Tarot Meditation 20: The Sun, Key 19

Such pleasure there is in the light of the Sun! This key is one of celebration, joy, and accomplishment. The naked child rides the white horse of pure solar energy triumphantly from the walled garden cultivated human consciousness. The four sunflowers face the child, not the Sun behind them, indicating the elements of Fire, Air, Earth and Water are paying attention to the child's actions.

The child represents yet another step in The Fool's journey toward enlightenment. Like The Fool, s/he wears a wreath and a red feather in her/his hair, signifying s/he is gaining spiritual victory over the lower aspects of humanness. The nakedness indicates there is nothing to hide. Controlling the horse only with body movements shows the child has reached a balance between the conscious and unconscious mind. The red banner in the child's hand denotes action and purpose of thought related to the Sun's light (opposite of the reflective, quite light we saw in The Moon). Note the banner is in the child's left hand, an indication that purpose is driven by our unconscious mind.

This Key reminds us that, when we are who we are and are willing to share ourselves in gentleness and kindness, the world can be a joyous place. Speaking our truth quietly puts us in balance with All That Is, and within ourselves. There is joy in the process of coming into the Light.

Be blessed,

Deb

Tarot Meditation 18: The Star, Key 17

Much of Tarot symbolism is connected to balance, and The Star carries through this theme. A beautiful woman is poised on the edge of a pool of water, one foot on land (the conscious) and one in water (the unconscious). She is Mother Nature pouring waters of life onto the Earth. The five rivulets from the pitcher in her left (feminine) hand represent our five physical senses before they flow into the pool of Universal Consciousness. From her right (masculine) hand, the pitcher pours water directly into the pool, which is stirred to vibration by meditation.

The sacred Ibis of divine thought rests in a tree over her head, and she is crowned by eight stars, seven of which represent the seven major chakra centers of the body. The eighth, largest, star represents cosmic energy.

This Key is all about meditation, of finding balance in our everyday life - through our five physical senses and our seven major chakra centers - to be still in the pool of the unconscious long enough to truly listen to the divine.

The Star ultimately represents the sacred gifts that are always available to us, if we would but be still and wait for them.

Be blessed,

Deb

Tarot Meditation 14: Death, Key 13

Humble apologies for the break in writing this blog - sometimes life just spin around us, and our time seems out of control - which is what happened to me since the last entry. Ironically, for many reasons, the next key in the Major Arcana with which I resume this writing is Death, one of the most significant keys in Tarot, and a key all about control.

When I read for people who are new to Tarot, often Death is the only key with which they're familiar, and the key frightens them. "Ohhhh I hope I don't get the Death card!" is an exclamation I hear frequently. If the querant does draw Death, it gives me one of my best opportunities to teach about Tarot and the richness of its symbols. Rarely does Death mean physical death in a reading.

I often think this key should be renamed: Resurrection, Rebirth, Renewal, Transformtion, Transmutation are some alternate names that come to mind. This key ultimately is about letting go of that which no longer serves us, so that we have room in our lives for joyful abundance and new life.

We surround ourselves with so much that isn't for our highest good - too much stuff/clutter, people who are not supportive or who are "energy vampires", too much emotional baggage from our past - so much that weighs us down and literally buries us. As long as we fill our lives, hearts, minds with negativity and clutter, there can be no room for the positive, good energy that the Universe really has in mind for us.

Notice the flower on the flag Death carries: it is the five-petal rose of the eternal life-force. The water in the river that flows at Death's feet is carried up to the sky by the light and heat of the sun, and comes down again in the form of blessed rain: a reminder to us that the cycles of life are eternal and giving.

The fallen people at Death's feet - including the Bishop - are a reminder that there always will be endings in our lives, and there will always be beginnings. The cycle spins on and on. This Key, most importantly, represents the notion that Spirit is eternal.

So, I invite you to take inventory of what needs to "die away" in your life so that there is space for joy, happiness and all the gifts the Universe is waiting to bestow upon you!

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