Tag: Tara-Cards (Page 4 of 5)

THE MOON TAROT CARD: MAGIC, CHAOS, AND INTUITION

May 24, 2022 / Tara Mallane / 0 Comments

Tarot card 18: The Moon.
A combination of sun and moon, eyes closed, overlooks a scene that is anchored by two towers. In the center of the scene are two dogs, one appearing domesticated and one appearing more wild or fierce. The two dogs are on either side of a path that leads off in the distance towards the hills. In the foreground is a body of water, with a crustacean (Lobster, crab, crayfish?) that is just setting foot on the path that leads between the two dogs. — The Moon

The moon will guide you through the night with her brightness, but she will always dwell in the darkness, in order to be seen
Shannon L. Alder

Overview and Common Meanings of the Moon Tarot Card

When The Moon Tarot card shows up, it is a time to listen to your dreams, intuition, and inner guidance to move forward to a more positive future. There is always a bit of magic and chaos with the moon energy (think how unsettled you feel on full moon nights) and it can leave you feeling off balance. It likely indicates that there is an aspect of your life that you are struggling with and not getting a handle on, because you don’t yet have all of the information. More will be revealed in the fullness of time, but it is important to be patient and let it unfold. Alternative meanings in varying decks are Illusion, Luna, Perception, Werewolf.

Common Meanings

The Moon represents fears and illusions and often shows up when you are projecting fear based on past experience into your future or reacting from a crisis of trust and time of emotional vulnerability. It is the invitation to lean into those things that scare us and realize that they are not the large monsters that we create in our minds. The moon also is an indication that you are – or need to be – more in touch with your intuitive nature. If you are focusing on home for the reading, it could indicate disillusionment with current living situation. In relationships there is a lack of trust leading to new relationship decisions…just be careful that you are not so in love with the idea of love that you are plunging into something that your intuition tells you is not right. It can also unearth hidden secrets in long term relationships. For career and money readings, there can be that hollow feeling of goals that you worked so hard to meet are less satisfying than you had expected. In any event, things in your work environment are not always as they seem, so trust your gut. Be careful of hidden agendas that could impact your finances.

The Many Faces of The Moon

The shadow side – or reversal – of The Moon card can indicate Inner confusion and the need to listen to your own intuition and trust it to guide you. Avoiding difficult situations or confrontation. Needs unexpressed so not being met. Stuck in old emotional patterns that will continue to repeat until you deal with the old trauma.

The Journey of The Moon

We are still working in the third septenary of the fool’s journey through the Major Arcana, which as you will recall is about the spiritual world and attainment of enlightenment. It is about transcendence and religious, spiritual, and mystical understanding. After we faced our demons with the Devil, shattered ego with The Tower, and began to see faith, hope, and inspiration with The Star, now we turn inwards to trust and listen to our intuition in a purer way with absence of ego; the goal being deeper understanding and enlightenment.

Description of the Moon Tarot Card

A combination of sun and moon, eyes closed, overlooks a scene that is anchored by two towers. In the center of the scene are two dogs, one appearing domesticated and one appearing more wild or fierce. The two dogs are on either side of a path that leads off in the distance towards the hills. In the foreground is a body of water, with a crustacean (Lobster, crab, crayfish?) that is just setting foot on the path that leads between the two dogs.

Themes of The Moon

Anxiety
Crisis
Dreams
Fears
Illusion
Restlessness
Uncertainty
Unconscious/subconscious messages and wisdom
Visions

The Number 18

The number 18 represents freedom, philanthropic labor, and creating things that last. This is compassionate and friendly in nature.

Elements of the Card and Associated Symbolism

Crawfish – primal consciousness striving to surface
Sun/Moon – moon is subconscious and governs how we behave in the conscious light of day
Towers – watchtowers, boundary between unconscious and conscious
Water/Pool – subliminal thinking; the unconscious
Winding Path – the unknown future
Wolf and dog – fear of the unknown, guardians of experience, rites of passage; duality that lives within all of us – wild, and tame

Herbs for The Moon

Frankincense – link to the divine; grounding, calming; used in spiritual practices for thousands of years
Poppy – fertility, psychic awareness, prophetic dreams, and spirituality.
Sandalwood – Inner consciousness, meditation, spiritual practice, prayer, peace
Star Anise – burn as incense to tap into spiritual awareness
White willow – divination, interpreting dreams; calming frights and worries.

Questions that The Moon asks us

How have you been ignoring your inner voice, and what can you do to remedy that?
How can you tap into your intuition and see beyond the obvious in your life?

So that is the Moon Tarot card; a little intuitive and a little chaotic. Wishing you a week in which you find a time to channel the moon’s watery intuition. As always, please leave comments, ask questions, or reach out for a personal reading. Please Join me next week for The Sun!

THE DEVIL TAROT CARD – A CALL TO BREAK FREE FROM TOXIC PATTERNS

May 4, 2022 / Tara Mallane / 0 Comments

We all have inner demons to fight, we call these demons, fear and hatred and anger. If you do not conquer them then a life of one hundred years is a tragedy. If you do, then a life of a single day can be a triumph.
Yip Man

Overview and Common Meanings of The Devil Tarot Card

The devil card often appears when you feel that you are trapped and controlled by the darker influences in your life – unhealthy relationships, addictions, etc., and serves as a reminder that you are only as stuck as you believe, and that you do have the power to overcome. To break free is to acknowledge the hold these bad situations have over you and how that is impacting your life in a negative way. For it is only by holding this up to the bright light of truth that you will be able to break free and move into a healthier place.

Alternative names in varying tarot decks are Pan, Temptation, Demon, Torment, Shadow, Conditioning.

Common Meanings

You may be feeling trapped by a situation or relationship that was once pleasurable but has reversed and is no longer healthy. When the devil shows up, you are seeing the reality of the situation for what it is. This could manifest in many ways: At home – living with domineering people or a toxic landlord, difficult relationships, unhealthy situations, affairs, financial dependence keeping you tied to the past, or in an untenable work situation.

Another side of the devil is sexual, and it may indicate that you are ready to experiment sexually. The devil reminds us to not let that experimentation dip into the dangerous waters of obsession. Like last week’s card of temperance, moderation in all is called for.

The Many Faces of The Devil

Since the upright presentation of this card represents your shadow side, the shadow side – or reversal – of the devil indicates that while you are feeling trapped, you can see that things are not as bad as you thought, and you are not as stuck as you have come to believe. Cycles of ill health, addiction, and feeling trapped are starting to ease. This is an indication that you need to deal with and let go of these old patterns and situations in order to move to the newer and better life you envision. You must face the dark places before you can reach for the light. Even the dark places where you hide secret shame. Now is the moment to make your change!

The Journey of The Devil

The Devil is the first card of the third and final septenary of the Major Arcana, which is about the spiritual world and attainment of enlightenment. This final septenary begins with the facing of one’s demons (the devil), for it is only through facing and conquering them that you can complete your spiritual journey towards spiritual enlightenment.

Description of the Devil tarot card

A red winged and horned figure, top that of a man, bottom that of a goat ending in feet like bird talons sits perched like a bird upon a black stone plinth with a heavy ring in its center. His left hand is downward and carries a flaming torch, and his right is upwards, the first two fingers together and the last two together to form a V. Above his head is a pentagram upside down. At his feet, chained loosely about the neck by the same chain that passes through the ring on the plinth, are two nude figures – a male and a female. Both have fiery hair and horns and tails. The man’s tail is fire, and the woman’s tail is a bunch of grapes, which her hand reaches towards. The background of the card is black, and the overall feeling is ominous.

Themes of the devil

Addiction
Dark nature
Destructive Patterns
Limiting Beliefs
Feeling trapped
Negative thinking
Restriction
Sexuality
Soul searching
Toxic Environments – external or internal

The Number 15

Concepts and beliefs are urging you to make some much needed alterations in your life. It is time to make more positive life choices. The long-term results will be of great assistance to you and others. Remove old restraints and constraints and make room for new and better in your life.

Elements of the Devil Card and Associated Symbolism

The Devil – inner or outer repression; base impulses rather than higher self
The Tails – lower instincts in our life; the woman’s tail ends in fruit, indicating temptation, the mans forked fiery tale indicates corruption.
Chains – the chains that bind us, control, dependency, material and emotional habits that feel like change, but are in the end not necessary.
The torch – the power of enlightenment, here held by the devil – controlling the power of knowledge.
Inverted Pentagram – cruelty and dark influences

Herbs for The Devil

Black Pepper – Banishing negativity, exorcism, protection from evil
Blessed Thistle – Purification, protection against negativity and evil
Blue Cohosh – love breaking and driving away evil.
Chrysanthemum – Defense, ward off malevolent forces.
St John’s Wort – works like an anti-depressant and helps with compulsion

Questions that the Devil tarot card asks us

What traps have you created in your life – marriage, job, relationships, addictions – that you know are not good for you, and how can you take steps to free yourself from these traps?
Are you afraid to take the steps to move in a new direction, because the “devil you know is more” is more familiar, and if so, how is that working out for you?

That is the Devil of the Tarot, a call to wrestle those inner demons to the ground and finally break free to live the life you imagine. Wishing you a week in which you take steps to do just that, and in which you acknowledge even the smallest move in that direction.

Thank you for reading and as always, please leave comments, ask questions, or contact me for a personal reading.

Please Join me next week for The Tower!

WHY THE WISDOM OF THE MIDDLE WAY IS THE BEST WAY IN THE TEMPERANCE TAROT CARD

April 26, 2022 / Tara Mallane / 0 Comments

Tarot cards Number 14, Temperance.
An angel, wings outspread, stands at the edge of a body of water, one foot in, one out. Around the pool grow yellow irises. In his hands he is pouring from one chalice into the other. The center of his forehead Has a symbol, a circle with a dot in the middle, and his head is surrounded by a nimbus of light. At the center of his chest, is a square containing a triangle within. A path meanders away from the water in the direction of two mountains with a sun rising in the middle — Temperance

Overview and common meanings of The Temperance Tarot Card

Temperance is about balance and harmony, about not choosing either extreme, but rather finding a way to blend both to create your own unique solutions. Temperance is also a sign that you are connecting with higher forces, the divine – or angels, if you will. You have a clear, long-term vision for what you want to achieve, and are determined to take the balanced approach in order to see this come to fruition. Alternative names in various decks – Art, Integration, Balance, Harmony, The Weaver.

The Middle path is the way to wisdom
Rumi

Common Meanings

When Temperance shows up, it is a good reminder to pay attention to help that will come from unexpected directions and in unusual ways, such as advice from a friend or even strangers that have been put in your path to help you through this time. It is a good time to drop in and listen to your inner voice and the guidance that can be found there. It may herald the beginning of a sacred voyage of your own. In regard to home, temperance says that you have the balance to succeed in all aspects. In Love/relationships it can show new depths of faith in each other, and that the synergy in your existing relationship works well. If you are seeking a relationship, it can indicate that you are ready for one that has the potential for marriage and long-term commitment. Stay true to this vision and trust that the right person will show up at the right time. In a career situation it cautions to be diplomatic and pay attention to income and expenses. As always, the middle way is the best way.

The Many Faces of Temperance

You know that feeling in January after the excess of the holidays? I often joke that is the one time of the year that I crave kale salad. That is temperance showing up and gently warning you that you have created an Imbalance and the need to find that balance again through diet, exercise, spiritual practice, etc. Other things to pay attention to with the shadow side of temperance: feelings of unfairness, feeling like you are putting in more than you are receiving in many areas. In any event, the shadow side of temperance Indicates a need for self-healing in order to progress.

The Journey of Temperance

The final card of the second septenary, which as you will recall is about social and moral understandings; and the separation of the ego and transformation of the Self toward spiritual equilibrium. We saw a death of the old with last weeks card, death, and now we are seeing abstract ideas becoming reality. This is actual behavior, not conceptual, and is the integration of the balance and wisdom regained after tearing the world down in death. The energy of life after ego’s death.

Description

An angel, wings outspread, stands at the edge of a body of water, one foot in, one out. Around the pool grow yellow irises. In his hands he is pouring from one chalice into the other. The center of his forehead Has a symbol, a circle with a dot in the middle, and his head is surrounded by a nimbus of light. At the center of his chest, is a square containing a triangle within. A path meanders away from the water in the direction of two mountains with a sun rising in the middle.

Themes of Temperance

Balance
Cooperation
Duality
Equilibrium
Patience
Purpose
Yin/Yang
The middle path that Buddha strove for on his quest for enlightenment

The Number 14

Double of the prime number 7, the number of creation, the number 14 is an indication of the need to find that balance in life, so as not to overindulge, overspend, or become codependent. The need expressed in the number 14 is that of the card it represents – temperance.

Elements of the temperance Card and Associated Symbolism

Angel – archangel Michael, protector to help facilitate moving past fear and letting go of the past.
One foot in water, one out – needing to be in the flow while staying grounded
Chalices – one for past, one for present. The water flowing between them is symbolic of how we blend past and the present experiences together to create our future.
Circle with dot in center – sun symbol, spiritual enlightenment
Square with triangle – masculine energy (square) integrating with and protecting feminine energy (triangle)
Pool of water – purification and rejuvenation, emotions, and unconscious mind
Irises – Hope
Path – the meandering path that life takes us on
Mountains and sun – new dawn of hope after period of stress

Herbs for Temperance

Agrimony – conquering anxiety and adverse obstacles
Angelica – promotes temperance; strengthens one’s connection with the physical world by bringing balance to the spirit
Chervil – inner wisdom, connecting with the divine
Cinquefoil – Balance; The five points of the leaf represent love, money, health, power, and wisdom
Foxglove – protection and vision
Valerian – clarity of dreams, reconciliation, love, and harmony

Questions that Temperance asks us

What area of your life is out of balance and into extreme, and how can you bring it back to center?
What does temperance mean for you, in finding that way to blend two extremes into something that is uniquely yours?

That is Temperance! Wishing you a week in which the wisdom of the middle path manifests in large and small ways. Please leave comments, or ask questions, and join me next week for: The Devil!

WHY DEATH OF OLD FORCES REBIRTH OF NEW IN THE DEATH TAROT CARD

April 19, 2022 / Tara Mallane / 0 Comments

Tarot cards Death
A figure in black armor, face that of a skeleton, rides a white horse with glowing red eyes. A red feather wilts from the peak of his helm. The chest stall of the horse is decorated with skull and crossbones. In his left hand is a black standard bearing the image of a white flower and five ears of corn, or wheat. There is a king lying dead beneath the hooves of his horse, his crown fallen to the ground, and his scepter lying next to him. The land is barren, there is a tiny ship on the seas in the distance. On the ground is a baby in blue, and a maiden in white, both kneeling in supplication. At the head of the horse stands a pope, hands clasped in prayer, with dark shadows stretching out from him. In the distance we see two towers, with the sun setting or rising between them — Death Tarot Card

Overview and common meanings of The Death Tarot Card

The Death card is about rebirth; of eliminating the dead weight of old habits that no longer serve us; of letting go of relationships that no longer fit into who we are; of releasing old belief systems that are keeping us from living our best life. This is, to many, the scariest card in the Tarot deck. People immediately think that they, or a loved one will die. This is rarely the case. This card is about the little deaths in our life that enable us to transition to newer and better things. Try to let it happen and remember that swift change brings new beginnings.

Other names in alternating decks are Transformation, Transition, Liberation.

When you are transitioning to a new season of life, the people and situations that no longer fit you will fall away.
Mandy Hale

Common Meanings

The Death Tarot card, which almost always indicates the death of one thing so that another can begin, rarely comes as a true surprise. You knew, even if you didn’t want to admit it to yourself that the thing, relationship, season of life, was over. It is perfectly acceptable to mourn the ending of something, even as you are looking forward with great joy and eagerness to the beginning of something new. This is the card of endings and beginnings, often both at once; fast and deep transformation. Rebirth is what it is all about. It could mean that the place you are living no longer meets your needs and you need to find a new home. It could indicate that new circumstances may offer an opportunity to relocate. The death card can speak to your current job situation – that change is coming there, and, like all change, it might be scary and feel unstable for a time. It can also be the ending or a necessary time apart in a friendship or relationship. Sometimes this is temporary, unless these have run their course and they no longer fit into the life you see for yourself going forward. Try to remember that it is natural and normal to grieve all endings, while keeping in mind that in every ending is a beginning, and that something better is waiting for you just over the horizon.

The Many Faces of Death

The shadow side, or reversal of death is often the same as the upright meanings. It can be an indication of fear of transformation, grieving loss, figurative deaths, sentimental attachments that outlive the reality of the situation. This is one of those cards where both the upright and the reversal or shadow side tell you to embrace the change that is inevitable, but also that it is ok to grieve what you are leaving behind. That knot of fear in your stomach while you are also deeply excited: its perfectly natural and normal.

The Journey of Death in the Tarot

We are coming very close to the end of the second septenary, which as you will recall is about social and moral understandings, the separation of the ego and transformation of the Self toward spiritual equilibrium. This kind of true transformation can only truly take place when a death occurs – a death of who you were as you transform into who you are becoming.

Description

A figure in black armor, face that of a skeleton, rides a white horse with glowing red eyes. A red feather wilts from the peak of his helm. The chest stall of the horse is decorated with skull and crossbones. In his left hand is a black standard bearing the image of a white flower and five ears of corn, or wheat. There is a king lying dead beneath the hooves of his horse, his crown fallen to the ground, and his scepter lying next to him. The land is barren, there is a tiny ship on the seas in the distance. On the ground is a baby in blue, and a maiden in white, both kneeling in supplication. At the head of the horse stands a pope, hands clasped in prayer, with dark shadows stretching out from him. In the distance we see two towers, with the sun setting or rising between them.

Themes of Death

Transformation
Endings
Rebirth
Transition
Change
New cycles
Awakening
End of an era
Letting go

The Number 13

The number 13 brings the assessment, the agony, and the loss. It symbolizes the end to the issue or to the ego and alignment with the spiritual.

Elements of the Death Card and Associated Symbolism

The skeleton- what survives after life has left.
The standard – black with a white rose, symbolizing renewal, and the corn or wheat, the harvest. The message being that death takes his harvest of souls and leaves the grain, or the truth, behind.
Black Armor – black is about endings
Pale horse – representative of the four horsemen of the apocalypse
Wilted Red feather – life force ebbing
Maiden looking away– fear of the death of innocence
Child – innocence and unafraid
Pope – Piety in the face of uncertainty; faith
Dead king – death, or endings, does not spare those of high caste; like justice, it is blind to all.
Ship – represents the ship carrying souls across the river Styx
Two towers, or city gates – Traditionally, the dead were buried outside of the city. The city gates can also be seen as the gates to heaven. The symbolism here is about stepping outside of your own fortress and exposing yourself to the elements so that you can be born anew into whatever comes next.
Sun rising or setting – the perpetual cycle of death and rebirth

Herbs for The Death Card

Hawthorn – protection and openness
Linden – calming heart tonic; protective, comforting, through times of grief
Milky Oat tops – nourishment and calm. Helps overcome feelings of being overwhelmed and out of control when life is throwing transformation at you fast and hard.
Mimosa – Sadness, loss, heartache, grief.
Sage – wisdom; esteem; resolving spiritual issues; to feel more linked with day-to-day existence, i.e., grasping and allowing reality to be what it is, rather than what we wish it were.

Questions that the Death Tarot card asks us

What in my life needs to “die” in order for me to live my very best life?
What areas of my life that I once thought long dead, are experiencing a rebirth?

Thank you for reading. Wishing you a week in which you accept with grace the endings that are taking place in your life and look eagerly to the new beginnings that spring from every ending. It Please leave comments or ask questions, and join me next week for Temperance!

THE HANGED MAN OF THE TAROT IS ABOUT ULTIMATE SURRENDER

April 12, 2022 / Tara Mallane / 0 Comments

Tarot Cards - The Hanged Man — The Hanged Man

Learning how to be still, to really be still and let life happen – that stillness becomes a radiance
Morgan Freeman

Overview and Meaning of The Hanged Man Tarot card

The Hanged Man often shows up in a reading when we are feeling stuck (or just needing to sit still) and is a call to look at things from a new perspective and work on getting freed. Sometimes you can’t go through but must look at ways of going over or around. This is the card of the ultimate surrender, telling you to take your hands off the wheel and just pause. Alternative names in various decks: The traitor, Vision Quest, Sundance.

Common Meanings of The Hanged Man

If you are paying attention to your inner wisdom, you know when these times of feeling stuck arise and you can allow that pause to take place. If, however, you are not in alignment with your inner voice, the universe may put you in a holding pattern for now. This can show up in the form of a health or financial issue. Pay attention to this and realize that this is a tactic to slow you down and make you look at your own inner landscape. When it is time to hit the gas and start moving again, the universe will let you know! The important piece of going into this holding pattern is that it is your opportunity to assess your life and to do so with the idea of change. What is working and what is not? This is an opportunity for you to see things in a whole new way, and even to shift focus and direction. Sometimes the Hanged Man just shows up to remind you to meditate! In our society, we are so hardwired to move, change, make things happen. The Hanged man shows up to tell you to take that pause, breathe, be quiet and let the things that need to happen, happen. The pause that brings the Hanged man is a blessing; the change that occurs from sitting still for a minute is a blessing. Life is a blessing.

The Many Faces of the Tarot Card the Hanged Man

The shadow – or reversal – side of the hanged man can show up to indicate that you are experiencing Inertia, self-sabotage, and could be holding onto things that aren’t for you. It is important in this time to take an objective look at what this means for you personally. Just because you want something, doesn’t mean that it is for you.

The Journey of The Hanged Man

We are drawing close to the end of the second septenary of the Major Arcana, which you may recall is about social and moral understandings; the separation of the ego and transformation of the Self toward spiritual equilibrium. The Hanged man is the call for our protagonist (The Fool) to pause and go inwards for the lessons already learned and those still to come in that journey towards the death of ego and self.

Description of The Hanged Man Tarot Card

Hanging upside down on a T shaped tree, is a man wearing a blue shirt and red pants. His hands are on his hips and his right leg is cocked and folded under the left, creating a triangle. Although hanging, if you were to turn the card upside down, he appears to be very much at ease. Surrounding his head is a halo, nimbus, or sun.

Themes of The Hanged Man

Surrendering to the will of the cosmos (let go and let God)
Enlightenment
Intentional pause
Spiritual teachings
Realigning with your soul purpose
Meditation

The Number 12

Just as the Hanged Man is about holding where you are, the number 12 is here to remind us to stay positive about the future, as you are likely on the threshold of some encouraging changes soon.

Elements of the Hanged Man Card and Associated Symbolism

Tree – represents the tree of life, alive with possibility
T-shaped cross – represents the cross upon which Christ was crucified
Left leg bent – an early Christian symbol fylfot cross
Halo – enlightenment
Hanging upside down –a different perspective
Red pants – human passions
Blue top – knowledge, learning, wisdom

Herbs for The Hanged Man

Chamomile – soothing and calming
Danshen – alleviate anger and aggression
Gotu Kola – stimulates the crown chakra and balances brain hemispheres, helps with stress.
Hawthorn – healing the heart
Kava – anxiety relief, good for accepting where you are

Questions that the Hanged Man Asks Us

If you were to consciously choose to be the Hanged Man and take a big pause from the world, relationship, job, etc., how would that look for you?
Are you holding on to situations, people, habits that are not yours, and if so, why and how can you learn to release and surrender to what is rather than what you want?

That is the Hanged Man! Wishing you a week filled with acceptance and peace when faced with any seeming lack of momentum. Remember that wisdom is often gained in the times when it appears that you are standing still. Thank you for reading. Please leave comments or ask questions.

Please join me next week for: Death!

WHY THE JUSTICE TAROT CARD IS IMPORTANT

April 5, 2022 / Tara Mallane / 0 Comments

tarot Cards - Justice — Justice Tarot Card

Justice is the sum of all moral duty
William Godwin

Overview and meanings of the JUSTICE tarot card

When Justice shows up in a reading, it is a strong call for you to weigh the situation and act fairly. This may mean becoming a champion for injustice, or it may just be an indication that the scales of justice will balance. This card also shows up to indicate an actual legal proceeding. Trust that the Universe has your back.

Alternative names in varying decks are Adjustment, breakthrough, Life Force.

Common Meanings of the Justice tarot card

The Justice card is about, well, Justice, but it is also a call to look at your life and your actions and how the law of karma plays into that. Sometimes – especially if we have acted in a way that is not entirely honorable – it is easy to play the victim card. However, Justice is here to strip that away. Justice is not “Fair,” it is JUST. There is no favoritism here…just facts. So, if you feel you have been unjustly treated, this is a great time to take a long hard look at that and determine what part is yours.

The Many Faces of Justice

The shadow side – or reversal- of this card shows up as a reminder that if things have been out of balance and truly unfair in your life, just like the scales that Justice holds, things WILL even out, so have faith. Try to learn from the experience and have compassion for those going through it. It may be a great time to investigate becoming a victim’s right advocate or similar so that you can give back. That experience you had is valuable. Share it with the world! Justice is calling you to do the right thing. So, do the right thing.. Things that show up on the shadow side: Intolerance, bias, extreme severity, past actions coming back to haunt you.

The Journey of Justice

The Fool is making his journey towards the end of the arc of the second septenary, which you may recall is about social and moral understandings; the separation of the ego and transformation of the Self toward spiritual equilibrium. In that arc, the fool cannot truly begin on his path towards spiritual enlightenment until he understands that the scales of justice – or law of Karma if you will – must maintain balance.

Description of the Justice Tarot Card

A crowned woman sits on a throne between two pillars of stone. In her right hand is a sword pointing up and, in her left, scales. She is robed in red with a mantle of green settled on her shoulders and clasped by a square clasp enclosing a circle. Behind her and attached to the pillars, is a curtain or veil.

Themes of Justice

Justice
Balance
Accountability
Truth
Principle
Legal Matters
Karma

The Number 11

The Number 11, two 1’s, indicates the duality of justice – to each act there is a reaction, to each cause, an effect.

Elements of the justice Card and Associated Symbolism

Stone Pillars – stability and balance
Sword – Victory; action resulting from judgement- double edged to show actions having consequences
Scales – the balancing and weighing of all information to make a judgement
Crown – authority.
Square clasp – square shields the sphere of communal unity held within
Veil or curtain – boundary between court and the outside world while evidence is given
Yellow background – awareness, clear picture

Herbs for Justice

Amaranth – defense and invisibility, help prevent aggression.
Bergamot – protection from evil and illness, stopping interference.
Buckthorn – helpful for safety and legal problem
Celandine – legal matters, good will of a jury, avoid unwarranted incarceration.
Calendula – protection, legal matters, and psychic/spiritual powers

Questions that the Justice Tarot card asks us

Are you behaving in a way that is wholly honorable in all your dealings in life, and if not, are you tuned into how this behavior has consequences?
Have you felt compelled to fight for justice for the underdog and if so – what are you waiting for? The causes are right there waiting for you to pick up the flaming sword and wade in.

Thank you for reading. Wishing you a week of acting and reaping justice.

Please leave comments or ask questions.

Next week: The Hanged Man!

THE CYCLE OF THE WHEEL OF FORTUNE TAROT CARD

March 30, 2022 / Tara Mallane / 0 Comments

Change is inevitable. Growth is optional
John Maxwell

Overview and Meaning of the Tarot Card The Wheel of Fortune

When the wheel of fortune shows up, change is coming – whether we get to choose, or fate chooses for is anyone’s guess. This is yet another card that tells us to pay attention and don’t miss opportunities because who knows when they will come around again.

Alternative names for this card, in varying decks are Change, The Wheel, Wisdom, Small Medicine Wheel.

Common Meanings of The Wheel of Fortune Tarot Card

The wheel of fortune is here to remind us that life is constantly changing. If things are bad, wheel is here to say that good times will come again. The wheel is constantly in motion and life is always turning it. the only constant, is change.

This is also about the law of karma – so if you are throwing shade, be assured you will get shade thrown at you. As John Lennon said “Instant Karma’s gonna get you, gonna knock you right on the head…” so be sure that you are putting out what you want to receive, because that is the way the world works. Also, this is a time to trust that the universe is taking care of you and has your best interests at heart.

In career and money this is an indication that things are looking up. In love, if you have been seeking it, this is a reassurance that the wheel is turning in the direction of favor towards this endeavor. If you are in a relationship already, it can indicate a normal ebb and flow which all relationships have, or it can be a strong urge that it is time to have those conversations and renegotiate how that relationship is going to progress. It may even be an indication that the relationship has run its course.

The Many Faces of The Wheel of Fortune Tarot Card

The shadow – or reversal – can indicate some bad luck, but the good news is that it is close to the end of that bad luck cycle so hang in there. This is also a great opportunity to take an honest assessment of what role you have played in creating the situation you are in. Taking responsibility for your part and being willing to make changes is a huge part of the soul’s journey to wholeness.

The Journey of The Wheel of Fortune

Card 10 marks halfway in the fool’s journey through the major arcana and is the point where we turn from outward exploration to internal. In the arc of the septenaries, the Intention was set in the first septenary with the magician is being aligned in the second septenary with the wheel of fortune.

Description of The Wheel of Fortune card

This card is packed with imagery – dark clouds in the upper corners, light clouds lower. Central wheel with letters and symbols around the edges and arrows pointing directions inside. On top of wheel is a blue sphinx with a sword over left shoulder pointing up. In the four corners are an Angel, phoenix, winged bull, winged lion, all with books open. There is a snake pointing down on left side of wheel, and red Anubis (jackal) on bottom right, appearing to be moving upwards on turning of the wheel.

Themes of The Wheel of Fortune

What goes around comes around
Constant change
Pay attention
Fortune favors the bold
Karma
Life cycles
Fate
Live in the moment
Turning point

The Number 10

An ending and a beginning: A life phase has ended and a new one has begun.

Elements of the The wheel of fortune Card and Associated Symbolism

Wheel – in ancient Egypt the wheel was representative of the sun
Letters on the wheel – T, A, R, O, and coming around again to T, spelling tarot, but also, if rearranged, ROTA is ‘wheel’ in Latin; Hebrew letters spelling YHVH – Yahweh, the unpronounceable name of god.
Alchemical symbols on the wheel – represent sulfur, salt, mercury, and water (which correspond to the suits in the minor arcana – wand, pentacles, swords, and cups)
Sphynx – knowledge and strength
Sword – sharp mind
Snake facing down – negative aspects of fate
Anubis – Egyptian god of the afterlife; with the wheel in life, death, rebirth
Angel and 3 animals – all winged, fixed signs of the zodiac, representing celestial ties, and reading the torah, for seeking wisdom and knowledge

Herbs for The Wheel of Fortune

Daisy- abundance, joy, happiness, transformation
White Clover – calibrates purity and positivity, to attract more of the same.
Hawthorn – protection and openness
Reishi- balance body and mind stress, adapt and find greater purpose in living
Tulsi – (also known as holy basil) – nurtures the spirit; calming; brings balance to spiritual practice.

Questions that the Wheel of Fortune asks us

Are you digging your heels in and trying to prevent change from taking place in your life, work, relationships, or even the way you view the world, and if so, how’s that working out for you?
If you have felt like life has been beating you up and you have nothing but bad luck, is that belief in bad luck the very thing that is causing it?

Wishing you a week of embracing change, going with the flow, and knowing that even if it seems dark right now, the wheel is constantly in motion and the universe always has your back.

Please leave comments or ask questions.

Join me next week for Justice!

WHY MASTERING EGO IS IMPORTANT FOR STRENGTH IN THE TAROT

March 15, 2022 / Tara Mallane / 0 Comments

Tarot Card Strength
A woman in white, wearing both a crown and girdle of leaves and berries, stands petting a lion that is responding just like a happy pet. Above her head is an infinity symbol. There are mountains and trees in the distance and the sky is a bright yellow. — Tarot card: Strength

Overview and common meanings of The Strength Tarot card

The Strength card of the Tarot is about mastering your passions so that they cannot master you, for it is only through self-mastery that true strength may appear. This card reminds us of the importance of knowing our limits and finding balance. On the journey of strength, fearless inward exploration cannot be accomplished when you are not in control of your emotions. You must leave ego out of it to face yourself as you really are. Balance is about finding that strength of spirit when dealing with stress. True strength also shows kindness and compassion, because, when truly coming from a place of strength, this generosity of spirit is effortless. The path of true strength brings terms that seem almost like oxymoron’s: fierce serenity, passionate tranquility, ferocious peace.

Other names for the Strength card, in varying decks: Courage, Balance, Fortitude

The Greatest Weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another
William James

Common Meanings

With strength, you can discover your higher purpose. Raw emotions and longings can be conveyed in constructive ways when internal strength and flexibility are applied. Inner strength and human spirit’s ability to overcome any obstacles in our path. With this comes an Inner knowing that you can endure anything. The Chariot card rules by external power, Strength by internal. This is the quiet power behind the scenes that may not be obvious. It is a call to tame your animal instincts and gut reactions and channel those in a positive direction. The strength card urges us to lean into the things that scare us and do them anyway. It teaches us about moving towards inner peace by learning how to express raw emotions in a more positive and constructive way.

The Many Faces of Strength

The Shadow side – or reversal- of strength indicates overwhelm, lacking self-confidence, the need to take care of yourself and get back into balance. This is a call to figure out how to balance serving others without depleting yourself.

The Journey of Strength

As the first card of the second septenary of the Major arcana, which you may recall is about social and moral understandings; the separation of the ego and transformation of the Self toward spiritual equilibrium. This is the first step on that next mini journey that the fool makes throughout the major arcana. This step, and this card, is all about learning to master your ego, for only by doing so can true strength be found.

Description

A woman in white, wearing both a crown and girdle of leaves and berries, stands petting a lion that is responding just like a happy pet. Above her head is an infinity symbol. There are mountains and trees in the distance and the sky is a bright yellow.

Themes of The Tarot Card Strength

Moral victory
Strength in action
Inner fortitude
Quiet persuasion
Courage
Determination
Patience
Compassion

The Number Eight

Stability and renewal, inner strength and wisdom and healthy balanced ego

Elements of the Strength Card and Associated Symbolism

Woman– graciousness, femininity
White robes – purity
Infinity symbol- infinite potential, power, options
Crown and girdle of roses/briars- protection and celebration
Lion- passion and base, or animal, instincts, power, bravery, leadership
Yellow background – clarity, support, awareness

Herbs for Strength

Cayenne – purpose, courage, removing obstacles
Angelica – guardian; also provides strength to women
Basil – success
Comfrey- protection
Thyme – bravery

Questions that Strength asks us

Are you feeling like your emotions are mastering you, and if so, is it time to do a fearless internal investigation to see what you may learn about your own strengths?
If you are feeling overwhelmed and out of balance, what can you do to bring yourself back to center?

Wishing you a week filled with that knowing that your own true power lies in mastering your baser instincts. That is Strength. Please leave comments or ask questions. Please join me next week for The Hermit!

WHY DUALITY IS IMPORTANT TO THE CHARIOT OF THE TAROT

March 8, 2022 / Tara Mallane / 0 Comments

Tarot card - The Chariot
A warrior, wearing a laurel wreath and crown with an eight-pointed star stands in a stone chariot. Above him is a canopy of stars. His armor contains an alchemical square, representing the four corners of the earth. On the front of the chariot is a winged sun and the graphical symbol for yoni-lingam. Under him are two sphinx’s, one white, one black, representing duality. There is a river behind him, and the background of the card is bright yellow. — The Chariot

Overview and common meanings of The Chariot of the tarot

When The Chariot of the Tarot arrives, the universe is telling you that it is time to put on your thick skin and fight to get what’s yours. A lot of the time in life, being gentle and tender and compassionate is a good thing. This is not that time! This is a time for you to go into what my friend Paul calls “warrior mode,” and describes as a time when we don’t have the luxury for emotional responses, and sometimes not even the time to be extra nice. It is all about getting things done efficiently. In varying decks, the Chariot is also referred to as The Charioteer, The Chariot of War, The Traveler, The Spiritual Warrior, The Sled. Regardless of the name, the message is clear: step into your leadership mode and shine. The time is now!

A warrior seeks to act rather than talk.
Carlos Castaneda

Common Meanings

When the Chariot card of the tarot shows up, it is time to take charge of your own destiny and chart your own course. The final card in the first septenary of the Major Arcana, the Chariot says that It is time to be determined, strong and take those first steps towards achieving your goals. The Chariot is also about the Duality that lies within each of us, and reminding us that even though we act tough, we are secretly afraid, so be your badass self – fake it until you make it if needed – and kick ass to get what you want.

The Many Faces of The Chariot

The shadow side- or reversal – is ego, destruction, lack of discipline, getting off course, ignoring the needs of others. It can be an indication that you have lost motivation, or perhaps that you are not going in the right direction. The shadow side is a message that you need to evaluate what is driving you and if you feel like you have been coming up against obstacles, maybe it’s time to shift direction.

The Journey of The Chariot

You may recall from the Major Arcana post that this first septenary represents self/ego/consciousness. It is about developing self-awareness of one’s own capabilities and consciously choosing the path to walk and taking the first steps on that path. The Chariot is the culmination of that mini journey and denotes the first step on the path; you’ve studied the foundations, learned the lessons about who and what is important to you. Now you put it into action

Description

A warrior, wearing a laurel wreath and crown with an eight-pointed star stands in a stone chariot. Above him is a canopy of stars. His armor contains an alchemical square, representing the four corners of the earth. On the front of the chariot is a winged sun and the graphical symbol for yoni-lingam. Under him are two sphinx’s, one white, one black, representing duality. There is a river behind him, and the background of the card is bright yellow.

Themes of The Chariot

Achievement
Determination
Expanding horizons
Focus
Leadership
New directions
Speed
Success
Taking control
Travel
Triumph
Willpower

The Number 7

Seven is an important number. It is the number of alliance, days of the week, days of creation of the universe. The number seven is all about learning and understanding at a deeper, more intellectual level.

Elements of the chariot Card and Associated Symbolism

Stone chariot- vehicle for self-expression
Warrior in armor- safety on his voyage; strength in mastering ones emotions
Square on armor – four corners of the earth
Shoulders with crescent moons with faces in them- divination stones for major decisions
Wand in right hand – strength, inspiration, initiative
Starry crown – eight-pointed star; symbol of hope
Laurel wreath – victory
Canopy of stars – the heavens; hope
Symbols on the skirts of his armor
Winged sun- conscious mind, divinity, power, and royalty
Yoni-lingam- union of male and female
Sphynx one white and one black- male/female, day/night, yin/yang
River behind – importance of staying “in the flow” while moving forward
Yellow background – clarity, support, awareness

Herbs for The Chariot

Borage – Courage
Club Moss – Power
Iris – wisdom, courage
Thyme – Bravery
Yarrow – Reinforce courage

Questions that The Chariot asks us

Is there an area of your life where you need to “put on your armor and wade into battle” to succeed?
Have you been feeling like you are banging your head against a wall in some area of your life, and is it that things are not moving, or is it that you have lost motivation?

That is The Chariot of the Tarot! Wishing you a week in which you recognize the duality of being afraid, overcome those fears, and do it anyway. Please leave comments or ask questions.

Please Join me next week for: Strength!

TAROT CARDS MEANINGS: THE LOVERS – SELF AWARENESS AND VULNERABILITY IN LOVE

March 1, 2022 / Tara Mallane / 0 Comments

Tarot Card - The Lovers — The Smith Waite ‘The Lovers’ Tarot Card

“My willingness to be intimate with my own deep feelings creates the space for intimacy with another.”
Shakti Gawain

TAROT CARD meanings AND OVERVIEW of ‘the Lovers’

When reading Tarot cards, “The Lovers,” represents the high road in love: divine, pure, healthy, and good for all parties. The 6th card of the Major Arcana, when it shows up, we ask the question if that is our reality or whether we are settling for less than that. This card is about showing up with your whole heart and being willing to take that leap of faith and be vulnerable.

This card, in varying decks, is known as Love, The Lovers, The choice, Trust. It is a card that is about love, but also about the choice to love and about the choice to trust. It could be trusting yourself and your intuition, or it could be about trusting another.

Common Meanings of the Lovers tarot card

This card is about love and connection, but it can be a love of self (do not confuse this with conceit) and the kind of love that is willing to be open and vulnerable. There is an honesty there that is scary but can also make a love transcend mere physical attraction and start to attain a connection that is spiritual. It is the true union of mind, body, soul that we all, in our secret hearts, yearn for, but may have given up as something that is only in romance novels or is somehow unattainable. This card is also a call to define and establish what our needs and beliefs are, and staying true to them, because it is only through this journey and self-knowledge that we can truly know love.

The Many Faces of The Lovers

The shadow – or reversal – side of The Lovers indicates a need for self-love before you can give love to another. It can also be indicative of an imbalance in a relationship – be it co-dependence, deceit, giving one’s power away, or some other sort of disharmony. It reminds us of the importance of keeping a relationship in balance, and that – much like the caution in an airplane to “put your own oxygen mask on before helping others” – you can not give yourself to love unless you first find that place of self-love and self-worth.

The Journey of The Lovers of the tarot

In the journey of the fool through the major arcana, the lovers show up right after the hierophant urges us to deeper understanding of the need for spiritual traditions. The Lovers say that now that you understand the foundation, it is time for you to pick what works for you. This is the time for you to figure out for yourself what your credo in life is and how you can love with your whole heart in that process. This is about choice, one that is made independent of parents or church, or even peer groups. This is choice made for yourself.

Description of the tarot card The Lovers

Two naked people (clothed in innocence) – In Christianity this would represent Adam and Eve – a man and woman, stand together, separated by storm clouds and a mountain peak in the distance. The sun shines down on them and over them is a winged figure, that of Archangel Raphael, above them. There are trees behind both. Behind the man is the tree of life and behind the woman is a tree with fruit – the tree of knowledge – that has a serpent in it.

Themes of The Lovers

Duality -male & female, light & dark; the joining of both making us whole.
Choice –relationship/love, or about spiritual practices that feed us
Commitment
Harmony
Soul mates/Twin Flames
Love/Lovers
Relationships
Connection
Desire

The Number 6

The embodiment of the heart and love. Emotional relationships, compassion, empathy, and support.

Elements of the Card and Associated Symbolism

Angel – archangel Raphael; angel of love and healing
Man & Woman, Adam & Eve – the innocence of the new relationship energy, naked indicating both innocence and open vulnerability.
Tree of Knowledge – The risk in knowing the full truth and no longer being able to retreat to the innocence of ignorance.
Tree of Life – passion, strength, personal growth
Serpent – risk in knowledge – innocence is bliss; temptation; sex
Storm Clouds between them – metaphor for the challenges that must be overcome after the initial honeymoon phase to give the relationship a solid foundation in reality
Sun – happiness, vitality, self-confidence, and success

Herbs for The Lovers

Lavender -attract love & devotion, eternal love, inner peace
Bay leaves -faithfulness and the splendor of passion
Damiana– healthy libido; connect with ourselves and others
Saffron – encourage sexuality and boost fruitfulness
cinnamon – love, passion, the power and strength of love

Questions that the Lovers asks us

Are you showing up in your relationships – be it professional, friendships, or in love – wholeheartedly, or are you hiding part of yourself out of fear?
What choice are you ready to make – love, career, spiritual path – that is right for you regardless of what anyone else says?

That is the Lovers; a journey towards loving with eyes and heart wide open in a way that is supportive and healthy. Wishing you a week of heart-opening experiences as you walk your path. Please leave comments or ask questions.

Navigate back here next week for: The Chariot!