Tarot Spirit

by Nancy Mure
Metamorphosis – It’s a loaded word.

When we hear the word “Metamorphosis” naturally we think about a caterpillar’s change to butterfly. A caterpillar’s sole purpose is to liberate itself and experience the world from a aerial perspective. This metaphor is what every potentially self-actualized person strives to be: an independent, self–governing entity of growth and possibility.

Looked at in pieces, Meta is defined by The American Heritage® Stedman’s Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995, as a “higher state of development.” Originating from the Greek language, the word (morph ) means “form, shape”. The suffix, osis, simply indicates a condition or process. Doesn’t mean much separately, does it? Put together, this wonderful word transforms itself: Metamorphosis is “A marked change in appearance, character, condition, or function. Also called transformation.”

It also means the big daunting “C” Word; Change.

One thing certain about Change is; without it we cannot grow. As humans, we are as capable as the caterpillar to nurture, grow and transform ourselves into a higher level of functioning but for some reason, the very idea of change trips us up. The reason: we become comfortable in what is, rather than what can be. Gaining an understanding of Change can help.

Change is what determines whether things will turn out for better or worse in the long run. Change is a verb. It is constant. It can be unpredictable and impatient. Change can be wonderful, liberating, paralyzing and completely out of our control. Change is a cliff-hanger which leaves us unglued, guessing what direction our life will be thrust in. Change is power.

Initiating even the smallest change in our lives begins with a choice, not a decision. There is a vast difference between the two. A decision is a process, it is from the mind. You only need to type the word ‘decision’ into Google™ to see thousands of suggested over-thought progressions to decision-making. A choice however, is from the heart. It is a superior distinction which comes from innately knowing what is in our best interest. It’s what we know to be right.

Granted, there is the possibility of making bad choices but how would one know without taking the plunge? Below are some interesting points that may help provide further insight into what Change is and what is needed to accept it:

• Death and Change are Synonymous: In the metaphysical world of Tarot Card readings, death and change are synonymous. In my investigation of Tarot card meanings I discovered an online source article written by a Tarot expert called Michelle. She explains that “the death card, card number 13 of the Major Arcana, represents change. It is about transformation, renewal, breaking free of old patterns and structures, metamorphosis, letting go and growth. Most decks illustrate this card with a skeleton, riding on a horse looking like the grim reaper. When you get this card in a reading, it means that you are about to experience a change of some sort. It is time to move on, to let go of the past and start fresh. This is not a card of sudden, cataclysmic change; it is a slower, more gradual and natural change. Change is often frightening to us, but it is a necessary and natural part of life. This card, the Death card is a positive card. I think of it as a butterfly emerging from its cocoon, or the cycles of the seasons; each has its own time and its own purpose and beauty.”

• Acceptance and Loss: A by-product of change means experiencing a loss. Similar to death, change is about ending one thing and beginning another, and part of that process is relinquishing what once was to accept what now is. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, the Author of On Death and Dying brought to light the acceptance and inevitability of change through her five stages of death: denial and isolation, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. After countless interviews with individuals who were in the process of dying she sums it up like this: “Death is simply a shedding of the physical body like the butterfly shedding its cocoon. It is a transition to a higher state of consciousness where you continue to perceive, to understand, to laugh, and to be able to grow.“

• Fear and Resistance: Resisting change is not natural, it’s intentional. Most of us get stuck in our own cocoon never wanting to burst out due to fear. In an excerpt from his new book entitled “Get What you Want” Author, Human Behavior Expert and Life Coach, Patrick Wanis sums up fear like this:

“Fear is the greatest killer of all human potential. Fear is what stops us from getting what we want. Fear stands between us and everything we want out of life.”

Fear, though does not exist.

Read that sentence again.

You might be shocked even annoyed by that statement because fear does feel real. Its physical crippling effect on our body, mind and emotions is real. But fear is not something tangible. We cannot hold it, see it or touch it. Fear is simply a thought, a very powerful thought. “Fear is the anticipation of pain, and our mind responds quickly to the alarm bell that pain is imminent or possible.”

• Courage conquers Fear: Courage lies dormant in all of us like a caterpillar in its cocoon. Remember, the Cowardly Lion from The Wizard of Oz who found his courage? Silly lion, didn’t it occur to him that he was displaying courage all along by actually choosing to seek it? A small and simple way to empower ourselves and incorporate courage into our everyday lives is by doing something we fear everyday. Challenging ourselves in this small way is liberating and enables us to burst out of our own oppressions. Therefore, with every minute decision that is second-guessed, ask yourself: Am I not doing so-and-so because I’m fearful? If the reply is yes, attempt it despite your fear and you might make a change for the better.

• Let it Go: When your choice is to move on, it is necessary to let go. By releasing yourself of a bad relationship, a past hurt or whatever, Let it go. This must be done in order to initiate change in your life. What are some things we resist letting go of? In an excerpt from a Public Service website written by James J. Messina, Ph.D. & Constance M. Messina, Ph.D., is a checklist of things worth releasing in order to openly accept change in our lives:

The Thursday Night Tarot: Weekly Talks on the Wisdom of the Major Arcana

by Leonard Mutch

What does the appearance of The Fool mean for you when it appears in a Tarot spread? Do you get excited or worried? In this short article we explain what The Fool means when he appears in the Tarot.The Fool is perhaps one of the most important tarot cards in the deck. He is the first card of the Major Arcana, the first of 22 cards. He is also the only one of the Major Arcana to remain in our modern card deck, appearing as the Joker. His journey is at a deeper level the journey we are all on - the journey through life and life’s troubles, as no matter how old we are or what experiences we have been through we will still contine to find ourselves in areas where we are unsure, and vulnerable.

The Fool has appeared in many guises over the centuries in the different decks that have appeared. In the Visconti Sforza deck he is seen looking a bit like a tramp without shoes in his stocking soles, and threadbare at that! He carries a large stick or staff over his shoulder as though ready to commence a long journey.

In the Wirth deck he looks a bit like the court jester of old, and most like the forerunner of today’s joker in the traditional card deck. He has however a cat with it’s teeth sunk into his left leg, and a crocodile in the distance. The picture on this card seems to indicate the urge of The Fool to get on with his journey in spite of all obstacles both past and future. The Arthurian Tarot portrays The Fool as Parsifal who sought the mythic Holy Grail, and the Mythic deck depicts him as the Greek god Dionysus, wearing animal skins of many colours, and dancing gaily at the edge of a cliff.

No matter which deck we use the appearance of The Fool is a sign that we should follow our own path no matter what. We need to have the courage to jump off the cliff into a new venture if that’s what is called for. We need to have faith in our convictions no matter how hard this might be.

There are risks to everything in life and the appearance of The Fool in a spread is a great opportunity for a new beginning provided you are willing to make the jump!
About the Author
Leonard Mutch is a writer with an interest in all things psychic. He makes it easy to develop an understanding of The Tarot at his website http://www.read-the-tarot.com where you will find loads of information.

The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Tarot Spreads Illustrated

By Jennifer Dunne
The Planetary Spread is an excellent layout to use when you want insight into a personality.

You will lay out eleven cards in a circle, and read each card individually. Start with the first card in the center of the circle, then lay out the next eight in a circle starting with the NW position in a standard compass rose, and proceeding clockwise to N, NE, E, SE, S, SW, and W. Place the tenth card beside the first card, and the eleventh card crosswise on top of them both.

...      3
...   2     4
... 9   10 1  5
...   8 /11 6
...      7

1. The Sun. This is your ego card, showing how you view yourself.
2. Mercury. This card represents how you communicate.
3. Venus. This card represents what you love and value, and how you act toward what you love and value.
4. Earth. This card represents what you consider your possessions and treasures, and how you act toward your possessions and treasures.
5. Mars. This card represents what gives you your energy and drive.
6. Jupiter. This card respresents your luck and skill.
7. Saturn. This card represents how you deal with traditions.
8. Uranus. This card represents how you rebel against those traditions.
9. Neptune. This card represents your unconscious self.
10. The Moon. This card represents your dreams, hopes and fears.
11. Pluto. This card represents how you transform yourself.

Jennifer Dunne is the author of over a dozen novels and novellas of Hot, Heartwarming fiction, many featuring magic and psychic powers. A Tarot reader since her childhood, she is frequently asked to do readings at local gatherings and celebrity events such as the Romantic Times Booklovers Convention. Learn more about Jennifer at jenniferdunne.com. Learn more about tarot cards at Tarot Expressions.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jennifer_Dunne

A Magical Course in Tarot: Reading the Cards in a Whole New Way

by Ferdinand Culvelier
In this article you’ll read about the kind of questions you can ask for a tarot reading. Also attention is payed to when it is best to do a tarot reading.

Types of questions for a tarot reading

In principle you can ask any ethical question to tarot as long as you are the subject of the question. But some types of questions don’t receive a clear and helpful answer.

You must know that tarot never gives a yes/no, good/bad, black/white… answer. Tarot describes a situation. It tells a kind of story.
Also tarot doesn’t take decisions for you. It doesn’t say what you must do. It’s your responsibility to take account of the advice, tarot gave you, or not.

Another point of attention is that tarot never gives you an inevitable outcome. During a tarot reading using certain spreads, tarot gives an outcome of a situation. But this is an outcome on condition that nothing is changed to the present circumstances. It’s up to you to change the circumstances if you don’t like the outcome.

In my experience this are the most frequent asked types of questions for a tarot reading:

• Questions about the evolution of something
  This is the kind of question you ask when you want to know what the outcome will be from a certain situation. In general tarot gives a clear and helpful answer for this type of question. You mostly will also get an indication of where there are possible difficulties.
• Questions that ask for the description of a situation
  When people want to know more about the background of a certain situation. This is often the case for introspective questions.
• Question about the Personality
  Example: “I have problems for communication with other people. Could you tell me about the background of these problems?”
• Questions that ask for an advice of tarot
  Example: “How should I change myself to give a new start to my relation?”

The above types of questions are all suited for a good tarot reading.
But often people also ask questions that are not so well suited. This are the types of questions that ask for a black/white answer from tarot. Or that ask tarot to take a decision for them.
Here are some examples:

• Yes/No questions
  Example: “Will I have a relation with the boy I met last week?”
• Questions that ask tarot to take a decision
  Example: “Where should I go during the holidays: France or Spain?”
• Questions about time
  Example: “When will I find a new house?”. Tarot will never give a strict timing on any subject. Tarot is about descriptions.

Mary K. Greer describes a yes/no spread in her wonderful book “Tarot For Yourself”. I never experimented with it. I think that you miss a lot of the possibilities of tarot with that kind of questions anyway. But if I ever would try it, this would be the spread that I use.
By the way, the outcome of that spread can be neutral.

Of course, people sometimes ask double questions that belong to several types.
For example: “Is my love relation solid and how will it evolve?”. This is a combination about the situation of a love relation and about the evolution of that same relation.

A question should always be related to yourself. Never ask something about somebody else, like: “How is the relation between my boss and his wife?”.
You never would get an answer from a tarot reading for a question like this. And it is highly unethical.

A tarot reading is also not suitable for pure “materialistic” questions. You should not expect that tarot will give you the winning lotto numbers or tell you where the treasure of the Inca’s is hidden.

This doesn’t mean that you can’t ask about material things. If the object is related to you, then you might get an answer from Tarot.
For instance “Where will I find a new house?” would not be a good question. But “What is the meaning of a new house for me” could very well be considered.

When to ask for a tarot reading

The answer on this question is very simple: when you truly feel the need for it.
Don’t let you influence by anybody. And certainly not by an unscrupulous tarot reader. Only listen to your inner voice.

Another question is: “How long should I wait between two tarot readings?”. In this case you can use the following tips:

• In the very first place: listen to your inner voice. This overrules anything else.
• Some spreads, used in a tarot reading, give you a kind of intermediate outcome. When you have reached that point, you could ask for a follow up reading. But be aware that, if you have changed anything to the initial circumstances, that outcome never might be realized.
• It’s not a good idea to ask for a new tarot reading, on the same subject, too fast. You must give yourself the time to deal with the first reading. Don’t rush it. You are not a machine. Myself I think you should at least wait 1 month, even 2 months, between two tarot readings on the same subject.

Ferdinand Cuvelier (aka “Temu”) is a tarot reader with over 25 years of experience
He also studied Kabbalah and Theosophy and integrates these principles in his readings when adequate.
His tarot readings are characterized by his earthed tone which makes the readings easy to understand and usefull.
Ferdi is also the owner of Tarot For A Better Life
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ferdinand_Cuvelier