The Tarot Room – Georgianna

Today, Tarot Views the News looks at themes surrounding the situation in Japan.

This is not meant to be a predictive reading, but rather a quick Tarot glimpse at the following:

•describe the Earthquake
•describe the Tsunami
•what is Nuclear Energy
•what is Fortitude

King of Cups

The first card I pulled asked the cards to describe the Earthquake. The card I got was the King of Cups.

A king sits alone on a slab of concrete that appears to be floating in the sea. A fish jumps out of the water on the king’s left, a boat floats by on his right.

This card typically is not about earthquakes. But last Friday’s earthquake caused a tsunami that wiped out whole villages along the coastline.

Like this king, people were washed to sea. Water was and is everywhere.

#6 The Lovers

When I asked the cards to describe the Tsunami, I got the Lovers card.

Two naked figures stand under an angel, a tree behind the man is on fire, while a snake encircles the apple tree behind the woman.

There’s a mountain in the background that reminds me of the volcano Shinmoedake. The earth seems split between the couple and there’s a disturbing cloud floating above.

Though everything has been stripped bare, the Japanese people continue to be unified, hopefully blessed by the Angel above them.

These first two cards are interesting. If I were to consciously place them, I’d probably choose the King of Cups for the Tsunami and the Lovers for the Earthquake.

But in fact, they’re working together. As has been said in the press, these are ‘twin disasters.’ Like the Lovers themselves, the Earthquake and Tsunami are one.

#3 The Empress

The question, ‘what is nuclear energy’ was answered with the Empress.

Stars sparkle bright on her crown as she sits on her own slab of concrete surrounded by water and a field of wheat and flowers.

The Empress provides the world with abundance and joy, but also sadness. She is Mother Nature, and not to be taken lightly.

In the context of this question, nuclear energy might be the sparkling power she wears on her crown. It’s the brilliance of nuclear fission that can comfort or kill.

It’s always tempting to see this card as only positive, filled with love, support and nurturance. And in many ways that’s how we’ve been looking at nuclear power.

But as beautiful as the Empress is, she rules over one of the most painful cards in the Tarot. The Three of Swords, sorrow.

Nuclear energy is similar. It’s incredibly wonderful when everything is good, but when it’s bad, it’s absolutely devastating.

3 of Wands

The final question was, ‘what is Fortitude?’ The card I got was the 3 of Wands.

A person stands watching boats on the water while the sun seems to be setting.

Fortitude is waiting with patience and virtue. But it’s not without action. The astrological correspondence for this card is the Sun in Aries.

There’s so much to do, and so little that can be done. It’s like the person in the card has to wait patiently, while being ready to spring into action at a moment’s notice.

This card is a three, ruled by the Empress already drawn. Everything is now in motion. Fortitude is the courage and resilience to stand firm and face what’s to come.

Love, healing and courage to the Japanese people.

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Flag of Wisconsin

In the last segment of Tarot Views the News, we looked at some themes surrounding the situation in Egypt.

This time round, we’ll bring it back to North America and explore a few concepts highlighted by the ongoing protests in the state of Wisconsin.

This is not a predictive reading, but rather a look at the following terms from a Tarot perspective:

What is a Labor Union?
What is Compromise?
What is Leadership?
What is Social Justice?

When I asked, ‘what is a Labor Union?” the card I got was the 2 of Swords.

2 of Swords

This card reflects two distinct viewpoints, the resolution of which comes through intelligent, serious communication.

Emotional issues are to be kept at bay, while carefully considering all sides of a situation.

At it’s best, a Labor Union is a balance of sorts, an attempt to make the parties in a labor for wage transaction equal and fair.

Labor unions are meant to discourage power imbalances.

2 of Cups

I pulled the 2 of Cups for ‘what is Compromise?

This card is typically interpreted romantically, but in this context I think it’s pointing to the sacrifices we’re willing to make when we’re coming from a place of mutual respect.

Compromise is the understanding that other people matter too.

The caduceus above the two figures seems especially significant to our question.

It’s an ancient symbol of commerce and negotiation. Compromise is evenhanded exchange and reciprocity between two parties.

#20 Judgement

The card I pulled for ‘what is Leadership?’ was #20, Judgment.

Families rise from grey coffins, heeding the call of the Archangel Gabriel.

Leadership is clear vision and a call to action. Like the flaming angel in the card, a leader inspires and uplifts.

Leadership sees past the confines of what is now, and takes us beyond, to a better place.

#3 The Empress

And finally, when I asked, ‘what is Social Justice?’ I got #3, the Empress.

Social Justice is love, like that of a mother for her children. It is nurturing, creative, and compassionate.

The Empress is concerned with what is real, that which is experienced by our five senses.

She wants these experiences to be shared by all of her children. And if they suffer, she does too.

Social Justice is bountiful and abundant. There is enough for everyone.
It is love and respect for all creatures of the world.

There’s an interesting progression in these cards. If we look at the 20 as being 2 + 0, equaling 2, we have three 2s followed by a 3.

Could that mean that Labour Union/Compromise/Leadership progresses into Social Justice?

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Tomorrow’s Valentine’s Day and it’s time for a Tarot Love spread!

Here’s a simple one. It’s meant to explore both your feelings about love, as well as offer suggestions for either finding a new partner or making an existing relationship stronger.

The spread closes with some advice on how to spend Valentine’s Day itself (or a fun night out whatever day it is).

Try it and let me know what you think!

Valentine’s Day Love Spread
1. What does Love mean to me?
2. How am I expressing Love?
3. How can I express Love more in my life?

If you’re in a relationship:
4. How can I make my relationship stronger and/or more romantic?
5. What would be a great way to let my partner know I Love them this Valentine’s Day?

If you’re single and looking for a partner:
4. What can I do to direct myself to a fabulous relationship?
5. What would be a great way to let my inner Love shine this Valentine’s Day?

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#0 The Fool

Inspired by Donnaleigh de LaRose’s post “The High Priestess’ Scroll – What’s In There?”, I decided to ask the cards, “What’s in the Fool’s Satchel?”

Was I ever in for a surprise. For some reason I thought he’d be carrying around fun stuff. But no. At least not on this trip.

5 of Swords

Using the RWS, I pulled four cards.

The first I got was the 5 of Swords. This is about conflict. Winning the battle, but losing the war.

Defeat is the key word on the Thoth Tarot’s version. A defeat that comes from forcing your way, leaving no options but yes or no.

3 of Swords

Next was the 3 of Swords. Sorrow. This is one of the most painful cards in the deck. It’s deep sadness, carried in the heart and too often in silence.

After that came #13, Death. What’s there to say here except that the Fool carries one scary satchel!

#13 - Death

The final card I drew was the 8 of Disks. There’s nothing overtly disturbing about this card. In fact it can sometimes be quite pleasant.

Given what else was in the bag, however, I can’t help but read it as tedium.

It’s the work you have to do but really don’t want to. A reminder that nothing good comes without some effort.

8 of Disks

Why would the Fool carry these things around? He’s such a lighthearted guy and has such a small bag. Why fill it with the hard stuff?

Maybe part of the answer lies in what’s in his other hand. It’s a white flower, symbol of purity, openness, unsullied ideals.

It’s the colour of the dog beside him, free, enthusiastic and running on instinct.

He holds the flower playfully with his fingers, touching it directly. These energies are how he expresses himself to the outside world.

The dark stuff is hidden in a bag at the end of a pole, slung over the side we don’t see. It’s in the deep recesses of his subconscious, not even connected directly to him.

What’s in the satchel balances out the flower, could be its shadow. Notice that the bag and the flower are both directly below the sun.

I was surprised by what the Fool carries around, but with some reflection it makes a lot of sense. The seed of all things is part of what he stands for.

Though innocence, openness and the ideal are at the forefront, conflict, pain and tedium are part of life as well.

On a more positive note, you could also think of the Fool’s satchel as a medicine bag. He’s carrying around a bit of the bad stuff in case he needs it as an antidote.

Either way, now that I’ve taken a peek inside, I’m thinking it’s probably best to just keep this satchel closed.

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Given that the weather has been in the news so much lately, I thought it might be a perfect time to post Georgie’s Weather Forecast Spread.

Now don’t be fooled by the name.  Though it’s named for me, it was actually created by Deb Scott, a listener of Beyond Worlds and Psychic Friends Live.

She heard me describe the energies of the Major Arcana as being like weather fronts moving into our lives.  We can’t change them, but we can at least dress right for the conditions.

That got Deb thinking about some of the Majors Only decks she loves but rarely uses for lack of interesting spreads.  So she came up with this one.

Deb recommends that when using this spread, it’s best to keep your question rather open.  Just ask the cards for a weather update in a particular area of your life, or in general.

When you’re dealing with the Majors, it’s not always up to you.

So break out your favourite Majors Only deck, or pull the Majors out of a pack of 78, and try it now!

Georgie’s Weather Forecast Spread
1) What weather front has just moved out?
2) What are the existing conditions?
3) What front is moving in now?
4) What’s the next big one to expect?

Thanks Deb! Fabulous spread.

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Like many of you, I got a few new Tarot decks over the holidays.  My collection has been steadily growing through the years, but each deck is unique, a personality onto itself with its own distinct perspective.

Before I really get down to studying any new cards, I like to start the relationship off with a ‘get to know you’ type spread.  It’s sort of like an interview to see how we’re likely to get along and what might be expected from our dialogue.

In this spread, I pulled four cards, reading them separately, then in one grand overview.

1)  to represent the type of energy the new deck embodies
2)  to indicate the type of questions the new deck is particularly interested in
3)  describes the emotional tone of the deck
4)  what the new deck expects from me

Using my new Tarot of Initiation, a majors only deck by Emmett Brennan, the first card I pulled was #6, The Lovers.  The picture is of a wedding.  Many figures are in the scene.  The bride and groom, two young men, an officiate, a lion, eagle, cherub, oroborus, and two ladies that look suspiciously like the Empress and the dancing woman from The World card.

The Lovers

This deck has the energy of commitment, unification, and a welcoming fraternity. It speaks from many perspectives and shines brightest when it succeeds in making a whole out of disparate parts.

When I asked what type of questions this deck likes best, I got #1, the Magician.  A person is standing at an altar, right arm raised holding a caduceus, left arm pointing to the ground.  A book is open before him, incense is burning and the four suits of the Tarot are all represented.

The Magician

The Magician points to beginnings, new ways of thinking and communicating.  He has open, illuminated and directed intellect.  And he’s likely to talk your ear off.

I think this deck will be happy to talk about anything and everything, but especially about new directions.  It’s best at offering a way to focus one’s will.  Start with the ideal and go from there.  It’s interested in the big picture.  No surprise it’s majors only.

The card describing the emotional tone of the deck is #5, The Hierophant.  The image is quite traditional with a pope-like figure sitting above two acolytes.  A cross on his crown reaches towards the sky, while one on his robe points to the ground below.  His adoring monks are kneeling before him.

The Hierophant

No soft edges here, this deck isn’t up for any coddling.  It’s mostly interested in being a vehicle of enlightenment to those that come before it.  It sees itself as a medium of sober, practical wisdom rather than a shoulder to cry on.

The final card asks something of me.  And it’s #0, The Fool.  Could it be more perfect?  The figure in the picture is standing by a cliff, satchel tied to a caduceus over his left shoulder and in his left hand a cup.  His wolf dog is with him.

The Fool

The abyss seems dark and deep though The Fool stands very close to the edge.  Above him is something like a stage, an empty lunar landscape, but with the sun shining above and through it.

When I approach this deck, it expects me to be open, innocent and fearless.  A clean slate, an empty stage – all things are possible.  I’m being asked to relinquish all preconceptions and just let the cards speak.

Overall, it seems clear.  Approach this deck as the Fool begins a journey, eyes wide open and no baggage.  With directed will and a firm commitment to oneself, Tarot of Initiation offers wisdom from within and beyond, and asks only that I meet it with respect and an enthusiasm for enlightenment.

I think I’m going to like these cards.

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