The High Priestess

The High Priestess card speaks of the inner mysteries. It speaks of secrets and the unknown. Hidden knowledge.

In the card, the HPS is surrounded by pomegranates. This is a fruit that, even today, still holds many – as yet unknown – healing properties. Properties that are only now starting to be discovered. It is still an inner mystery, hidden knowledge as-it-were.

In the story of the garden of Eden in the bible, mention is made of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. It is unknown where the notion came from that the fruit of this tree was an apple, as there is compelling evidence to suggest that this was in fact more than likely a pomegranate. In which case it makes perfect sense that Eve would experience a realization of duality for the first time once she partook of this fruit of the High Priestess. In tarot it is the Magician and High Priestess who together first introduce duality into the journey that the Fool undertakes. She is the passive, feminine and the shadow, the opposite of the qualities of her counterpart the Magician. The pillars depicted in the HPS card, one white the other black, show duality clearly too. Duality is in fact one of the great mysteries that the HPS represents to us.

The HPS worships the Goddess, of which the moon is a symbol. In a patriarchal society where focus has for a long time been on the God and therefore the masculine aspects of divinity, we do not yet fully understand the Goddess. She remains a mystery still – attainable only once we are able to eat of this symbolic fruit that holds mysterious properties so that we may cast aside the veil.

This card tells us that it is time to examine what is going on inside our heads, in our thoughts.  Things that aren’t out in the open, that are hidden from view. We can expect the unexpected, as is typical of the HPS, because all the tools we need are there, they are merely hidden from view. Explore the unobvious, and prepare to be surprised by what is revealed.

To entice the mysteries out involves work. We might need to examine reoccurring patterns in our lives. We would need to try to discover why these cycles repeat themselves. Therein lies a great mystery too. Once we understand the need for the repeating patterns in our lives, we need to work towards bending it in our favour, in other words, work at gaining clarity and understanding that these reoccurring cycles are trying to teach us. Seek to unveil the inner mysteries is what the HPS whispers in our ear,  if you dare… Yes, we may eat of her fruit to discover her mysteries, but we need to know that there is always a risk.  We risk expulsion from our very own gardens of Eden, gardens of ignorance, predictability, order and uniformity, possibly even monotony. States of being that lack challenge, duality, chaos  and… well, pretty much the knowledge of so-called good and evil, in other words the mysteries.

The HPS furthermore warns that once the mind has been expanded it can not be returned to its original state, hence the expulsion from the garden of it’s former dwelling.

Before Adam and Eve partook of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of duality (namely good and evil,) they knew eternal life only, no death. There was no duality, therefore there was no death.  The risk therefore when seeking the mysteries of the Goddess that the HPS closely guards is the risk of death. We could live ‘forever in ignorance’ in our own gardens of Eden, thus ignorance, or we could expand our mind and thus experience death of what we have known before.

The choice is ours to make, and it is not a light choice to make. Today this card asks us to examine whether we are ready to explore our own inner mysteries, despite what we may find there, the good and the bad. Or whether we would prefer not to ‘rock the boat’ as-it-were and thereby rather exist outside these mysteries.

Do we really want to know? Are we ready to partake in communion with the HPS as we eat the forbidden fruit. We had best be sure that we are ready if we do. For once we do, we will never again be the same. And dare I say that those of us who have tasted this forbidden fruit would not want to go back, even if we could.

Page of Cups

In the Rider Waite Smith deck, a youthful figure is holding a cup in his hand, from which a salmon fish emerges. The youth is wearing a blue hat with veil, the veil is cast aside indicating that he can see the object of his inspiration with clarity.

How does the salmon peering from this cup inspire us? According to old Celtic lore, salmon is a sign of sacred wells and healing waters, and its presence symbolized foreknowledge of events. As-if to confirm that we are dealing with emotive and intuitive issues that will not go away by merely ignoring them, we see in the imagery these very waters on the horizon swelling-up, reminding us that we do need to deal with our issues. Issues that reside in the vast world of emotions and/or intuition.

If we examine the behaviour of the salmon, we find that we would be hard-pressed to find one more determined to overcome adversities and obstacles. Salmon swims upstream, against the very flow, for approximately 1500 miles, leaping over rapids and through waterfalls in this epic pilgrimage he makes to re-unite himself once again with the sweetly familiar waters of his birth. It is a difficult and treacherous journey, yet this does not discourage salmon or dissuade him from embarking on it.

Totem Salmon Art - Animal line drawing by Thailan When

Therefore, when this card appears for us, as it has done today, it might be prudent for us to take a closer look at what our emotions and intuition are trying to tell us. Is there a difficult journey ahead, perhaps one we have been avoiding to take? Daunting as it seems, we need to remember that a journey of a thousand miles begins with one single step in the right direction. What emotional pilgrimage do we need to undertake that will once again reunite us with the sweet healing waters of our origin, our truth? What healing needs to take place on an emotional level? Are we afraid to embark on this journey in pursuit of healing because we fear the obstacles along the way?

This card reminds us that we have what it takes to make this pilgrimage, to pursue emotional well-being and balance. It gives us permission to acknowledge that there may be a need for an emotional cleansing and purification, and that what at first appears to be a daunting task is in fact attainable, and may very well be viewed as an adventure of rediscovery of our emotional authenticity. More than attainable, this journey becomes necessary for us to plunge into the emotional rapids, and to face the potential obstacles that may present themselves, if we wish to be emotionally prosperous. For, salmon makes this epic journey in order to ensure his immortality. The waters of his birth calls him into their sweet and comforting folds where he procreates so that his offspring too may be born in the sweet waters of their home-coming, their origin, their authenticity, where the cycle once again repeats itself as the young salmon leave their birthing waters to which they too shall return upon maturity. But, in order to do so they too will embark upon a pilgrimage – as their parents did – in order to continue the cycle.

How does this all apply to us and to our self-development and growth you might ask? Here is what I think this card suggests to us. We need to remember our emotional authenticity.  Go back to what it is that needs emotional healing within us.  We need to revisit the origin of our emotional ills where we will manifest healing. Embarking upon what may appear to be a daunting journey to make our way back, so that we may recapitulate until we reach the point of our dis-ease, so that we may pour healing waters upon it. That moment or event in which our pain and emotional discomfort was born. We may find that the journey in itself is cathartic enough to reawaken our memory of perfection, and in doing so we may discover that the purpose of pain is to encourage us to take this epic journey in which we reassemble ourselves, reminding us that everything is and always has in fact been perfect, exactly as it is.

Ten of Cups

Ten of Cups speaks to us of emotional abundance, a coming of age as-it-were on an emotional level, or emotions having come full circle. What was previously one cup (the Ace of Cups) has now become a family of cups. Potential has thus fully manifested.

The card illustrates a beautiful rainbow. In itself an important symbol.  Andrew Lloyd Webber brought to life the biblical character Joseph and his amazing technicoloured dream-coat. A coat that represented a rainbow of colours.  The narrator in Lloyd-Webber’s production is telling a story, sometimes to children, encouraging them to dream. She then tells the story of Joseph, another dreamer, encouraging him to dream with the song ‘any dream will do.’

Rainbows and dreams can both be seen as stairways to the proverbial heavens. In Norse mythology Heimdall, the god of light, was the guardian of the rainbow bridge that led to the realms of the gods. And surely it is here, in these godly realms, where we can be assured that our dreams come true?

Heimdall guarding the rainbow bridge.

Ten of cups reminds us that we can indeed manifest our dreams, and that we do indeed possess the power of the gods to do this.  Notice how one cup has manifested into a family of cups on this card, and how community and family seem to be the central and dominant focus of the card. This card serves to remind us that this is indeed the proverbial pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. That it is safe and good to dream and to continue dreaming our desires into manifestation.  The emotion that is emitted from this card is that of joy and accomplishment. It is a time to examine and congratulate ourselves on what we have achieved. Yes, we have achieved much,  but perhaps we forget how far we really have come? Well, now is the time to stand back, and for a moment allow ourselves to relish the satisfaction of our achievements. Recognize the rewards that we have manifested in our lives as a result of allowing ourselves to dream a better dream, a better reality.  Yes, I am speaking directly to you, even you who may think that you still have such a long way to go before you can stand back to examine your achievements. Take stock for a moment of how far you have already come, since you first recognized the stirrings of power that resides within you. The power to make dreams come true. Your dreams.

I dreamed the sky and the earth were dreaming about their love -  Walter Logeman
http://www.thousandsketches.com/blog/?p=1103

So, we may ask ourselves what are we dreaming today? What dreams do we give our attention to today that will tomorrow be manifest? Perhaps this is what the card is nudging us to examine, and re-examine. Are we dreaming the reality that we want to manifest tomorrow? Or are we dreaming the reality that we don’t want? We have the power to do both, either or…

The sense of community that this card brings us is also a reminder to us that when we work to bring something to full manifestation, the effects of these spill over and impacts on more than just ourselves alone. We are thereby reminded that we are all interconnected, so that what we manifest will touch and affect others. In the case of this card, it is joy that touches the lives of those around us, as a direct result of our manifestations that have fully matured and materialized.

Therefore, we learn today that it is okay to dream. More than okay, it is encouraged. For conscious creation must surely be better than unconscious creation? Where our attention should lie in the dreaming process is clarity on what it is that we are dreaming into realization, because it will manifest and when it does it will spill over to touch the lives of others too.

Page of Pentacles

The Pentacle is an earth symbol. It represents the physical world. It addresses matters such as our finances, homes and physical health. It also speaks to us of grounding, bringing ‘down to earth’ our dreams, in effect manifesting them in the physical world.

The Page card is the youngest in the court card hierarchy. This figure is a youthful one, still an adolescent.

The average adolescent is still exploring his world, pushing the boundaries in order to learn of consequences and limitations in his physical world.  She has not yet fully developed an understanding of the consequences of her actions or learnt to master her impulses. Some adolescents display behaviour that is reckless and dangerous. They do not yet fully grasp the effect of their behaviour on their physical bodies or the world around them. In our ongoing quest for self-mastery this card asks us to examine those aspects of our lives in which we are not yet fully conscious. It draws our attention to the areas in our lives in which we are being reckless or careless. Perhaps even dancing with danger. Are we allowing ourselves to be pressurized by our peers or the media to buy yet another car or television set, instead of putting some money away for a rainy day? Have we given any thought to the consequences of buying clothing or textiles that are made in China? Would the possibility that those clothes were made by children cause us to think twice before buying them? Are we unwittingly contributing towards creating a demand for manufactured goods that tacitly support child labour or the further eradication of the rain forests of this planet?

Perhaps this card serves to remind us to take responsibility and to review our attitudes so that we can lessen the impact we have on planet earth and on our own physical bodies.  Feeding our bodies junk food every day, for example, is one of the surest ways to ruin our physical health. It may be time to contain ourselves and gain control over our impulses so that we can balance the cheque book at the end of the month, and possibly even save a bit towards that well deserved holiday.

Learning to see ourselves as simultaneously, the least important and also the greatest of the universe’s children is the lesson of this card. We might ask how would we do that? The key lies in awareness. The next time we take a stroll on a concrete walkway somewhere in a city we see greatness reflected in a persistent dandelion growing in a crack in the concrete. We observe as it’s delicate winged seeds become airborne so that they may travel  somewhere where they continue the cycle of life.

Even as we marvel in the wonder of the ancient oak tree in the park as its twisted branches reach ever upward toward the sun, we also notice the busy trail of ants meticulously building their home with planning and precision. And on the darkest night as we look up to the complex vastness of the cosmos – we are reminded of how small and humble we really are.

At the same time we become aware of our own personal greatness as we examine the lives we have created for ourselves in our world. We are the creators of our own experiences, our triumphs and our failings. A closer examination of what we have already manifested in our lives should awaken a sense of appreciation within us for the creators that we are, indeed for our own power and greatness.

It is therefore fitting at this time to take stock of what we have manifested to bring us into the present moment – the now.  Acknowledging our own greatness we might be inspired to think for a moment on what we choose to manifest today. How will this new and perfect day unfold in our lives and on our planet? What will we create today?

Judgement

The Egyptian god Thoth, known as god of writing, medicine and death would – upon death - weigh the heart of a person against the feather of truth to determine the fate of the soul. The Judgement card tells us that we are at a point in our lives (or situation) where we have to pause… This is a time of reckoning… and of judgement.

Who is the judge that weighs up the truth of our hearts, the truth of our situation or intent? For the purpose of this examination it is we ourselves who are our judge. Our conscience will do the judging of our hearts, for we cannot avoid or deceive ourselves indefinitely. This, as mentioned already, is a time of reckoning…

Jesus rises Lazarus from his tomb

The judgement card reminds us that it is time to examine our intent. Time to ‘measure’ ourselves as-it-were. Self-examination has become necessary as we brave-up to our reflection staring back at us in the all-revealing mirror. In doing so and in the process of self-examination and self-judgement we see too that this is a time of rebirth. So much of the path we have walked thusfar has lead to this very moment of truth, and as Lazarus of Bethany in the Christian bible was commanded by Jesus to rise from his tomb four days after his death, it becomes time for us to rise-up too once we have died off the unwanted in our pursuit of self-examination and truth. The time has arrived for us to accept the challenge and rewards of renewals after we have closely re-examined our intent. Upon determining that our hearts are true and our intent sound, this does indeed become a period of renewals. Renewal of commitment perhaps, or approach.  

Thoth weighs the heart against the feather of truth

In some Magic groups, upon initiation one’s measure is taken, length and sometimes width too. This cord is kept and safely guarded by the guardians of the group to be used, if necessary, to keep initiates in check. Just so when we use self-examination either by listening to our conscience or our concept of a God judging us, we need to measure what is good and bad in order to embark on a period of renewals. Be it a renewal of commitment perhaps, or approach; or pulling ourselves into check to remain on the straight and narrow.

Thus, this process of honest re-evaluation is what is called for when the Judgement card appears for us. This of course can and should be applied to almost any area of our lives. Our relationships with ourselves and others being one such area that may need honest scrutiny. It is wise to do regular ‘housekeeping’ within our relationships. We might need to ask ourselves tough questions such as whether we are adding an element of toxicity to a relationship, or whether the relationship itself has become toxic. It may be time to honestly re-evaluate whether we are investing as much as we could in the relationships in our lives. And how DO we relate to others that we have attracted into our lives? Is there room for improvement? Having said that, we may need to find the courage to remove ourselves from relationships that harm or damage us. We need to know that we are far too precious to be abused in any shape or form by anyone, including ourselves.

Thus the death of many things may occur when we find the courage to invest in honest self-examination. But, as the truth of our hearts and our intent are weighed-up at these deaths we will triumph over negativity – providing we judge ourselves and our lives with utmost integrity along our pursuit to live a life characterized by the truth reflected in our hearts.

Ace of Wands

'This card represents fire in its purest, simplest and most unstable form.' It is raw energy, boundless and unlimited. It is the root driving force of all action. The basic drive of the will, which must be carefully focussed and directed. This force motivates new beginnings, ideas and changes. Like any fire it is to be treated with respect and handled carefully lest it become a destructive force or wasteful frustration.

'The Ace of Wands shows that the will of the individual is an immeasurable, powerful force. However, this blind force requires understanding before it may be applied appropriately. The symbol is one of potential but it is totally ambivalent, it may be the drive that goads the scientist to a new discovery, or the despot to seek the position of tyrant, or the healer to find a successful cure. Fire, whether real or symbolic, must be respected and handled with care.' As an example of ‘playing with fire’ and suffering the consequences thereof, we look to Greek mythology where we learn of Icarus, Son of Daedalus who dared to fly too near the sun on wings of feathers and wax. Daedalus had been imprisoned by King Minos of Crete within the walls of his own invention, the Labyrinth. But the great craftsman's genius would not suffer captivity. He made two pairs of wings by adhering feathers to a wooden frame with wax. Giving one pair to his son, he cautioned him that flying too near the sun would cause the wax to melt. But Icarus became ecstatic with the ability to fly and forgot his father's warning. The feathers came loose and Icarus plunged to his death in the sea.

Source: http://space.balettie.com/IcarusRising.html

Being the first card in the suit of wands that represents the element of Fire, it would be appropriate to read a section from Glennie Kindred’s book ‘The Alchemist’s Journey’ as she writes of the alchemists use and understanding of fire. She says ‘As an alchemist, I seek secret fire, hidden fire or sacred fire, the fire that lives within me and helps me to be in touch with what is truly important for my spiritual journey.  I aim to unite my inner fire with my outer fire, so that everything I do in my everyday life, and in the world, is a reflection of this union.

By uniting the two I create a doorway, an interface where my inner and outer fire can fuse together. Their union releases spontaneity and trust in myself, a clarity of inner strength and true integrity. I picture the opening this united fire energy brings and jump right in. A new part of my journey has begun.’

When this card appears to us we might ask whether there are aspects of our lives that we need to fire-up in order to create focus and direction? What projects have we allowed to cool down and stagnate that need to be ignited again so that we can bring them to completion? Is there an aspect of our lives that is in need of transformation? What action do we need to take in order to make necessary changes in our lives?

None of these can be successfully addressed without a commitment to action – which is what the element of fire symbolizes. Now may be the time to re-commit and to trust ourselves so that our inner strength and integrity can shine thru as we direct our will in a manner that will transform those elements of our lives that are in need of change.

So too is it necessary for us to take responsibility for what we have created. Just as one who builds a fire for warmth needs to take responsibility for it, ensuring that it does not become a raging fire that burns down the forest.

Reference

Personal Development with the Tarot, Catherine Summers & Julian Vayne - ISBN 0-572-02462-2

Ace of Cups

The Ace of Cups show us that potential is in abundance, but how this will formulate and manifest itself is still unknown.

In this card we are confronted with the element of water. This however is a card that illustrates the element of water in its primordial form. Emotions & intuition in their primitive form.  Water as the emblem of the unconscious. In Christianity, the Spirit of God moves over the impenetrable depths of the waters, before creating life.

In their book “Personal Development with the Tarot” by Catherine Summers and Julian Vayne, the following observations are made:

The chalice represents the womb from which all creation is born. Yet, in the act of creation, the power of water has yet to be reacted upon by outside forces. Historically cups are associated with the church and love. Cups receive the impulse and respond to it. Cups represents love, relationships and imagination. Cups can open you to your inner feelings and the connections you have with others. Choices on this level seem intuitive.

As an image of the unconscious, this card shows the need for evolution of consciousness. For, this process is necessary in order for individuation to occur. The Ace of Cups demonstrates that the unconscious must interact with the conscious mind before it can create.

This card shows a period in which great potential exists, but no direction or fertilization is yet apparent. If the seeds of wisdom sown are the sound seeds of personal discovery, then the harvest will be rewarding and fulfilling.

Imagery in this card includes an equal-armed cross, suspended above a large golden cup. In their book “The Secret Language of Tarot,” my tarot mentors Ruth Ann & Wald Amberstone describe the cross as a symbol of distilled human consciousness, being a symbol that is born of the human mind rather than directly from nature.

They continue to say that crossroads are places where all important decisions are made! Cross-examinations reveal hidden personal truths and motives.  Strangers become friends when their paths cross. Crossing the ocean is as far as one can physically travel. And crossing swords is a joining in battle.  Double crossing is the essence of treachery.

When the cross is tilted it becomes an X. An X in a ballot signifies a choice that has to be made. An X on a signature line is the universal sign of human identity. And X marks the spot on every map of buried treasure!

 

The cross is the symbol of all that changes and all that remains the same.  It is the relationship between the stable state of things, represented by the horizontal line, and the dynamic state of things as they might become, represented by the vertical. It is the symbol of the creative potential of absolute difference.

In an equal-armed cross stability is suggested as all arms have equal length – thus significance. It is the sum total of all there is, and it’s a universal symbol of serenity.

The cross reveals dimensions, offers fresh perspectives, and opens a whole new possibility for creativity, personal refinement and spiritual elevation.

Most important about the equal-armed cross is that each of the four arms are equal. North is as good as south, winter as good as spring, old-age serves as great a purpose as childhood. Pain and pleasure, fullness and emptiness, even life and death are equal. A hard lesson to learn, but it’s the one that brings serenity and balance into our lives.

 In closing we might ask ourselves what potential lies dormant within that is ready to emerge? How can we uncover our creative potential and thereby manifest serenity and balance in our lives? What aspects of our lives are in need of equality? Do we acknowledge the lessons of our pain as we revere the joys of our pleasure?