TarotCraft

The Rider Waite Hanged Man is depicted hanging upside down from his ankle, one leg crossed behind the other, arms behind his back. He is shown in the pose of a medieval punishment for traitors, known as ‘Bafflement’.

My perspective of this card is that it shows a descent of ‘spirit’ into ‘matter’ – the lower self is sacrificed to allow the birth of the Higher Self, or your true spiritual nature. We grow and evolve on our journey through life and the appearance of the Hanged Man indicates a ‘re-birth’ of some kind.
This card is connected to the Hebrew letter Mem which means ‘water’ and its planetary correspondence is Neptune, a watery planet who rules the feet. Neptunian energy encapsulates the qualities of dissolution, creativity, spirituality, compassion, sacrifice, universal love and understanding.

Since The Hanged Man’s feet are uppermost, spiritual energy is being absorbed or received, traveling downwards to be given expression through the head, which corresponds to the Hebrew letter Shin, meaning Fire. The head is Binah descending into matter, initiating separation.

Given the watery nature of this card, and the feminine nature of Mem, he reminds me of a baby waiting to be born (we descend into life headfirst), with an “umbilical cord” wrapped around his ankle connecting him to the cross, or Tau. He patiently waits to take his first breath (Aleph) in order for the synthesis of Fire and Water to occur.

The Hanged Man represents not the act of redemption, but the willingness to be redeemed by sacrificing the lower self. He represents all forms of life-giving sacrifice, rejecting self interest in favour of the greater good. When he is negatively aspected, Neptune may be inclined towards alcoholism or the avoidance of mundane responsibilities and realities.

The Hanged Man also brings to mind the mystics and shamans who enter trance states and other worlds for the purposes of healing, prophecy and knowledge. In a divination, the Hanged Man can represent a time of waiting after the adjustment required in Justice and before the massive change to come in Death as a result of that adjustment.

When negatively aspected, apart from looking like he’s a member of the cast of River Dance, he may be indicating punishment or unwilling sacrifice. Be on the look out for deceit and lies.

Interested in Tarot and want to find our more or meet like minded people?  Come along to the Tarot MeetUp for the Sydney area.

Whether you are an expert or a raw beginner, come along and join in the fun.

This is our first meeting so we look forward to meeting you and having a discussion about topics people would like to see in future.

When: Sunday 20 September 2009.

Time: 2-4pm.

Where: Fair Trade Cafe, 33 Glebe Point Road, Glebe.

Topic: Bring your favourite or most interesting tarot deck.

Cost: Free.

Contact:

Phone: 0425 206 489

Emai: info at tarotcraft dot com

Join: ‘Tarot Meetup (Sydney area)’ on Facebook.

Starts: Monday 12 October 2009 (to be confirmed)

Time: 7pm to 8.30/9pm

Location: Newtown (Sydney, NSW)

Cost: $120

The Thoth tarot is the most popular tarot deck in the world and is certainly one of the most enigmatic and beautiful decks available. Join our study group and learn to read Tarot for yourself and others,  while on a journey of spiritual and magickal growth. The programme is aimed at the beginner but people of all levels of experience are welcome.

- Explore the Tree of Life through discussion and practical work such as scrying and path working

- Investigate the astrological and Qabalistic correspondences of each card

- Study each of the Major Arcana and their Paths

- Study the Minor Arcana with their related Sephira

- Develop clairvoyance and intuition

- Find your personal Tarot cards

- Learn how to read Tarot for ourselves and others

22 weeks might seem like a long time but chances are we’ll barely scratch the surface. The study of Tarot opens a door a new Universe. Something about working with Tarot, whether you delve into its esoteric aspects or not, will propel you into a higher level of consciousness and psychic awareness. You will see your own soul reflected in the Tarot and as your understanding of one grows, so grows the other.

We will also be doing some exercises to develop psychic senses and those who are so inclined will find that the daily practice of Qabalistic rituals such as the LBRP (or it’s variants), Middle Pillar etc will help them assimilate the material and develop this aspect of themselves.

Qabalah underpins the Western Mystery Tradition and is the foundation of magickal theory and practice but if you’re eyes are already glazing over rest assured there’s nothing boring or difficult about it.

The Qabalistic Tree of Life is a perfect map of the human psyche and you’ll recognise yourself in every aspect of it. It’s the perfect tool for personal and spiritual growth and Tarot makes it very easy to grasp.

You will need to get your own Thoth deck. It comes in a couple of different sizes. The larger one is good for studying the images, but the smaller one is easier to handle. A magnifying glass might help too as the cards are packed full of symbols that can be hard to see if you don’t have great vision.

I recommend you get ‘The Thoth Companion’ by Michael Osiris Snuffin as well as the ‘Book of Thoth’ by Aleister Crowley.  If you only get one to start with, get the Snuffin book because it’s easier to understand.

Contact:

-email to info at tarotcraft dot com

- Tarot Meetup (Sydney Area) on Facebook

- 0425 206 489

I was reading through your posts and was fascinated by them. I noticed that you mentioned that it was possible to request a free one card reading.If possible, could you please do a reading for me to tell me whether I am heading in the right direction as far as my career path?
Thank you in advance! Best Wishes, Kate

Hi Kate,

Glad you are enjoying the site!  The cards I drew for you are the 4 of Swords and the Page of Cups.  I’m feeling that you might be a bit stagnant or at a crossroads presently.  I do feel that you are on the right track but you might need a bit of down time.  Everything in life has an ebb and flow and you might just be experiencing a bit of a low point.  There is no doubt that it will swing the other way sooner or later.  Just keep your sights on your goal.

You are very sensitive and intuitive and it’s important that you respect that aspect of yourself.  It can lead you to becoming burnt out or into addictive behaviours if you don’t take care of yourself through meditation and ‘quiet time’.  You probably feel things more deeply than a lot of those around you.  I get the sense that there is one person, probably a dark haired girl, that you are close to you who understands and shares your sensitivity to energy and people.

These two cards also indicate that you are a natural ‘healer’.  People are instinctively drawn to you when they are in emotional or spiritual pain.  Don’t feel you have to ‘fix’ everyone.  The best thing to do is to work on your own Self and to cultivate inner peace.  This will have a positive effect on everyone around you and will stop you being drained by the energy or issues of others.

I had a real struggle to get these lesson notes completed and I couldn’t work out why. Finally it dawned on me that I was experiencing the imbalanced energy of the negatively aspected Justice card. This card sits balanced at the mid way point, or the ‘heart’, of the Major Arcana.

Although you are probably familiar with the saying ‘Justice is blind’, meaning non-discriminatory, the Rider-Waite Justice is not. Her eyes perceive clearly as she holds the sword of intellect and the scales of Justice. She is the clear headed and objective decision maker and the personification of the impartial force that drives the natural and inevitable order of things.

To the Ancient Egyptians this force was known as the goddess Ma’at, daughter of the Sun God, Ra. Ma’at is the Light that Ra brought to the world. She is Order arising from primordial Chaos. She represents universal order, impartial justice and wears the red feather of truth, showing purity of thought and motive. It was believed that upon death the deceased’s heart, a symbol of the soul or true self, would be weighed on the Scales of Justice against the feather of truth. Thoth was the scribe who recorded the findings and gave the deceased the opportunity to justify their actions.

Some time ago I had a dream that I actually died and found myself facing Ma’at and Thoth. My chest was slashed open and my heart torn from the cavity. It sat red and beating on a man’s hand. My heart was placed on the scales. Thoth made a note in his book. He looked across at me, frowned and said “You need to be more confident.”. My chest was sore for days afterwards.
The Hebrew letter attributed to Justice is Lamed which means oxgoad or whip, as well as ‘to teach’ and ‘to discipline’. Aleph is the Hebrew letter attributed to the Fool and means ox, the creature who plows the furrows from which life giving food will eventually burst forth. The whip corrects, or adjusts, the behaviour of the ox in this activity. Aleph can also be interpreted as ‘life-force’. Thus Justice can be seen as a power that directs and focuses life force in a fruitful way.

When we experience a negatively aspected Justice, we find life unfair and feel a need to lay blame. Arguments and stress may arise. Imbalance is experienced in our lives or our Selves. During these times, we experience a need for adjustment – a change in behaviour or attitude.

Justice gets to the heart of the matter. Her sword cuts away illusion, showing us what adjustments need to be made to create state of balance.

The Fool and The World are the Kether and Malkuth of the Tarot - the Alpha and Omega of the endless cycle of creation and destruction.

It’s Hebrew letter is Tau, meaning ‘cross’ and it’s ruled by Saturn. The Devil is also ruled by Saturn and this creates a link between the two cards that I have heard Ruth Ann of the New York Tarot School refer to as a ’secret path’ - another way to draw further meaning from the cards. Another ’secret path’ is to all the 4’s mentioned below, Minor Arcana 4’s and their home in Chesed - the 4th Sephiroth of the Tree of Life.

The World is one of the best cards to find in a reading. It represents wholeness and completion. The Four Sacred Animals rest in each corner and they represent a number of things:

4 Elements
4 seasons
4 fixed signs of the Zodiac – Leo, Taurus, Aquarius and Scorpio
4 corners of the earth
4 four cardinal directions
4 Disciples – the Lion of St Mark, the Bull of St Luke, the Human symbol of St John and the Eagle of St Matthew

The dancing figure in the centre of the wreath is the ‘Divine Androgyne’ who symbolises the union of opposing forces within the Self.

Before we had fancy schmancy telescopes, Saturn was the furthermost planet that could be seen with the naked eye. It represented the end of the Universe, or the end of all things. Hence it’s association with the last Trump.

The appearance of this card is a spread indicates good fortune, happiness and the fulfilment of goals and ambition. Fame and fortune can be indicated as well as success and public acclaim. In a more esoteric reading, spiritual mastery and enlightenment are indicated.

The World is often linked with travel and holidays and can also be advising the querant to get out into the world of experiences.

Another view to consider is that the wreath could be indicating a protective circle, or boundary, so perhaps the querant needs to practice psychic protection, energetic cleansing or simply be prepared to say ‘no’. As always, the other cards surrounding the World will give you more information about the correct interpretation.

When reversed or negatively aspected this card indicates that there is still some way to go before the gaol is reached, but that you are on the right track. It could also indicate that something you have been working toward is now something you no longer want. It could also be advising you that more effort is needed. Perhaps you have been lazy?

The Archangel blows his trumpet to signal an ending and a new beginning. Even though something is fading away, perhaps a phase of life or a situation, there is no cause for regret because bigger and better things are coming your way. New and life changing opportunities are around you now and dramatic change is likely. It’s time to look back, reflect, tie up loose ends and get ready to move forward.

You may have a sudden realisation – an ‘Aha!’ moment. Spiritual growth is indicated; in fact it’s unavoidable when this card appears. Any chaos around you is actually a catalyst for growth. The best thing you can do is simply surrender to what is happening. Resistance is futile.

When positively aspected, you may have been judged, but you have conducted yourself in a respectable and responsible manner. There are no skeletons in the closet waiting to leap out and give you a fright when you least expect it. A negatively aspected card could show that judgments against you or of you actually have some truth to them. Judgement means you will reap what you sow.

A new lease of life is indicated, along with challenges that will help you to grow even more. If there is anything you have been procrastinating about or have put on hold due to other commitments, now is the time to get those things done. Clear away the old energy to make the transition easier.

This is not the time to shy away from change or a break in your routine. Embrace the new energies and opportunities around you. You are receiving exactly what you have asked for.

This card may indicate a legal dispute, especially when linked with Justice and/or any of the Swords court cards. A positively aspected card means the outcome will be in your favour. In relation to timing, Judgement means that things will happen more quickly than anticipated.

It’s Hebrew Letter is Shin, which means ‘Fire’ and ‘Holy Spirit’. It’s also corresponds to the Element of Fire itself and astrologically, to the planet of Pluto.

Pluto represents necessary personal change as well changes that affect others. Hence this card could indicate that changes are affecting the workplace, the family or community, not just you as an individual. Transformation arising from chaos is a key theme here.

A negatively aspected Judgment card can indicate obsessions and conflicts, even going as far as revenge and vendetta. Resisting a necessary transition is indicated along with avoiding change and making decisions. You might be resisting something that threatens the status quo. The only thing to do is let go and allow the forces of Judgment to transform you.

After the destruction and chaos of the Tower, The Star is like the light at the end of the tunnel, bringing wholeness, healing and peace. She establishes her authority over the physical (land) and spiritual (water) planes, the conscious and the unconscious. From her vessels she pours the waters of life and the gifts of spirit.

The goddess is Venus/Aphrodite, pouring out the waters of fertility upon the earth. Where Temperance pours water between two vessels, blending but not emptying the contents, the star goddess pours the water freely, trusting that there will always be more from the source.

An eight pointed star is above the head of the kneeling goddess. One view is that the eight pointed star is the Dog Star, Sirius. Sirius is associated with the Egyptian myth cycle as it rose on the Summer Solstice and heralded the rising of the waters of the Nile. When the Nile flooded, it brought fertility to the Nile Valley.

Some consider the star to be the North Star, the symbolic centre of the universe. Others say it is the Morning Star, or the planet Venus – it is the last ‘star’ seen in the morning and the first evening star. It’s also symbolic of the descent into the Underworld, the place where our fears are born and live. The pool of water represents our subconscious. Our fears come to the surface of the water from time to time and sometimes we see that they aren’t so terrible after all. Even when our fears surface, we know that they will subside again some point. Nothing is permanent.

The eight pointed star also links the card to the eight spokes in the Wheel of Fortune and to the star in the crown of the charioteer in The Chariot. The pool is also the collective unconscious filled with archetypal knowledge. Everything you need to know is available to you.

The seven smaller stars the might represent the seven classical planets by which astrology charts our lives. It’s worth noting that the number of points on a star give the star different symbolic meanings. For example, in ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics, a five pointed star was interpreted as ‘rising upwards to the point of origin’.

The Star represents the beginning of an initiatory process that will continue in the next four cards - The Moon, The Sun, Judgment and The world. The Star is the initiation of a vision or dream that has yet to be fully realized.

In a reading, this card is an excellent omen and can also relate to teaching, wisdom and astrology. It indicates success in any endeavor. If this card is representing a person, or the querant, the person is likely to be creative, psychic, or possibly an Aquarian.

When the card appears the Star Goddess gives her blessing, as in Doreen Valiente’s ‘Charge of the Goddess’:

“I give unimaginable joys on earth: certainty not faith, while in life, upon death; peace unutterable, rest, ecstasy; nor do I demand aught in sacrifice.”

This card is number 17 and added together 1+7 = 8, which is Strength. Here we see “the lion of desire no longer simply tamed but transformed into light and joy” . Our emotional and psychic energy is no longer repressed or misdirected, and we are at a place of inner calm.

Astrologically, this card is linked with Aquarius, the sign of the Water Carrier. Its Hebrew letter is Tzaddi, which means fish hook. You could think of the pool of water as your subconscious and the fish hook bringing things to the surface.

Tzaddi also relates to words such as to lie in wait, capture and adversary. For this reason, some people say that it should be linked with the Emperor, and that the Emperor’s Hebrew letter, Heh.

Heh means window, and might seem at first to be a more apt and feminine correspondence. I think that Tzaddi is an appropriate correspondence because there are many ‘mother’ and creator goddesses such as Tiamat and Ishtar who also had warlike and vengeful aspects to their natures.

This theory also links the card to the myth of the Innana, the mother goddess of Sumeria. She later became the goddess of Ishtar of Babylon. Both goddesses are associated with the planet Venus. Ishtar particularly has two aspects – she is both the compassionate mother and the goddess of lust and war. Others connect the card to the goddess Astraea, whose name means ‘like a star’. Astraea later became the constellation of Virgo.

The Devil card is firmly grounded in the element of Earth, as its astrological association is Capricorn – the earthiest of the Earth cards. It represents the realm of nature and all the earthly pleasures, both sexual and sensual. Saturn represents discipline and responsibility and rules Capricorn and thus The Devil, so we can infer from this that The Devil is also about self-discipline and taking personal responsibility for our actions and choices. Did the Devil really make you do it?

The Devil is creative energy in its most powerful and tangible form. He represents the throwing off of limitations and restrictions. This card represents both power and the abuse of power. The reversed Pentagram that appears on most Rider-Waite style Devils represents the material world and that the Devil rules over it, as God rules over the spiritual world.

The Devil encourages us to discern illusion from reality. There is no room for fanciful ideas in Capricorn’s world. The Devil also represents humour and laughter is particularly associated with him. No wonder the early Christian fathers didn’t like him! He represents freedom from fear and ignorance, too. The symbol of Capricorn is the mythical sea goat. The goat symbolises fertility, creativity and sexual energy. The figures at the Devil’s feet represent repressed creativity and the bondage we keep ourselves in.

The goat headed figure featured on many Devil tarot cards has been linked to a number of different deities and mythological figures. The Templar Knights recognised him as Baphomet, to some he is the Egyptian god, Set, the Etruscan Dionysus – the god of wine, intoxication and creative ecstasy - in disguise and even Pan, the goat-foot god and his Celtic counterpart, the Green Man.

Devil is ‘lived’ spelled backwards. Evil spelled backwards is ‘live’. The Devil card in Tarot warns against becoming enmeshed in the world of consumption, consumerism and fulfilling material wants. He reminds us we are here to experience all aspects of life and learn from them, not to be trapped by one or some aspects of life. Wisdom is the child of experience and the Devil gains wisdom through experience.

In a general reading, the Devil card can represent our desires for material goods consuming a disproportionate amount of our energy. It also serves as a waring of addictions and succumbing to our baser natures. A positively aspected Devil can represent taking on an onerous obligation that is ultimately for the higher good, such as a mortgage or caring for an elderly or sick person.

If this card is a birth card or significator, then the person needs to be aware of the ways in which they limit themselves, how they allow others or situations to limit them. “But I don’t have a choice!” they say. The Devil says “Yes, you do.” Take off your blinkers and find a creative solution.

Qabalistically, the Devil corresponds to the Hebrew letter Ayin, which means ‘eye’. Some people think this means the eye of the phallus given the sexual nature of this card and it certainly can, but it also relates to the ‘Eye of God’ - the watchful eye of God watches over all creation. It can also be interpreted as ‘well spring’ and in Aramaic, as ‘sheep’.

Death is the harbinger of irrevocable change. A physical death is not necessarily indicated but something has come to an absolute end, a cold malaise has set in and things will never be the same again. In the Rider Waite deck, Death rides at dawn. Night has swept away lies and illusion, only truth remains. The change heralded by Death is usually a blessing in disguise.

The greatest unknown is Death. What happens when we die? Where do we go? Where do we come from? Life and Death go hand in hand – we pass through the Veil on our way into life and on our way out. Likewise, an enforced change can be a fearful unknown. The loss of a job, a relationship or some other part of our lives can throw us into a tumultuous state of grief and anguish. We need to remember that change is an inevitable part of life and so learn to embrace Death, or Change, instead of avoiding Her.

The tears of sadness we shed at the loss of a loved one, or the loss of anything familiar, can also be tears of joy when we know that the kiss of Death is one that liberates the spirit. We must die in order to be born!

Death is sometimes shown carrying a scythe, a symbol associated with the Gods Saturn and Chronos - Father Time - reminding us that our physical existence, and everything that makes up the fabric of that existence, is ruled by Time and will eventually be cut down.

The power of Death brings transformational change in one’s life and psyche. You, and your life, will never be the same again. Its Hebrew letter is Nun, which strangely means ‘fish’, a well known Christian symbol of death and resurrection.

However, when used as a verb, Nun means to sprout, or to grow. Death is the great recycler! She rides in on her pale horse and cuts down all in her path, letting in the air and the light so that new growth can surface. She has the ultimate wisdom and knows when to let a thing stand, and when to cut it down.

Astrologically, Death is linked with the zodiac sign of Scorpio and rules October 24 to November 22. Scorpio is an intense, emotional planet and its effect is to heighten sensitivity and awareness of the emotions of others. Scorpio can also indicate secrets and hidden things. When negatively aspected, Scorpio can display destructive anger and jealousy.