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

Why Tarot Cards Work

I have been utilizing the wisdom of the Tarot since 1984. As shared in another article on the Tarot, not only did the Tarot make itself known to me, during various stages and changes in my life, but my great grandparents, on my fathers' side, were a travelling band of gypsies, who did readings and palmistry, back in the early 1900's.

You figure, sooner or later, this kind of energy is going to find a family member, to continue to bring this energy forward.

For my husband, 18 year old daughter and myself, this week has been a very crazy and wild emotional ride for us. Normally for us, we shift through our emotional surfs, individually. Somehow, someway, this week we are all shifting together. And along with this shift, our sleep patterns are completely off. Being a conscious empath, an intuitive and a teacher, guiding us through our wild emotional surfs, it means that when our human emotions are amped up more than normal, whatever is normal for us, it means that we have to pay extra attention to our moods and our highs and lows. It also means that anything we read, that supports our wild emotional surfs, that logically, this clear information becomes our guide during the surf, not our wild and amped up emotions, or the ideas our egos might have about the shift.

It is safe to say, that we are in the energy part of our journey now and for this part of our journey, emotions and moods move very quickly. Well last night, our energies were all amped quite a bit. As we continue to use the Tarot, as a guide for these wild emotional surfs, my husband proceeded to pull the cards and do a layout, just to see how the energy was moving.

In the beginning, when doing readings, I continued to utilize the layouts for a reading, and at times still do. I don't remember what all the cards were, however, there were 4 major arcanas, 4 minor arcanas; these cards were all positive in energy. However, the last 2 cards in the layout were strife and oppression. Humanly, I thought well great. Energetically, what the cards were really sharing with me, was a confirmation that attention to detail, for our shifting emotions, required extra special attention and care. That although the other cards in the layout were positive and sharing what was to come, that we were not there yet and that we were to continue clearing our emotions, integrating balanced and appropriate awareness to our shifting emotions and maintain our center, regardless of how
our buttons were being pushed, humanly speaking, that is.

The Tarot has been a part of our lives for more than 20 years now. Even after all this time and how the evolution of my own awareness has grown and evolved, I continue to have great respect for the wisdom that the Tarot shares and continue to be in awe and amazement, as to how we are forever guided into moving forward, within our journey, for our life changing experiences.

When we suspend labels, ideas and preconceived notions about the Tarot, there is a whole other story to tell. The Tarot has taught us how to utilize them as an energy, to continue to search deeper, for the true meaning of each life experience. I admit, in the beginning, I used the cards in the standard, book learned way. However, for me being highly intuitive and empathic, the Tarot took me on a deeper inner journey, for intuition became my guide on this journey.

There are many wonderful books on the Tarot and if you allow your intuition to guide you on this journey, the Tarot can and will guide you to the evolution of your own understanding. When I began my Tarot journey, back in 1984, I could never have imagined, at that point in time how this awareness and understanding would evolve. I began to notice that the more that I utilized the Tarot, the more this awareness would naturally and normally integrate itself into my daily life. Each time a level of understanding was completed, another book on the Tarot would teach and guide me how to go deeper.

I understand that for a long time, the Tarot and the idea of the Tarot had its negatives surrounding it. I am thankful, that when it was my time for this journey of discovery, it was the right time and I had the opportunity to grow in my understanding on this journey.

When given the chance, the Tarot cards work in teaching us how to go beyond the face value of an experience and get to the root knowing and understanding, for the purpose of our life changes and how to bring better information forward.

The Tarot cards work in bringing wise and amazing insight to our life changes and life experiences and guide us in building that trust to our inner voice and wisdom.

The Tarot becomes our journey for our inner discoveries.

Books You Might Enjoy:

Anonymous - All About Wicca And Witchcraft
Aleister Crowley - Al The Comment Called D The Djeridensis Working
Aleister Crowley - Thoth Tarot Deck
Aleister Crowley - The Cephaledium Working
Swetha Lodha - Your Love Life And The Tarot Cards

What Does The Fool Card Mean Or Represent

Well, if you could only have one question about the Tarot and Tarot cards, that would be it.

Many interpreters of the Tarot consider the Fool to be a central card to the whole deck. The Fool is a special card, even among the 22 of the Major Arcana. It's Card 0 (or 22 depending on your system). In a real sense, understanding this card opens up the Tarot - and a lot more. (Or so the really wise people say.)


As you may already know, when looking for meaning in the Tarot, keep going back to the picture; there's a lot more in them than a first glance suggests.

It's the start of the Major Arcana 'story' - a young person, a 'prince or princess of the world' setting out on a sunny morn on a wonderful journey - right over a cliff !

Not, you'd think ordinarily, a very bright thing to do!

But the Fool strides trustingly over that precipice, and, according to the Tarot, the trust is well placed. The whole 22 cards of the Major Arcana are seen by some interpretators as the Fool's journey, which ends with the World, key 21, which is about successful completion, accomplishment and fulfillment.

There are a lot of other qualities which lead to that success, but they would be worthless without the Fool's willingness to trust and be open to that journey.

Sometimes you have risk, to go against everything society says is 'sensible' or 'wise', to act rightly. It means the inner forces, the inner certainty, intuition - no, less tangible than intuition even - which is at the heart of great endeavors - or right action.

It says that in some things, you must trust your inner voice, not those of the many people in your surroundings and society willing to tell you 'the smart thing to do'.

Indeed, to many people, the Tarot itself seems 'foolish'. To them the whole idea of shuffling some pieces of cardboard with pictures to reveal hidden truths is in itself a pretty silly thing to do (I've met quite a few myself!) So in their eyes all who use the Tarot at all may be 'fools'.

I think we're pretty wise fools, myself.

The Fool is about those positive forces with us which influence us in our choices - trust, belief in the ultimate goodness of creation, ideals - the 'hope of a bright tomorrow.'

But above all, this card tries to assure us that there is a point to such an endeavor, that life has a point, that trust has a point.

And yes, if you look at the evil in the world, at the loss of young lives, at the failure of principle, believing in some rightness of existence, some point in hoping and trusting, can look pretty futile, pretty pointless, pretty ...foolish.

But believe anyway, is the message of this card.

In a reading, this may identify a need to trust ourselves, our inner knowledge or intuition, perhaps about whether it's the right time to 'take a leap', or whether it's not.

Just to complicate matters, if you use inverted cards in your readings (I do!) the Fool inverted can warn that a decision may be foolish, too extravagant, that there IS a danger in taking risks too casually.

So this card isn't about 'do whatever occurs to you, as it occurs'; that would be a fun, but pretty unsustainable life.

It is about being open to that inner impulse, learning to differentiate between it and the dozens of other urges and impulses.

And how does a person do that ?

Search me.

I know what works for me.We all need to find our way. Some people use meditation, aids such as the Tarot, and study of various arcana. (Meditation works for me, by the way.)

Others just lead their lives, one day at a time, and it just comes.

A paraphrase of an old Zen teaching story, but the closest I can recall;

A monk was out walking in ancient Japan. He encounters a wild cat, and as he is fleeing, slips over a cliff, but manages to grab hold of a gnarled root at the edge of the cliff. He looks down, and sees sharp broken rocks below. He looks up and sees the wild cat, snarling at him.

As he looks around, he also sees beside him a bush with a single bright, succulent berry on it.

He looks up, then down again.

He plucks the berry, and pops it in his mouth.

How sweet it tastes!

That's the Fool.

The wise Fool.

( Or so one old fool thinks.)

Books You Might Enjoy:

John Dee - The Hieroglyphic Monad Latin Version Second
Medieval Grimoires - The Most Holy Grimoire Or Grimorium Sanctissimum
Zoroaster - The Chaldean Oracles

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

Timing With The Tarot

Establishing correct timing using the Tarot is subjective approach, some claim it can be declared accurately others insist that Astrology serves as a better reference. Keep in mind that when you are reading for someone that when you propose certain time constraints you may be limiting this person to develop solely within the alotted time frame. Some people want to know exactly what day they will meet their new lover or when they will find a new job.

In all actuality most of these people are shedding their personal responsibilities unto the reader to introduce elements into their own life. As a reader I do not create your future you do, I relate the projected outcome by factoring in the speed & trajectory of your current course. I tell my clients, "If you want a new job, then start filling out applications today, if you want a new man, leave your current one and seek another... you have my permission to create your own reality. Do not wait for my cues instead listen to your inner self. My readings will reveal whether or not this transformation is possible and the influences surrounding it, but ultimately you will have to be the one to take action. The future is not slated in stone in fact you make it what it is, so take the responsibility yourself to create the life you want."

I always encourage independence versus dependence. Some querents view a magic date (one that is provided by the reader) as a day when what they want just falls into their lap. This is the very reason that they do not have what they want...they have waited their entire life for others to lead their development instead of relying on self-motivation. Seize the day! On the other hand timing can be very productive when used with discretion. I've always felt that in my readings that I reveal the essentials & it is then up to my client to act in their best interests. A good reading does not require specific dates but guides the querent towards achieving their desires when "They" are ready. Everything else just falls into place.I recommend using the following Tarot spread to establish general time frames.

PPF

1 2 3 4

1 Past
2 Present
3 Future
4 Final Outcome


Books You Might Enjoy:

Benjamin Rowe - Xxxi Hymns To The Star Goddess
Benjamin Rowe - A Ritual Of The Heptagram
Tuesday Lobsang Rampa - Living With The Lama
Robert Wang - The Qabalistic Tarot

The Psychology Of Tarot

I want to start by telling you what I am not. I am not a new age guru, I hate those guys. I think they are phony, pompous, and banal. Nor do I believe in religion, astrology, fortune telling, or crystals. For the most part I look to science for answers to my deep questions not religion. The point I’m making is I am not your typical tarot enthusiast.

I am not ashamed to admit that tarot has become an important tool of self exploration. Tarot has given me a deeper understanding of myself. Since I started reading tarot I’ve discovered meditation, became a vegetarian, and I understand more of what I want out of life. I have searched my emotions further than I ever have before and because of this I see my world differently.

Having said that, I do not feel tarot cards need to be in any way mystical. Because tarot communicates through images, it helps you think in terms of symbols while forcing the analytic part of your brain to form explanations for those symbols. It is probably more like how the mind works in a dream state.
For me this has resulted in an awaking of sorts. When I pull a tarot card its image compels me to form meaning. I think about the card and what advice I can glean from it or how it could apply to my life. To accomplish this I must examine my emotions, thoughts, and experiences deeply; in essence become my own therapist.
It is my opinion that the deeper you explore yourself the more self reliant you become. You find that you have the solutions to your own problems. You realize that you have a higher tolerance for the drama of life. Tarot for me has been a catalyst for this sort of self discovery.

The key is to have a clear, analytical, but open mind. Don’t fret about a negative card or constantly ask about what is going to transpire in the future. The future, what ever that is, will happen in its own time. Use the tarot cards for the present. Focus on questions about how to overcome obstacles and setbacks now.
To get started you need to find the right tarot card deck. I like the Thoth deck because it is full of beautiful imagery and esoteric symbolism. Follow your instincts when choosing. Make sure you purchase accompanying books about tarot as a guide for interpretation. Also there are plenty of online sites that will make understanding tarot easier. I Personally like http://www.angelpaths.com because it provides self affirming interpretations.

After you gain a solid foundation in reading tarot, try coming up with your own meaning for the cards. You might find that your truest personal thoughts and feelings will bubble to the surface. This might be painful at first, but it will also be cathartic. For me exploring my own pain helped me see myself and others in a more accepting light.

It is important to remember that making greater sense of your life can be approached in many ways. Don’t be quick to judge the merits of anything on face value. A mind that is open but discerning has the possibility for great insight. Tarot for me is another tool for my own search of meaning. Maybe it could be one for you as well.

Books You Might Enjoy:

Arthur Edward Waite - The Pictorial Key To The Tarot
Phil Hine - Aspects Of Tantra
Edna Kenton - The Book Of Earths
Aleister Crowley - The World Of Tarot
Aleister Crowley - Psychology Of Hashish

Tarot As An Intuitive Guide

My experience with tarot cards started in 2002. After 9/11 in 2001, I was enguled in a state of panic and mental anguish just like the rest of the country and the world. As we entered 2002, I felt a sense of urgency to move forward living my purpose, instead of a stale and stagnant existence. As I put forth my prayers and affirmations for positive change and living my purpose, the huge doors of the Universe opened and and I found myself entering the world of New Age/New Thought and metaphysical movements that I’d never experienced before. The first place I visited was learning of my intuition through divination tools and techniques such as pyromancy (using candles), clairaudience (clear hearing), clairvoyance (clear seeing), oracle cards, and tarot cards.

I loved working with the tarot cards because they provided me with something tangible to refer to that suggested my innermost thoughts and feelings. Tarot, like the New Thought movement, taught me that my mind was a powerful tool that could drive my life’s experiences in any direction.

One of the interesting things I’ve found with tarot card readings, whether for myself or others, is that an outcome is a possible outcome, not the final outcome. Now, I will say in some cases, the outcome is exactly what it shows on the cards or what it suggests on the cards. However, I’ve noticed that any time the reading is dealing with a deeply personal issue for the individual or something to that effect, the outcome is not set in stone. This is true for life in general. Every situation we encounter on a daily basis can go one of two ways. It’s really up to us on which way it will go.

The intriguing thing about tarot readings and those who love them is that while we all search for answers, some times we can be so dissatisfied with the answers we receive, we’ll keep pulling cards repeatedly until they say what we want them to say.

So, this begs an important question. When we’re dealing with tarot or any other form of divination for that matter – are we really looking for truth or what we want to hear? It’s like having a conversation with a very agreeable person. You may need to hear the truth at a particular time in your life that will truly benefit you, but the person keeps saying exactly what you want to hear, so you never get to the heart of a matter, you’re just being fed the food you want to eat and not what’s particularly good for you at that moment because you’re hunger is in control.

In my readings for myself, I’ve had to stop myself from doing this in all honesty. I am learning to accept the cards as they first come out and just interpret them according to the question I asked, not every single possible scenario that the cards could stand for.

Like with all things life, we shouldn’t automatically assume the worst as soon as the cards are pulled and you may see a Three of Swords in the past position, a Death card in the present position, and an Ace of Cups in the future position. No matter how good the future card looks, our human nature will draw us automatically to focus on the possible negative aspects of the past and present cards. The whole reading simply means that the individual had experienced a heartbreaking moment in life, but things are transforming now, and soon something better is coming along. Yet, for some reason, we will stay focused on the so-called negative cards.

I have come to realize that the Ancient Egyptians, who were credited for creating Tarot, hit the nail on the head by making the cards and their meanings follow a journey in life that mimicks our own paths in lives. Think about it – the Tarot cards are seventy-eight metaphors for life itself. And when we draw them, we are trying to see what they say about our lives on any given day. My advice to you is to truly pay attention to the meanings. While the traditional meanings may ring true for you, this isn’t always the case. Think about your question and where you are in your life in reference to the question, and then begin to interpret the cards. You’ll find quite often that they merely reflect back to us what’s already going on, what we’re already experiencing with a few bits of wisdom added in to help us move along in the situation as we should.

Remember, tarot cards are an intuitive guide. They don’t hold all the answers for our lives; they are mirrors on our lives. The keeper of your answers is you and only you.

Books You Might Enjoy:

Anonymous - Enochian Initiatory Workings
Ot Oss - Psilocybin Magic Mushroom Growers Guide
Paul Foster Case - An Introduction To The Study Of The Tarot
Aristotle - On The Soul
Raym - Spirit Guide A New Life Guide

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 Cards Do They Work

Do Tarot cards work? Yes, they do. I was introduced to the Tarot, back in the early 80's. The first time I saw them, I immediately felt drawn to them. The energy of the cards, felt as tho' they had been with me in like forever. I was 27, when the cards were introduced to me a second time. Prior to seeing the cards in the 80's, my first husband had had a deck, wrapped with some other neat stuff from the 60's and prior to that, I had had many dreams about a caravan of gypsies, traveling through Europe, with their colorful tents and their unusual and unique way of life, stopping off to different villages.

Now, how on earth would this little sharing signify that the Tarot cards work? It turns out that the dream of the traveling gypsy caravan was actually my grandfathers' adopted parents and family doing the traveling. They were a psychic band of gypsies that did fortune telling and palmistry, for each town they visited. I had been having this dream, on and off for a few years, until one day, while recuperating from knee surgery, I was telling my mom about my dream and she informed me of my grandfathers' life, when he was a kid. Imagine my surprise!

My grandfather’s adoptive mom was the one that did card readings and palmistry. My grandfathers life, was very hush, hush back in those days, those days being the early 1900's. For me, back in the 70's, the timing of talking about the Tarot was just not right. Obviously, I was in awe, but would soon forget about the dreams, until 7 years later, when I got married and my husband and I were unpacking and out came the deck of cards: the Rider Waite Tarot. Again, the cards made their appearance and were put away and forgotten. Finally, in 1984, the cards made another appearance in my life. I was 27 and it seemed like the timing was right.

The Tarot is a journey of consciousness and of wisdom, that shows us visually and energetically, the creative ideas and levels of consciousness that appear to us in our life experiences.

The Tarot, and the energy and essence of these cards were determined to be a part of my life. I was born into an Italian/Catholic family in this life and so logically and humanly, the Tarot was not a topic of conversation that would take place in my home life and yet, as an empath, with a high level of intuition, the Tarot was going to become a part of my life, no matter what.

The Tarot cards work, however, not in the way that I logically thought they would. In my teens, 20's and very early 30's, I always felt very overwhelmed by everything I was feeling. I would sense and feel life around me, and had to play catch up, with myself in learning how to put it to words. I began to notice, that once I learned the meanings of the cards and began doing readings for others, I was able to tap into my intuition and find the words to the feelings that needed expression. Now, as I look back on this 25-year journey, it all makes perfect sense

The Tarot worked for me in the way, that it opened my logical mind and expanded and evolved my perceptions. It taught me and guided me in how to step out of logic, yes, I continue to be very logical and practical, however, my intuitive sense is my guide on my journey.

The Tarot works in teaching us how to go deeper under the surface to the visual of life. It teaches and guides us into discovering the purpose and nature of life changes.
Yes, there are times where the energy of a reading will present the potential of something coming to pass, however, for me; my journey was more of a discovery for understanding the subtle happenings under the surface to everyday life.

It is safe to say, that the Tarot works in connecting our emotions, feelings, the metaphysical and the spiritual; bringing our life and the deeper meaning, into balance and a better understanding; to live a more heart centered and soul-guided life.

When we are ready to step out of the everyday norm and follow the promptings of our heart, the Tarot works in bringing amazing new discoveries and insights to our life, that we may not have had the chance to discover.

Books You Might Enjoy:

Tarostar - The Witchs Spellcraft Revised
Paul Foster Case - The Life Power
Aristotle - On The Soul

Tarot Card Readings The Spread

When a tarot reading is done, the cards are laid out as a pattern in what is
called a spread.

There are many different types of spreads, ranging from those that comprise
of a single card to spreads that include all 78 cards of the deck. Some
spreads are only done with the Major Arcana Cards.

Which spread is applied is up to the reader and the particular type of
question or reading. Some spreads focus more on a specific type of
information.

An example of this is that a spread may be focused on a singular question,
while others are broader in terms, such as in ones outlooks and prospects in
regards to relationships, financial maters, etc...

One of the most common tarot spreads is the Celtic cross, it is used more for
those specific questions. This is the one I am going to cover in this
article.

It depends on the person giving the reading, but usually, prior to the
reading, the cards are shuffled by the person receiving it, also known as the
querent. The reason for this is that some say this carry-overs the person's
energy to the deck. The person, while shuffling, should also concentrate on
the answers they are after.

Some readers do it differently, asking the querent to cut the cards for them
after they have shuffled. Or in more traditional circles, a more complicated
sorting and separation of the cards is executed .

Card 1: Represents the Present.

Card 2: The immediate challenge confronting the querent. You will frequently
pull a hard card here, which will suggest an obstacle that must be overcome.
If you pull a "good" card here, analyse it carefully because it will still
represent a challenge.

Card 3: Distant past, foundation. This card should indicate the root of the
subject matter of the question

Card 4: More recent past, including events. This will indicate events taking
place, not necessarily directly associated to the question. For instance, if
a love affair going wrong Card 3 would show the root of why it is going wrong,
whereas Card 4 will show something that recently happened to reflect this.
You could see this as a "check comment" card - a way of seeing that the
reading is valid.

Card 5: The best that can be accomplished. This is directly associated to the
question. Note that this may not necessarily gel against Card 10 - it depends
whether you are able to get the best. However, a negative card here in all
probability signifies that it is worthwhile cutting your losses rather than
putting any more effort into the situation.

Card 6: Immediate Future. This indicates events in the next few days or week(
s). This reading does not cover months.

Card 7: Factors or internal feelings impacting the situation. Compare this
against Card 1 in order to understand underlying forces/trends. If there is
conflict between them this tends to indicate that the querent is going in the
wrong direction.

Card 8: Outside influences. People, energies or events which will affect the
outcome of the question and are beyond the querent's control.

Card 9: Hopes or fears around the situation. This may bring forth a card that
confuses us badly. Always bear in mind that hopes and fears are closely
entwined, therefore that which we hope for may also be that which we fear,
and so may fail to happen. Occasionally it is useful to draw a second card
for clarification after the reading has been laid, and to read the two
together.

Card 10: Final outcome. This is a fairly self explanatory card. However it is
worth saying that if the card comes up fairly ambiguous, once more it may be
worth drawing three extra cards to clarify. These should be interpreted
through the lens of Card 10.

Books You Might Enjoy:

Anonymous - Divination Spreads
Yacki Raizizun - The Secret Of Dreams
Tarostar - The Witchs Spellcraft Revised

Major Arcana Road Jokes

How did the Fool cross the road?
Walking softly and carrying a big stick.

Why did the Fool cross the road?
To get that yappy little dog off his heels.

Why did the Magician cross the road?
To manifest his desires into reality.

How did the Magician cross the road?
Backwards, to deliberately obscure his crossing.

How did the High Priestess cross the road?
She didn't, she knew it wasn't her time to cross the road.

How did the Empress cross the road?
With her heart in her hands.

Why did the Empress cross the road?
Well, someone had to do it!

How did the Emperor cross the road?
He's too uptight to cross the road and besides this is
HIS side of the road.(see "The Testrophobical Thing")

Why did the Emperor cross the road?
They have cable.

Why did the Emperor cross the road to Canada?
They have cable, beer and Hockey Night in Canada.

Why did the Emperor cross the road?
The Empress took the converter.

Why did the Emperor and the Hierophant cross the road?
To avoid treatment for advanced testosterone poisoning (aka
Male Bonding).

How did the Heirophant cross the road?
At the crosswalk.

Why did the Heirophant cross the road?
He saw a sign.

How did the Lovers cross the road?
It was their choice.

Why did the Lovers cross the road?
They had to come out to forage for food sometime.

How did the Chariot cross the road?
0-90 in .5

Why did the Chariot cross the road?
He was looking for Resolution.



Books You Might Enjoy:

Frater Achad - Liber 31
Jester Raiin - Major Arcana 2nd Update And 1st Typohunt
Michael Majerus - Atalanta Fugiens
John Yarker - Arcane Schools

Love Tarot Readings The Crossroads Of Our Relationships

One of the most common inquiries during a Tarot reading typically concerns matters of romance and partnerships. Naturally, people consult the Tarot for answers about love. One would expect that most people would want knowledge about their future love life: who and when that special somebody would be entering their life. Yet, many come to the Tarot for guidance about a current relationship. Typically, these are the relationships that have reached a stalemate. In these cases, the relationships have lost their sense of direction or purpose.

The Tarot has an exceptional ability to uncover the areas in a relationship that are struggling. More importantly, the Tarot can identify the key issues that are going on within each partner. This often refers to each individual’s emotional development, expectations, and past experiences that are being projected into the relationship. One would hope that the Tarot would tell us exactly what we need to do in order to bring harmony back into a relationship. In truth, this is not always the case. More often than not, the Tarot only opens the door to our own inner knowledge. Each individual holds the answers that they need. The Tarot is a conduit, a divinatory tool that enables you to access your unconscious and higher self. In the end, you are always your own best guide.

When utilizing the Tarot for answers on a relationship, it is important to recognize that there are some significant cards that often question your intentions and motivations. These cards often reflect important crossroads that require you to look within yourself to make important decisions. They encourage you to take a good hard look at your relationship and ask yourself if this relationship is something that is in your best interest. It’s important to remember what the Tarot teaches us. They are there to guide us on our path. They are always a reflection of our level of personal growth and emotional development. In some cases, the Tarot is there to redirect us, to remind us that we have made the wrong choice or have become blinded to our own truths.

Although the Suit of Cups often plays an important role in Love Tarot, they are not the only cards that depict relationship issues. As I mentioned before, there are other significant cards that require you to ask yourself some important questions. Some of them our rather obvious like the Three of Swords, the Devil or the Lover. However, there are some that are unobvious. These are the cards of the Hermit, Death, and the Two of Swords.

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:

Yacki Raizizun - The Secret Of Dreams
Aleister Crowley - The Confessions Of Aleister Crowley An Autohagiography
Solomonic Grimoires - The Book Of Secrets
Talismagick - Love Spells And Rituals For Love And Relationships
Robert Ellwood - The Encyclopedia Of World Religions

Learning The Tarot An Intuitive Experience

My journey with the Tarot began back in September of 1984. Prior to my journey beginning, there were little things of a psychic nature that had always made itself known to me, including, at various times, the Tarots presence coming into my physical awareness.

My introduction to the Tarot, began with a story from a friend, that could read auras and read the Rider Waite Tarot. And so, it was in September of 84, that I had had my very first reading done for me. Prior to my reading, I had no logical knowledge of the Tarot, other than its visits from time to time, or when watching a movie and there was a psychic doing a reading. Intuitively, I had already had a head start; being very empathic and highly intuitive.

As my girlfriend layed out the Tarot in the Celtic Cross for me, although I had no knowledge of the meaning of the cards, at least at that point in time, my last card, the very first time the cards were layed out for me was the Death card. Again, I had no knowledge of the cards meanings, but knew in that moment that the Death card didn't mean physical Death, but Death to my life as I knew it in that moment. That was my immediate sense and then that sense kicked into my logical reality and I knew that my marriage to my first husband, was about to undergo a huge amount of change. However, that did not stop me from feeling drawn or pulled to the cards.

Little did I know, I was about to step into a whole other journey in my life. Being empathic and highly intuitive and being raised in a house, with a huge amount of logical focus and discipline and a huge dose of the practical, would eventually send my mind into a tailspin. I wanted to learn the meanings of the cards. Each one, individually. But my dilemma would be; which part of my mind would I use. And so, my first book and cards were of the Rider Waite Deck. I was having quite the time figuring out which part of my awareness to utilize in learning the Tarot. So, I decided to let go of the figuring out part and take my learning and discover the meanings of each individual card.

It would be a year, before I finally understood how to combine the meaning of the cards with the layouts. In the meantime, my proficiency came from doing readings for my friends and myself. Each time I utilized the wisdom and the guidance of the cards, I trusted my sense of feeling a little bit more.

Did I mention that I was 27, when this part of my life started changing? I found that the more I connected to the energy and the essence of the Tarot, the more I found myself opening to other Tarot decks. Understanding the meaning of the Tarot cards is a completely intuitive experience. We can utilize our logical minds to learn the meanings of the cards, learn about the cards origin and symbolism, however, the Tarot is a completely intuitive experience.

Eventually, I would teach the Tarot. Yes, there are many, many excellent sources of information out there to guide us, on this inner journey of discovery, it is however, our intuition that will become our guide on this journey.

There are many exercises to guide us on this inner journey. The ones that I shared in my classes were to get a journal and work with each card individually. Yes, the meanings are helpful, but once you have learned the meanings of the cards, the next level of discovery becomes your intuition. When teaching the Tarot to my classes, I always recommended that it would be good to suspend judgment about whether our inner sense was right or wrong and learn to open ourselves to our inner knowing.

Another exercise in discovering the inner meaning of the Tarot, was to pull a card everynight and put it by your bedside, with a notebook and pen to jot down any dreams that were connected to the Tarot.

Understanding the meaning of the Tarot Cards, is an inner journey of awakening. It would be many years and thousands of readings later, that I would eventually understand, that when we began a journey of spiritual, metaphysical or psychic/intuitive discovery, it not only changes our perceptions of awareness, it also changes our approach to life. Once my journey began, and I found my relationships with friends changing, I would pull the cards. (I had already started working with the Alleister Crowley Tarot-I found that the cards were helpful in taking me deeper under the surface, for a better understanding to the changes taking place in my life.)

Once I began working with the cards, for a deeper understanding and purpose to my life changes, although I could not change what was happening, I was able to bring clarity to my experiences.

Understanding the meaning of the Tarot cards is an inner journey; one of discovery, transformation and change. If we allow the wisdom of our inner knowing to guide us, and we understand that our logical focus is now utilized towards intuitive understanding, then our journey with the Tarot, becomes an awakening experience.

Understanding the meaning of the Tarot cards; have patience and trust in yourself and your journey. The rewards for a deeper understanding to the meaning of lifes' challenges and obstacles are great. And yes, we may not be able to change the experience, however, bringing understanding and awareness to the experience, will bring its own rewards on your journey.

Understanding the meaning of the Tarot cards becomes a step by step, one breath at a time experience; trust in yourself and your inner sense of knowing.

Happy Journey!

Books You Might Enjoy:

Paracelsus - The Book Concerning The Tincture Of The Philosophers
William Godwin - The Lives Of The Necromancers
Max Heindel - The Rosicrucian Mysteries
Max Heindel - Teachings Of An Initiate
Rabbi Michael Laitman - The Kabbalah Experience

Learn Tarot By Listening To Tarot

The more things change, the more they are the same especially when it comes to human behavior. So many things appear to be happening...and they are...and yet there are templates that overlay the events, patterns and sequences that the events fit into. The question is: Where in the pattern, the sequence, are we? What template are we in?

The more life experience an aware person has, the more likely he is to know what is happening and what will happen because he 'has been there and done that.' He is keen to the sequence, he knows what happens when you.... Life experience allows one to intuit the sequence, see the patterns, and know what comes next. Life experience is what tells us not to do the same thing and expect a different result. (Life experience is the reason tribal people usually honor elders.)

Individual tarot cards represent points in the sequence, represent places in the pattern. When you apply the scene the card represents to the question at hand, you 'put two and two together' intuitively, you realize what the pattern is that is developing in the question at hand, and hopefully you come up with four. You usually do. As President Lincoln said, nothing is 100% !00% of the time, and I take that personally!

The more you know tarot, the less simplistic your reading of it is. Nuances and details in abundance are to be had in tarot. And the way you know tarot is to listen to it. (That is the way to learn generally, isn't it?) If you ask questions you know the answers to, to discover what the meaning of the cards is, you are listening to tarot.

The nuances and the details appear when you reach the point in learning tarot that you perceive meaning in combinations of cards, not just in single cards. The more cards you combine in your perception, the more details you get. Eventually in your learning of tarot, you will be able to look at a 13-card spread or layout and immediately understand the gist of the answer, then you look at the cards that surround those theme cards and get the details. Not the other way around, at least part of the time, at least on a good day.

Seeing themes, seeing 'theme cards' is what allows you this quick overview. Life experience with tarot is the way to arrive there. (Someone who already knows and teaches you is of course a shortcut.) What you do when the overview, the gist, comes immediately (or quickly) to mind is notice that in the different areas of the spread appear cards that mean a similar or the same thing—let's say leaving, or delay, or taking action. Okay, now you know the answer is about that particular thing. Now you know the other cards are modifying the main theme.

If you are one of those now rare people who instinctively understands what the subject, verb and object of a sentence are: A similar process lies in the dominant and modifying cards!

That is the way to expertise in tarot.

A demonstration can be had by contacting the writer below for a reading of tarot.

Books You Might Enjoy:

Will Herberg - The Writings Of Martin Buber
Hermes Trismegistus - Book Xi Of The Common Mind To Tat
Benjamin Rowe - The Book Of The Seniors
Melita Denning - The Aurum Solis

History Of The Tarot

The reason why there is really no authority (although that's not to say there are wise ones out there with plenty of experience with the Tarot), is due to the fact that the Tarot does not follow a lineage. In fact, the exact origins of the cards are unknown. Some say that the roots can be traced back to the East, particularly the Buddhist Tantra system, who used an ancient board game that is very reminiscent of the Tarot, which was then brought westward by the Gypsy people in the 10th century. Others claim that the cards originated from secret brotherhoods of Egypt, designed for initiates. Others say they were created in Europe.
The Tarot was first recorded in history at the end of the Dark Ages, possibly introduced from the East by returning Crusaders. But during this time when the church suppressed anything that threatened to usurp the "one faith," the Tarot suffered heavy attack. The church called them the Devil's cards and towns began to burn the decks; and eventually as the Inquisition began to gain momentum, burned the readers of the Tarot as well. Due to this suppression, the Tarot soon feigned as a deck of meaningless playing cards to avoid persecution, and eventually the deeper meanings became lost or went underground. And no complete deck of those times remains. Only a smattering of cards, from various decks and periods can be found in museums or in private collections.

Books You Might Enjoy:

Aleister Crowley - The Zodiac And The Tarot
Aleister Crowley - Thoth Tarot Deck
Aristotle - On The Soul
Aleister Crowley - The World Of Tarot

Tattva Vision

Tattva vision is a basic exercise of "scrying in the spirit
vision" used in the Golden Dawn system. The use of tattva vision
should not be limited to students of the Golden Dawn and allied
systems because it, as well as other methods of developing the
range of consciousness, is useful to treaders of all paths. Prior
to beginning the tattva vision exercise you should use some means
of cleansing the area in which you will work. This may be any
method of cleansing or banishing, preferably one from your own
discipline, and one with which you are comfortable. In the
Golden Dawn we use the lesser banishing ritual of the pentagram.
The tattvas represent the elements as principles upon which we
may perceive the structure of the universe. They should not be
seen as absolutes, but rather as constructs we use to approach an
understanding of the nature of reality. The tattvas, in spite of
their hindu origin, have become imbedded in our culture, and
relate to existing elements (no pun!) of the western esoteric
tradition. They relate to the alchemical elements, to shapes and
to colors as follows:

tattva element shape color
---------------------------------------------
akasa ether oval black
(indigo)

vayu air circle blue

tejas fire triangle red

apas water crescent silver
(concave up)

prithivi earth square yellow

---------------------------------------


now, to begin experimenting with tattva vision, you will need a
set of five pieces of white cardboard about four inchees square.
This should be white on both sides. On each of the cardboard
squares draw one of the figures as accurately as you can and
color it appropriately. The colors should be as strong and as
brilliant as possible. Poster paints are suitable although not
ideal. Some students use brilliantly colored paper cut to shape
and pasted to the figure. At any rate, you can heighten the
effect of the colors by covering the figures with clear acetate
or other suitable material. To begin the exercise itself, seat
yourself comfortably, relax, and center yourself. You will need
a strong light nearby that you can turn off easily. With the
light on stare at the figure for about half a minute, until you
see a sort of halo around the figure. This is a normal, physical
phenomenon. At this point, turn the card over and stare at the
blank side. You will see an image of the figure on the card in
the complementary color of the original figure. This is, again,
a natural phenomenon. As soon as you see this figure close your
eyes and turn off the light. Now, picture this complementary
figure before you and mentally enlarge it. You may find it
easier to imagine yourself shrinking. Whatever, you will
now have to imagine the figure before you as a doorway to the
astral plane, and will yourself to pass through the doorway. You
may wish to try the Zelator sign as taught in the Golden Dawn
-- stand straight and extend the right arm in something like a
Nazi salute. This is a "projecting" gesture and may help you move
through the doorway. It is important not to simply say to
yourself, "now i am going through the doorway," or to imagine a
figure of yourself at a distance going through, but to imagine
yourself, your here-and-now self passing through the portal.
Once you have succeeded in making the passage (it will probably
take several attempts), it is important to imagine very strongly
the doorway behind you and to fix in your mind its location in
relation to the features of the astral landscape around you.
This is your way back! make your first experiments short ones.
You may extend them as you gain experience. You may enhance the
experience by meditating on the element before you try the
experiment, and by surrounding yourself with materials related to
that element. Use appropriate incense, etc. This little exercise
may be extended to tarot cards, hexagrams, etc. It would be wise
to gain complete control of the present exercise before
attempting the others.

Free eBooks (Can Be Downloaded):

Andrew Lang - Myth Ritual And Religion
Jaroslav Nemec - Witchcraft And Medicine
Aleister Crowley - International
Michael Majerus - Atalanta Fugiens
Aleister Crowley - Ritual Viii

Choosing A First Tarot Deck

When you first decide to learn Tarot, beginners ask what kind of deck should they choose?There are hundreds and hundreds of tarot decks available for purchase. There are people whose only interest in Tarot is collect and study the decks from history and from current artists.

There are two different perspectives as to how to go about acquiring your first tarot deck (pronounced tar'?oh or ta?row'). The first idea is that you are best served by selecting a deck that appeals to you or speaks to you in some way. This way of selecting a deck underlines the theory that every reader will respond to various styles and symbols in a different way and that it is important to respect this aspect of reading the tarot. It also is beneficial because it suggests that obtaining a deck that you respond to and like will encourage you to learn the deck.

The second theory is to obtain a widely used deck like the Waite, and Waite derivatives, or the Crowley/Thoth, or derivatives. These deck types represent the vast majority of decks that are purchased and used. The Waite deck is the most popular deck ever sold and is the one most often reconized.

I have come to the opinion that the second method, selecting a Waite-based or Crowley-based deck, is the best one for beginners. I have noticed that beginners who have acquired an offbeat deck struggle when they go to read a beginning tarot book or take a class.

So, your first assignment to find a deck to learn on. Choose a Waite based deck (including the Universal Waite, Robin Wood, Morgan Greer, Tarot of the Old Path, and some more whose names escape me right now!) or a Crowley/Thoth based deck (the smaller deck will have more lively coloration ? so notice which size you are selecting). If you will stick to these, it will be a bit easier to learn Tarot at first. Then, later, you can branch off and pick a Marseilles style, or Motherpiece, or Wheel of Change, or Osho Zen, or another offbeat tarot deck. This is all, however, just my observation. I have plenty of students simply pick the deck they like and they do fine (some however do not and break down and purchase a Waite deck so they can more readily compare what the instructor or book is saying to the deck images).

Books You Might Enjoy:

Tuesday Lobsang Rampa - The Saffron Robe
Swetha Lodha - Your Love Life And The Tarot Cards
Marian Green - A Witch Alone
Robert Wang - The Qabalistic Tarot
Aleister Crowley - Thoth Tarot Deck

4 Simple Methods For Learning To Read Tarot Cards

Learning to read Tarot cards can often seem quite difficult, especially when one is learning how to read Tarot cards one one’s own. However, if one follows some simple methods, the process of learning how to read Tarot cards can be a really interesting journey.

The things you need before you begin to learn are a deck of Tarot cards and a notebook and a pen / pencil. Another thing one should consider investing in is a book of Tarot card meanings.
The confusion arises at both these junctures. A beginner student always has these questions: “Which deck to buy?” and “Which book to buy?” Let me help you with those decisions first.

Ideally buy a deck whose imagery resonates with your belief system and your knowledge base. There are several thousands of Tarot decks available in the market today that are based on a number of different themes. Go for a deck which you will find easy to understand. See the images of the cards before you buy. If the deck’s images don’t stir anything within you, keep looking for more. For example, don’t buy a deck based on Celtic Mythology if you don’t know what Celtic myth is all about. Because you will then have to spend time learning about the basics and then be able to pick up the deck and study it.

The next thing is the book. Buy a book which covers the basics – there should be meanings of the cards explained in a simple and straightforward manner. Often, themed decks come with their own books. But if you are interested in the finer aspects of the cards (like mythology or symbolism) then you need to look for specialized books on the subject. Search for something that suits you.

Now that we have the deck and the book figured out, let’s begin the process of learning to read Tarot cards. Here are a few steps which will guide you along the way:

1. Take the card in your hand and see the images. Don’t read the book just yet. Just see the images and write down what comes to you when you see the picture. What you write down can be as descriptive or as short-and-sweet as you like.

2. Once you have done this, open the book and go through what the book says about each card and compare that text with what you have written down. Mark the common passages / ideas by underlining or highlighting them.

3. Think about the meaning of each card – and write down the name of a song which reminds you of this meaning. This will help you really get into the mood of the card and understand the meaning of the card effectively.

4. A card will often have several meanings. So which one is right for you? Choose any 3 interpretations from the ones which are common between your own interpretations and what is given in the book, and shorten them into one word or one short phrase. This makes it easier to recall the meanings when you are doing a reading.

Once you have gained a mastery over the meanings of the Tarot cards, doing a reading can often become a comparatively simple procedure. If you want to learn to read Tarot cards, go ahead and visit http://www.ReadingTarotCardsRevealed.com and download your copy of the e-Book today!

Books You Might Enjoy:

Paul Foster Case - An Introduction To The Study Of The Tarot
Hugh Mynne - The Faerie Way A Healing Journey To Other Worlds
Swetha Lodha - Your Love Life And The Tarot Cards