Tag: the major arcana (Page 1 of 2)

COMPLETION AND SUCCESS: THE WORLD TAROT CARD

June 13, 2022 / Tara Mallane / 0 Comments

The World Tarot Card
When The World Tarot Card shows up, it indicates a completion of a cycle of life, success, and joy. It is one of those cards that is totally positive, even in reverse. Literally the world is your oyster, and it is time to take a breath and rest in that success for a bit before beginning a new cycle of life. — The World

Action is the normal completion of the act of will which begins as prayer. That action is not always external, but it is always some kind of effective energy
William Inge

Overview and Common meanings of The World Tarot Card

When The World Tarot Card shows up, it indicates a completion of a cycle of life, success, and joy. It is one of those cards that is totally positive, even in reverse. Literally the world is your oyster, and it is time to take a breath and rest in that success for a bit before beginning a new cycle of life. Alternative names in varying decks – The Universe, Completion, Infinity, Fulfillment.

Common Meanings

A card of deep joy; of dreams coming true. In a reading about home matters the manifestation of your dream home. Relationships are fulfilling and loving, and if you are in a long-term relationship, it can indicate the next phase – marriage, moving in together, starting a family. Can also indicate that the cycle of this relationship has come to completion. Be sure to acknowledge the journey you took together and accept that it is time to move on for both of you. If you are wondering about career/money, it indicates achieving goals, promotions, gifts received. It can also literally mean world travel.

The Many Faces of The World tarot card

The shadow side – or reversal of the World can indicate a readiness to move on, but feeling blocked in some way – self sabotage, imposter syndrome, not feeling deserving of the good. Can also show up when there is a need for closure. Unmet dreams, delays. May indicate need to evaluate what is and is not working and make some adjustments from there. In any event, the shadow side of The World is still positive but could indicate that getting what you want is going to take longer than you wish.

The Journey of The World

This is the final card of the third and final septenary of the Major Arcana, which is about the spiritual world and attainment of enlightenment, of reaching goals. There is a sense of wholeness and completion that arrives with The World. You have achieved what you have been working towards. This is a great time to pause and express gratitude for where your journey has taken you this far; also, a good time to reflect on the lessons learned and vision how you want the next cycle of growth to manifest for you before leaping into the next cycle.

Description of The World Tarot Card

A female figure dominates the center of the card. She is clad in a loose purple wrap that covers her hips but leaves her top half naked and flows off, the ends trailing. Her left knee is bent. In her hands she carries two wands. She is surrounded by a Laurel wreath or garland with red twined around in the shape of an X both top and bottom. The four corners of the card contain an angel, eagle, lion, and bull.

Themes of The World

Accomplishment
Completion
Happy Endings
Integration
Joy
Reward
Success
Self-Love/Acceptance
Wholeness
World travel

The Number 21

The number 21 signifies shelter, calm, and tolerance during a transitional period in life, and getting ready to start a new chapter or phase of life. Take some time to celebrate milestones, no matter how big or small. You are exactly where you need to be at this instant. life is continually going ahead in a more positive direction.

Elements of the World Card and Associated Symbolism

Female figure – the cosmic dancer, one with the universe with one foot on the ground and the other in the air, indicating the necessary combination of physical and dreams
Laurel wreath – victory
Ribbon – tied in an elliptical representing infinity
Wands – balance of opposites – logic and magic or intuition
Angel, Bull, Eagle, Lion – the four elements – water, earth, air, fire
Purple Wrap- the color of divinity; reminder that we are all connected

Herbs for The World

Alfalfa – luck, prosperity, overall good fortune
Banyan – luck, success, good marriage
Basil – success
cinnamon – love, power, and positivism; the strength of love
Irish Moss – Improved revenue and overall good luck

Questions that The World tarot card asks us

What cycle in your life is coming to and end and how can you honor and celebrate that success and completion?
Is it time for you to re-evaluate a goal you have been working towards and determine if it is still something that you want?

That is The World – the attainment of spiritual, material, and emotional success. It also brings us to the end of our journey through the Major Arcana. Wishing you a week in which you pause to be in gratitude for your journey thus far and where you are now. Smell those roses and give thanks.

Thank you for reading and as always, please reach out with comments, questions, or to request a reading. Please join me next week with an introduction to the Minor Arcana, and the beginning of that next journey through the Tarot. I will continue to guide you as your compass on this journey.

Best wishes –

Tara

INTUITION MARRIES INTELLECT IN THE JUDGEMENT TAROT CARD

June 7, 2022 / Tara Mallane / 0 Comments

Tarot Card - Judgement
The top half of the card is dominated by an angelic winged figure blowing a horn from which hangs a white flag separated into 4 quadrants by a large red cross. Under him are naked men, women, and children standing in coffins in the shadows and all with arms raised — Judgement

Overview and Common Meanings of the Judgement Tarot Card

When Judgement shows up, it is often an indication of a crossroads in life and the need to make big decisions that will alter the course of life going forward. It is important that in making these decisions, you tap into your intuition as well as your intelligence and use the experiences from your past to guide you into a better future. Alternative names in varying decks – The Angel, Awakening, Fame, Rebirth, Spirit Guide, Time.

To liberate yourself from your own self-judgment is to liberate others from it as well. To love yourself is an act of love for the world.
Vironika Tugaleva

Common Meanings

Let go of your old identity and step into the new form of who you really are. Judgement is a personal wake up call and take a look at our past actions and determine how we judge ourselves based on them. This may also take the form of a wake up call in a new relationship with our spiritual beliefs, higher power, God, guides, whatever they may be. Judgement may also be a call to some form of sacred service. Judgement is all about how we judge ourselves. When Judgement shows up, it is time to decide about your past because wonderful changes are on the horizon that you can only embrace once you have addressed and resolved all of the past issues. Have you behaved with integrity and honesty?

Regarding home, when Judgement shows up it could indicate being drawn to an old property or place that holds happy memories, and you will need to decide regarding property soon. Relationships move into new phases, reconciliation, or even possibly renewing an old relationship. In career, Judgement almost always indicates that success and financial improvement is pending, but also a draw to something that has more meaning going forward.

The Many Faces of Judgement

The shadow side – or reversal of Judgement indicates Insecurity, not revealing your true self, a need to let go of a dark facet of yourself. Often times the shadow side of the judgement card indicates that you are not heeding the messages from the universe about your path. These messages and lessons will keep showing up until you learn them. The shadow side is also a gentle reminder about the negative self-talk and inner critic in all of us, and the need to silence that inner dialog. You do this not by ignoring it, but rather by facing it squarely and addressing all of these fears and concerns, one by one. You may just find that these mountains, are in fact, molehills after all.

The Journey of Judgement

Remember that we are almost to the end of the third and final septenary of the Major Arcana, which is about the spiritual world and attainment of enlightenment.

We have reached a sanctuary with the sun, but before our journey can be complete, we need to make some decisions and gain some acceptance of our past.

Description of the Judgement Tarot Card

The top half of the card is dominated by an angelic winged figure blowing a horn from which hangs a white flag separated into 4 quadrants by a large red cross. Under him are naked men, women, and children standing in coffins in the shadows and all with arms raised.

Themes of Judgement

Acceptance
Insight
Liberation
Life altering decisions utilizing a combination of intuition and intelligence
Purging of guilt or sadness from past experiences.
Redemption
Spiritual Emergence
Self-awareness
Self-forgiveness
Transformation
Willingness to be transparent and honest about who you are

The Number 20

The core essence of the number 20 is about teamwork and working for greater good. Paired with the meaning of the Judgement card, it indicates a need to play well with your own past and subconscious and find peace going forward.

Elements of the Card and Associated Symbolism

Angel – realization and redemption
Horn/Trumpet – the sounding of the trumpet calls upon us to review our past and decide.
Mountain ranges – insurmountable obstacles
People (the dead) rising – resurrection and rebirth
Red and white flag – unification of opposites; a crossroads in life

Herbs for Judgement

Golden Seal – healing success
Sunflower – adoration, self-respect, loyalty
Tea Tree – Removing uncertainty and improving harmony
Tobacco – peace, personal strength, and confidence
Wisteria – Increases vibrations, encourages spiritual opening, conquers difficulties, and attracts success.

Questions that the Judgement Tarot Card asks us

Are you at a crossroads in life and have already made the subconscious decision to move in a new direction, and if so, what steps do you need to take to bring that new direction to fruition?
Have you taken the time to take a personal inventory of your life up to now and what you can let go of in order to live more aligned with who you are now?

That is the Judgement Tarot card. Wishing you a week in which you take the steps to bring your highest and best dreams to fruition. Thank you for reading and as always, please leave comments, or ask questions, or reach out for a reading. Please join me next week for The World!

THE SUN TAROT CARD: IT’S ALL GOOD

May 30, 2022 / Tara Mallane / 0 Comments

19. The Sun Tarot Card
A smiling naked child with opens arms wearing a garland of flowers crowned by a red feather, carries a red banner, while riding a white horse. Behind is a wall separating him from a field of tall sunflowers. Overlooking the scene is a large sun, lending warmth and light. — The sun

It’s always sunny above the clouds. Always. Every day on earth – every day I have ever had – was secretly sunny, after all.
Caitlin Moran

Overview and common meanings of The Sun Tarot Card

One of the most positive cards in the Major Arcana, The Sun Tarot card indicates success, and improvement in all areas of life – love, health, money, recognition. Just as the sun brings new life springing forth from the soil in spring, the sun card heralds new optimism and life after a time of dormancy or darkness. Alternate names in varying decks are The Phoenix, The Children, Vitality, Joy.

Common Meanings

The sun indicates balance and harmony between subconscious and conscious. With this energy, we are complete – the perfect marriage of the mystic subconscious to the practical material world. All is in balance and harmony. For Home – happiness and contentment, could indicate a child arriving in the home. Relationships flourish and thrive. Career recognition and acknowledgement; could indicate an exciting new opportunity or offer if you have been looking to make a change. If you have been struggling, the sun brings a message that things are about to get better in a big way. It is time to finally exhale and know that everything is going to be alright. The sun also reconnects us to our own inner power – that authentic higher self-power that we sometimes lose sight of when we are in the weeds, but which is always there waiting for us to reconnect and re-affirm who we are in our deepest self.

The Many Faces of The Sun

The shadow side, or reversal can indicate delays, negative mind set, self-doubt, need to tune out negativity and seek inspiration. The shadow sun may also indicate that you are not in touch with what you can actually achieve and maybe have been over promising. This leads to overwhelm in all areas, so it is a call to set aside the burdens of your responsibility if only for a little while and recapture that childlike unfettered joy.

The Journey of The Sun

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 shattered ego with The Tower, began to see faith, hope, and inspiration with The Star, turned inwards in the uncomfortable lessons about trusting our intuition in a purer way with absence of ego; now we can finally bring all of those lessons out in the warm sunshine as the pieces are starting to fit together and we can harness some of the suns hopeful positivity.

Description of the sun tarot card

A smiling naked child with opens arms wearing a garland of flowers crowned by a red feather, carries a red banner, while riding a white horse. Behind is a wall separating him from a field of tall sunflowers. Overlooking the scene is a large sun, lending warmth and light.

Themes of The Sun

Abundance
Balance between subconscious and conscious
Confirmation
Fun
Inner peace and beauty
Inspiration
Joy
Love
Manifestation of hopes and dreams
Sanctuary
Success
Vitality
YES

The Number 19

Number 19 signifies the service of humankind, spiritual illumination, insight, self-awareness, uniqueness, endings, and new beginnings. This number also indicates drive, autonomy, self-sufficiency, discovery, empathy, acceptance, passion, and a potent initiative.

Elements of the Card and Associated Symbolism

Child – inner child, virtue, and purity. Nakedness indicates openness; nothing to hide
The Sun – Awareness and Joy, self-expression, light after the darkness
Sunflowers – evolution, beauty, power, turning always towards the light symbolizes always seeking higher growth and enlightenment in life.
Red banner – momentum and vitality
Red feather – Freedom, life force, good fortune
Wall/Walled Garden – limitations and safety, protection
White horse – vehicle for spirit/physical form

Herbs for The Sun

Basil – success, prosperity and peace, career and business luck.
Calendula – uplifting moods, restoring well-being, promotes relaxation
Oregano – wealth and money luck
Patchouli – calming, attracts lots of luck.
Spearmint, love, healing, and insight

Questions that the Sun asks us

Have you recently emerged into the sunlight after a “dark night of the soul,” and what insights is the sun shedding on your experience?
How can you harness the positivity of the sun in your day-to-day life?

So that is the sun! Wishing you a week of warmth, insight, and positive revelations. As always, please leave comments, ask questions, or reach out for a reading.

Thank you for reading and be sure to join me next week for Judgement!

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!

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!

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 QUIET TIME IS IMPORTANT – THE HERMIT OF THE TAROT

March 22, 2022 / Tara Mallane / 0 Comments

Tarot Cards - The Hermit, Card 9 of the Major Arcana

Overview of The Hermit Tarot card

The Hermit shows up in your life as a clear message that it is time to withdraw and recharge for a time. There are a few tarot cards that typically scare the hell out of people when they show up, and the Hermit is one of them. In our society, we are so hard wired to be busy and social all the time that it feels scary and off to take the time to be quiet and listen to the wisdom that your own inner compass can provide. But the insight of The Hermit – and really any card that makes you uncomfortable – is that you need to “lean into” the uncomfortable and go with the message, in this case, solitude, even if it is just a few hours. Alternative names for The Hermit are: The Old Man, Time, The Poor Man, The Alien, The Spy

But I’ll tell you what hermits realize. If you go off into a far, far forest and get very quiet, you’ll come to understand that you’re connected with everything.
Alan Watts

Common Meanings

It is a time for quiet reflection to learn about yourself and your place in the world around you. There is an important distinction here that must be understood to understand The Hermit: This is not loneliness. It is about that “journey within” and the power that is gained by taking that journey. Being alone is not a punishment, despite what society tells us. Sometimes even just learning how uncomfortable it makes you to be alone is an invaluable lesson. To some people, the scariest thing they can ever face is that quiet still place within. The Hermit can also herald the quiet time needed to create some masterpiece of your own, even if it is just for you, even if that masterpiece is just a deepened knowing of yourself. If your focus for the reading is about career, it could indicate working independently, or it could indicate a need for quiet so you can focus on what you are working on. In love, if in a relationship, it could indicate the need for some space and alone time to recharge your batteries. If you are seeking a relationship and the hermit shows up, it can be a clear indication that maybe now is not the ideal time to be entering into such a partnership. The Hermit himself is a wise spiritual guide or mentor, one who teaches from a place of having been there, the voice of experience. If this is you, make sure you are taking the time you need in meditation and study to keep your spiritual batteries fully charged. If it is not you, it may indicate a time in which someone can be a mentor to you as you begin your own journey of spiritual discovery.

The Many Faces of The Hermit

The shadow – or reversed – side of the Hermit card can indicate withdrawing, isolation, misfit, black sheep, always seeking but not finding. When in this position it can be a warning that you are being TOO isolated and becoming an actual hermit; reminder of the importance of connecting with others.

The Journey of The Hermit of the tarot

The Hermit arrives after the lessons of the chariot and strength cards, as part of the second septenary of the Major Arcana. This is another step in the arc of the second septenary, which, as you will recall, is about the separation of the ego and transformation of the Self toward spiritual equilibrium. This is that time in everyone’s life in which a bit of soul searching is in order so that we may better understand how, when we are more in tune with our inner voice, the noise of the material world begins to fade into the background. Whether or not you are religious, or even spiritual, there is a holiness in learning to trust and listen to the wisdom found in silence.

Description

A man with a long snowy beard stands in a desolate snowy landscape, holding aloft a lantern in which the light is the shape of a star- perhaps a light in the darkness- in his right hand and a staff in the left. His robes are gray, and the background of the card is muted blue, indicating night.

Themes of The Hermit

Introspection
Taking a break from the busyness of everyday life
Finding a Mentor/teacher/counselor
Alone but not lonely

The Number 9

Faith, inner-strength, accountability, insight, learning how and when to say “No.”

Elements of the Hermit Card and Associated Symbolism

Old man with snowy beard –wisdom, refuge, judgment
Staff – self-support; healing
Lantern – light in the darkness illuminating our path; inner compass
Six-pointed star – faith, guidance
Snow – clarity of and understanding of feelings and emotions

Herbs for The Hermit

Angelica -Associated with personal courage, it strengthens one’s connection with the physical world by bringing balance to the spirit.
Damiana – enables us to be more open, and connected within ourselves and with others
Mugwort – introspection and intuition, gateway to inner-realms—unveiling who you are and what you need to understand. Promotes lucid dreaming.
Sage – wisdom; esteem; resolving spiritual issues
Yarrow – Helps to bolster courage in that inner journey and assure us that this is just a season.

Questions that The Hermit asks us

Are you spinning your wheels and staying busy to avoid seeing something that is going on internally?
How can you “be the hermit” and get enough solitude to learn more about yourself and your place in the world around you?

The is the Hermit. Wishing you a week in which you take the time to breathe and learn what you need to do to live fully and happily. Please leave comments or ask questions. Join me next week for The Wheel of Fortune!

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!

THE HIEROPHANT OF THE TAROT – UNDERSTANDING TRADITION

February 22, 2022 / Tara Mallane / 0 Comments

Tarot Card - The Hierophant
A priest- or holy man- sits on a throne. Next to him are two pillars, his right hand is raised in religious blessing, and his left holds a scepter with three crosses. He wears red robes which have three crosses on the front and is wearing a three-tiered crown. At his feet are students, learning the wisdom which only he can teach; one is clad in roses, the other, lilies. Beneath his feet are crossed keys. — The Hierophant

Overview of The Hierophant

The Hierophant of the tarot is a priest, a guardian of higher knowledge, here to encourage us to understand the foundations of traditional religion before we can discover our own belief systems. He is the great bridge builder, interpreting divine guidance for us mere mortals. He is the pastor, the teacher, the light in the dark that guides us on our path.

Alternative names for The Hierophant in varying decks are: The High Priest, The Pope, The Shaman, The Sage. The term Hierophant, is taken from the Greek Hiero – meaning “sacred,” and Phainein “to show”

We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience.
– Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

Common Meanings

The Hierophant shows up to remind us of tradition – not only religious, but also in life. He is the opposite of change; the harbinger of values and beliefs that have stood the test of time. This is not the time for flamboyant individualism, but rather, to conform, to turn to your spiritual leaders and traditions. He reminds you of the value and rewards received by adhering to these practices. In work he is here to remind you that it is not time to break away, but to respect hierarchy and to conform to the standard in your organization. In love, The Hierophant applauds conventional relationships such as marriage. He is here to remind you on every level of how much there is to gain by examining and understanding the legacy of tradition in human religion and culture.

The Many Faces of The Hierophant

While the upright Hierophant indicates a mentor or teacher and adherence to customs, the shadow side – or reversal – of the Hierophant can show up to indicate that you are coming up against a tradition that feels dogmatic, and it encourages you to seek for the truth for yourself, while also reminding you why it is important to understand the foundation from which the traditions are built before branching out on your own path. The shadow side can represent someone in a position of authority who values obedience over enlightenment. It can also indicate that you are stuck in your own tradition (rut?) that is no longer serving you and that it might be time to forge a new path. Just because it’s always been done that way, doesn’t mean its always right.

The Journey of The Hierophant

The Hierophant, as the earthly representative of God on earth, forms a triad with the two acolytes in the card. As part of the first septenary, The Hierophant is a bridge; an attempt, not to mediate between opposing poles of life, but to simply find and maintain balance on the journey (or the fool’s journey) through the first septenary of the Major Arcana – that of the development of self/ego/consciousness.

Description

A priest- or holy man- sits on a throne. Next to him are two pillars, his right hand is raised in religious blessing, and his left holds a scepter with three crosses. He wears red robes which have three crosses on the front and is wearing a three-tiered crown. At his feet are students, learning the wisdom which only he can teach; one is clad in roses, the other, lilies. Beneath his feet are crossed keys

Themes of The Hierophant

Sacred Knowledge
Spiritual Principles & Discipline
Initiation into secret doctrine
Teacher or Mentor
Established Religious Traditions
Commitment to a divine practice

The Number Five

The number 5 is a holy number in many of earths religions: – in Christianity, the 5 holy wounds of Christ; Hinduism – The five elements; Islam – the Five Pillars of Islam. In numerology 5 is the card of curiosity of the spiritual nature.

Elements of the Card and Associated Symbolism

Three layered papal crown – the holy trinity
Right hand raised in religious blessing – two fingers pointing to the heavens, and two to earth.
Crossed keys- unlocking mysteries which only the Initiated may teach
Red robes with three crosses, red = earth, crosses
Staff with triple cross – hoy trinity of father, son, holy spirit; or earth, heaven, spirit-world; conscious, subconscious, super conscious; mind, body, spirit
Monks or acolytes kneeling to learn – one in roses (love), the other lilies (purity)

Herbs for The Hierophant

Sage – wisdom; resolving spiritual issues
Frankincense – link to the divine; grounding, calming; used in spiritual practices for thousands of years
Myrhh – Restorative; purification; also used in spiritual practices for thousands of years
Tulsi – (also known as holy basil) – nurtures the spirit; calming; brings balance to spiritual practice.Violet – enhances prophetic dreaming

Questions that The Hierophant asks us

Have you been balking at the idea of joining a practice (even though it fascinates you) because you didn’t want to adhere to its traditions? If so, what purpose do you think these traditions serves, and is there a good reason for their existence?
Have you felt like you have been beating your head against an immovable wall of dogma, and if so, why haven’t you taken that leap of faith to step outside of the boundaries of what is accepted by the norm?

That is The Hierophant, a bridge demonstrating the importance of understanding why foundational traditions – particularly spiritual ones – Are in place. Wishing you a week in which you consider committing to a spiritual practice, whether it be meditation, yoga, or a return to a spiritual home. Please leave comments or ask questions.

Please join me next week for: The Lovers!

THE EMPEROR OF THE TAROT CONVEYS LOGICAL WISDOM

February 15, 2022 / Tara Mallane / 0 Comments

Tarot Card - The Emperor
A crowned man with a long white beard sits on a throne. He is wearing mail, over which are red robes of state. In his left hand is a scepter with an Egyptian ankh, and his right holds a golden globe. His stone throne is adorned with rams heads. The background is orange and there are rocky crags with a small river at the base of them. — The Emperor

“Great leaders are not defined by the absence of weakness, but rather by the presence of clear strengths.”
John Peter Zenger

Overview of The Emperor

The Emperor of the Tarot is here to offer balanced reason, logical thinking, and a solid foundation of wisdom. Just as the Empress of the Tarot represents mother/nature/nurture, the Emperor, represents father/law/order/structure/rules. The Emperor, also known in varying decks as The Grandfather, The Father, The rebel, challenges us to take accountability for who we are and inhabit our truth. This card is a return to traditional values like respect and honor. It is about getting your life on track and being the captain of your own ship, but it is about doing so in a logical, methodical way.

Common Meanings

This is a time to take a methodical, logical approach in your day to day, and to put aside emotions. The Emperor shows up to represent a strong masculine presence that can protect you, but he also shows up to push you to stand up for yourself, to claim your own power and not allow people or situations to bully you. He is the Law and the enforcer of those laws.

The Many Faces of The Emperor

While the upright presentation of The Emperor indicates logic and strength, the shadow side demonstrates, greed, cruelty, domineering, manipulating, weaponizing of power, and not respecting boundaries. It can indicate that you are shying away from accepting a leadership role due to immaturity and reluctance to make the tough judgments needed to truly lead. In a relationship reading this could indicate an unhealthy imbalance in the relationship dynamic, due to age, or personality, and it suggests finding a way to create a better balance. This can also show up as a sign of stability taking place above morality.

The Journey of The Emperor

The Emperor is the dead center card of the first septenary which, as you might recall, is the journey of self and developing the awareness of your own strengths. The Emperor offers realization that you are capable, but that it is time to remove emotions and approach this with logic. He is also here to warn us against the danger of being so tied to tradition and dogma that we forget to grow.

Description

A crowned man with a long white beard sits on a throne. He is wearing mail, over which are red robes of state. In his left hand is a scepter with an Egyptian ankh, and his right holds a golden globe. His stone throne is adorned with rams heads. The background is orange and there are rocky crags with a small river at the base of them.

Themes of The Emperor

Leadership
Logic
Guidance
Responsibility
Tradition
Control
Ambition
Order
Authority
Protection
Action
Wisdom

The Number Four

Like the emperor himself, the number 4 is all practicality and pragmatism; efficiency and strength; conservative development. It denotes creativity, but the kind that builds a solid foundation.

Elements of the Card and Associated Symbolism

Male- Traditional Male archetype
Long white beard – wisdom, maturity
Rams heads – 4 of them, two face on, two in profile, Aries, the ram, whose planet is Mars and is the sign of the emperor.
Crown- king/emperor, but also closed, meaning self-reliance
Stone throne – unyielding, strong
Scepter – Egyptian ankh (symbol of life) in the right hand, giving, authority and masculine virility
Orb/Golden apple – right hand, receiving. The fruits and pleasures of the world, of sexuality, of relationships
Armor -battle ready, strong, capable of providing protection
Orange background – success, determination, balance
Stoney mountains – solid foundation, a bit stuck in his ways, but the small river at the bottom indicates that he is still human with emotions, it just takes a lot of work and trust for him to show them.
Robes of state- authority, power, leadership

Herbs for The Emperor

Laurel – triumph, success
Nasturtium – loyalty, triumph
Parsley – victory, knowledge
Sassafrass – foundation, thoughtful selections

Sage – wisdom, esteem

Questions that The Emperor asks us

Are you a domineering tyrant in any area of your life, and if so, how can you better balance that authority with wisdom?
Have you been feeling called to step into a leadership role, but hesitating through fear, if so, what do you need to do or learn to accept that role in your life?

That is The Emperor! A force of balanced wisdom, with a strong foundation in logic. Wishing you a week filled with decisive, measured action.

Thanks for reading and as always, please leave comments, or ask questions.

Be sure to join me next week: The Hierophant!