As most of you know (I think), I’ve been reading tarot cards since early college. Tonight I will confess to despondence over the national news, and anger over some issues surfacing in a project I’m working on. So I turned to the tarot, and was not really consoled. But there are action items for the future. I felt I could share this here (which I don’t usually do).
A couple quick points for tarot novices:
The tarot is composed or two sets of cards: the minor arcana (on which our playing cards are based) which has four suits that include number and court cards; and the major arcana, 22 picture cards numbered 0 to 21.
I use the cross and staff layout (see above photo) when I read. Each card has a meaning in its position in the layout, and it’s interepreted one way upright and another reversed (upside-down).
My trusty copy of Mastering the Tarot by Eden Gray has been a constant resource all these years, and I’ll indicate when I’m quoting from it.
So, off we go. I was asking about the national situation:
FIRST: The upright card at the very center of the cross represents the origin of my question. Underneath that sideways card you can just tell that it’s the Queen of Wands, reversed. This represents someone who is not very nice: “A jealous and revengeful nature that can turn against others quickly. Deceit and infidelity are suggested.” Obviously I think it’s the President.
SECOND: The horizontal card on top of it represents the opposing force to the first card. Here we have the Seven of Wands, which is about the importance of being stalwart and unafraid to defend oneself. “Victory depends upon energy, courage.” In other words, man up, nancyboy!
THIRD: The card at the bottom of the cross represents the past. The Four of Pentacles - just look at that king grasping his riches! - is a card about greed. I think it represents the moment when America placed Greed at the top of the pyramid ahead of Civic Virtue and Christian Compassion: January 20, 2017.
FOURTH: At the far left of the cross, this card represents the waning influence, something that’s on the way out. This makes me sad, because the Queen of Cups is all about kindness, happiness, and gentleness. Also flights of fancy. I don’t like to think of those things disappearing when they are each so important to civilization.
FIFTH: At the top of the cross, this card represents something that might happen in the future. The Wheel of Fortune, reversed, quite literally indicates a turn for the worse! And you thought it couldn’t get worse . . . “Courage is required to meet the new conditions . . .” You see how the need for courage comes up again.
SIXTH: At the right of the cross, this card represents the incoming influence. And here we have a golden ray of hope, the Ace of Cups! Aces always represent beginnings, and Cups (hearts in our playing cards) are the suit of emotions. So here we have the start of something good involving the emotions. “The beginning of all good things, whether it be love, joy, beauty, or health. A new breakthrough in spiritual understanding.” Selfishly I am rather hoping that the latter interpretation will come from a project I’m working on right now.
Now let’s turn to the bottom of the staff and work our way up.
SEVENTH: This card represents our Fears. So it’s no surprise to see the Three of Wands, reversed. This is the card of the entrepreneur, the trader waiting for his ships to come back in. “There is a tendency to scatter one’s energies. Mistakes may be made through carelessness . . . Caution against pride and arrogance.” So, how to counteract this moving forward? Stay focused, check and recheck, and especially (and especially for me), don’t hit send if you’re angry.
EIGHTH: Moving up the staff, this card represents the Opinion of Other People involved in the question. The Five of Pentacles, reversed, picks up on a theme: spiritual understanding. “Revived courage. A new interest in spiritual matters.” What I hope this means is that more Americans who are angered and/or discouraged are deciding how best to engage effectively for the rest of the year.
NINTH: Almost at the top of the staff, this card represents our Hopes. The Nine of Swords, reversed, brings us the message of Scarlett O’Hara: “Tomorrow is another day.” I could stretch this to say that I hope for endurance, but I think it’s telling that the tarot communicated this by reversing one of the most despairing cards in the deck.
LASTLY: At the top of the staff, the Final Outcome, and it sucks. The Five of Wands is all about fighting; just look at those five young men bashing away at each other. Vigorous competition, lawsuits, quarreling - all the bad things. But then, the recurring theme of courage: “Courage and the willingness to fight for one’s right may change things for the better. [emphasis mine]”
So, taking a final review, here’s the takeaways:
It’s going to get a lot worse, so expect it to get worse. Don’t be surprised; be prepared.
Cultivate your courage from within. NOW. Don’t wait! Then be prepared to activate it bravely when needed.
Cultivate your spiritual life more actively in whatever way will lead to the most growth. That is not, by the way, always the most comfortable way.
There is something good coming that will have a positive influence (remember the Ace of Cups). I don’t think it’s a person, but it may be a happening or a change in the larger consciousness.
And that’s quite enough from me.