About The Tarot

THE TAROT

The TAROT is made up of 78 cards. The Major Arcana, or trumps, comprises 21 of
the cards. They bear allegorical images and titles. They symbolize "the big
picture". They are in numerical order as a journey through life starting with
the fool and ending with the world. The rest of the deck is made up of the MINOR
ARCANA. They comprise four suits: the swords, wands (staves or batons), cups,
and pentacles (coins). They are made up basically like a regular card deck. Each
suit has four court cards: princess (traditionally page), prince (traditionally
knight), queen, and king. The numbered cards are ACE (1) through 10. The minor
arcana focuses on ourselves as we exist from day to day. They deal with our
personal lives, our ambitions, hopes, fears, and relations to each other. The
major arcana has implications of the individual and the minor focuses more on
the world at large. The major and minor arcana both work together to form a
whole, or a continuum. Below is a list of the traditional cards---both the major
and minor arcana.

Major Arcana:

0 The fool, I The magician, II The priestess, III The Empress, IV The Emperor, V
The hierophant, VI The lovers, VII The chariot, VIII Justice, IX The Hermit, X
Wheel of Fortune, XI Strength, XII The Hanged Man, XIII Death, XIV Temperance,
XV The Devil, XVI The Tower, XVII The Star, XVIII The Moon, XIX The Sun, XX
Judgement, XXI The World.

Minor Arcana:

Suit of wands:

Ace of wands, two of wands, three of wands, four of wands, five of wands, six of
wands, seven of wands, eight of wands, nine of wands, ten of wands, princess,
prince, queen, king.

Suit of cups:

Ace of cups, two of cups, three of cups, four of cups, five of cups, six of
cups, seven of cups, eight of cups, nine of cups, ten of cups, princess, prince,
queen, king.

Suit of Swords:

Ace of swords, two of swords, three of swords, four of swords, five of swords,
six of swords, seven of swords, eight of swords, nine of swords, ten of swords,
princess, prince, queen, king.

Suit of Pentacles (coins):

Ace of pentacles, two of pentacles, three of pentacles, four of pentacles, five
of pentacles, six of pentacles, seven of pentacles, eight of pentacles, nine of
pentacles, ten of pentacles, princess, prince, queen, king.

SPREADS

The way to do readings is through spreads. Spreads can be very easy, with one
card, or can be very hard and complicated. I will go over some of the basic,
easier spreads you can use. To prepare for the reading, make sure you are in a
calm, relaxed state. Do not do a reading if you are depressed or hysterical.
Pick a calm, quiet spot where you will not be disturbed. You may shuffle the
cards anyway you want, and after a while, may find that you pick up a certain
style in doing so. On all the spreads below, start by taking the first card off
the deck and place it face up in order that you see the spreads laid out. In
other words, do not take the first card and place it in the fourth card spot. To
read the cards, either do it one at a time as the cards are turned over, or wait
till all cards have been laid out and read the cards like a story.

The Time spread:

This spread is good for beginners because it only involves four cards. Before
you start this spread, have a clear question in mind. It does not have to be a
yes or no question, but it should be specific.

Card 1: The Past

This card will tell what has happened to lead up to the question being asked. It
can refer to events in your childhood but will more likely refer to things
directly related to the question.

Card 2: The Present

This card tells how your situation stands at the moment. It might refer to some
feelings or Something you have that you did not want to admit or show something
that might have caused your particular question.

Card 3: The Future

This card will show how it expects things to work out in the near future.

Card 4: Action

This card will show what you may do to either encourage the outcome or change
it.

Books in PDF format to read:

Dom Antoine Joseph Pernety - A Treatis On The Great Art
Michael Smith - Ways Of The Asatru
Aleister Crowley - The Zodiac And The Tarot
Pyotr Demianovich Ouspenskii - The Symbolism Of The Tarot
Samuel Liddell Macgregor Mathers - The Tarot

Candle Magick For Scrying

Scrying is a popular form of Divination which involves seeing truth, knowing
what is happening around you in other places. It normally involves mirrors,
crystals, water or fire. This magick spell is devised to assist in scrying, not
to be performed alone.

Arrange altar in the following manner:

Goddess Candle and God candle in respective places.
Incense in the Center
White candle directly south of incense.
To the left and south of the white candle place Orange candle. Underneath white
candle place petitioner candle. Directly right of petitioner candle place
orange candle. Directly south of the Petitioner candle place purple candle.

Light Goddess and God candles.

Light PETITIONER candle and say,

"Here burns my spirit and power, wise in the Occult and steadfast in purity."

Light the WHITE candle and say,

"Here burns Purity, Truth, and Sincerity. They are with me throughout this rite
and beyond it."

Light Orange candles and say,

"That Which I scry is attracted to me as the moth is drawn to the candle flame."

Sit a moment and organize your thoughts. Decide EXACTLY what it is you wish to
see and say,

"Around me is built a wall of light;
Though it may pass only that which will harm me not.
That I may see all there is no question,
yet aught I see may not reach out to me.
The Gods are my guides as they are to my strength.
All this revealed is brought through Them;
For this do I give thanks."

Turn your back to the altar and perform you act of scrying

When you have finished this, turn back to the altar and say,

"That which was desired has been accomplished.
May the Gods ever be with me and protect me in aught I do."

Extinguish the candles in reverse order of lighting them.

Books in PDF format to read:

Kelly Link - Magic For Beginners
Malcolm Mcgrath - Practical Magickal Evocation
Aubrey Bell - The Magic Of Spain
Thomas Moore - Candle Magick For Love

Wisdom And Knowledge Of The Tarot

My journey with the Tarot began in September of 1984. At this point in my life, I was already aware of the fact that I was sensitive and I had intuition. I was also aware of the fact that I was having intense emotional life experiences. With this little bit of awareness and understanding, working with a counselor, to assist me in better understanding some of my earlier life experiences, would be the very thing that would open the doors to my path: the New Age.

Prior to these doors opening, I had just started a job, as a receptionist and had met and made friends with a very like minded and gentle soul. As my new friend, was already aware of energy and being psychic, because she had noticed energy around me, she would begin sharing stories of a psychic and magical nature. To say I was intrigued and wanted to hear more, is putting it mildly: the stories continued. Because she had been sharing psychic stories, I had asked if learning about psychic abilities could be learned and her answer was yes. Soon "L" would become my mentor on this psychic New Age journey.

This is when I stepped into the "New Age" and was introduced to the Tarot. Well now "L" truly had my attention. I felt strongly pulled to the Tarot and wanted to learn about each card and learn how to do readings and read for others. The urge was very strong, considering that I was a newbie on this path...so, I followed the path.

It would be during my journey on this new found path, that I would notice my life changing and my emotions amping up quite a bit more. As there was no information about meditating with the Tarot for these changes, I found myself drawn and guided to do this anyway. As my experiences continued to amplify, the Tarot became a guide and a teacher, for the deeper insight and understanding for these life changes. I also began to notice that the more I taught psychic/intuitive development, along with the Tarot, the stronger my connection to my awareness became.

It would be during this time that I began utilizing each card during breathing meditation, to bring deeper wisdom for the changes taking place in my life and changes taking place in my relationships with family and friends.

I began learning, that after meditating with each card, to bring peace, awareness and understanding to my life, I found myself feeling better and although I couldn't change the experiences happening in my life, or couldn't control others, I began learning how to reframe and communicate in a clearer and healthier manner.

For me, the Tarot, as a tool for mediation, in this new time of awareness, was the greatest of teachers and the greatest of gifts. For at the beginning of my journey, I had great difficulty in verbalizing and sorting through my feelings and emotions, especially before I understood that I had the ability to feel and sense emotions and feelings from others.

This has been a truly wild, inspiring and sometimes very exhausting journey and yet, when I look back how my awareness evolved and grew in understanding, just by learning and meditating with the Tarot: the gifts of awareness were priceless. The Tarot, as a tool for meditation is the best gift we can give to ourselves, in learning how to feel below the surface, from a place, where our soul knowing and heart wisdom can better guide us.

The Tarot as a tool for mediation is worth the journey of new discoveries, evolved awareness and deeper growth, in the changes that we are beginning to experience. From all that I learned, and although feeling a wee bit tired from this journey, I am thankful that I had this opportunity to learn about the deeper meaning of life, through my experience with the Tarot.

So, if you have an open heart and a flexible mind to consider something new, the Tarot, as a tool for meditation, growth and better understanding for life, can become a great teacher and a guide on your life journey.

Books You Might Enjoy:

Max Heindel - The Message Of The Stars
Aleister Crowley - The World Of Tarot
Christine Payne Towler - The Continental Tarots

What Tarot Cards Can And Cannot Do For You

Tarot can help with the following:

Tap into your own intuition and inner wisdom, so you can “know” with laser sharp accuracy when something is right for you. It can help confirm your own feelings as to what the correct next steps are for you.

You can consider an “alternate future” to the one which is currently unfolding and make better, more informed choices for yourself. You can explore various options to create the future you desire, and look at ways of enabling you to get to where you really want to go.

See some light at the end of the tunnel, when all looks dark, bleak and hopeless around you. It can bring some hope, optimism and encouragement to your life. Often that will be enough to open up your own inner resources such as creativity, problem solving, intuition and the ability to notice a different way forward.

If you have a difficult choice to make, the tarot can help you to safely explore different options, before you rush in and commit yourself to something, so you can choose the path that is best for you.

It can indicate challenging situations and difficult people ahead of you, where “forewarned is forearmed” and you can then make different choices, so you can either head off a potential problem or lessen its effects or maybe have a “Plan B” in place.

Show you the energies around you and indicate what maybe blocking you from having the success you deserve or from moving forward.

Very often it will also show the ways to overcome the blocks. The biggest blocks can be in allowing success, money, happiness and love to flow into your life.

It is a fantastic opportunity to take control of your life and to make changes that need making, ahead of life making them for you.

What Tarot can’t do for you

Tarot does not tell you categorically what is going to happen in your life, as you have ultimate control over the direction of our life.

It cannot give you specific advice and it cannot make decisions for you. It cannot “make” you do anything.

It does not offer you fixed or unchangeable things and it is very unlikely to predict death, doom and destruction and other things you can’t do anything about, apart from worry about their arrival.

There is nothing to be scared of, as it is purely a deck of picture cards. As with anything the power lies in the interpretation and the lofty status that is often given to the person doing the interpretation.

It is totally subjective and everyone will see the cards in a different way.

Tarot has nothing to do with any religion, strange cult, devil worshipping, witchcraft, voodoo or any other weird and wacky thing.

You do not have to have any special skills and you do not need to be a natural clairvoyant, medium or psychic to be able to work with the cards.

It is an amazing tool for fun and personal growth. Like anything it can be used for positive, wonderful things and empowerment or it can be used for negative, destructive dis-empowerment.

That choice lies with the person who is reading the cards.

Books You Might Enjoy:

Michael Ford - Luciferian Sorcery And Set Typhon
Edward Carpenter - Pagan And Christian Creeds Their Origin And Meaning
Thomas Moore - Candle Magick For Love
Rw Rogers - Adapa And The Food Of Life

Two Of Swords Tarot Card Meanings In Love Tarot Readings

The Two of Swords is often associated with denial. It often indicates an impasse or stalemate. Its traditional imagery depicts a women holding up two swords while blindfolded. In this context, the blind fold is self-imposed. She has clearly chosen to remain oblivious to the environment that surrounds her. The Two of Swords is also associated to indecision or an inability to make an important choice. It is clear that she is avoiding an important truth. She has created a false sense of reality and is choosing to live in a state of oblivion. This reality offers her a moment of peace. However, this does not negate the existence of the necessity of choosing a new path. At some point, the weight of the Swords will become too much to bear and she will be forced to face the reality of the situation.

In terms of relationships, the Two of swords often reveals the barriers you have placed between you and your partner. This is the nature of the stalemate. You have emotionally shut down or the relationship has become resistant to compromise. In this case, there are often issues of inner conflict or confusion about the relationship.

The issues your relationship is struggling with will not be found through outside influences. The Two of Swords urges you to once again go inward. It is time to face your inner conflicts. To move beyond your current stalemate, balance must be restored. This is often achieved by exploring the past experiences that are influencing your current situation. The Two of Swords encourages you to get honest with yourself and with your partner. The ultimate goal is to communicate and speak your truth.

Books You Might Enjoy:

Israel Regardie - The Art And Meaning Of Magic
Cypress Knee - Delving Into The Faery Kindreds
Thomas Moore - Candle Magick For Love

The Suit Of Swords Tarot Card Meanings

ACE OF SWORDS

Meaning: Clarity of mind, great determination. Conquest. Victory without doubt.

Reversed: Tyranny, embarrassment, hindrance, obstacle, self-destruction.
2 OF SWORDS - Peace

Meaning: Balanced force. Concord. Solving differences of opinion. Sacrifice and trouble give birth to strength. Pleasure after pain.

Reversed: Indecision. Disloyalty, falsehood, false friends, lies.
3 OF SWORDS - Sorrow

Meaning: Unhappiness, disruption, separation, absence, tears, melancholy.

Reversed: Loss, alienation, distraction.
4 OF SWORDS - Truce

Meaning: Settlement but no real peace yet, compromise. Repose, retreat. Recovery from sickness. Change for the better.

Reversed: Guarded advancement, desire to recover what is lost.
5 OF SWORDS - Defeat

Meaning: Weakness, slander, failure, loss, dishonor, malice, degradation.

Reversed: Change of loss or defeat.
6 OF SWORDS - Science

Meaning: Objective, logical and rational thinking. Clear communication. Trip or journey. Success after anxiety.

Reversed: Intellectual pride. Unwanted proposal. No immediate solution to present difficulties.
7 OF SWORDS - Futility

Meaning: Striving against opposition too powerful, overwhelming forces. Unstable effort. Attempt.

Reversed: Arguments, slander, intrigue. Uncertain counsel or advice.
8 OF SWORDS - Interference

Meaning: Lack of persistence. Unforeseen bad luck. Wasting energy in details while neglecting major issues. Restlessness and doubt block clear thinking.

Reversed: Accident, opposition, fatality.
9 OF SWORDS - Cruelty

Meaning: Powerlessness, despair, hopelessness, pain, suffering, misery, anxiety over a loved one.

Reversed: Breakthrough from powerlessness. Reasonable fear, suspicion, doubt.
10 OF SWORDS - Ruin

Meaning: (Undesirable) ending, disruption, pain, misfortune, ruin, catastrophe, mental anguish, desolation.

Reversed: Temporary gain, momentary advantage, passing success.
PRINCESS OF SWORDS

Meaning: Aggressive and impatient pursuing one's ideas. Sharp and cunning arguing. Solving a conflict with clear logic.

Reversed: Endless, sharp discussions. Illogical fights with words. Having things one's way.
PRINCE OF SWORDS

Meaning: Original mind, innovative thinking. Rush into the unknown without fear. Bravery.

Reversed: A fanatic with great ability to convince. Conceited fool. Impulsive mistakes.
QUEEN OF SWORDS

Meaning: Quick-witted and keen person. Intensely perceptive. A subtle person, confident and just. Independent and individualist person, who is no longer playing roles.

Reversed: Narrow-mindedness. Deceitful, vengeful, malicious, artificial. A treacherous enemy.
KNIGHT OF SWORDS

Meaning: An active and determined person. Commanding personality. A professional. Highly analytical person. Cleverness. Purposeful action.

Reversed: A person who may pursue a matter to ruin. Indecision, aimlessness. Cruelty, sadism, perversity.

Books You Might Enjoy:

Trieu Phuoc - The Quintessence Of Secret Esoteric Buddhism
Israel Regardie - The Art Of True Healing
Hermes Trismegistus - Book Xiv Of Operation And Sense
John Dee - Testament Of John Dee To John Gwynn
Don Karr - The Study Of Solomonic Magic In English

The Power Of Tarot

You need not be a mystic to appreciate the Tarot. It truly is available to everyone. Tarot reading offers a new way of seeing, and it can be a powerful tool for all who wish to explore their own life directions. The Tarot is like a mirror. It reflects our journeys, ambitions and life challenges back to us. It enables the hidden self to rise to the surface. It is, in essence, a doorway to deeper levels of understanding.

The Tarot is an instrument for stimulating one’s intuition. It is an incredibly effective method for enabling one to get in touch with their inner world. This is the world of the unconscious, the world of dreams, and the world of one’s personal truths. One of its primary purposes is to encourage the process of self-examination. The Tarot reveals our spiritual paths and can lead one to self-discovery. Most importantly, the Tarot can provide us with answers. They are there to guide us in our everyday lives.

The tarot is metaphorical and its imagery is rich with symbolism and archetypal significance. Their Tarot card meanings are universal in nature. Regardless of one’s cultural, religious or educational background, the Tarot experience is collective. Their interpretations are recognizable by everyone. They are the stories shared throughout time and represent the mythical journey we all participate in.

The Tarot is a method for meditation, contemplation, clarification, spiritual development and problem solving. It enables us to tap into the collective unconscious and universal energy that often can not be accessed through our everyday experiences. They always offer a new outlook or perspective on the issues we face day to day.

Books You Might Enjoy:

Aleister Crowley - Control Of The Astral Body
Edna Kenton - The Book Of Earths
Phil Hine - Aspects Of Tantra
Aleister Crowley - The World Of Tarot

Seventy Eight Degrees Of Wisdom A Book Of Tarot

Book: Seventy Eight Degrees Of Wisdom A Book Of Tarot by Rachel Pollack

This revised and slightly expanded version of two long sadly out-of-print books ("78 Degrees of Wisdom: Major Arcana" and "78 Degrees of Wisdom: Minor Arcana") is a welcome addition to any serious Tarot reader's library.
Although I wouldn't normally recommend this book for the Tarot beginner, I'd recommend it highly to serious students of Tarot wanting to know more about the many different meanings of Tarot cards. Some beginners might find Pollack's usages of the definitions of cards to be more than the superficial ones.

The two volumes of Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom have inspired a whole generation of tarot students. It has often been described by readers, booksellers, and teachers as the "Bible of tarot readers." It is also often cited as one of the landmark books in modern tarot, and it helped to launch the "Tarot Renaissance" of the 1980s. The two texts-one for The Major Arcana and one for The Minor Arcana--appear together in this volume, which is a reissue of the 1998 edition first published by Thorsons.

Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom draws on mythology and esoteric traditions and delves deeply into the symbolism and ideas of each card. It also gives the cards a modern psychological slant based on the pictures rather than a system of occult symbolism. This endlessly useful reference tool provides a concise history of tarot, introduces common spreads, and is a clear and readable book for both the beginning and advanced tarot student.

* Author is one of the most highly regarded tarotists in the world.
* The Major Arcana and The Minor Arcana brought together in one volume.

Going far beyond the "This one covers you" school, Pollack gives many different ways to interpret the meanings of Tarot cards, both from a spiritual viewpoint ("What does this card mean to you?") and a metaphysical viewpoint ("What does this card mean to the person you're reading for?"). It also allows for meditation and self-study of Tarot cards.

Although set up like a standard Tarot book, with chapters covering the Major Arcana, the Minor Arcana, and some readings, (including a sample reading or two) Pollack's definitions of the cards goes far beyond the ordinary superficial "Death means something in your life is going through a major change - you are about to stop one thing and start doing another." Each card has a picture - many from the Rider-Waite deck that most Tarot card readers start with, but some from other decks that you may not have seen. Each card has numerous definitions - and even some examples of what that card might mean when in certain placements in a Tarot card reading, both regular and reversed.

Unlike many contemporary authors on Tarot, Pollack subscribes to the notion that one can use the Tarot not only for Interpretation of current circumstances but for seeking advice. She describes how to cast the Celtic cross a descriptive tool which can be used to gain insight into a present situation. She also shares a layout she created that the reader can use to gain insight into possible courses of action regarding work situations.

I've no other books in my Tarot library that are more heavily thumbed than my old copies of the two "78 Degrees" books, and I was very glad that Pollack has found a publisher willing to not only reprint them, but allow her to revise them and include both books in one volume. Highly Recommended for serious students of Tarot. Of the many books I've read on Tarot so far this one is the best.

Buy Rachel Pollack's book: Seventy Eight Degrees Of Wisdom A Book Of Tarot

Free eBooks (Can Be Downloaded):

Andrea Haugen - The Ancient Fires Of Midgard
Emmanuel Swedenborg - The Delights Of Wisdom Pertaining To Conjugal Love
Michael Ford - Midnight Circle A Commentary Of Azothoz A Book Of The Adversary
John Sebastian Marlowe Ward - The Higher Degrees Handbook

Telling The Future

The popular view of Tarot cards is that they "tell the future". That is the meaning of the popular synonym for divination, "fortune-telling". Any sort of question may be asked of the Tarot cards, which does not exclude telling the future. But that is not the only end to which the cards may be put.

When telling the future, the questions of predestination and psychic powers inevitably arise. If we can accurately read the future, then the future must already exist in some sense, and we must have some way of viewing it.

On the question of predestination, science and philosophy are inconclusive. Modern physics is clear that the world is not deterministic; there are many experiments with physics on a small scale that show nature to be probabilistic. Many things happen on the sub-atomic scale without any real reason, simply because it was more or less likely that they would happen and they wound up happening or not. This would seem to fly in the face of predestination; the future state of the universe depends on truly random and unpredictable events.

But these events may be truly random yet, in a sense, already have happened. Time may be viewed as a fourth dimension like our usual three spatial dimensions. If so, then one may take a static view of the universe's history, in which the whole of time is a static construct when viewed from without, that is, from a five-dimensional perspective. The exact nature of the "arrow of time" has yet to be clearly determined, and it is impossible to say now whether a higher-dimensional traveller would see the past as still with us and the future as already laid out.

The question of psychic powers is even more difficult. No such powers have ever been shown to exist in any replicable experiment; at best, such experiments barely squeak in under the margin of significance, and then only after averaging thousands of trials which are not individually significant.

Yet many people believe in them regardless, and these people erect theories to explain them. One of the more popular theoretical ideas of psychic powers is that the psyche somehow exists in a higher dimension. From a higher-dimensional viewpoint it might be possible to look out over the four-dimensional history of the world and see what is to come.

This is written in 1990 in San Francisco, and it seems rather telling to this writer that of the great events which have taken place recently -- the destruction of the Berlin Wall, the independence of Eastern Europe, the San Francisco earthquake -- none were foretold by psychics. One would think such momentous happenings would fairly blaze forth before a psychic eye, yet they didn't.

It is probably best to use a weaker form of the precognition idea, which does not involve a predestined future or psychic powers. Instead, the unconscious mind is viewed as having the power to perceive more or less where some events are heading, and to present its views on the subject -- which may be right or wrong -- through a Tarot reading. Of course, the conscious mind can also make some predictions based on its knowledge. The idea is that the unconscious mind is attentive to different factors and will make predictions the conscious mind could not.

Another "weak" form of precognition involves synchronicity. Events and Tarot readings are "riding the same waves", so one can cast light on the other.

Finally, it is best to take all answers about the future with a grain of salt. It is also wise to phrase questions in such a way that they ask for perspectives on what is happening and what has happened, and for guidance, rather than for outright predictions of the future.

Books You Might Enjoy:

Tuesday Lobsang Rampa - The Saffron Robe
Eliphas Levi - The Key Of The Mysteries
Ea Wallis Budge - Egyptian Ideas Of The Future Life
Tuesday Lobsang Rampa - The Third Eye
Melita Denning - The Aurum Solis

Tarot As A Guide For Emotional Understanding

I began using the tarot back in September of 1984. I remember being fascinated by the tarot, when it was part of a movie theme and a psychic was doing a reading for a client. At that point, fascination was all there was...until, one day, while talking to a friend...we got onto the subject of things unseen...and then, pandora's box was opened. That story, in that moment, became my inspiration for learning the tarot. Little did I know, that my journey was about to begin. I spent a year learning the meanings and the layouts and in the meantime, between taking psychic development classes and doing readings for people here and there...I found my abilities of intuition and insight, developing and strengthening.

The cards were alive with color and life and meaning...well, ok...at least for me. It was a good time...I loved doing readings...I loved learning about other people, and being able to share something magical. And...then it changed. It seemed that the more that I used my newfound abilities and insights, I found I was activating a soul energy. The more I used my abilities, the more things began changing around me. It is only now, through my travels and many experiences, that I have discovered that it was all for a reason...healing and clearing the emotional timelines. I admit, when the experiences first began happening, I was completely unnerved. Could not find my way out of a paperbag...emotionally, logically, or with any sense of known intelligence. However, even during times of exteme emotional shifts, I still had a strong sense of intuition and knowing.

It was during the extreme emotional shifts, I found myself looking toward the tarot for a better insight, a better understanding, for what was happening on the inner levels, called emotions. It was a gut instinct, a hunch to use the tarot for understanding. At my point of awakening, there wasn't a whole lot of information, suggesting how to do this...and yet, it is amazing, what happens when intuition, becomes a guiding light, in your life. It seemed, at this point, the more I learned, the more intense my emotional experiences and awakenings became. It would be a few years, before I finally found some confirmation of what I was doing with the tarot. I gave up and surrendered using the tarot for psychic potentials and possiblities and began using the tarot, as a way to bring clarity, insight, healing and understanding, as to what was happening to relationships with my family and friends. It was a cutting edge approach...and yet again, I was being guided by my soul's wisdom.

The tarot is an amazing tool for deeper understanding. It teaches how to let go of the perceived patterns that we are taught, and consider, for a moment, the possibility that there is something more, to be learned through emotional pushes, which in reality are opportunities for growth. I found that working with Alliester Crowleys' thoth, was most helpful, as he spent lots of time, in the shadow part of human existence. As I developed a better understanding for using the tarot for healing, I found myself looking for other tarot teachings to assist in this very guided journey, I was waking up to. It was soon discovered, that if you knew how to see...depending on how far you wanted to dig for understanding and how comfortable you were to dig beyond the fear...there were many levels of cards to choose from. Using the tarot as a part of guided insight and wisdom, for a better understanding, is like diving into the deepest part of the ocean. In order not to drown in the fear of feeling, consciously feeling the shifting emotions, you must take a deep breath for your ego, your human self...allow the ego to float in the breath of awareness and dive.

So, the next time you are having an emotional experience, that is making no logical sense to you, ask the question for understanding, check the ego into the breath and take a chance and learn what is happening, on the inner realms of your emotions. For our emotions, once healed, are the very key to activating the key, to our soul's guiding light.

As always, it is by taking a step together, that we can do this, one breath, one step at a time.

Humanity is waking up and it is our time, to bring our Peace of Heaven back to Earth. For this to work, we must be present to do this.

Books You Might Enjoy:

Moses Maimonides - The Guide For The Perplexed
Richard Weiss - Recipes For Immortality
Scott Cunningham - Wicca A Guide For The Solitary Practitioner

Tarot Wisdom For Healing And Understanding

Understanding and Awareness are the greatest stepping stones to the discovery of our soul's inner truth...this has become an ongoing theme, for understanding and transforming the patterns of imprinting within our psychological and emotional behavior. Back in the 80's, when I first began using the Tarot, I found that I was fascinated and intrigued by the symbols, colors and the feelings of the cards. As this has been a soul guided journey for me since the beginning...I found myself learning the meanings of the cards and the various layouts. I found that the more I tried to connect the meanings to the layouts, the more baffled and frustrated I became. And then, one day, something clicked. That something was my intuition. What I discovered was that it was ok to learn the meanings for each card, however...for traveling the Tarot journey, it would be more to my benefit, to sense and feel what each card wanted me to know.

I started getting the hang of it. Loved it! Loved that you could feel better after a reading. Loved that you could feel clearer. Began reading for others. The more I read for others, the clearer I became, the more I learned. Soon, I found myself teaching. Altho' it would be a few years before it felt right to do so, I followed my inner sense and as always; the more I learned, the more I shared what I learned, the better a teacher I was for my student and the students I begin working with.

As this has been a soul guided journey from the beginning, I found that once I opened the "Magic of Pandora's Box", my life, my perceptions and my relationships began to change. There were many friends walking the path with me, however, being an empath, was accelerating my emotions at a much faster pace. I found that communication had changed within these friendships. I was becoming extremely upset by this...and yet, this was just the beginning for learning and understanding from a soul perspective. As communication was not happening within the connections, I was guided to get a drawing pad, markers and to work specifically with the Alleister Crowley's "Mirror of the Soul". This was the next level for discovery and healing. I found that all that couldn't be said out loud, was written in this journal. When I was finished writing, I was guided to pull a card and ask for the truth and understanding the purpose to the changes in my friendships. Well, humanly speaking, I was not happy...but, I did it anyway. And I discovered something quite important. Altho' I could not clear what was happening within my connections, I discovered that by stepping out of my ego and my expectations, for being right or having it my way, I gained a better and deeper understanding for what was happening in life, just in general.

It took many years to become comfortable with this kind of clearing and always searching for the truth...not my way...but through my soul's knowing. This practice for clearing, healing and understanding, would be the guide on this journey, for each level of understanding, that was soul requested, for my true work, life and path to begin.

After many years and life experiences for practicing this approach, I have found that most of what I sense, see and discover is always about approaching all experiences of life from a deeper understanding and what imprinting can do. When we begin the process, of stepping out of imprinting and discover a better way to heal, practicing this approach, regularly, allows it to become integrated into everyday life, in a very natural way. I found that with the 20 some odd Tarot Decks that I have worked with, working with Alleister Crowleys' Thoth has been most helpful. It brings us to a better understanding about the shadow aspect of our emotions and as I have been guided and have discovered, our emotions are the key to evolving our humanity and bridging the gap to our soul's knowing.

Healing our emotional pain, requires love and understanding. It requires tracing the emotional timeline, to how the imprinting began in the first place. Each and everytime we access the "peace" to our own puzzle, we heal. We integrate our soul's wisdom into our everyday life. Integrating our soul's wisdom into our everyday life then becomes about bringing "Heaven back to earth", and we do this together, for we need each other, for re-weaving love, back into the Tapestry of Life. We are ready and the time is NOW.

As always...keep it simple, take a breath, slow down. It is ok to feel and search for a deeper meaning to life.

Have a Peace-Filled Holiday!

Books You Might Enjoy:

Ro Winstedt - Shaman Saiva And Sufi
Rodolfo Amadeo Lanciani - Pagan And Christian Rome
Alan Wallace - Lucid Dreaming And Meditation
Hermes Trismegistus - Book Xiii Of Sense And Understanding

Tarot The Five Of Pentacles

Understanding the meaning of the Five of Pentacles ~ In its most basic meaning, the Five of Pentacles is about worry and concern. Worry and concern for the outer aspect of our lives. It could be about finances, relationships, our well being.

Worry and concern can also affect our communication. Worry and concern can also affect our focus and connection to our present moment. Experiencing life challenges, can keep you focused in the past or future and then you are prevented from handling life's challenges as they come up in each moment.

Now, this may appear to be the downside of the Five of Pentacles. However, as we begin to evolve in our journey to inner knowing, the Five of Pentacles, in its shadow side, can also teach and guide us into feeling, understanding and bringing much needed awareness to the challenges at hand. It seems that this is pretty true for all cards in a Tarot deck.

I have been using the Tarot since September of 1984. When I was first introduced to the Tarot, I had no clue, knowledge or understanding for how the Tarot worked, much less how to read their insights and teachings. I began with the Rider Waite Tarot. It was pretty simple. There were upright positions and reversed positions. Now, I admit, it took me almost a year to learn the Tarot. Although I am empathic, with high intuition, I found an interesting thing happening as I was learning the Tarot. I was utilizing my logical thinking, in trying to understand an energy that was highly intuitive.

Trust me when I say, I was having my mini meltdowns about why I wasn't grasping onto learning the Tarot positions and their meanings. After a few months of doing it this way, I put the book away and began using my intuition to learn the Tarot. During this time, life was simple and changes hadn't made their presence known to me. By putting the book away, I finally began to feel intuitively how to follow the cards and utilize their insights as a guide.

But something began to happen, after 6 years of doing readings for myself and reading for others and teaching psychic and intuitive development, my energy and awareness began to change and life changes and challenges began knocking at my door. I found myself living in the energy of the Five of Pentacles; worry and concern. My finances, living environment and relationship began going through major changes;

I found myself living in the past and the future, because I had no clue about how to deal with these major changes in my present moment.

Emotionally, I was in despair. And then one day, while just shuffling the Tarot, I found myself asking questions about the changes that were taking place in my life and the cards really began speaking to me on another level; a more deeper and internal level. At first, I didn't grasp on to the logic of this, but kept going anyway. It was at this point that I was introduced to the Alleister Crowley Tarot, for it specifically journeyed into my shadow side; the part of me that had no answers or understanding.

25 years have gone by since my worries and concerns. I learned a lot. I learned how to utilize the Tarot for lifes inner journey and I learned how to access insight and soul wisdom when the going got tough. It wasn't an easy transition from logic to intuitive knowing, but the rewards were great in terms of inner learning and awareness.

So, if you find yourself having a reading and the Five of Pentacles comes up in your reading, or any card that pushes at your shadow side, have no fear, for this just represents a journey to the inner realms of your knowing, to guide you on your awakening journey.

Life changes are calling to many of us now. These life changes are pushing at our emotional boundaries and forcing us to feel what we may have pushed out of our sight or feeling space. It doesn't always feel good to feel these kinds of changes, but feeling is the key to healing, and the Tarot, for life changes and challenges can become a wonderful guide and teacher, in offering insight and wise counsel to these changes.

Yes, and all this from experiencing life changes and the Five of Pentacles.
Life definitely is interesting!

Books You Might Enjoy:

Tarostar - The Witchs Spellcraft Revised
Anonymous - The Prayers Of The Elementals
Zoroaster - The Chaldean Oracles

Tarot Reading Know Thy Self

Throughout time, man has been consumed with a need to connect with the spiritual dimension. We are driven to explore the mysteries of our very existence. For thousands of years, those who have yearned to live in harmony with the Universe have consulted with oracles and Gods. The most famous being the Oracle at Delphi. For centuries, many traveled to the Greek Island of Delphi to receive counsel from one of their oracles. Upon entering the temple, the words “Know Thy Self” were inscribed.

Although a great deal of advancement has occurred since the civilization of ancient Greece, we still seek to understand the meaning of our lives. In many ways, we are consulting with oracles all the time. These are our teachers, spiritual counselors, authors, artists, psychotherapists, grandparents, friends, etc. We are constantly attempting to discover who we truly are and as much as we seek out advice from others, the real guidance comes from within our own selves.

In Tarot Reading, the Tarot serves as an oracle. We consult with them to get “counsel”. The beauty, however, is that the Tarot is not a living and breathing entity. Rather it is a divinatory tool. A tool that is available to anyone who wishes to explore their own, inner world. Its energy comes from the energy we give it. It is there to disclose the secrets of ourselves that remain out of sight. The Tarot always provides guidance as to how we can achieve or manifest our goals. In tarot reading, the Tarot provides insight and new concepts. It is there to help us brainstorm, discovers what influences us and highlights situations that we may have been unaware of. Most importantly, the tarot offers one a new sense of awareness of who they are.

In a tarot reading, the Tarot never tells you what to do. It’s important to remember that you have your own will. You have the power to choose your own directions and behaviors. Rather than telling you what to do, the Tarot helps you to identify your feelings about the things that are going on in your life. When you consistently work with the Tarot, your own intuitive skills will improve. Making important decisions will no longer cause you anxiety or fear. You will inherently know what to do.

True divination is nothing less than seeking out the divine within all things. Tarot reading enables us to connect with ourselves, to humanity, and to the Universe. It is from this process, that we find the true magic and mysticism of this world.

Books You Might Enjoy:

Tuesday Lobsang Rampa - Feeding The Flame
Tuesday Lobsang Rampa - Living With The Lama
Melita Denning - The Aurum Solis
Aristotle - On The Soul

Tarot Reader And Querent

In traditional Tarot divination, there is a reader and a querent. The reader acts as a consultant on the Tarot, using it to illuminate an issue for the querent. The reader typically charges a small fee for this service. Some sources insist that a reader is necessary; otherwise, the prejudices of the querent will dominate the reading. Cynics might point out that this insistence is of financial value to people who derive income from reading Tarot cards.

The way to structure a two-person reading depends on the theory. In all cases, the querent asks the question and the reader interprets the fall of the cards. The fall of the cards is determined by shuffling, which may be a joint process, or it may be done entirely by the reader or by the querent.

If the theory of unconscious determination is used, then the reader should shuffle the cards, though the querent may cut them to feel more involved with the process. The reader should watch the cut carefully so the necessary information may be transmitted to the unconscious mind. The reader is skilled in determining the fall of the cards; the querent is not.

If the synchronicity theory is used, then the querent or the reader may shuffle the cards. It makes no difference, since the synchronistic meaning comes through purely random factors.

If the theory of spirits is used, then again the reader should shuffle, since ordinary people do not particularly want to channel spirits to get a Tarot reading. If they wanted to get their hands that wet, they would probably do the divination themselves. Again, having the querent cut the deck is a meaningless symbol of involvement, but the spirits arrange the deck after the querent cuts it.

If the theory of order from chaos is used, it makes no difference who or what shuffles, just as with synchronicity.

Books You Might Enjoy:

Walter Scott - Letters On Demonology And Witchcraft
Max Heindel - Ancient And Modern Initiation
Israel Regardie - The Art And Meaning Of Magic
Starhwak - The Spiral Dance
John Moore - A Modern Master Extract

Tarot Numerology Twos

The tarot can be understood better if the underlying numerology is understood. Cards of the same number in different suits and in the Major Arcana have similar meanings derived from the following qualities...

Corresponding - Major Arcana - The High Priestess

Major characteristics: Duality, Balance, the need to make a choice.

Also: The relationship between two objects, ideas or persons, formation, a fork in the road, competing of combined forces, the need to reconcile opposites, conflict, see-saw, partnership, nuturing, reflection, creativity not fulfilled.

Books You Might Enjoy:

Thomas Potts - Discovery Of Witches
Marcus Bottomley - Nine Proven Magical Rites
Christopher Siren - Sumerian Mythology Faq
Thomas Muldoon - Numerology For The 21st Century

Tarot Numerology Threes

The tarot can be understood better if the underlying numerology is understood. Cards of the same number in different suits and in the Major Arcana have similar meanings derived from the following qualities...

Corresponding - Major Arcana - The Empress

Major characteristics: Creation, Fretilization, a first stage of growth is achieved.

Also: Growth, development, increase, flowering, expansion, regeneration, exploration, moving out into the world, initial completion, enthusiasm, preparation, perspective.

Books You Might Enjoy:

Tuesday Lobsang Rampa - Three Lives
Aristotle - On Dreams
Aristotle - On The Soul
Thomas Muldoon - Numerology For The 21st Century

Tarot Numerology Sevens

The tarot can be understood better if the underlying numerology is understood. Cards of the same number in different suits and in the Major Arcana have similar meanings derived from the following qualities...

Corresponding - Major Arcana - The Chariot

Major characteristics: Fate, Divine order, Dispassionate awareness, Mysticism

Also: Choice, wisdom, the need to make decisions, harmony dispelled, spiritual development, morality, divine justice, Magick, change, a turning point, rebellion, eccentricity, intuition, the completion of a phase or cycle.

This is the number of the spirit.

Books You Might Enjoy:

Aristotle - On The Soul
John Dee - Table From Liber Loagaeth French Version
Christopher Siren - Sumerian Mythology Faq
Thomas Muldoon - Numerology For The 21st Century

Creation Of An Elemental

CREATION OF AN ELEMENTAL




To create an elemental, cast a circle, purify yourself, get into a comfortable
position for 10 to 15 minutes and relax entirely. Rid you mind entirely, lying
there like an inanimate object, a nothing. Then from your feet, start to
generate your power, gradually bring each part of your body into accord with
your brain, work up the power in your brain in the form of a positive thought
wave. Think of the whole of the power of your body as a silver ball about three
feet in diameter. Now begin to dictate in your mind to the silver ball to do
your will…to float, to go a long way from you and to come back again. Visualize
the ball getting so small you can't see it. Then bring it back to its original
size. Each night from then on, work with the silver ball until your mind can
instantly conjure up the silver ball.

During the second week, concentrate on altering the size of the silver ball till
its size is of a pea or even smaller. Then in the third week, think of a name
for it, a name which is personal to this silver ball and to you. Then during the
forth week, clothe the silver ball with a shape that is familiar to you and name
it, this may be a cat, dog, etc.

Now that you have created an Elemental life, it must know its life span. You
must be very precise in what you tell it. For instance, if you say "Go to New
York. You're in Herman's shop. Tell me what you see." And perhaps its life span
is fine years, it may not come back for five years. You must say "Go—and come
back tomorrow night at 8:00 PM and tell me what you see". Be very precise in
giving instructions.

If you want it to fetch a person, tell it to be back at a certain time, or if
you want to tell someone something, tell it to be back within two hours. You
must have a place to keep your Elemental when it is not being used. Choose any
place as long as you keep it in the same place. When it returns from wherever
its been, remember to speak to it by name, dismiss it to wherever it is kept,
saying "_____, go and store Yourself in that figure and await my further
instructions." When you want it the next time, say "_____, here I come to call
you forth, then give it instructions.

Free eBooks (Can Be Downloaded):

Peter De Abano - Heptameron Or Magical Elements
John Opsopaus - Interpretationes Of Ancient Herbs
Anonymous - The Prayers Of The Elementals
Eliphas Levi - The Conjuration Of The Four Elements

The Zodiac Forms

THE ZODIAC FORMS


ZODIAC AS ENERGY

The division of the zodiac by its crucial points results in the definition of
the four basic types of cosmic substance, substance being the primary necessity
for manifestation. As Rudhyar states in THE ASTROLOGY OF PERSONALITY,(1) "Energy
is not very different from substance. It is substance activated and released…as
modern physics has shown most definitely. Thus we can expect the principle of
"energy differentiation" to be similar to that of "substance differentiation"
Both are based on the principle of polar dualism, of action and reaction…The
energy-zodiac will thus be eight-fold, while the substance-zodiac if four-fold."
This division by eight is simply the bisection of the areas defined by the four
crucial points, giving us four additional factors, the mid-points between the
equinoxes and the solstices. These points refer to the area of maximum dynamic
intensity within the span or quadrant of the zodiac defined by two angles.

These points of maximum intensity are the four portals through which cosmic
energy flows, the "Four Gates of Avataric Descent." They represent the creative
powers of the universe, which are often symbolized by the Bull, the Lion, the
Eagle, and the Angel, which are said to guard the four corners of the universe.
In basic Astrological terms they are: 15 degrees Taurus, 15 degrees Leo, 15
degrees Scorpio and 15 degrees Aquarius.

ZODIAC AS FORM

The substance and energy that have been released by the zodiac must be
controlled and given 'form' in order to be manifest. All 'forms of energy' are
bound by the Pythagorean axiom "Everything is the universe is divisible by
three". All forms of energy involve an action, a reaction, and the interaction
between action and reaction. Thus it is only logical for the 'form zodiac' to be
based on the threefold division of the zodiac. This threefold division gives
rise to the 'modes' or 'qualities of Relationship between energy and form'. Each
sign carries the meaning of one mode.

CARDINAL, OR INITIATORY MODE
The cardinal mode is the form of energy expressed at the equinoxes and
solstices. It refers to the principle of change and momentum. It represents
active and intense life experiences. This mode 'generates power'.

FIXED, OR FOCAL MODE
The fixed mode concentrates and focalizes energy, thus symbolizing the principle
of definition and structure. It projects the cardinal experience, giving to it
depth and meaning. The fifteenth degree of the fixed signs is the point of
maximum intensity, where power if found in its most 'concentrated form'.

MUTABLE, OR COMMON MODE
The mutable mode 'distributes' the energy that has been concentrated and
released by the fixed mode. It symbolizes the principle of flexibility and
adaptation. This mode combines and integrates the cardinal and fixed modes
within itself. It distributes the power generated by the cardinal signs and
concentrated by the fixed signs.

ZODIAC AS A RELEASE OF POWER

We now return to examine the function of the four points or portals through
which power is released.
The nature of the power released through these portals depends upon the nature
of the energy used. The fixed signs, through which power is concentrated and
released, follow the cardinal signs, where power is generated. There are two
types of cardinal signs: those which generate equinoctial power (Aries and
Libra) and those which generate solstitial power (Cancer and Capricorn).
The points of release may then be divided into two basic categories: those
dealing with equinoctial power and those dealing with solstitial power.

15 Degrees Tuarus and 15 Degrees Scorpio
The fifteenth degrees of the signs of Taurus and Scorpio deal with equinoctial
power. Equinoctial power is generated by the intense dynamism of the equinctial
signs (Aries and Libra), signs of the maximum speed of solar declination. The
fixed signs that follow the equinoctial cardinal signs must arrest the dynamic
activity generated by them, limiting it and brining it into focus, in terms of
focus, in terms of purpose (Taurus) and identification (Scorpio).

15 Degrees Leo and 15 Degrees Aquarius
The fifteenth degrees of Leo and Aquarius deal with the solstitial power, which
must produce some kind of manifested activity, either personal (Leo) or
collective (Aquarius). The release of this type of power will be manifested as a
strong outburst of energy toward the focalization of the personality (Leo) or in
the form of a society (Aquarius).

The four points of release may also be examined in relation to the hemisphere of
the Zodiac in which they are found. The fifteenth degrees of Taurus and Leo are
part of the day hemisphere. They are involved in the release of "individualizing
power". The fifteenth degrees of Scorpio and Aquarius are involved in the
release of collectivizing power (night hemisphere), of the expansion of the
individual into the collective or universal realms.

CYCLIC FORMULAS OF THE FOUR PORTALS

15 Degrees Taurus (the Bull) represents the power released toward the formation
of an individual being.

15 Degrees Leo (the Lion) symbolizes the power released by the individual being.

15 Degrees Scorpio (the Eagle) represents the power released toward the
formation of the universal being.

15 Degrees Aquarius (the Angel) symbolizes the power released by universal
being.

CYCLIC FORMULA OF THE ELEMENTS AND MODES

At spring equinox:
Fire power is generated by Aries
Then concentrated through earth – Taurus
And distributed by air – Gemini

At summer solstice:
Water power is generated by Cancer
Then concentrated through fire – Leo
And distributed by earth – Virgo

At autumnal equinox:
Air power is generated by Libra
Then concentrated through water – Scorpio
And distributed by fire – Sagittarius

At winter solstice:
Earth power is generated by Capricorn
Then concentrated through air – Aquarius
And distributed by water

From "A Handbook for the Humanistic Astrologer", by Michael R. Meyer, Anchor
Press/Doubleday pages 50-53.

Free eBooks (Can Be Downloaded):

Aleister Crowley - The Zodiac And The Tarot
Richard Johnson - The Zodiac Stellar Stories
Ona - The Dark Forces

Tarot Numerology Aces Ones

The tarot can be understood better if the underlying numerology is understood. Cards of the same number in different suits and in the Major Arcana have similar meanings derived from the following qualities...

Corresponding - Major Arcana - The Magician

Major characteristics: beginnings, potential, upsurge of energy.

Also: The start of something, seeds, creative principle, new projects, fresh ideas, new challenges, initiation, excitement, inspiration, vitality, leadership, independence, early stages of action, raw energy, creative power.

Books You Might Enjoy:

Aleister Crowley - The Necronomicon
Christopher Siren - Sumerian Mythology Faq
Thomas Muldoon - Numerology For The 21st Century
Arlo Bates - The Pagans