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.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Monday, October 13, 2008
There are Four Men I Know-Who is Best for a Long Term Relationship?
Man 2: Empress, Knight of Pentacles, Knight of Wands
The ‘Mother’ card is present in association with two cards signifying he's a mover and a shaker. He appears to be energetic, yet grounded enough to be very focused on whatever task is at hand. This relationship looks to be tapped into the Mother archetype, though. It can be successful if your relationship is focused primarily upon accomplishing creative projects.
Man 3: The Hanged One, Page of Swords and Page of Wands
This combination shows us someone who is a deep, original thinker, yet he embodies naiveté. He very much wants to learn how to please people. We have a picture here of an inability to move forward with much authority--he may shoot himself in the foot, figuratively speaking and/or have a difficult time making decisions.
Man 4: 9 of Wands, 6 of Pentacles, 8 of Pentacles
Here is a picture of physical and emotional work. The 6 of Pentacles is a measured, balanced give and take. It is flanked by a card of literal work (8 of Pentacles) and one of having expended a lot of energy (9 of Wands). The relationship certainly seems to be grounded and stable. It feels like the first card of fire is happy existing next to the two earth cards. I think this is an excellent picture of having done the work to achieve security and stability. The question is, don't we want to see at least one Cup card in a relationship question? The only Man with that emotional aspect showing up is Man #1.
Monday, October 6, 2008
Should I Move to Tahoe Within a Year?
The 2 of Swords, IV The Emperor, III The Empress
With the 2 of Swords, we have a clear picture here of your indecisiveness--of someone gathering more information--of a wait-and-see attitude. Is this indecisiveness due to the Emperor and Empress? Is there an actual couple (Mom & Dad, a friend and his wife) who is influencing your decision? This is one level of the message. If it applies, it seems they have a strong pull on your decision, and you are told to look to them for more clues.
On a deeper level, when we see this royal couple together, we see the male/female archetype that we all carry within us--the animus/anima. They are trying to get your attention--to open you up past the point of the two of swords--to talk to you about letting down your guard so that you may learn something from them. What typically does the anima/animus seek to teach us? Inner wholeness, completion and balance.
According to the great Carl Jung, these figures are the differentiated energy within that we seek to harmonize. We do this most often by identifying with the energy of one of them (men choose to adopt the male/animus energy and females choose the feminine/anima) and then we project the energy of the other onto our mate, thus only feeling 'complete' when we have found a partner who embodies the other archetype.
Ideally, if we are fully conscious, we come to realize that we carry both of these figures inside of us--in other words, we have all we need inside to be complete, thus we don't need to rely on another person for that feeling of completion. Jung would say that in essence, to seek your other half through another person is to avoid discovering the reality of your full power as an individual soul. Neither he nor I am saying relationships aren't important and satisfying, but rather that often we look to them to be our salvation. This can be dangerous and harmful to both parties, often accounting for the crazy dynamics we see in some relationships.
How does all of this apply to your question about moving? I take this combination to mean if you do move to Tahoe, these powerful archetypes will be surfacing. Will you meet that special someone, and/or will you find that Tahoe is a place where you will seek and find inner completion? Both sound good to me.
On a deeper level, when we see this royal couple together, we see the male/female archetype that we all carry within us--the animus/anima. They are trying to get your attention--to open you up past the point of the two of swords--to talk to you about letting down your guard so that you may learn something from them. What typically does the anima/animus seek to teach us? Inner wholeness, completion and balance.
According to the great Carl Jung, these figures are the differentiated energy within that we seek to harmonize. We do this most often by identifying with the energy of one of them (men choose to adopt the male/animus energy and females choose the feminine/anima) and then we project the energy of the other onto our mate, thus only feeling 'complete' when we have found a partner who embodies the other archetype.
Ideally, if we are fully conscious, we come to realize that we carry both of these figures inside of us--in other words, we have all we need inside to be complete, thus we don't need to rely on another person for that feeling of completion. Jung would say that in essence, to seek your other half through another person is to avoid discovering the reality of your full power as an individual soul. Neither he nor I am saying relationships aren't important and satisfying, but rather that often we look to them to be our salvation. This can be dangerous and harmful to both parties, often accounting for the crazy dynamics we see in some relationships.
How does all of this apply to your question about moving? I take this combination to mean if you do move to Tahoe, these powerful archetypes will be surfacing. Will you meet that special someone, and/or will you find that Tahoe is a place where you will seek and find inner completion? Both sound good to me.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Question: What Should I Do Regarding the Long Distance Relationship I'm In?
Background to the question: Scott (names are changed for confidentiality) has been seeing a woman who lives several states away, off and on. He's not sure if he should put more effort into growing the relationship or not.
Temperance, 10 of Swords reversed, Ace of Wands Reversed
My Haiku for these 3 cards:
My Haiku for these 3 cards:Pouring water carefully,
Fear of loss. To put off death
Is to put off birth.Whenever we see the 10 of Swords, we think things can't be good. This is generally true, but when using more than one card for a spread, each card's meaning is colored by the others, so there can be thousands of shades of meaning to each card.
Temperance shows us that Scott is expending energy to keep himself centered on the relationship. He's pouring his emotions back and forth in a controlled manner like the angel in the card. Nothing is being spilled. Because it's next to the 10 of Swords, he's putting a lot of energy into holding it together. This is not a bad thing, necessarily: The fact that he's trying to keep things centered in itself is noble. But to what end?
With the Ace of Wands, a new beginning is shown (a creative, passionate beginning--wands also symbolize our sexual energy)--but again, next to the 10 of Swords, how is this new beginning colored? Not in a very positive way. Because both the Ace and the 10 are reversed, the message is that there is resistance to ending the relationship and to injecting new energy into it. Temperance here looks like someone who is afraid to make a move, so he's staying just where he is: at a stalemate.
The question of what to do regarding the relationship? Do SOMETHING. Endings are always painful, and the thought of initiating a new level, or injecting a new passion into one can be scary. The message here is to decide so that either way you can move on.
Temperance shows us that Scott is expending energy to keep himself centered on the relationship. He's pouring his emotions back and forth in a controlled manner like the angel in the card. Nothing is being spilled. Because it's next to the 10 of Swords, he's putting a lot of energy into holding it together. This is not a bad thing, necessarily: The fact that he's trying to keep things centered in itself is noble. But to what end?
With the Ace of Wands, a new beginning is shown (a creative, passionate beginning--wands also symbolize our sexual energy)--but again, next to the 10 of Swords, how is this new beginning colored? Not in a very positive way. Because both the Ace and the 10 are reversed, the message is that there is resistance to ending the relationship and to injecting new energy into it. Temperance here looks like someone who is afraid to make a move, so he's staying just where he is: at a stalemate.
The question of what to do regarding the relationship? Do SOMETHING. Endings are always painful, and the thought of initiating a new level, or injecting a new passion into one can be scary. The message here is to decide so that either way you can move on.
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