigation on the path to bring higher meaning into our lives.  Use the cards for contemplation, and as a way to think about the best course for going forward.  Think positively.  Above all, tell your stories!