Zen Moment: We Are All The Fool

I have studied Tarot for years now, and always am amazed at how meanings and symbols continue to emerge--one never does truly become a Master with the Tarot. Or maybe they do...which brings me to The Fool.

He came up in my birthday reading last July as an indicator of where I'd be headed this year. Now in July, I was a slightly different person than I am today. We all are different than we were 6 months ago, if you really think about it. The meaning I attached to Him back then was 'newness'; the unknown; facing a new opportunity with a dash of innocence and a lot of faith. I took him as an indication of a very exciting year ahead.

Yesterday, however, I felt the urge to do some deep reading on The Fool. So I turned to my current favorite Tarot book, Tarot of the Spirit, by Pamela Eakins, and read that the Fool is all about process. Process. Take a moment to ponder this meaning of PROCESS: "a sustained phenomenon or one marked by gradual changes through a series of states."

When we are focused on process, we are focused on the phenomenon of the moment, and, most important, we are not focused on the outcome of the process. When I am focused on outcomes, it is not necessarily bad, but it is different than being immersed in the process. With outcomes in sight, one becomes more tense: when will I reach my goal? Am I closer? What obstacles will I face? Will it be what I hope it to be? All of these questions add to the quality of our day. Fear of not attaining our outcome also exists and affects our quality of life.

However, when the process is the only thing that matters, the quality of our day changes. We then 'live in the moment'. Pressure eases. Life becomes more enjoyable, and you know what? An outcome will still 'happen', but we may find it to be richer, or not what we at all thought, or not even important. By living in the moment, in the process, we are like the Fool: guided only by our inner promptings and oblivious to fear. We move through life and gradually enter different states of being, because we are unfolding naturally.

Living in the moment also engenders more faith. By deciding we are just going to 'do' what we feel called to do, with no fear of where it will lead us, we are saying to the Universe, I trust that by following my calling all will be well. When we leave fear out of the picture, we naturally increase our faith. Viva La Fool! Viva la process!

Still Transmitting...

Well, it's been a while since I've posted a reading. I've slacked in part due to health factors and to my volatility. Though I have still been reading cards, my new obsession is poetry, thus I've thrown myself into reading and writing it. I did ask Tarot about getting published in the next 6 months and the cards were puzzling, if not grim: 10 of Swords, Ace of Wands and Death (!). The message felt heavy. It felt off base. Were the cards talking about something else? With this combination the thought of actual death floated into my mind. They could also signify a solid "no", with the blossoming, hopeful, creative Ace of Wands being crushed from both sides by knives and the reaper on horseback. Then I realized I had written a poem about death, titled "Arrival". Will this be the one to be accepted for publication first? Stay tuned....

Question from J.: Is this new guy I met a good romantic match for me?

Judgment, 9 of Pentacles and the Hierophant. I drew another card for the Hierophant to look upon, as he was looking into space. We got the 9 of Swords for him to gaze upon.

The first thing that struck me was that he has a lot of power, and/or, you are giving him a lot of power. The people in the Judgment card look to be worshiping the angelic trumpet player, and the two people in the Hierophant card are most certainly worshiping/revering the main figure there. In each card, there is someone in obvious control, with attending 'worshipers'. Notice, too, that each dominant figure is not looking at his 'people'. I feel a sense of ego in both of these images--like the guy is not concerned with who he's affecting--he's just preoccupied with his own work and with his own methods.

Then we have the number 9 showing up in the other two cards: the 9 of Pentacles and the 9 of Swords, which the Hierophant is looking at. Among other things, 9 represents our unconscious and it is ruled by the moon. I think with the 9 of Pentacles in between Judgment and Hierophant, we have an indication of unconscious desires manifesting. Is there a desire, (expressed or not) to have someone for you to look up to? To have a sense of connection to someone who exudes a lot of spiritual authority?

With the Hierophant looking at the 9 of Swords, there is a sense that this man may be really tapped into acting out in an 'elevated' manner due to unconscious desires to be right and to be perceived as an authority. The 9 of Swords also is tied into the idea of mental pain, so I'm wondering why he's focused on this card. Is there some issue he has not cleared up? I'm tending to think so by looking at these cards.

I hope this helps you--please let me know how it goes and tell me if any of the images bring anything up for you.

My Shift...

I have been reading Tarot cards since age 14. Memorizing, studying, meditating--all bringing me to this place of somehow being able to 'read' people's concerns, thoughts and aspirations via the cards. The number of corresponding systems that can be applied to card interpretations is vast, and requires years of study in themselves: astrology, numerology, archetypal symbolism, and kabalah are a few. It can all get complicated. To properly apply this knowledge to a dynamic human being sitting in front of you is a monumental task: to do so with care, with sensitivity and a degree of clarity is an art-form that I've taken very seriously.

In October of 2008, my consciousness shifted. I stumbled upon a place of solace, where l realized that all I now need to read the cards are my eyes and the pictures, and the ability to release all I've learned about Tarot. My inspiration came via the chance/synchronistic finding of a blog by Enrique Enriquez (www.enriqueenriquez.net). Through him I was awakened to the power of simply looking; of reading the cards using only their raw 'optical language'. It is as if an older part of my humanity has been brought to life--as if I've been called to start at the very beginning--to understand the world using a primal, pre-verbal language. It works, and simply so. I feel akin to the painters of Lascaux. My brain doesn't hurt so much now. Using fewer cards, my readings are richer, and far more accurate.

Thank you, Enrique, for building the bridge.