Brief History
I’ve been involved in Tarot for quite a number of years (decades). Been in various Mystery Schools which studiously study for Tarot on a very esoteric level, and have read for numerous email Tarot groups.
The Problem
I thought I knew Tarot to some degree. I mean, I knew it in all it’s esoteric glory, right? Hebrew, Qabalistic, colours, numerology, correspondences etc. I had it down good.
And then I talked to Wald from the American Tarot School and he hinted that being part of a Esoteric Society which studies Tarot in a certain way produces people who see that Tarot in that particular way.
Bit like a cookie-cutter.
Similar to knowing what a sandwhich from a particular shop would taste like without going inside.
I didn’t understand what he was hinting at. After all, I knew the Tarot and what it was saying. I knew that The Fool was assigned to Aleph and The World to Tav. I knew that The Magician was assigned to the Self Conscious Mind, whereas The High Priestess was Subconscious Mind, as well as The Fool is Superconsciousness.
I knew Wands were symbolic of Fire; Swords of Air; Cups of Emotions; Pentacles of Earth.
I knew the Hebrew Mother letters and what Tarot Keys (keys!?!) are assigned to them. What Heberw letters are attributed to each Card and how they mix and merge and twist and pull.
That is The Tarot, isn’t it?
Well, yes and no.
Yes, if you say so.
No, if you don’t.
Breaking Free
Shuffle. Flip a few cards. Read. And here the mind draws on past associations of what the card means. But the problem comes from thinking that these attributions are an essential part of the meaning of the Card. Take away the association and the house comes crumbling down.
And that’s the Tower (in a small way).
What we need is to learn to break free, to shake off the shackles which tie us to particular and specific views of the cards. This will allow the intuition (if there is one) free play over the images of the cards so we can apply them in unique ways to our self and our clients.
Story Time
Here’s an exercise to break the eye free.
Seperate the Major and Minor Arcana. Take the Major and put them to one side.
Shuffle the Minor Arcana (with Courts), and lay out, say 4–5 cards and tell a story. Flip over the cards one at a time or all together, don’t matter which way. After all, it’s all about breaking the rules.
When you’re telling the story remember it’s okay to go back to a previous card and refine to match the other cards. In other words, whatever feels right is right.
Here’s some I’ll do now to give you an example.
Ace of Swords Somebody wants to duel Knight of Cups It’s the boyfriend of a girl I’m interested in King of Cups His wimpy looking father is watching over us 6 of Swords I run away not wanting to face the battle 7 of Wands I get to a new place only to find he’s called his friends to attack me.
Another example.
10 of Cups You’re looking at your family, great kids, white fence and all’s good. Ace of Wands Somebody starts shaking up the happy family 6 of Cups so you offer them some drinks and a cup of tea King of Wands You’re pleased at how well you’ve done in controlling the situation.
Last one (it’s fun and liberating, remember?)
You decide to go shopping, knowing it’s going to be a long, hard day. Feels a bit like too much hard work Knight of Pentacles, as your partner goes off to look for another pair of shoes, you decide to grab a drink Ace of Cups and a bite to eat. After your binge you decide to find your partner, who’s looking rather cross as she bombards you with endless words of why, how and who (Seven of Wands)
Endings
Simple exercises like this begin to break loose the traditions of what we’ve been told is right. It allows us to go skinny dipping with the cards, to see them in their nakedness, become best friends and live a long life of trust and partnership.
And of course, whatever we’ve learnt of traditional systems and correspondences are still good and valid for use in digging deeper into each card (into ourselves, like a rabbit hole). We don’t have throw them in the bin.
We just have to touch lightly, play lightly.
Passion 'n Persistence 