Tarot Wisdom
November 26, 2008
It is Thanksgiving Eve -- a creamcheese pie is in the oven, to be rescued in sixteen minutes. Around holidays, I tend to take alone moments and look back and forward. And -- just for the record -- smiles and thoughts of appreciation flash through me dozens of times every day. But sometimes I get pensive.
Today, I received Rachel Pollack's newest book about the Tarot. It is called Rachel Pollack's Tarot Wisdom: Spiritual Teachings and Deeper Meanings. I have a beautiful deck of cards by Anna-Marie Ferguson, my favorite Tarot artist. Anna-Marie is gentle and lovely. I interviewed her about fifteen years ago, and one of her messages which stuck with me was her opinion about reversed cards. She finds the interpretations too punishing, and when she lays down a card and it is reversed, she promptly turns it upright. She says the meaning of the card is what is important. Her deck, THE LLEWELLYN TAROT, is, like Rachel's book, published by Llewellyn Worldwide. I decide to do a reading, and I ask -- as I frequently do -- "what do I most need to know about my life right now?"
I choose one of Anna's spreads -- To Illuminate a Situation -- and 16 The Tower falls in the center, which indicates bringing hidden aspects of the situation to light.
Now to see The Tower show up could freak one out, but in Rachel's book, yes, it could be a warning, but it could also indicate liberation from a binding situation. That would be a blessing. I am working diligently to unbind what I learned about Life as a kid from that which could occur now.
Next, the Queen of Swords appears to the left of the Tower as the situation that is manifesting. Rachel writes that this queen has seen a great deal of sorrow in her life, and she rises above in purity. The Sword represents a pen. If you've been reading my blogs, you know that my life from age four into my twenties was marked by being surrounded by people who raped me, were alcoholic, violent, schizophrenic, and suicidal. This was my path, and my response was, from early on, to seek the Truth and become a journalist, a writer. Interesting card. Above the Tower is the King of Pentacles, representing issues that cannot be ignored. Ah! A reminder about blessings that come my way -- I have learned through experience that no matter what happens in the physical world, I -- like all of us -- will be provided for. The King of Pentacles indicates wealth, success, security, comfort -- and it's a good card if looking for a job. Hmm, I just filled out an ap late last night. To the right of The Tower -- the help I will receive -- the Ace of Swords. Rachel plows through Pythagoras and the Kabbalah so we don't have to. She says the Ace of Swords represents a keen mind and spiritual truth. Finally, the resolution of the situation -- Page of Swords falls beneath The Tower -- the Pages are students, there is an air of caution, a sense of looking back over a traumatic situation, but there is also Magic, bringing transformative ideas down to earth.
There is great depth in this book, a lot of history, but you can still elicit the meanings easily.
I take a deep breath, pull the pie out of the oven, and feel cleared. Most of the day, I have been stuck, and now I take this lesson -- reminders of the goodness in Life -- and I can be honestly, profoundly grateful.
It is Thanksgiving Eve -- a creamcheese pie is in the oven, to be rescued in sixteen minutes. Around holidays, I tend to take alone moments and look back and forward. And -- just for the record -- smiles and thoughts of appreciation flash through me dozens of times every day. But sometimes I get pensive.
Today, I received Rachel Pollack's newest book about the Tarot. It is called Rachel Pollack's Tarot Wisdom: Spiritual Teachings and Deeper Meanings. I have a beautiful deck of cards by Anna-Marie Ferguson, my favorite Tarot artist. Anna-Marie is gentle and lovely. I interviewed her about fifteen years ago, and one of her messages which stuck with me was her opinion about reversed cards. She finds the interpretations too punishing, and when she lays down a card and it is reversed, she promptly turns it upright. She says the meaning of the card is what is important. Her deck, THE LLEWELLYN TAROT, is, like Rachel's book, published by Llewellyn Worldwide. I decide to do a reading, and I ask -- as I frequently do -- "what do I most need to know about my life right now?"
I choose one of Anna's spreads -- To Illuminate a Situation -- and 16 The Tower falls in the center, which indicates bringing hidden aspects of the situation to light.
Now to see The Tower show up could freak one out, but in Rachel's book, yes, it could be a warning, but it could also indicate liberation from a binding situation. That would be a blessing. I am working diligently to unbind what I learned about Life as a kid from that which could occur now.
Next, the Queen of Swords appears to the left of the Tower as the situation that is manifesting. Rachel writes that this queen has seen a great deal of sorrow in her life, and she rises above in purity. The Sword represents a pen. If you've been reading my blogs, you know that my life from age four into my twenties was marked by being surrounded by people who raped me, were alcoholic, violent, schizophrenic, and suicidal. This was my path, and my response was, from early on, to seek the Truth and become a journalist, a writer. Interesting card. Above the Tower is the King of Pentacles, representing issues that cannot be ignored. Ah! A reminder about blessings that come my way -- I have learned through experience that no matter what happens in the physical world, I -- like all of us -- will be provided for. The King of Pentacles indicates wealth, success, security, comfort -- and it's a good card if looking for a job. Hmm, I just filled out an ap late last night. To the right of The Tower -- the help I will receive -- the Ace of Swords. Rachel plows through Pythagoras and the Kabbalah so we don't have to. She says the Ace of Swords represents a keen mind and spiritual truth. Finally, the resolution of the situation -- Page of Swords falls beneath The Tower -- the Pages are students, there is an air of caution, a sense of looking back over a traumatic situation, but there is also Magic, bringing transformative ideas down to earth.
There is great depth in this book, a lot of history, but you can still elicit the meanings easily.
I take a deep breath, pull the pie out of the oven, and feel cleared. Most of the day, I have been stuck, and now I take this lesson -- reminders of the goodness in Life -- and I can be honestly, profoundly grateful.
Labels: Anna-Marie Ferguson, book review, Rachel Pollack, TAROT WISDOM SPIRITUAL TEACHINGS AND DEEPER MEANINGS, THE LLEWELLYN TAROT, transcending the trauma
posted by Diana Page Jordan @ 8:43 PM
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