Tarot Meditation 10: The Hermit, Key 9

The Hermit is one of my favorite Keys in Tarot. He represents guidance, direction, and light. He stands on a snow-covered mountain, bearing in his right hand the Lamp of Truth, with Light shining within it in the form of the six-pointed Seal of Solomon, representing wisdom. The Seal also represents a balance of male and female energy. The Hermit holds in his left hand the staff of initiation for those who would but ask.

Numerologically, nine represents ultimate completion, the Trinity times three. In this Key, nine symbolizes both completion and a willingness to start a new cycle with the next Key.

This Key is about a search for truth, a thirst for knowledge, a willingness to put ourselves in the path of learning. The Hermit's lonely stance represents that, most often, knowledge comes in the silence of meditation, the stillness of listening.

In Mary Stewart's series on the Merlin legend Merlin's teacher says to him, "Never turn from knowing, no matter how the knowing comes." I suggest that, wherever you are along the path(s) to enlightenment, learn, learn, learn, and discern!

Be blessed,

Deb

Tarot Meditation 9: Strength, Key 8

A woman holds the mouth of a lion - is she opening or closing the lion's mouth? We don't know, but we do know that her actions require courage and trust!

She wears a garland of flowers, indicating a zest for life, coupled with her white gown of purity of thought and emotions. Around her waist is a belt of roses, symbolizing the union of desire and purity of thought. Over her head hangs the cosmic lemniscate of eternity (the same symbol above The Magician's head in Key 1), indicating that she is guided by Spirit.

Once again, Tarot urges us to find balance in our lives: balance of mind, body, spirit, balance of the profane and the sacred, balance of power and submission.

The Strength Key is about learning to trust in the Universal protection that is always given us, if we but ask. The Key also represents that, while dangerous obstacles are often in our path, the courage of our convictions, coupled with faith in the Eternal, we will be guided and cared for.

Be blessed,

Deb

Tarot Meditation 8: The Chariot, Key 7

The Chariot represents a turning point in The Fool's journey to enlightenment. There are 22 keys in the Major Arcana, with The Fool being numbered 0. The remaining 21 Keys are divided into three groups of seven, with each group representing a stage of The Fool's journey. The Chariot, Key 7, is highly mystical in its meaning for The Fool's journey. More on the numerology of these groups in a minute.

The Chariot embodies The Fool's journey (and growth) through conscious thought, as expressed by an awareness of the Self. On the canopy above The Chariot shine the stars of celestial influence that guide the journey. The Charioteer's diadem is crowned by an eight-pointed star, signifying dominion. The winged symbol on The Chariot's front represents inspiration. In the center is the Hindu symbol for the union of positive and negative forces in the natural world. As we see in almost every key thus far, the call for balance continues, here signified by the sphinexes, which, uncontrolled, could attempt to pull The Chariot in opposing directions. The Charioteer holds in his right (masculine) hand the wand of will, and on his shoulders rest the lunar crescents of the divine feminine.

Numerologically, seven represents mysticism. Seven in the number of the adept, who has learned the secrets of the Arcane and can impart that knowledge to others. A combination of three (balance) and four (steadfastness), Seven joins together mind, body and spirit. Seven also is a number of completion. In the case of The Chariot, seven represents both. The Fool has learned many lessons with a quick and agile mind. Now it is time to journey forward into the next stage of the journey.

Be blessed,

Deb

Tarot Meditation 7: The Lovers, Key 6

The man in Key 6, representing conscious thought, gazes at the woman, representing the unconscious mind, while she gazes upward at Archangel Raphael, the angel of air, representing the superconscious. This triangle of connection reminds us that Truth conveyed by the conscious mind cannot be manifested in the superconscious (and believed) unless it has passed first through the subconscious of true, deep knowing.

Behind the woman is the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, bearing fruit of the five senses. The serpent climbs the tree. Behind the man is the Tree of Trefoil Flames of the 12 signs of the zodiac. The nakedness of the couple indicate they have nothing to hide from each other, and from the world. In the background is a mountain of reason and thought, and the river of the unconscious flows below it.

This Key is deeply metaphysical in that The Lovers Key calls for constant connection among the subconscious, the conscious and the superconscious minds. However, I propose that the metaphysical meaning is even deeper and older than this.

For thousands of years before the Judeo-Christian concept of good and evil, here represented by the Tree of Knowledge climbed by the snake, the snake was a symbol of the Great Goddess, Mother and Giver of all life. Herein, perhaps, lies a deeper meaning of The Lovers Key. The snake is an ancient symbol of transformation, of shedding that which no longer serves us, and allows us to be connected to Mother Earth, just as the crawling snake is connected to Her.

The Lovers Key, which can be interpreted to represent divine love between two people, also can be interpreted to represent divine love of the parts of ourselves, as well as divine love of The Mother of us all.

Be blessed,

Deb

Tarot Meditation 6: The Hierophant, Key 5

Once again, we see the symbol of balance, of choices facing us. The Hierophant's throne is flanked by two pillars, this time representing Mercy and Severity. He wears the triple crown of the pope (in some Tarot decks, this Key is called The Pope). The crown's lower trefoil represents the material world, the middle trefoil the formative world, and the top trefoil the creative world. This symbol of three also appears on the staff in his left hand, representing body, mind and spirit. His right hand is raised in benediction. At The Hierophant's feet are crossed silver and gold keys, signifying a balance of lunar and solar energy. One of the priests wears the red rose of desire, the other the white lillies of thought.

Numerologically, Key 5 is fraught with meaning. Five can represent chaos and unsettled issues, but it also can represent the union of elements - fire, air, earth, water and spirit. We can see both sides of 5 in The Hierophant. He represents a demand for obedience to authority and religious tradition, which can be difficult for those seeking their own path to Spirit.

The Hierophant tells us we should maintain the status quo, we should never question authority, particularly in matters of Spirit. The Hierophant calls for conformity to rules and outward appearances. And yet.... the appearance of The Hierophant in a reading is a call to do exactly the opposite: to question everything, to form our own beliefs, and to trust the guidance of our own inner wisdom and that of our own guides, angels and teachers.

Be blessed,

deb

Tarot Meditation 5: The Emperor, Key 4

The theme of finding balance in one's life continues in Key 4, The Emperor. He sits on a throne flanked by rams' heads, symbolizing Mars energy. In his right hand (the active, male side of the body) is the Egyptian ankh, also called the Cross of Life. The ankh also is a symbol of Venus, here representing the need for balance with love and power. In his left hand (the passive, feminine side of the body) he holds the same globe found in The Empress' right hand. Again, this denotes the need for balance between love and power and between Spirit and matter. The red of his cloak symbolizes action and determination, as we have seen in The Fool, The Magician and The Empress.

The Emperor, as Key 4, numerologically represents all that is secure, with a four-square base of stability. Four is one of the building blocks of divine thought: the four elements (fire, air, earth, water), the four seasons, four points of the compass, the four rivers in the Garden of Eden, and the four letters of the sacred name of Jehovah: IHVH.

The mountains in the background are the same mountains we saw in Key 0, The Fool. Just as they represented cold intellect in that Key, they represent mental activity and authority in this Key.

To review, The Magician is the active principle of life connecting with Spirit and The High Priestess is the passive principle of life connecting with Spirit. As The High Priestess becomes The Empress after initiation, so the Magician becomes The Emperor.

The Emperor reminds us that the Spiritual world and the Material world must come together in balance and harmony if we are to move forward on our life path. We are spiritual beings having a human experience.

Be blessed,

deb

Tarot Meditation 4: The Empress, Key 3

The Empress is Mother Earth. She is fertility, pregnant with new life, new creativity, new pathways to intuition. She is the High Priestess coming into her own. She represents Venus, the Goddess of Love. She is Isis unveiled.

Wearing the white of purity and the red of passion, she is Mother of balance and harmony. Seated on a throne in a blooming garden, she is surrounded by Goddess symbols, including Venus' zodiac symbol on her heart-shaped shield, Venus' sacred cypress trees, Venus' sacred myrtle in the wreath binding her hair, and a necklace of pearls around her neck, also sacred to Venus. The field of wheat at her feet is saced to Isis. Those studying The Empress should also study Greek, Roman and Egyptian mythology to learn more about these, and other, Gods and Goddesses.

The Empress wears a crown of 12 stars, each with six points, denoting dominion and her relationship to sacred geometry and its symbolism with Hebraic thought - the Star of David and the 12 tribes of Israel. Her scepter is topped with a globe, another symbol of her mothering of all that is.

The stream that pours from the bottom of The High Priestess key reappears in the background of The Empress key, signifying that the stream of consciousness continues to flow through our lives and guide us, if we pay attention.

The Empress denotes our ability to bring to fruition our desires. What we believe we can manifest, we can, indeed, bring forth. However, we must use caution, being certain of our desires before we create them, for they will come to pass! The Key also reminds us of our responsibility to nurture, honor and love. Just as The Empress as Mother Earth cares for all her children, we too must care for all our brothers and sisters on the planet.

Be blessed,

Deb