Author Topic: Learning the Tarot  (Read 40290 times)

Offline Christine

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Re: Learning the Tarot
« Reply #30 on: May 08, 2012, 07:26:41 PM »
The story of the suit of Cups:

Once again the four Court cards represent a family. A father, mother, son and daughter.  It is an harmonious family each concerned with the emotional wellbeing of the others. However the young boy is growing up now and has emotional needs which his parents and his sister cannot fulfil for him.

In the Ace the young man decides to find himself although he doesn’t consciously know this, and he has fallen in love. Two is where he discovers his first equal relationship. Almost all of his past ones were unequal. His parents had control over him, he has control over his sister. So now he is learning to transfer some of the love he has for his mother to his lover. His mother offers strength, wisdom, maturity and security, yet with an equal, close, love relationship he can reach new levels of intimacy through a sexual relationship. In Three he decides that is a none to one relationship is this good, why not add a third partner to the mix. Alternately a third person approaches him for a relationship, as he appears happy, positive and confident. At first there is a great deal of energy and all is well.  Until Four. Here he realises that this situation is turning out to be different to what he expected. He finds something is missing and longs for the perfect union he experienced in Two.  Now he has 3 opportunities, but he closes his eyes to them preferring to dream of the perfect relationship. As he sits dreaming he misses out as he is not emotionally there for any of them. In the Five card he becomes aware of his separateness. He stands and mourns lost opportunities and that path that leads him back to emotional stability. In the Six his fear of others coming between him and his partner is the cause of his need for a safe and secure relationship. This couple do practically everything together often replaying the parent roles in their relationship. Their relationship is safe and predictable.  In Seven he begins to realise that happiness cannot be found through someone else and that perhaps this relationship is not the answer to his emotional needs. He then starts an inward journey and discovers that something is missing from his present relationship.  Eight sees him walking away from the relationship either in body or spirit, searching for love that is deeper than he has known before. He realises he is alone on this search and unless others have mirrored his search they will not understand the depth of love or the significance of the journey.  In Nine something remarkable happens and he finds love of himself. Self worth. He finds out it was also within him. This grows into an unshakeable knowledge of his own emotional and spiritual worth. He doesn’t need to rely on anyone else’s opinion of him to boost his opinion of himself. He suddenly feels fulfilled and is bursting with inner contentment. He wants to share this happiness with someone special.

In Ten he is now ready, as the King of Cups, for a loving, sharing relationship like the one he had in the two card.  It will also have the security of the Six, the understanding of the Seven, the strength discovered in the Eight, the self love of the Nine and the emotional maturity of the King.  The three of cups presents itself once more and someone new enters the relationship. In this instance it is a child; a Page of Cups, Wands, Swords or Pentacles. There is room in this mature relationship for children to grown with love, security and independence. The couples first Page is followed by several more Pages and when this first Page becomes a Knight the King and Queen will patiently wait and watch while he repeats their mistakes in order to gain his own King experience. The path of the Page to the Queen is similar to the story above, except that she will mature from the Page directly to being Queen. Perhaps women mature emotionally more quickly than men?


If it looks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, we have at least to consider the possibility that we have a small aquatic bird of the family anatidae on our hands.
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Offline Christine

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Re: Learning the Tarot
« Reply #31 on: May 09, 2012, 01:10:17 AM »
More about Cups

Cups represent the element of Water. Water seeks no challenge or conflict and is content to flow with the changes life brings. Whereas Fire insists upon individuality and separateness, water understands that on a universal level we are all part of a greater whole and that any conflict with another person is a reflection of the conflict within ourselves.  Although life changes our appearance, situation, location and so on, our true self remains intact.

Cups represent love and imagination, passive creativity (although they can represent active creativity when combined with the action of Wands’ action and the Pentacles’ worldliness), harmony and an approach to life through feelings, the Cups types approach is through love- both giving and receiving.

The Court cards represent the water signs in astrology- Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces. Cups cards refer to a type of person or to the creative aspect f a person, not just an astrological sign.

In general terms, the colouring of Caucasian Cups types is blue or hazel eyes and brown to blonde hair.  Clearly not all people have these colourings so the cards can refer to a person’s nature as well as their colouring. When a minor arcane cards accompanies a Court card it can often give greater detail about the colouring of the person described in the Court card.  Eg the Queen of Cups accompanied by the Four of Pentacles (the general colouring for Pentacles types is dark hair and eyes)  could describe a woman with blue or hazel eyes and brown to dark hair.  She is still sensitive and creative yet darker in her colouring. If a Wands card accompanies the Queen of Cups, she might have red hair.

The element of Water shows us love as a path to spiritual fulfilment. Both to give and to receive love is important, for gratitude is as meaningful as meeting another’s needs. If you allow others to give, you show them that you value what they offer you. This allows for closeness and trust in friendship or in a relationship.

Negative Cups types often cannot be fulfilled in love or cannot forgive someone from their past and love again. Our lives revolve around having our need for love satisfied (although this can be replaced with power, money etc).  Without this need being fulfilled Cups types can become depressed, cynical or hardened.  Sometimes they replace this need for love with another more easily satisfied need. Drugs, chocolate, alcohol can suppress a need for love. If Cups types are unable to fulfil their need for love they may spend their time dreaming wistfully of days gone by. Alternately they might seek out overstimulation with drugs, gambling, sensuality or alcohol. This can stem from the belief that they are unable to love or completely fulfil themselves and that they must find this love and fulfilment from outside themselves.

When reversed the Cups cards can indicate a repressed or distorted attitude to love. In this case the Cups types fear love is scarce or that if they give love, they will lose whatever love they have. As a result, power struggles are often found in the relationships of the unbalanced Cups types. When life doesn’t give them what they want, they can become apathetic and wish to escape real life through fantasies.  Like the Water of the suit, they simply cease to flow and they stagnate.

In a general sense a reversed Cups Court card can suggest that a person is nursing old wounds emotionally. It is time for them to forgive, if only to allow a new supply of love to enter their lives. Upright Cups cards symbolise receptivity and new understanding that love cannot be seized but simply accepted.
If it looks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, we have at least to consider the possibility that we have a small aquatic bird of the family anatidae on our hands.
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Offline Christine

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Re: Learning the Tarot
« Reply #32 on: May 10, 2012, 12:31:06 AM »
Card 13 The Death Card



In the Fools journey, he now accepts it is time for drastic change and sets about to do just that. He tries to break old habits and tiresome ways of life. He goes back to basics. These old ways and things end for him as he replaces them with the new more positive habits and ways he has been learning. The process seems like Death  as it is the death of his familiar self to enable the growth of a new self. At times he feels overwhelmed by the changes but he comes to realise that death is not permanent but merely a transition to a new life.
This card is a clearing of the old to make way for the new, new beliefs and new understanding and opportunities.  Life is an endless series of births and deaths. Some of these are more easily accepted than others. If you can learn to accept these deaths you can live more fully. When you lose connection with your spiritual source, your ego fears these deaths because it fears it will be destroyed. No new energy can come into place until the old energy is released.
 
Death does not refer to the transformation but to the moment when you surrender and allow the transformation to take place. It is this act of surrendering to the changes and having faith that life with eventually offer you something better than you are giving up.
The Death card represents the sign of Scorpio.  It involves realising that there is strength to be found in surrender.  In a Scorpios life you can usually view many changes, they tend to be visible as chapters. One door closes and another door opens applies.  Scorpios are offered many chances to experience these little deaths and to master the act of the surrender.

When the Death card appears you have often put out a subconscious desire for change on some level. Learn to resist struggling against these changes.

Pay attention to your lower abdomen, bowel or reproductive organs.

When there are so many changes around you and so many people going through such changes it is hard not to be affected. The reaction of these people to the Death card changes affects you. Be sure to only take on board the ones that affect you and learn to discern what changes you can learn or benefit from.

Gilded Tarot Death Card

« Last Edit: April 13, 2013, 02:00:14 PM by Christine »
If it looks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, we have at least to consider the possibility that we have a small aquatic bird of the family anatidae on our hands.
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Offline Lord Daemon

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Re: Learning the Tarot
« Reply #33 on: May 12, 2012, 07:35:50 PM »
There is also another story in the Tarot if I may interject... the Story of Odin. It's a four card story. Is it okay if I through it in? It's a story of cycles.
Man will believe the impossible, but never the improbable



Offline Christine

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Re: Learning the Tarot
« Reply #34 on: May 12, 2012, 10:16:49 PM »
Please do that would be great!! Thanks
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Offline Roma

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Re: Learning the Tarot
« Reply #35 on: March 22, 2013, 07:03:31 PM »
Bump

Very helpful thanks Christine

Offline Christine

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Re: Learning the Tarot
« Reply #36 on: March 22, 2013, 07:21:41 PM »
Must get back to this.....maybe next week when I have some time off.
If it looks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, we have at least to consider the possibility that we have a small aquatic bird of the family anatidae on our hands.
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Offline Christine

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Re: Learning the Tarot
« Reply #37 on: April 13, 2013, 02:22:54 PM »
Card 14 Temperance



I find it helpful to consider the definition of Temperance before we look at the card in depth.

Temperance (Sophrosyne in Greek is defined as "moderation in action, thought, or feeling; restraint.") has been studied by religious thinkers, philosophers, and more recently, psychologists, particularly in the positive psychology movement. It is considered a virtue, a core value that can be seen consistently across time and cultures. It is considered one of the four cardinal virtues, for it is believed that no virtue could be sustained in the face of inability to control oneself, if the virtue was opposed to some desire. It is also one of the six main categories of the VIA character strengths. Temperance is generally defined by control over excess, so that it has many such classes, such as abstinence, chastity, modesty, humility, prudence, self-regulation, forgiveness and mercy; each of these involves restraining some impulse, such as sexual desire, vanity, or anger.

(Wikipedia)

Having overcome his feelings of loss in the Death Card, The Fool questions whether he will ever find the new spiritual growth he is seeking. He has found himself learning to consider both sides of circumstances he has found himself in eg Justice (both sides of the scales), the Hanged Man (spiritual and material, being suspended yet not actually suspended at all), death and birth in card 13 the Death card. He needs to consider if if can actually have both or if one must be given up to gain the other.

So he comes upon Lady Temperance.

An angelic like creature standing in a river with one foot in the water and the other on the bank or rock. She is pouring what seems to be water from one chalice to another. This suggests that either something is being mixed together or that it is being distributed between the chalices. back to that balance lesson perhaps?

The Fool begins to realise he is the one keeping his Universe balanced and even distributed if you like. In the right proportions, given the right balance, two sides of anything can be properly managed within him. Temperance is moderation.

In the RW deck, the angelic creature appears to wear a head dress of an eye, a Centaur, suggesting the card is a Sagittarian card.

This card is about balance. Balance in many types of relationships. The Temperance card is a call for us to recognise flow in our own lives, and observe the nature of energy. This card tends to be an indication that healing is in need or is taking place. It can also mean shifts need to take place in order to gain the balance and peace this card suggests.

The chalices in the card remind us of the story of Christ turning water in to wine. This symbolises we are able to transform any situation into something different by our tempering our thoughts and actions in such a way as to bring about the results we desire.

Let's look at the feet, the right foot (our consciousnessness) is in the water, symbolic of the subconscious. This is a signal that our analytical minds need to be quietened. The left foot (our unconsciousness) is set on land which is a signal to ground ourselves. Again - this card is all about balance. As we align our mind, body and spirit we begin to see amazing results in our lives.

The triangle has many meanings but simplistically this symbol is a sign of balance and creativity, perfect for the meaning of this card.

You can also see a river leading to the sun, indicating that if we but following our path, listen to that inner voice of guidance, we will achieve our goals. Bask in the sun and in the glory of our triumph.

You are being prompted to do what it takes to find balance, in yourself, in your relationships, and with your goals.  and aspirations.

Gilded Tarot

« Last Edit: April 13, 2013, 02:24:14 PM by Christine »
If it looks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, we have at least to consider the possibility that we have a small aquatic bird of the family anatidae on our hands.
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Offline Lord Daemon

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Re: Learning the Tarot
« Reply #38 on: July 24, 2013, 04:45:15 PM »
The Story of Odin.

The story begins with the Hermit

The wise god Odin was always seeking new knowledge and would wander in his search, leaving behind his throne and his power, to gain new wisdom and knowledge.

The Fool -

As he wandered he came upon the Norms at the bottom of the World Tree and he saw their runes, but could not divine their meaning. Though he was a god and very wise, this secret escaped him. He pleaded with the Norns to teach him their secret, they said they could not. Only if he was found worthy would the runes reveal themselves to him.

The Hanged Man -

Odin to prove his worth hung himself upsdide down from the World Tree with nothing but his spear and gazed hard into the well of the norns. He struck himself with his spear and declared "I am giving Odin ,myself to myself" and hung for nine days on the edge of death.

The Magician -

On the ninth day the runes revealed them self and their secrets to the All Father and with this he gained power over them and became the most potent of beings. He released himself and returned to his throne with these symbols of power.

Take Care,

HLD
Man will believe the impossible, but never the improbable



Offline Christine

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Re: Learning the Tarot
« Reply #39 on: July 24, 2013, 11:18:24 PM »
Thanks LD.
If it looks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, we have at least to consider the possibility that we have a small aquatic bird of the family anatidae on our hands.
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