Tarot Card Meanings

I offer this without comment – not so much tarot and astrology as predictions based on astrology. It’s taken from an email sent from Louise Lamont to Paul Lowe (PaulsList@lists.paullowe.org)

Date: Mon, 24 May 2010 23:47:32 +0800

Subject: Astrological changes

Within three short months we see 15 – yes, 15, major celestial configurations blaze us with change. This is condensed and powerful energy. Time of Radical Shift A Look into the Coming Cycle by Maurice Fernandez (evolutionary astrologer) Greetings. I feel compelled to write this note about what we astrologers are seeing coming. We are in the beginning of a very [sic] unique time in history that will redefine the foundations of our lives. The astrological circumstances are uncommon and very dramatic. Change is likely to affect every level of our being, even though each person will feel it differently and in varying degrees of intensity. I’m writing this note so that you may make better use of this time and understand what it is about.

As astrologers we are aware of cycles that affect our existence; because this coming cycle is very unique, I feel it is important to share this information. I will try to keep it simple and not burden you with a long text and excessive details. There are multiple planetary bodies that are gradually forming a very particular and rare alignment. This configuration began to form during the fall of 2008. Politically, that time was when the economical crisis exploded and when US president Barack Obama was elected. The configuration will move into a second phase during November 2009 and January/February 2010 (when Saturn moves into the Cardinal sign of Libra and will form powerful angle to Pluto in Capricorn)… The third phase is probably the most dramatic and intense, and will occur from the end of June to the end of July 2010, when all the factors of the configuration will align together in a cross at the very beginning of the Cardinal signs in astrology. (Cardinal signs are the signs of new cycles.) The planets in question are Pluto, Uranus, Saturn, Jupiter, and Mars. These planets are slow moving bodies and therefore it is absolutely exceptional that these slow moving bodies end up all aligned in a cross on these very sensitive degrees! In normal circumstances, some people go through changes while others continue their routine. Here the alignment is so strong and dramatic that everyone’s life can be considerably affected. it is likely that your life will not be the same by fall 2010!

The question that often arises is:” Is it bad, or is it good?” The answer is that it depends on the way one deals with the events; a conscious approach can make a difference. One thing for certain: do not expect security, consistency, and predictability during this time. Reality is bound to change fast and so it is better to move with the flow, while remaining conscious of what is going on. Flexibility is one of the most important assets during this time. This influence is analogous to a gigantic wave forming: you can ride that wave and go farther than ever expected – experience a powerful transformation that can elevate you to new heights. But this wave can also destroy a lot of what you are currently attached to. Redefinition may occur in different fields: you may change vocation, relationships, location, mindsets, to name but a few. New people will move into your life, current ones may leave. New ideas and projects will develop and you may feel inspired to completely reinvent yourself! The cards are re-shuffled! This is a time of an awakening, an internal and social revolution. Everything is shaking up. Everything. From November 2009 until August 2010, nothing will stay still. It can be very good, but you have to learn to navigate these changes and seize opportunity when it comes. Don’t try to have it all perfect, don’t try to keep the cake and eat it: change can take you to a completely new and perhaps higher level of what you are about, but you will have to let go of your security during this time.

It is a time for risk, reinvention, new ideas, new concepts, new vision, and the impetus to make it happen. Marriages may break, jobs and possessions may be lost, people may get sick, and simultaneously, new relationships may emerge, new passion may awaken, a completely new lifestyle is in the making…You are embarking on an adventure whether you know it or not, whether you like it or not. My suggestion: make peace with the idea, don’t resist the adventure. If you accept it, you will make the best of it. If you fight and resist it, you won’t win. This is what I mean by being open to risk taking. it may be time to take that “plunge!” Risking does not mean giving in to every silly venture. It is about hearing a calling for truth. Things you have denied, postponed, avoided, feared, but things you know were true. This is a time to be more truthful and follow your calling.

Collectively, while the forces of corruption and manipulation may attempt to control the course of events, they are bound to disintegrate. Scandals will continue to hit the news. Natural events will continue to shake the earth. At worst, a war may break during summer 2010 or later because dramatic changes can spur fear and conflict…. But it does not have to go that way; we are creators of our own destiny in the midst of the given circumstances. As you go through these changes, it is crucial that you take good care of your immune system because as positive as changes may be, they can overwhelm you and weaken your immune system: eat more healthily, avoid fast sugar, exercise, take time out of the intensity loop, do not let negativity take over – these are basic tips that can keep you grounded.

Importantly: the situation heating up is like a piece of molten iron that can be beaten into a better form – personally and collectively. Be an ambassador of good and avoid wasting time on trivial details. For example, as we see the earth being depleted and all resources and species dwindling, people waste time arguing if global warming is or is not happening. If it is man-made or not. IT DOESN’T MATTER! What matters is that the natural world is vanishing before our eyes because of our misaligned actions: excessive pollution, deforestation, and peaking toxicity levels are a reality beyond global warming debates.

Similarly, the economy is not likely to stabilize any time soon. But perhaps, necessarily so. And so it will be with many other aspects of your life … you will not have immediate answers. … When the cycle will complete, new circumstances will emerge… This cannot be artificially rushed. These dramatic times are an opportunity for us to restructure our lives, personally and collectively. As many things are being redefined, we can relinquish bad habits and attachments, open up to new ideas, and invest in what works rather than settle for immediate gratification. Patience is another essential asset.

In this context, do not expect others to change for the better if you don’t do it yourself. We blame governments and project our frustration on distant “evils,” but fail to open our hearts ourselves. Being pro-active may work better than being self-righteous. … There will be a price to pay. If you lose something or someone, understand this is the sign of these times, use a crisis to venture into new horizons and create something new. Understand this is an adventure and risks must be taken. Understand that this is not a time when we can expect security – we are in transition… Support your friends and family, we all shall need one another for support during this transition time. Cultivate your spiritual practice: this, and a good diet, are both important for your mental and physical health. Do your best to do good: whatever you seed now will have an effect now and later. There is probably more than can be said and explained, but you get the point. An incredible opportunity is arising, now and throughout 2010. This type of cycle has not happened in recent history. We can expect a certain level of destruction to occur – that is the price to pay. But the prospect of experiencing an awakening and creating a better future is within reach. We are now in the midst of a revolution – a cultural, social, and political revolution. On a personal level, it is a conceptual, emotional, and spiritual revolution. Truly, it is in the making!

IMPORTANT DATES TO NOTE:

June 25 to August 5, 2010

November 1 to December 26, 2010

For the last six months I’ve been producing illuminated manuscripts of the different astrological signs and have been fascinated by the links between tarot and astrology. The connections between the two systems are more tenuous than I originally thought, although there are some direct correlations between the symbols of the tarot and the ruling planets of the different signs – the most obvious being Saturn and The Hermit, and the Magician and Mercury (I’ll go into this in more detail in the future).

Astrological study stretches back thousands of years – to ancient Egypt and Babylonia at least, while early mankind would almost certainly have created their own star-lore. At that stage in our evolution, we probably used the right brain to a far greater extent than we do today, and those early people would have automatically assigned images to the patterns of stars. [In fact, the mythology of some indigenous populations shows an extraordinary, intuitive knowledge of the heavens - for example, the Dogon, who knew about the invisible companion to Sirius (for details, see http://www.unmuseum.org/siriusb.htm).]

The ancient astrologers identified the planets, attempted to explain heavenly events such as eclipses and comets, and assigned images and psychological characteristics to constellations which they identified by name based on local myths, and to the different planets.

This use of figurative imagery – together with an underlying animistic concept of the universe – continued for thousands of years, through the collapse of the Egyptian, Greek and Roman civilisations. In medieval times symbology was employed for religious and philosophical ends – the alchemists, for example, used figurative symbolism to describe the alchemic process. The tarot, appearing around 1415, used the same language. Like astrology and alchemy, the tarot referred to images that all understood – which Carl Jung called archetypes: the fool or jester, Emperors, Popes, Justice, Death, The Star, The Sun. (The Minchiate deck incorporated all the astrological signs, plus the elements and virtues – and was one of the first medieval packs to change the pages to ‘maid’ cards.)

Many recent decks place astrological symbols on each card, assuming a correlation which may or may not be useful. Crowley’s Thoth deck was one of the first to attempt a synthesis of all the magical systems – kabbalah, astrology, tarot and a few more besides. You can, of course, read tarot quite adequately without knowing any other system, but in future posts I will detail some of the parallels which can enrich your readings.