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.

by Sandra Johnson

The tarot deck of cards, usually 78 in number, is divided into two separate categories, the major and the minor arcana (arcana from the Latin meaning of closed or secret). There are 21 individual cards, referred to as trumps, and the fool card in the major arcana. The minor arcana have 56 cards consisting of 10 cards numbered from Ace to ten in four different suits. In a traditional tarot deck of cards, the suits include batons, wands, rods, or staves; cups, swords, and coins, disks, or pentacles. In addition, there are four court cards, or face cards, in a tarot deck, including the page or knave, queen, knight and king in each of the same four suits.

One of the most interesting cards in a tarot deck is the Fool. He represents both the number 22 and zero. Twenty-two completes the cycle or journey of the major arcana, whereas zero represents the god of force, a symbol of our unlimited potential. A circle, therefore, has no end but continues on and on, a symbol of God and infinity. The bright sun above the Fool is a sign of energy that melts the snow on the mountains, bringing life and nourishment to those below. In addition, there is more significance to the Fool card in the tarot deck, such as the bag representing memories, the eagle for aspirations, the white rose for purity, and the dog symbolizing the eventual course of evolution.

The number two card, the Magician, signifies the conscious mind or the ability to control from above what occurs below by the wand, the cup, the sword, and the coins. Thoughts of passion and desire are held in check by the wisdom and purity of the Magician. The High Priestess, the subconscious mind, reflects a balance or impartiality between the light and dark pillars, the two opposites of male and female. Her knowledge and experience provide the proper and wisest course of action in the link between the conscious and the subconscious.

An older version of the Magician is the Emperor, the ruler who controls the system needed for effective management of thoughts and desires. The Empress in a tarot deck is simply an indication of time. It represents the 12 signs of the zodiac, an indicator that eventually all thoughts and aspirations will become realties. Another interesting card in the tarot deck is the Hierophant, the teacher or our inner self. The Hierophant makes decisions based on reason and intuition, which he has gathered in the cycle of life through experience and wisdom.

The Lovers card symbolizes relationships and partners, the compatibility of male and female. In this card, the woman is the subconscious, the male is the conscious mind, and the angel above them represents the superconscious. In time the female gains the wisdom and inspiration to give to the relationship, raising it to a spiritual level.above the physical or materialistic world. Our will is controlled through strength and driven by the Chariot. The Hermit might well be considered the creator; he stands alone above the rest simply by virtue of his wisdom and success. The lantern he holds offers enlightenment for those who would follow. Furthermore, the Wheel of Fortune reveals to us who we really are and Justice corrects the mistakes of our past and makes them right. Interestingly enough, the Hanged Man is upside down, the way that others see us in contrast to the way we really are. In the cycle of life, the tarot deck includes the Death card, for death must come to everyone. However, the meaning of Death in the tarot cards is a transformation and rebirth of consciousness to a higher level.

Aleister Crowley Thoth Tarot Deck

In addition, the Temperance card depicts an angel, with one foot in the water and one on the earth. Similar to the High Priestess, she too balances wisdom and introspection with desire and doubt, further solidifying the link between the conscious and the subconscious. The Devil card symbolizes the lies and misconceptions we may encounter on our journey. Eventually, however we will reach the Tower with its bolt of lightning, an indication that we have achieved true knowledge and understanding.

The major arcana also includes the Star, often presented as a woman who takes from the pool of knowledge and relays what she has learned to the five senses of man. The Moon card represents our spiritual evolution from creation to creator. The tarot cards also emphasize the importance of the Sun for light and energy and the Judgment needed for an understanding of the link between the universal conscious of man and humanity. A final card in the major arcana is the World, which represents our place in the unending cycle of life, in relationship to an unchanging Universe.

The four suits of the minor arcana portray the various material aspects of life and the numbers, as interpreted through numerology, indicate the strength of the vibrations in each card. In the suit of wands, we see the realm of spirit, ideas, ambition, and growth in the fire, club, and creative cards. Our desires and feelings, not outwardly apparent, are reflected in the suit of cups by heart, emotions, and water. In the suits of swords, spades, air and intellect, the cards symbolize the struggles to bring ideas into reality. The final desired result is found in the suit of pentacles, where diamonds and earth represent the completion of the link between the conscious and the subconscious.

There are many types of tarot decks of cards, in a variety of styles, shapes, and number; however, their interpretation is basically the same in every deck. The reading of the tarot cards may prove fascinating to study. The tarot provides great pursuit for an occultist, or if you believe in the supernatural, or if you are simply curious about life and its ups and downs, and such aspects as love, career, and success. If you’re seeking insight into the past, the present, or the future, perhaps you’ll find it in the tarot deck of cards.

Name: Sandra Johnson Website: http://www.tarotlines.com Biography: Sandra writes for Tarot Lines - providers of live tarot readings.
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by Lee Davis

Card number six of the Major Arcana, The Lovers stands as a unique example of deeper meanings. One of the few cards in the deck often disputed over, The Lovers is symbology at its best, the more dense roots of divination becoming clear only to those who open their minds to see.

When we talk about the meaning of the tarot or the symbols they “should” allow the card reader to see, in the beginning when you first start out, it’s best to begin with instinct. Let your psyche connect to the deck you choose before ever attempting to learn the book meanings. This way, you know your connection to the cards has not been swayed by the author’s signified interpretation of them. Although there is usually a consistent across-the-board meaning for the deck, many authors delve into their own experiences with them, enriching our complete picture even more fully.

Considering that the Tarot began in our known history of it (incomplete though it may be) as a card game, somewhere along the line, people began using it as a tool for divination. Although many use a regular deck of playing cards these days, perhaps someday, humans will look on the hearts, spades, clubs and diamonds as revered in the area of psychic work. I know more than a few readers who love using a basic deck of cards. With the regular decks being four suits like the Minor Arcana of the Tarot, many feel there is no question of the decks being related somewhere in history, the Tarot likely coming first, considering its four suits.

Many of the more common meanings for this card include - “The struggle between sacred love and profane harmony. Refers to love, relationships and marriage. Sexual urge and desire.” and “lovers, marriage, union…” and the male representing conscious mind, while the female holds symbology over the subconscious mind.

Many interpretations leave out the connection between the Head and the Heart in this card’s meanings. Usually favoring the more direct approach of a union of minds, hearts and paths, many readers neglect to mention the really apparent connections and disconnections between our Logical Brain and our Emotional Brain. While each has its valued contributions to our lives, The Lovers is directly telling us that we need to stop, take a look at what’s going on in our life and take a moment to listen to our inner voice, to see with our inner sight.

Rider-Waite Learning To Read The Tarot Intuitively

As a reader, let your client know that drawing The Lovers is a sign of good roads ahead, good choices to be made and love received, if one uses their heart and head with equal force. To have an imbalance between the two steers us into unbalanced relationships and partnerships (this can also mean financial partnership) and thus leave us feeling unfulfilled.

Let The Lovers card talk to you as though it had voice. Let it show you the elements it shadows so well. With the standardized Rider-Waite deck you’ll see the symbols of woman looking at the messenger of God, man looking at woman and you’ll hear different interpretations. This however, perfectly illustrates why the Tarot should be taken at meaning rather than picture. The Morgan Greer deck shows the Lovers entwined in each other’s arms. When I read, I read the different cards in the same way, but if you were to be of the belief that the angel presents a significant symbol in the one, yet is missing in the other, then you will read different decks differently. Not a bad thing, but it can present a confusion for readers of little experience.

With Orange ruling this card and Gemini associated, we can’t help but think of passion and love (orange being the color of the sex chakra), yet when you read, keep in mind the more subtle energies of The Lovers card and let those subtleties flow from you to enhance your readings.
About the Author
L. Davis has been writing for over 35 years and is published in many formats including in- print books, print articles, online publications and poetry and erotica collections. Her new age writing covers a wide variety of topics from witchcraft and paganism, to the Tarot and Metaphysics. Environmental issues are part of the protection of Gaia and are included under Gaia Publishing. http://www.gaiapublishing.com