The Love Pyramid

I commented on my last post about Tarot Spreads that one of the major interests in card reading sessions are those related with love matters. “Liebesglück” (translated from German to English: Luck in Love) is one of my most popular spreads, and it’s one I adopted from Hajo Banzhaf (The Tarot Handbook). I personally call it the “Love Pyramid”.

In this Love Pyramid you will be able to see how your relationship’s present state is and also the direction where you, as love-partners, are headed for along this present path.

Please remember that we are “Free Will Human Beings”. Our present path and the direction we’re headed for is our choice. If you don’t like the present path or the direction you’re headed for: do something to change it. You and only you decide how your life will be! And this is independent from those things that happen in life which you cannot control.

With this spread I always use the Universal Waite Tarot; and I think people like it because it’s very easy to follow. On the graphic, the gray line of cards on the right is the woman’s side; and the white line of cards on the left is the man’s side.

• Card 1 at the top of this Love Pyramid represents the forces that maintain this relationship together. Here you can see the principles for this relationship’s existence and also how this relationship is being lived at the moment. Harmony or discord can be seen according to the card placed at the top.

• Cards 2 (woman) and 3 (man) represent how each partner lives or sees this relationship individually. It represents the point where each one is standing at the moment in relation to this love partnership.

• Cards 4 (woman) and 5 (man) represent what each one expects from this relationship and what their wishes are; but it can also represent what they fear might happen in the future of their lives together.

• Cards 6 (woman) and 7 (man) are cards of advice. They give you a direction to look upon or follow. I find it interesting that these cards – many times – open the eyes of the consulting persons to things they had been ignoring.

• Card 8 is the future card. It represents what both, man and woman are bound to “produce” as a result of the present way they are living their relationship. It represents the road this relationship is headed for.

I hope you enjoy this spread. If any questions should arise, feel free to make your questions in the comment boxes. All comments are welcome, and I’ll be more than glad to answer.

Oh, that was a great day for me even though my father was making fun of me and the cards. I was 11 at that time and I still treasure my first Tarot. Each time I open my treasure box and get them out of their gold lamé cloth, I gasp at the beauty of their colors, details and the connection between us. Many years of studies and experiences unite us.

If you’re reading this and have your new cards near by, I congratulate you on your purchase. These are the first days of a long relationship on a journey that in many ways will change the way you conceive reality. Many surprises and learning experiences, not to mention some disappointments, await you.

In these ups and downs of life, your Tarot Cards will be there for you, waiting for you to unveil them.

Now, let’s get started with the action:

• Find (buy) yourself a nice cloth of more or less 1 square meter. It can be any color you like, although I would prefer deep red, dark green, royal blue, white or even black; important is that this cloth should have only one color or a very discreet pattern. It shouldn’t steal your attention from the cards.

• Find, buy or sew yourself a small cloth bag inside of which you will place your Tarot Cards instead of the carton package where they usually come in. Humans like nice and soft fabrics, give the same to your cards.

You can make the preparing of the Tarot Cards a ritual with candles and incense, with very soft music at night. It’s fun and it helps you concentrate on the energy flowing from you into your cards:

• Place your cloth, from step 1, on top of the table where you will have your first reading. Sit on a chair where you will dominate the whole room you’re at. Avoid sitting with your back to the door or a window. If you have to choose between both options, then sit with your back towards the window and make sure you can see the door. News comes through the door of the house or room, it is symbology: you are in control. But also, psychologically, one has the tendency to better concentrate when ones face is oriented towards the door: news does actually come through the door. Noises and possible interruptions distract less if you’re not giving your back to them.

• Place a glass of water which represents the vast waters of the infinite ocean that is the information you will gain access to. Water is the element of intuition. Flowers or incense are great helpers for creating a nice atmosphere and for connecting with the beauty and wisdom inside you. A candle is also a way to get in contact with the wisdom of Light-Energies. The fire of a candle can help light up and activate your Spirit Mind! Although this step is optional, try this out. It’s a very nice experience that celebrates your initiation in the Tarot world. I usually have a glass of water and a candle.

This is a meditation you will do now.

• Take your new Tarot Cards in your hands and shuffle them while feeling how the energy from your own being flows into the cards and returns back into your body. Visualize, while shuffling the cards, how you start to travel with your mind and soul through the cosmos.

• Visualize how you immerse yourself in the flowing of energy and wisdom of the universe and the eternal Mind-Spirit.

• Make contact with True-Light Energies of Wisdom – your Spiritual Guides- who will help you to better understand the relationships between eternity and time-bound space. (Just use your imagination, it’s not really important for now which form these energies appear to you) Eternity, past and future fuse in the present; ask for help to be able to understand the correlations of events at all times.

• Be determined to be conscious at all times of what is true. Be like a tree whose branches reach out to the sky as high as it gets, never forgetting that the higher you go up, the deeper your roots should dig down deep into earth. Your mind may experience high spiritual realities, and these should be in harmony with the beauty of your material reality.

• And as you stretch your branches into the never ending cosmos, start being again conscious of the roots that bring you back to earth. Be thankful for this great opportunity to better know yourself and the energies that move the universe.

You can now start by looking at each card; start with the Major Arcana. You can do the same with the Minor Arcana also some other day. Observe each card: its colors and motives. You can read their meanings in a book and try to associate the principles read with the images in each card.

I have written about the meanings of the Major Arcana in this link; but I highly recommend that you read my post Major Arcana: a Story of Spiritual Growth. This story will introduce you the main principles and sequence of the Major Arcana; it will help you to get familiar with the archetypes these cards represent.

The Universal Waite Tarot is a great way to start learning Tarot because the meanings of the cards are more or less “readable” in the images. I usually use the Major Arcana from my Marseille deck and the Minor Arcana from my Waite deck, amongst others.

There’s a renown author whose books I enjoy, Hajo Banzhaf is “the” Tarot expert in Germany and his book The Tarot Handbook I highly recommend. His explanations are very handy and direct; some of his card spreads are some of my most used. The Relationship Game is one of the most asked for among my friends. You will enjoy it!

Tarot Spread overview

This tarot spread is a very practical and easy way to obtain an overview of the situation or person to be consulted. I learned it about 20 years ago from one of my mentors, and since that time I use it as the first spread in every session. I use only the major arcana because in this spread it is important to find out the main principles or energies that dominate the person or question; details will be looked upon later based on this first overview.

What makes this tarot spread so special to me is that it takes into account “how an event is perceived” as a complement of “how it really is.” How something is perceived is not necessarily reality, and it helps to see the difference.

What kind of questions can I ask?
You can find out about the elements involved in an event or obtain a description of it. You can also ask about people: here you might want to know how you or someone else is doing.

The place or “atmosphere”
First you should choose a quiet place to spread your tarot cards. You will need a cloth to spread your cards on; it is not a good idea to spread your cards directly on the table surface. This cloth marks the territory where your cards can act. Placing a glass of water near you and/or flowers together with a lit candle or some incense is a way to get connected with the energies of the universe and with the collective-subconscious. Water is the main element of intuition-readings; water is analogical to the mass of information in the universe. I always feel like if I’m diving into a vast ocean where I can find the information I’m looking for. A flower is a product of the earth, and its beauty always inspires. The fire of the candle and incense are also ways of getting in touch with those universal energies: light and aroma. These are nice elements but not indispensable. A quiet and “nice” atmosphere is really important.

Before you start: visualize
Close your eyes for a moment and visualize how a string or ray of light that starts inside your mind extends itself so long that it connects you with the stars and cosmic energy in the universe. Visualize your mind already being in connection with the universal stream of information; feel that your mind has free access to that information and be thankful that you are able to experience this.

Mixing and asking
Mix the cards and at the same time think about your question. Think about the overview you wish to have in relation with the topic you chose. When you’re finished mixing, place the cards – face down – in a pile on top of your table.

If you read the tarot cards for yourself, take a small amount of cards with your left hand (the hand of your subconscious) and place this new pile of cards before you. Then, place the remaining ones back on top so that you have one pile again. If you do this spread for someone else, let him or her make a second pile of cards in their direction and place the remaining ones back on top. Don’t look at the cards yet.

The tarot spread
Now take each card from the top of the pile and place them – face down – in the order shown in the graphic, from 1 to 15. After you’ve done this, take the last card from underneath the pile and place it on the left upper corner of the other cards.

Reading and interpreting
First of all turn the 16th card around. This card will give you the general “atmosphere” of this spread, of the reading and of the topic you’ve asked about.

Then turn cards 1, 2, and 3 – faces up. These represent the present and also how the person feels inside; they show elements that are important for him or her at this moment. If it’s an event or situation, these three cards will describe what is happening at the moment or which energies are involved.

Turn cards 4, 5, and 6 around. They represent what is in that person’s mind, wishes and hopes included. Here you can see which opinion and feelings the person has regarding the main topic revealed in the first three cards. If this spread reveals information about an event, it portrays how you see it and what you think about it or what you wish for.

Now turn cards 7, 8, and 9 around; they describe the reality of an event or situation; what it is about and how it is developing. When consulting a person, these cards represent the place where you stand in life at that moment and related to the main topic read in the first three cards.

Cards 10, 11, and 12 give you a glimpse of the place you came from, the situations that preceded your present moment (the present is described by cards 1, 2, and 3). In case of reading about an event it describes where this situation started.

Cards 13, 14, and 15 give you an idea of what the future will bring.

All three cards in each place are related to one another, sometimes even chronologically.

But, there are also some other relationships to look up:
After reading the cards in their normal place, relate cards 4, 6, 7, and 9; this gives you a better idea of what’s happening and where this situation is headed for.

Cards 6, 3, and 9 give you an idea of which energy is going to make the change that is seen in the three future cards. I see these cards as a door to the future; it can be an open door or a closed one, with the features that need to be worked out before going ahead into the next stage.

If you’re new to Tarot try not to push yourself into understanding all that has been laid in front of your eyes. You can observe them and ask the universal mind for help in order to understand the hidden messages, ask for help to uncover these mysteries. If you still find it hard to understand, write the question or topic down on a piece of paper and place it facing down on the table. Leave the spread as it is and then come in an hour and look at everything again. I sometimes take pictures of the spread so that I can relate the spread with reality as time goes by.

In order to have a better idea of which energies each Tarot Major Arcana has, you can read the information in the following links:

Practical Tarot guide: Major Arcana card meanings – Introduction

Practical Tarot guide: Major Arcana card meanings – Part1

Practical Tarot guide: Major Arcana card meanings – Part 2

Practical Tarot guide: Major Arcana card meanings – Part 3

Tarot Major Arcana: a story of spiritual growth – Part 1

Tarot Major Arcana: a story of spiritual growth – Part 2

Tarot Major Arcana: a story of spiritual growth – Part 3

The Devil

XV – The Devil

Being slave of our own fears or own monsters: addictions, jealousy, envies, attachments, anguish, greed, materialism, etc.

To hurt oneself

Lower energies take control of something and although they are an illusion, they achieve such power in one’s mind that it can eliminate will power. One cannot see, advance or free one’s self from these energies, because one is made blind by any of the characteristics mentioned above.

To be caught up in negative energies that can be lower forms of behaviour or thought.

Acting on rage, animal instincts

Sexuality takes over your head, no reasoning

Alcohol excess or any excess, generally speaking.

Something has gone out of hand

Lower organs

Appetites on the loose

The Tower

XVI – The Tower

The Tower represents crisis, and even though these sorts of crises are very healthy and sometimes necessary, they can cause pain. These crisis bring your forward, you move on and evolve.

The comfortably laid out world, this that is “normal” to us is shaken up.
Although this crisis was necessary, and maybe even desired or predicted, it finally occurs in all its strength, but not self imposed. Sometimes events or normality become intolerable, and nobody seemed to do anything. But nature and heaven make the decision for you if you can’t do it on your own. Sometimes, we have to go through it.

Clean house, all elements of everyday life are shaken up or burnt with healing fire, metaphorically speaking, of course. Only the bare bones are left, all that is superfluous has gone. Essence remains.

All values and fundaments are freed of clutter.

To break out of sick relationships, end choking routines, and eliminate things that get in the way and don’t allow forward movement.

Sorting out what is useful, and throwing away what is not.

Reorganization.

Chaos, it seems as if there’s no way to get order back

Something had or has to be done to end this

The normal and old order has come to an end.

The Star

XVII – The Star

This is an affirmation that comes from heaven and the universe: YES

Inspiration, beauty

Abundance, generosity, blessings

So much abundance of resources is available, that this woman pours water in water and the fertile soil. Pouring water in water: redundancy?

When reading in different areas of life and this card appears, it signals the correct way, the road that will make you happy. This road will make you feel complete.

Fulfilment

When feelings are consulted, it stands for generous and complete love.

It is the road traced by the stars in the direction of wholeness.

Religion: the road of the stars that leads to the attainment of God.

Truth, goodness and beauty.

The Moon

XVIII – The Moon

Your goal is in view, but there’s still a long way to go because this road is not free of obstacles or setbacks. The difficulty lies in things we cannot see with the eyes but can be sensed thanks to our intuition.

The light of the moon reflects the light of the sun. Moonshine logically indicates that the sun (our goals) is actually there even if we don’t see it. Goals are almost at hands grip, but there are “dangers” that might take out our strength and make our pace slower.

Although we cannot see, if we keep our senses open, there will be signals revealed during the way. Listening to hunches or inner voice is advised. Animals sense thing we don’t normally pay attention to, but they warn us. This symbolizes intuition and watching out for signs of danger.

Hidden intentions, actions, motives, and words.

When this card appears together with the sun or the star, or both of them, then there’s no danger. It means light during day and night. Clarity, luck, joy, and harmony. This combination reminds me of a night full of stars, when the moon is full on a clear sky and this light makes everything glow: it’s inspiring.

The Sun

XIX – The Sun

Success, light, clean, good.

Coming home, achieving goals.

Welcome. Being welcomed.

Happiness, peace, and optimism.

Opposites are not opponents anymore, the tension between them disappears and they can now work together as one. Peace at last.

Coming together

That which once was a united and separated is now again united. This explains the concept of coming back home.

A green traffic light: things flow freely and on the right track, harmoniously and safely.

Security

When I see the sun and the stars in a reading I always see success, happiness or harmony. The time is right or the outcome will be satisfying. For me the sun is an earthly and more down to earth symbol than the star which is a are more spiritual symbol.

The Judgement

XX – The Judgement

Freedom, liberation, relief

Finally time has come to let go or be liberated

Time to look back, recognize what worked and didn’t. Free from all burden, free to advance.

It’s time to set things straight and bring your affairs into order.

Classifying and organizing, making conclusions.

Feeling of relief and freedom after a project or task is over or achieved.

Pause for freedom after a hard job. A pause before the glory.

It has been a long and sometimes hard road, but this stage is over. You look back and all that seemed so hard and difficult doesn’t look like it anymore. You have matured, you’ve learned, and you are above the task: you solved, you lived, and you excelled. Freedom!

The World

XXI – The World

All the elements of the universe, all the energies are in their place. The ideal, perfection.

Having the world in your hands.

Success

You are in harmony with all the universal forces.

This card gives the feeling of completion, of excellence, and happiness; the feeling of being “full”.

Spiritually, it represents the gaining or attainment of God consciousness.

In love questions, the obvious: true and complete love, without restrictions.

In profession questions, it means having found your place in life, your mission.

In health questions, complete healing or cure.

State of grace

Joy in life and in the world

Permanent and universal meanings and values.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at: atika@mindspiritmotion.com
I’l be delighted to help you in any way possible.

You can find Part 1, Part 2 and the Introduction of  the Practical Tarot guide of Major Arcana meanings with these links:
Major-Arcana card meanings and relationships – Introduction
Major-Arcana card meanings and relationships – Part 1
Major-Arcana card meanings and relationships – Part 2

Justice

VIII – Justice

As the name of this card indicates, it has to do with justice ad fairness.

Fairness in a wide range means “you shall sow what you plant (seed)”
Many times it has to do with legal papers, justice departments, lawyers and everything to do with legal matters. Contracts, paperwork, etc.

As an answer to an outcome or behaviour it means fairness.

Of course, when the neighbour cards are “negative” (there are no negative cards) than it can mean lack of justice, unfairness, lies (devil) or manipulation of the truth; not being able to see the truth.

Impartiality

Judging others, being judged

The Hermit

IX – The Hermit

This is for me a very controversial card; it needs a bit of carefulness to define its meaning.

Although it basically means “insight”, to get away from everything that distracts and disturbs in order to look inside of yourself and find your way and your truth (to follow the way of virtue), it may also not have such a happy meaning.

The hermit lives in a cave instead of trying to live in “virtue” among his fellow men ad women; he believes that in order to be “spiritually advanced and free” he has to stay away from them, either to escape from temptation or because he might feel he’s too good to be with normal people. He has good eyes but he needs a lamp to see because he’s in darkness; he can walk but he needs a cane.

When I see this card in contrast with the card of the Emperor I see sometimes a disturbed man (it can also be a woman), someone who stayed behind in some areas (economically, mentally, emotionally) and this causes him/her sorrow when conscious of this situation. It can also be someone who can’t really be aware of himself; he/she is in darkness. His/her behaviour may be harmful to others in a passive way because of his blindness or ignorance. Of course this occurs with “negative cards” (there are no negative cards)  as neighbours.

This troubled person may be in crisis and needs a “time out” in order to find himself again.

Patience, the pass of time without acting. The only movement allowed is in your spirit-mind.

I see our civilization reflected in this blind man at the moment. I perceive the desire to follow the light of hope that is spirituality, the following of our eternal Father’s will or the “energy”, etc (it doesn’t really matter how you want to conceive it).

The Wheel of Fortune

X – The Wheel of Fortune

Fate, destiny

This card together with cards like “The Sun”, “The Star” or “The World” means luck and fortune.

There are things in life against which one cannot act, the inevitable, the uncontrollable.

When I see this card I try to keep my eyes open because this card might bring surprises. You can investigate what the whole thing is about by doing further readings in relation with this card; you can find out which event it refers to or at least which area in life will be affected, also whether things are conflictive in nature or harmonious.

It may call for acceptance of life “how it is” or “how it turns out to be”.
This attitude of acceptance can be resignation, but for a mature and experienced person, life’s ups and downs can be worked out to still achieve pre-set goals.

Life might require flexibility in the light of unexpected events.

A rock in your way can be walked around, climbed or hammered to pieces in order to get to the “other side”, but you can also just stand there and feel bad about your luck. Either way it is only “your choice”.

Strength

XI – Strength

This card I like very much, I like what it means:

The lion represents force and passion; all that in nature and in our nature which is very strong and which can force or control peoples lives.

In this case the lion allows his mouth to be opened or closed by this woman or being because he/she is in harmony with the force of nature and inner passions. He/she is mature and “knows” out of experience how to live in harmony with these forces. He/she is in peace with himself/herself and the surroundings, and can “play” knowingly with dangerous powers.

The hat is the sign of the infinite “8″

In contrast with “The Hermit”, there’s achievement of spiritual and mental harmony and no fear to be exposed to life. She doesn’t even see temptation. She is sovereign.

Her attitude is a healthy one, towards fate, passions, and forces. She knows the cycles of life, how things work; and she is perseverant in living life how she chooses to.

Resolution, perseverance.

How do I go about in life and temptation?

Am I sovereign in my deeds and actions?

The Hanged Man

XII – The Hanged Man

This card talks about being at a stop and seeing things backwards or acting like it’s not supposed to be.

The presence of the following attitudes: confusion, stubbornness, immaturity, but also being dumb.

Sometimes, this card talks about youth and the difficulty of this time. Not a grown up and not a child. Like an ostrich which its head in the sand.

It also sometimes indicates a time of not being conscious of things or events. It seems like having wasted time “hanging on a foot” with no purpose at all, and it is as if having observed the world from the wrong perspective.

Then is this card an invitation to stop, open your eyes, turn around and look at the world from a whole new perspective. A healthy and constructive perspective is needed in order to solve and advance in life.

Death

XIII – Death

In films you usually see the great fear some of the characters live with this card. But this whole tragic and exaggerated drama is so far from the meaning of Death in Tarot.

Death of that which is old is birth of things new.

Death and re-birth.

Old chapters in life come to an end and clean the environment, preparing life for wholly new chapters.

This which decayed and doesn’t work anymore is pulled out from the roots, deeply extracted. And there, where stagnated energy is expulsed, starts new life and new energies that are constructive.

Of course, depending on your point of view and the situation, this card can provoke sorrow or joy. If your level of attachment with the “familiar” ways is high or if your secure position is at risk, then it doesn’t matter if the change is good for you or not in the future, this will be a negative card.
In these situations trying to recognize that the sign of the times indicate that things are coming to an end, and I don’t mean it in an apocalyptic way, is hard work. But these events are just part of the recurring cycles of life.

I have to admit, endings can be terrible. And although in the long run one is thankful that everything happened the way it did because a new life with its beauty and new opportunities now exists, in the very moment of these events drama can and may take over. It is important to adopt the position of the next Major Arcana: Temperance; we live in a dual world were extremes exist; it is healthy to try and find the middle road.

Whatever this card is about, it is always a promise of a new beginning; and most times it is something to be happy about.

Temperance

XIV – Temperance

Moderation and balance

Knowing how to deal with the opposites in a dual world and not going to extremes each time.

The balance of duality is desired or achieved.

The person or situation being consulted shows strength of balance. Its middle point or core energy can be influenced but its essence remains untouched.

Stability, balance, flexibility

Health stability of a person or situation

Mature.

Temperance is a very positive energy. Sometimes situations, energies or personalities can go to extremes, but to find that middle point is an important goal in life.

This card shows that duality in the world is not something to avoid or fight against; instead one should try to be conscious about how it manifests and learn how to deal with nature and move ahead in life.

Correct use of resources, of what is available, it gives stability.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at: atika@mindspiritmotion.com

Continue reading the Practical Tarot guide:
Major-Arcana card meanings and relationships – Part 3
Major-Arcana card meanings and relationships – Introduction
Major-Arcana card meanings and relationships – Part 1

The Fool

0 – The Fool
The Fool and the Magician are the same person.

The Fool has the same resources, knowledge, and experience as the Magician, but the Fool “chooses” to have all that tied up in his tablecloth and assumes a passive attitude in relation to his life’s work. The Magician decides to spread his “tools” and use them actively.

The Fool is one that is on his way, on a journey, but also someone who decides not to take responsibility, attachments, etc. He is free. This free journey is temporary; he will always stop and decide to act upon life’s many tasks and challenges.

Sometimes it may seem like he really is careless and irresponsible when combined with “negative cards” (there are no negative cards).

He can also be a child, someone who’s not aware of something because of distraction or ingenuity. But he can also be someone who is on a personal process of new discoveries or life experiences.

When I see this card I have the feeling of someone who is not really there, he or she is physically or mentally somewhere else, like a bit distracted. There’s a bit of evasion in his attitude.

When seen as a child, this card symbolizes innocence and wisdom at the same time: innocent and complete trust in God and in life, with no worries at all.

The Magician

I – The Magician

The Magician is the Fool who decided to stop being evasive. He recognizes it is time to act, and he decides to do so.

The “apparent Fool” then turns into The Magician who masters his cosmic profession (his hat is the symbol of the infinite). And this he enjoys and executes openly (with passion).

Profession is a key for me when I see this card because, out of my experience, this card appears almost always related to that area where you make your efforts everyday. And this is true whether you are a banker, teacher, housewife or a student.

Of course, this card relates to the statement “it’s time to be active” or “it’s time to start being active”, but in the readings I notice that some of the messages are related to work or profession when this card appears.

It may also refer to someone who is good in his job. Someone who takes good care, a good boss, a passionate employee, etc. are all included in the Magician.

Creativity and acknowledgement of relations between events that escape the eye (this is the capability inspired by the street con artist).

Building your own destiny.

So you see the Magician and the Fool are two sides of the same coin. Both are wise and trusting in their own capabilities. Both are self-confident, confident in life and in God, etc.

The High Priestess

II – The High Priestess

This is a wise woman, although this card can refer to a man with a developed intuition. A very down to earth person which has also access to the “other world” (symbolized by the cloth spread behind her). This other world is the world of intuition.

Intelligence and intuition are her tools. Wisdom.

She knows about the secrets of life (the book of sacred writings), she is mature and practical; but she is reserved. You have to go to her in order to get the information; she won’t give it away without you asking.

She carries life and knowledge inside of her; she has the secret of life thanks to her experience.

This woman can bring wise words and ideas; she can guide others to act because of her wisdom. She knows the facts and can advice you.

I usually see her as a mature woman, not a young one. Sometimes I see her as a mother, mother in law, etc.

Depending on the cards near her, she will use her hidden knowledge to help and to heal, but she is also capable of harming and gossiping.

Feminine intuition.

This woman’s guide is intuition.
This wisdom which she carries should be heard.
This woman could be your inner voice.

She advices or guides.

The Empress

III – The Empress

This wise woman is very active, also in decision making. She is in domain of herself and moves actively through life.

Most of the time, the Empress symbolizes the woman who is being read of, as long as the consultant is not emotionally unstable. If the consultant is a dependant or unstable personality, then the card representing him or her will be another card like the Fool or the Hanged Man.

Clear mind, clear words, clear actions would describe her being. Her wisdom is practical, she makes decisions.

Growth and readiness for creation. Fertility.

Creativity in action.

To go outwards and enjoy beauty.

It can also be a woman who is the boss, influential, sovereign, the wife, etc.

In contrast with the High Priestess, The Empress combines intelligence, intuition and wisdom with “action” and adopts a leading role. The High Priestess is active in mind and soul but shows a passive outward attitude.

The Emperor

IV – The Emperor

He is the masculine active principle. Halfway sitting and halfway standing which means he’s about to take action, he’s ready to act.

This card talks about the practical, down to earth and realistic attitude of a man who owns himself.

Maturity, authority, and practical mind are his characteristics. The Emperor is someone who makes the “correct” actions, the “good for all” above selfish goals. Fair and practical.

When I see this card I have mostly the impression of a clear minded man who is generous.

When he’s the boss, he’s fair
When the father, loving and caring
When the husband, friend and lover, correct and faithful

The Emperor is a practical and faithful man. Not only in his intentions, mostly in his actions.

Intelligent man

Authority, man capable of making decisions, man in position to make decisions.

Material power

The Pope

V -The Pope

He represents spirituality and morality; everything wise

This card symbols the importance of the card directly in the direction of his pointing finger. I usually meditate on the right hand side neighbour card; its combination with the Pope shows you something you’re overseeing, something you didn’t know had importance or something you didn’t know had to do with your question; and this is always something you should pay attention to.

The Pope’s signalling finger shows you the way or tells you: “look! So it is!”

Wisdom, experience, capability of seeing the great picture. Authority.

Doing God’s will or the “right thing”.

Love

VI – Love

This card talks about human relationships and social contacts, and also the influence these relationships may have on you to manipulate, restrict or push you into action, through “rationality or social mores”.

It also represents the spiritual world which rules over rationality and social influences (Cupid, the angel of love). This force that is in each one of us, guides us to make our own heart felt decisions; the longing for love and goodness, the “urge to do the right thing”.

In relation to love matters, it is the tension between sensuality as a direction to choose from and heart as the other direction (will power).

Choice

Heart over sensual and temporary satisfaction.

Relationship based on love and choice.

The Chariot

VII – The Chariot

Movement and decisions

Time has come to make a decision and to concentrate your efforts on a goal. Mind, heart and body in the same direction will drive you forwards. If your heart and your mind don’t agree in which direction to go, it would be the same as having a chariot with two horses who want to gallop in opposite directions at the same time: there’s no way to advance.

When awaiting an event, this card signals that it’s moving; the decisions were made or will be made soon.

The moment to act is now. Choose your way or direction and make it true.

This card is always influenced by the cards next to it. It shows an easy road or a bumpy one depending on if it’s a positive or a “negative card” (there are no negative cards) right next to it. This card next to the moon means, it’s still a long way to go but the direction is correct; keep your eyes open so you don’t miss your goal.

The word “road” in this case can be a life path, a company where you want to work, a job or project to do, a course of action; everything that means making a decision of going consequently in a direction.

A deep intention that is carried through and made real.

This card alone as an answer related to a task means success, it moves.

The right choice.

This card also represents the decision of “moving on” into the next stage of life

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at: atika@mindspiritmotion.com
I’l be delighted to help you in any way possible.

Continue reading the Practical Tarot guide:
Major-Arcana card meanings and relationships – Part 2
Major-Arcana card meanings and relationships – Part 3
Major-Arcana card meanings and relationships – Introduction

Major Arcana

This being a personal point of view, I suggest you don’t necessarily learn by heart all that is written in this guide, or in any book. I myself never did that. Instead try to understand the principles and the images. Let your mind-intuition guide you, listen to yourself and your hunches. One card can have so many meanings, most of all when related to so many other cards, questions, lives, etc. Read and “feel” the meanings; ask yourself:

• What are these cards trying to tell me?
• What is the relationship between them?
• What is their relationship to reality or that which I am asking?

It is important that you understand the symbology, archetype or principle-essence of the card more than formulas written on a book. Understanding means “interpreting”. But more than concentrating on the meaning of one card, it is very important to understand the relationship between the cards, the “whole picture”. If you add to this mix your intuition, than I guess there’s no stopping you!

Is my answer or interpretation right?
Please don’t expect to get the right answers. There are no right answers in the first place. Remember that a card reading session is time-bound. We are human beings with Free-Will. In this moment you might be headed in one direction, but if you change your mind, you will head in another direction. You ultimately decide how your life will be. Isn’t that good news?

How to keep track of my learning process?

I suggest you take card reading as an experiment, at least at the beginning. That’s why I strongly recommend you to have a diary with all your questions followed by the answers obtained in your card reading sessions. You can check afterwards if your interpretations went in the same direction of the events you asked.

Death

Does the death card mean I’m going to die?
Negative cards are not really negative cards. We live in a dual world.  Like every process in life, there is growth and decadence, light and darkness, open and hidden, etc. We are all born to grow up, mature, grow old physically, die on earth as a material being and then be born again in other more spiritual realities. And this cycle repeats itself until achievement of eternity and complete realisation of God, our Father’s Reality.

The death card means that something is completely finished in order to start a new epoch in life. Death intrinsically implies “re-birth”. Evolution is universe’s motivation!

The death card is many times a desirable card. It can mean the end of a sad period in life and the beginning of something new and beautiful.

How do I ask the cards?
The information that you receive from the cards comes from a huge mass comparable with the mass of all the oceans together. One has to give specific coordinates in order to get an accurate answer. For me it’s like diving into the sea: molecules of water connected with zillions of other water molecules, carry my petitions and connect me to the answers. To some it may sound rude, but I feel it a bit like surfing in the internet. You can google everything!

It does help to first know what it is you want to know. Complete names and horoscope signs, birthdates or even pictures are altogether good in order to make better “hits”.

Before we start I would like you to know that I am here to help you with your cards, so feel free to make all the questions you want; feel free to contact me at: atika@mindspiritmotion.com

Continue reading the Practical Tarot guide:
Major-Arcana card meanings and relationships – Part 1
Major-Arcana card meanings and relationships – Part 2
Major-Arcana card meanings and relationships – Part 3

Now that the opposites of victory and loss have been accepted, and balance guides our acts, we are ready to enter the third and last part of this story.

Major Arcana (click on the image for a bigger view)

Stage III: Soul – Upwards – Heavenly

This is the last chapter where our hero (we are our own heroes) achieves his goals and the world: he’s free!

Have you noticed that sometimes before healing definitely it only seems to get worse? The same happens at the beginning of this final stage.

Right after balance and recovery of the second stage were set, life exposes dependencies and slavery to conventions; ego, primitive desires and the determination to get things “the way I want” take over. These elements remain even though reality asks for recognition and acceptance of that which we cannot change or control (“The Devil”).

It’s hard to realize that what one thought was completed is actually not ready yet. Burdens and slavery are still there.

Therefore, and once again inspired by God and the heavens, crisis painted by “The Tower” card takes over and shakes up the entire world. This is a deep cleansing action which finally burns all that’s superfluous and not spiritually constructive, all attachments to old customs are gone; they were burnt down to its roots.

Material and personality burdens are cleasend away.

This crisis can be self induced sometimes; but if man doesn’t make the necessary decision, life usually takes over, and those energies (guardian angels) in charge of guiding and helping us through spiritual growth and evolution are indeed involved in taking us through these necessary experiences.

Once clean from ego, after so much fighting with the world and one’s self, looking up to “The Stars” in recognition of the spiritual and universal values learned along the way: there’s peace and sweet joy.

The abundance of stars and the generosity of their universal powers wake the urge to reach out and touch them. It is the will to be in harmony with spiritual values: beauty, truth and goodness… enlightment takes place.

“The Moon” represents the long and “dangerous” path that is the search for divinity, the quest for truth, the way to spiritual growth. The shine of “The Moon” allows seeing the purpose or goal, which lies in the future (intuition), in the dark. You can also see that it still takes a while to get there.

After all that has been achieved and lived, the road has finally led home, the place where one is welcome (“The Sun”), where warmth and light reigns. And it is as if time never existed, it seems like never having left. Did we ever?

Time is inexistent; in Judgement day (“The Judgement”), after having gone this long and dangerous road, you are not only free of attachments or ego, you are free of fear.

Material/Temporary mind is free. The spiritual mind is born or has been expanded, spiritual realities are attained, and lessons are definitely learnt.

The consciousness of God (the Eternal Father/Mother), also known as Nirvana is the card of “The World”: True light.

This process of spiritual evolution repeats itself over and over again, each time at higher levels, in a movement that could be graphically represented as an upwards opening spiral; each round is bigger and wider. The end is in reality a never ending new beginning.

In other aspects of life, “The Fool” starts its process again, that free soul parts from its comfortable settings and sets about to conquer the world; the quest for true values is long and beautiful.

This has been a story of attainment of Universal values:
Beauty of actions, truth in our minds, and goodness in our souls

Thanks for taking your time to read this story!

Major Arcana (click on the image for a bigger view)

Stage II: Mind – Inwards

The second line of cards or the second stage represents the road of “insight”, our relationship with ourselves and our lives. It’s the inner world in each of us and our inner battles with life’s many tasks; but also the battles to try and let go.

The inner urge for fairness, the need to differentiate and judge, to choose to do “the right thing” (the “Justice” card) implies insight and enlightment (“The Hermit”). This discovery of the “right course of action” is felt at heart and is intellectually logical, it’s like a “click”, the pieces fall into place.

When you’re in the dark, troubled or standing before an obstacle or an event placed by fate – “The Wheel of Fortune”- and you find “insight”, you convert yourself from the enlightened “Hermit” into the card of “Strength”:

You come to believe that it’s natural to find things or situations which you cannot really influence; one can learn to live this reality and still go our way perseveringly until we master the task at hand.

Though sometimes, we still resist ourselves and set about to fight against things we cannot change. At times we feel that that found strength runs out, we might be tired or maybe just went in the wrong direction in the first place; we got confused, simply ran out of vision or our personal motives or needs weren’t met how we expected (“The Hanged Man”).

This sequence repeats itself many times during life, be it divorce, separation, mourning, but also during the creation of an enterprise or a project, as well as experiencing something new in life (“The Wheel of Fortune”); it’s a learning process. You find light and direction or the solution “clicks” in you, and it is then when you are ready to do the “right thing” for yourself (“Strength”), you’re capable of assuming reality and making decisions.

That voice in the middle of action that suddenly stops you and asks: is this correct? Is this worth it? Will I succeed? What if I don’t? Why can’t I just have it easy or my way?, can sometimes be a real bother.

At this stop one might stick the head in the sand (“The Hanged Man”), not knowing where to go or where strength has gone. It might also be fear to leave old patterns or being to comfortable to do it; stubbornly sticking to ways that don’t bring anyone further. It’s hard to leave the security of a perfectly set world or society; it’s hard to not get things our way.

But as life is to be lived, the old concepts die and a stage in life dies (“Death”). There’s no comfortably set order in the world anymore and it’s sometimes difficult to accept. Naivety dies and reality takes over; it’s a new begin. Death and Rebirth are in one card.

In this accepting and mastering of many tasks you finally understand that life is made out of these ups and downs coming from the “Wheel of Fortune”. You learn to live with the opposites of victory and loss, achieving or letting go (“Temperance”):

all dualities are but two faces of the same coin. Understanding them as a unit will help one’s central core to remain unchanged, and to be able to decide how these ups and downs will influence life. Finally, in this stage, “balance” is obtained.

This is, at some points, Plato’s Soul of Will: “determination and self-determination” like it is written in Robert Place’s book The Tarot: History, Symbolism, and Divination.

Read “Part 3″ of this story of spiritual growth in the Tarot Major Arcana here!

There are three states described in this story which are analogue to the “road of enlightment” led by Siddhartha; but these three stages are also pretty much like the process everybody goes through in life, personally or in relation to the always evolving paths of human civilization, it’s called “Spiritual Growth”. These states are patterns or archetypes which repeat themselves throughout all great quests.

I have prepared this image in order to follow each card as if it were a spiritual diary with three chapters. You can click on it for a bigger view.

Major Arcana

Stage I: Body – Outwards

The first line of cards represents the state of “worldly life” or “material life”, the place where one influences others and is influenced by society. This is your everyday life. Material values are at display in the form of ignorance (not seen as negative), manipulation, the quest for power, concentration on acquiring material fortunes. Spirituality or spiritual purposes are not really present. This is Plato’s “soul of desire”.

Although today “The Fool” and “The Magician” cards have different meanings for us today – as you will see in my further descriptions- these represented archetypes, as original concepts, are rather negative.

• The unwanted, the renegade, he who doesn’t fit in and gives his back to society and its mores represented by “The Fool”.
• “The Magician” is the greedy street performer who will trick you out of your money without blinking, the con artist.

These starting cards in Tarot represent two archetypes which are looked down to. “The Magician” is considered to be the worse of both because “The Fool” cannot help himself. “The Magician” is deceiving with complete intention and purpose, he makes his living out of his well mastered con abilities.

These two cards represent the lowest standards in society. But they also represent:

• “The Fool”: freedom of choice, the search for truth even if it goes against tradition or the establishment. Prejudices, beliefs and assumptions are discarded and “one’s own new path” is followed with courage.
• “The Magician”: things are not always what they seem and not all that shines is gold. He dares us to look at our life critically, to discover what is real and what only appearance is.

So you see, the beginning of this first stage is the absolute start point of every evolution-stage as a spiritual and intelligent human being. Each card has two sides or meanings (symbology). You can stay in your secure world or you can start asking questions and living out of the mould, it’s the border between the material world and spiritual consciousness. “The Fool” asks for courage to go your own way and not necessarily that which you’ve been told to. “The Magician” in you can intelligently differentiate what is real and where you fool yourself in life. What is superficial and what hides behind it. Whether you consider doing something about it is not stated in this first stage, action will come in the next two stages. This first stage is always starting to be aware of your own place in life and taking an honest look at yourself. It represents the new task to assume or not.

The book called The Tarot: History, Symbolism, and Divination from Robert Place names this first stage, according to Plato, “the Soul of Desire”, in which the material and our ego are honoured.

After these two cards, comes a sequence of personalities displayed according to their social hierarchy. “The Pope” as a spiritual leader has a higher social pedestal as the material powers represented by the royals; and it is he who signals that “the spiritual” and “the heavenly” rule over material power, sensual desires and social mores.

This last affirmation is confirmed and supported by the “Love” or “Lovers card”.

“The Fool”/“The Magician” in his path through materiality and sensuality has to decide between what his body or ego commands or what he strives for: virtue.

Cupid’s arrow is pointed at him while he looks at the woman with virtues, therefore his higher values will win over his ego. Here are material and sensual influences which are “worldly” but the higher or “heavenly” influences and inspirations are stronger.
Man decides to follow the way of higher values.

And just as this decision for spiritual growth is being made, will this stage be ended by the “The Chariot”. It’s time to act consequently with your decisions in order to reach your goals. The need for horses signals a long way to go.

This is the letting go of the “superficial” to start riding the path of “Insight”, Plato’s “Soul of Will” according to The Tarot: History, Symbolism, and Divination from Robert Place. This point of view is also supported in Lee Bursten’s book “Universal Tarot of Marseille. A true guide to the Marseille Tarot.”

I see in the cards and agree on what these great books say; but there are other ways to see it:

These first seven cards or trumps, taking “The Fool” out, show the world in its established order which, good or bad, is a world of security where everybody knows which role to play and where they belong. The old and young, the weak and powerful, the wise and foolish, all find their representation in this first set of cards. And then with the “Love” card appears what in my opinion moves the world and society. And no, although it sounds beautiful, there’s more to this card than “all you need is love”.

The material/sensual in our human nature is such a strong force as our inner love for the beauty of truth.

Our culture or social customs, this we’re used to see and do have a strong saying in how we deal with these two poles of attraction, both fascinating in their own way. The third force comes from heaven, the universe, God, nirvana or inspiration (holy) which guides us even if we don’t see it or are aware of it:

It’s the urge of the heart and the urge of the soul: wanting to do the right thing, to be good, true and beautiful, which is inspired and motivated by elevated or holy energies.

In that moment where you decide yourself for truth, starts a whole new movement, like a rolling of events (The Chariot) that results in a not so orderly world anymore (that would be the second sequence of cards), and this bumpy road ahead intrinsically comes with growth and evolution.

Read “Part 2″ of this story of spiritual growth in the Tarot Major Arcana here!