TarotCraft

The word Temperance is derived from the latin word ‘temperare’ which means to mix or combine. The angel on the Rider-Waite Temperance card is shown pouring and combining the spiritual and the physical between two Cups. He has one foot on the land and one foot on the water, showing both mastery of the physical world and the emotional realm. Energy flows from the unconscious to the conscious (from the higher cup to the lower cup) and back.

This card talks about having a true and proper response to situations as they arise, rather than a rigid adherence to an externally applied moral code. Each individual must decide for themselves what is the ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ thing to do in any situation, because determinations of right and wrong change constantly and between cultures. The Holy Books of different religions put forward their versions of right and wrong, but most of us find that neither our spiritual needs nor our need for guidance cannot be met by the dogma of organised religion. Therefore it falls to each person to look into their hearts to find their own truth and personal values.

Temperance can be advising you to take the middle road, to apply moderation and constraint, but also that seemingly impossible oppositions can be united.

As we work on mixing the elements within the personality, such as an appropriate balance of activity, introspection etc, we become more balanced externally and increase our ability to handle life’s problems and challenges. We are able to draw on the strength of a balanced and peaceful personality.

Qabalistically, the path of Temperance joins the spheres of Yesod and Tiphareth – the Sun and the Moon. Once again this shows power of Temperance to unite opposites. It’s Hebrew letter is Samekh which means ‘prop’ or ‘tent peg’ – a vital piece of equipment, but the shape also connection it to ‘womb’ and ‘moon’. Alchemically, Temperance consummates the process of Unity that we saw begin in The Lovers.

Temperance is ruled by fiery Sagittarius, so we need to remember that Temperance is essentially fiery in nature – it’s creative, passionate and positive.

The Hierophant was the name given to the High Priest of the Greek Elusian mysteries. The Hierophant also has connections to occult initiations. Occult simply means “secret”. There is nothing untoward or evil about the word. Anything you want to keep hidden from other people could be considered occult.

Historically, the Hierophant represented the leadership of the Church, it’s spiritual heads and traditions. I invite you to take a more contemporary view of the Hierophant and see him as the “High Priest” - counterpart to the High Priestess.

There are some interesting and universal symbols appearing in The Hierophant:

Roses and Lilies: These refer to the Rose of Sharon and the Lily of The Valley from the biblical “Song of Songs”. The red roses represent the occult way and the white lilies the mystic way. They are also a reference to Jesus and Mary.

Pairs or couples: A number of cards in the Tarot depict two figures before a higher power (The Devil, The Lovers, for example). This imagery indicates that there is something emerging from the sub-conscious into the conscious. You could also look at images of other pairs in the tarot, such as a pair of columns or a pair of sphinxes. The pair of acolytes at the Hierophant’s feet could represent theology and mysticism, your inner spiritual experiences balanced against what you have been taught by others.

Colours: The alchemic meaning of red and white shown together is a conjunction or sublimation of opposites.

St Andrews Cross: Represents a cross roads as well as the union of he higher and lower worlds, or consciousness. The crossed keys also indicate this.

In her classic Tarot book, 78 Degrees of Wisdom, Rachel Pollack says:

To really discover God inside yourself, you must undergo some uncomfortable confrontations with your own psyche. Similarly, to decide for yourself what is the moral thing to do in all situations might require an agony of choice. Nevertheless, many people today simply cannot accept either society or a Church bearing the ultimate responsibility for their lives.

The Hierophant is a guide or teacher on your spiritual path. He could be an external figure like the Dalai Lama or the Pope, or your own local church minister or your Wiccan High Priest. He is someone who follows a recognised and traditional path who you can turn to for advice and guidance about spirituality.

Like all the Tarot cards, the Hierophant could also be an aspect of yourself or an archetype. He could represent your Higher Self or your conditioned responses to religion and tradition.

In a divinatory sense, the Hierophant indicates education and spiritual development. In the early days of Christianity even the wealthiest and most powerful people were likely to be illiterate. The Church offered education and literacy as a way of gaining social and political power as well as converts to their new religion.

As the High Priest, he offers occult and esoteric knowledge through books and formal learning as well as through the experiences of every day life. He performs rites of passage and can provide counsel to seer the seeker through a dark night of the soul.

As I have already said, The Hierophant is a teacher, but this Hierophant can only teach those who are ready and willing to learn. The student submits his will to his teacher, a higher authority or Higher Power in order to benefit from their wisdom.
As well as words written in books and established doctrines, the Hierophant teaches lessons of self-control, focus and discipline - qualities needed by those who aspire to spiritual development and growth.

In a reading, the Hierophant would indicate taking the road that is tested and true. It’s not the time to strike out on a path that is new and untried. You may also be need to exercise your moral judgement about what is right and what is wrong. (Even if no one can see you do it, it doesn’t make it ok!)

In a relationship reading, this presence of this card could be indicating marriage - a traditional institution by any stretch of the imagination.

The Hebrew letter that is associated with The Hierophant is “Vau”. Vau means “hook” or “nail”. It is something that is used to join or link things together, to mend or repair. It is also used as the conjunction “and”, a word that links two things together. A hook or nail pierces or penetrates an object in order to be of use - it facilitates a union.

The astrological sign attributed to The Hierophant is Taurus. This sign is associated with luxury, stubbornness and affluence. It is the 2nd sign of the Zodiac and rules the dates of April 21 to May 21. It’s Element is feminine Earth, and it is ruled by the planet Venus.

In a reading, all correspondences give you extra information about the card. Let them wash around in your subconscious and you will find they will pop up on their own accord. For example, the dates ruled by Taurus could be significant for the person you are reading for, or they could have an issue with a Taurean, or even need to develop their inner Taurean.

Additionally, Venus is not just a planet, she is also the Goddess of Love. Venus loves beauty and luxury but is also jealous and angry. These is all information that may prove handy during a reading. That’s why it’s so important not to get locked into a rigid idea of what each cards means - they have many facets and depending on the way the cards a turned, different facets will shine.

The horns of Taurus the Bull are masculine weaponry, but many early myths refer to horns as a symbol of the Moon Goddess. Horns are also a sign of wisdom.

Like all the cards, the Hierophant also has his shadow side. He can represent being too rigid, judgemental or locked into a fundamentalist religious worldview. Think outside the square and examine your beliefs to see if they are still valid. Are you clinging to beliefs that don’t fit you any more through fear or habit?

A crisis of faith could also be indicated by a reversed or negatively aspected Hierophant.

The High Priestess is Isis seated on her throne, representing sovereignty over the physical plane. She is flanked by the black and white pillars which represent Severity and Mercy. Too much severity is cruelty and too much mercy is weakness. We strive for the ‘middle pillar’, which is the correct balance of each. Behind her is a veil, depicting the Tree of Life in pomegranates, the fruit of the Underworld. Behind the veil is a lake and the scene depicted in the Moon Card.

The crescent moon at her feet represents receptivity – the moon has no light of its own and simply receives and radiates the light of the sun. You could see this as the unconscious/Moon and conscious/Sun minds. Upon her chest is the cross which represents the balance of opposing forces e.g. dark and light, above and below. When I speak of dark and light, I don’t mean these as ‘good’ and ‘evil’ but as necessary and opposing forces such as winter and summer, or day and night.

She represents the deeper, darker, hidden aspects of the feminine archetype – occult knowledge, psychic powers, and intuition. She is the Virgin, or woman unto herself. She is a passive force and points to a time of reflection and the awakening of our inner selves. When she appears, you may not have all the information you need to make a decision, or things may still be hidden from you. Trust your intuition to give you the answers. The High Priestess also represents ideas and possibilities. Every time we look within or meditate, we are on the path of the High Priestess.

The High Priestess, the Empress and the Moon represent the Goddess archetypes of the Maiden, Mother and Crone. The High Priestess is the point where the human meets the Divine. Other Deities that correspond with this card are any of the lunar goddesses, virgin goddesses and huntresses like Diana. The High Priestess is the ‘initiator’. To initiate means to begin and she will initiate you into the journey begun by the Fool. The Magician has potential, but will he break through his own illusions and tricks and be initiated into the journey?

The High Priestess also represents study and learning. In order to fulfil our potential, we do need to expand our minds and explore myth, psychology and religion.

Astrologically, the High Priestess corresponds to The Moon. (The Moon tarot card corresponds to Pisces). Her Qabalistic letter is Gimel, which means camel and has the gematric value of 3.

When negatively aspected, or reversed, the High Priestess can indicate being passive for too long. There is a time to take action and that time is now. She is lost in a world of illusion and dreams, cut off from the realities of life. It is time to leap into the thick of life, to participate fully in the mundane world of work, relationships, sexuality and emotions.
On a personal level, the High Priestess asks us questions such as:

• What seeds or ideas are you planting?
• How healthy is your inner life (i.e. time spent in meditation, reflection, writing in your diary or even just ‘me’ time)
• Do you respect your spiritual growth? Is it a priority for you?
• Are you in touch with your intuition?

Next: The Empress

The Lesson of the Magician is that you are the Creator of your own experiences.

The Magician represents a union of opposites and a connection between Spirit and earthly existence. The Fool has unpacked his bag and become the Magician.

Life is full of possibilities and the Magician represents turning potential into something tangible and real. It’s time to make a choice and put plans into action. When the Magician appears it is likely to be a time of change and new opportunities. He reminds us that to be effective we need to remain grounded and active in the mundane world while remaining connected to the spiritual realms.

You have all you need to succeed so have confidence in yourself. Don’t reveal too much to others at this time because the greater strength lies in silence. It is better to let others think you are the Fool than the Magician. You are the Creator of your own life. Your words and actions are spells and you can now bring into being the things you desire.

Reversed:

The Magician reversed is out of touch with reality. His plans are unclear, incomplete or inconsistent. He is lacks direction, self-discipline and may even be mentally unbalanced. The timing may be wrong or you may be ignoring warning signs that are telling you to that your plans will not be the success you hoped for. Take some time out for a reality check and return to the Fool to see what other opportunities are available. This is also a clear call for grounding and centering.

Sandy is a friend of mine who says her life has been very difficult financially, spiritually and healthwise over the last year. So, I did a brief reading for her to determine what is going on and more importantly, what she can do about it.

The cards I drew for her are the 8 of Pentacles, Queen of Pentacles and the 10 of Cups

The appearance of the 8P tells me that you know what to do, but you aren’t doing it, or aren’t doing enough of it. Take the bull by the horns and practice what you already know. It’s up to you to ring in these changes. They are within your control. You are not at the whim of some external force. No one is going to wave a magic wand and make it all ok. You have the skills and knowledge to re-connect with the divine spark within you and bring it back to life. Remember that you can’t do your affirmations, practice LOA etc just once, it needs to be part of your daily life. Repetition is one of the key themes of the 8P and you need to practice this in your life. Doing work that benefits others is also important for you now, either in your day to day work life or some kind of volunteer/service work.

The QP represents physical nurturing of the self and others. Pay particular attention to your physical needs - food, sleep, exercise. Make your physical health a priority.

The final card of the reading is the 10 of Cups. You are preparing to move into a spiritually richer and more meaningful phase of existence, but it hinges on putting into practice the things we have already discussed - care of the physical self, service to others and practicing the disciplines of your spiritual path.

Good luck!

The Fool’s element is Air and its Hebrew letter is Aleph, which means ‘ox’. You could think of this as the air that aerates the soil as it is ploughed by the ox, allowing life to bloom. Recently, the unpredictable planet Uranus has come to be linked with this card.

The Fool is your ‘life force’, also known as chi, or prana. He also represents the potential locked away inside you. Your personal journey is to unlock and express it.

Mythologically, the Fool can be seen in Dionysus/Bacchus and the Green Man. In the Arthurian cycles, he is Percival, one who eventually achieves the Holy Grail.

The Fool resides in madness, in ecstatic states far from our mundane state of mind. To understand the Fool, we have to go to places we are afraid of and for which no map exists.

Enlightenment is a journey, not a destination and on this journey will revisit the Fool many times. As our skills increase and we tuck them in into our ‘sack’, the challenges will we face will get harder.

The first and last card of the Major Arcana represents the eternal cycle of life and life after life. Innocence and optimism is protecting The Fool from the danger feared by the dog. The Fool is focused on a spiritual vision and has no fear of a potential fall off the edge of the cliff.

Light and breezy as air, the Fool is at home everywhere and nowhere. He is a gypsy, at traveler, exploring the world and having adventures. He is starting out on his journey through life and shows up when you are beginning a new journey or when you need to ‘lighten up’. He is telling you to take a risk and view the world through innocent eyes again.

Trust you are being guided in the right direction. The Sun shows you have the energy to embark on this exciting new journey. Anything can happen when the Fool appears and in truth, the Fool is a wise sage in disguise. He knows from experience that he can trust his Higher Self/the Universe/Life/God/ to take care of him.

He turns his face towards divine guidance and lives fully in the present. There is no worrying about the future or dwelling in the past. He knows that each step will be made clear to him in good time.

Negatively aspected:

This Fool is indeed foolish. There is a time for spontaneous action and a time for a more considered and mature approach. The reversed Fool is not focused on higher guidance, he is simply taking dangerous risks. This Fool is a gambler and troublemaker who avoids responsibility and commitment. The timing for a desired undertaking may be all wrong or the querant may be trying to hide from past mistakes that need rectifying. The Fool reversed relies too much on what other people think and say instead of listening to the voice of his own intutition. This Fool is wasting his breath.

The Sun is probably the most positive and optimistic card in the deck. It’s appearance lifts the energy of the whole reading and shows that even if things have been difficult to date, things are about to take a turn for the better.

In the solar system, the Sun is the source of Light and Life. Without it’s life sustaining energy, we would not exist. Astrologically, the Sun represents the basic character of the individual (the Sun sign). The Sun is also the centre of our solar system and counts our days as the Moon counts our nights. The Sun represents love, romance, creativity and happiness.

The Sun’s bright rays shed light on confusion and darkness. All deceptions are banished. The light of the Sun bares the soul, strips away illusions and thus the challenge of the Moon is won. In The Sun, the querant is able to experience herself as an ‘integral and self-regenerating part of the life-force ’

The Sun shows an improvement in whatever area the querant has asked about – improved health, relationships, finances and happiness. The querant may have gone through a difficult time, such as the dark night of the soul indicated by The Moon, and The Sun shows they have emerged successfully into a fresh dawn.

The sun doesn’t necessarily indicate wealth, but it can point to fame and the potential for making one’s fortune. This is also a card of positive times within the family. In a question about timing, the Sun could indicate daytime, the time of Leo, the Summer months or the beginning of something. This card augers well for prizes, wins, pregnancy and the successful acquisition or completion of one’s goals.

Other Tarot cards that show the sun in the RW style decks are The Fool, The Lovers and Death. They all share the Sun’s meaning of rebirth and enlightenment. Interestingly, the Sun doesn’t appear on any of the minor arcane, although a few cards do show the Moon.

The Hebrew letter correspondence of The Sun is the letter Resh, which means ‘front of head’, which suggests the higher faculties of the mind such as logic, thought free from restriction and creativity. This letter also points to our higher self, or Holy Guardian Angel – the part of us that is connected with the All, the totality of our being of which our physical self and 3D world is just a small part.

Mythologically, this card represents purity, innocence and rebirth. Myths of rebirth and resurrection are correspondences, such as the myths of Christ, Osiris and Mithras. On a personal level, this card represents our own periods of rebirth and renewal.

The numerology of the number 20 is also linked to rebirth and cycles. It is a higher octave of the number 2 and instead of the 2 that represents partnership on a material level, 20 represents partnership with the Divine, in the form of the Higher Self, Holy Guardian Angel or God (whatever you perceive the force to be).

Hi Vicky,

Good question. I think that ultimately, we all need to be able to read for ourselves. When I’m upset or very emotional, it’s hard for me to make heads or tails of what I am seeing. If I have a big decision to make or I feel there is something I need to know, but I just don’t know what, then I might go and have a reading with someone else.

When I read for myself, I take it just as seriously as I would if I was reading for someone else. I get clear in my mind about the question I want to ask, shuffle and lay out the cards and then ponder the cards that have come out.

 Sure, back in the day I used to just keep shuffling and dealing until I got cards I liked, but what I really want is honesty, not just a happy ending.

Reading for yourself is a great way to learn the cards. You could do a three card spread each day - just shuffle the cards, split them or spread them any way you like to see what three you get.

Keep a tarot journal and write in it each day the cards you got and what your impressions of it are, how you feel about it, and what you think about it.

No need to write volumes and don’t censor yourself. There is no right or wrong and no one will see your jouranl except you.

Another good idea is to print up a list of the names of all the cards and each day, place a tick next to the ones you pulled out. Over time you will see a pattern of the cards you repeatedly get. The cards you DON’T get are significant too.

Tiny threads of energy, like spider webs of light, connect us all together. We send and receive energy along these threads al the time. They connect you to everything you own, to situations and places. They also connect us to the physical and spiritual planes so without these connections, we wouldn’t even exist. When these possessions, places, people etc are dysfunctional or toxic, so will be the energy you send and receive along these threads.

The ego is very fearful. It thinks that if it doesn’t get what it wants, when it wants it, it’s entire existence is threatened.

The ego is consumed by the fear of it’s own mortality. If it doesn’t control you, it fears it will die. That’s why it can be so hard to do what we know we need to be doing, like not eating so much, or spending so much or indulging in self-destructive habits. For most of us, the ego is in control and it wants that empty place filled at all costs. It’s existence is a thread to the ego’s existence. If we stop striving to fulfill every tiny wish, trying to stave off an uncertain future, stop buying into social media that proclaims us to too thin, too fat, too old, too plain etc, why, then the ego would have no function at all. And it would die. The ego serves to give us a sense of self, of separateness, of differentiation. The trouble is that today’s world has spun it’s collective ego way out of contro.

In a saner world, teens (or anyone) wouldn’t need breast implants to bolster their sense of self worth. We would recognize beauty as something that arises from within and occurs naturally.

With shows like Extreme Makeover, we are telling the new generations that the most important thing in life is their appearance, that they must look good and be attractive at all costs, including the cost of the bank account.

I guess the main solace we can find in this is that for this force to arise, an opposing, spiritually positive force must also be gaining momentum in the world and our psyches.

When you think of someone out of the blue, for no particular reason, it’s because that person’s energy has entered your energy field or it never left form last time you connected.

Everytime you think of a past relationship, a past friendship or even a negative situation, you continue to feed it and be fed by it.

Changing your mind, not being able to mae up your meind etc and be caused by other people’s silent or not so silent beliefs and opinions affecting yours.

To know, to dare, to will and to be silent.

I recommend that everyone take simple steps to protect their energy, emotions and personal space from psychic disturbances. Psychic disturbances can take the form of:

• Being too sensitive to energy of other people.
• Not being able to get clarity about what you want.
• Sleep disturbances.
• Anxiety or depression.
• Lack of energy and motivation.

In severe cases, you may be experiencing ghosts/hauntings or poltergeist activity in the home. Some addiction problems can also be caused by psychic disturbances.

Any of these things can be relatively recent experiences or chronically long-term. There are a variety of simple things you can do yourself at home that will help keep your energy clear and protected and stop you picking up on the thoughts, feelings and emotions of others. Even if you think this isn’t happening to you, try out some of the suggestions below and see if they make a difference.

• Take a heavily salted bath once a week. Use 1-2 kilos of salt and stay in for at least 20 minutes. Alternatively, swim in the ocean weekly. If you don’t have a full bath, use a footbath and soak your feet.
• Take the Bush Flower remedies Angelsword and Fringed Violet. These can both be found in the ‘Meditation’ essence, readily available at health food stores and some pharmacies.
• Prayer and meditation, affirmations (spoken out loud).
• Use a sage smudge stick on both yourself and your home.

Most personal psychic disturbances are easily addressed, but long-term or more intrusive problems need extra help. In these instances, I most important thing I can stress is to exclude drugs and alcohol and to implement all of the suggestions above.

In a very, very, very small number of cases people may experience what is known as ‘possession’ or ‘overshadowing’. This doesn’t always look like a scene from ‘The Exorcist’. It is usually far more sutble and hard to spot unless you know what you are looking for. Drug and alcohol abuse, constant chaos and drama, depression, suicidal thoughts, unusual compulsions or obsessions, feelings of extreme isolation, hearing voices - these are just some of the symptoms of overshadowing. Yes, they could also be caused by mental illness, but it doesn’t hurt to clear things up on the spiritual plane as well.