Fool's Journey Day 16
With The Vice Versa deck the original side is called This Side and the added side is called That Side. There is no good side or bad side or right side and reverse side. It simply another aspect of the card. The next step on our journey is 15 - The Devil This side: The Devil crouches on top of a rough pedestal. Chained to it stand The Lovers (card 6). The Devil, part human and part beast with bat wings symbolizing his dark essence. Goat legs depict his beastial nature. In a reading: You need to seriously examine things right now. Which are you in this scene? Devil, with the power or are you the vulnerable person? Look closely at your behavior and see what badly needs to change. If you are bound, you need to break those chains and if you are in servitude to something... addictive behavior, bad habits, bad relationship... you need to let those things go. Find help, someone to talk too. That side: Is very much the same as the first side. The Devil is the Devil, he does not change. He awaits new arrivals now. Behind him burn the tributes he demands from those who serve him. Burning book - the Devil hates knowledge. But there is a lotus that perhaps The Devil is unaware of. The flower born from mud, represents the spirit that can rise from the deepest inferno. In a reading: While the meaning is much the same as the first side, it also says The Devils attentions are elsewhere for the moment. You have a chance to escape what has kept you trapped. Take the hope that flowers before you.
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8- Strength
9- The Hermit 10- The Wheel of Fortune 11 - Justice 12 - The Hanged Man 13 - Death 14 - Temperance We have now completed our second line of the Journey, that of turning inward. The subconscious search to find out who we really are. The psychology of us so to speak. There was a hermit-like withdrawal to find our self awareness then a symbolic death and rebirth. Temperance, the last card symbolizes the part of us that we discover after ego and rigid habits, old stories, die. Now that we have found the essential *us* we will take the last leg of the journey - into the superconscious, where we look at spiritual awareness, we will face confrontation and then unity with life itself. Next up: 15 - The Devil This is The Botanical Inspiration Deck by Lynn Araujo and it is just gorgeous. The deck comes in a sturdy decorated box and has a drawstring organza pouch to store them in if you don't want to use the box. There are 44 well made cards with illustrations and a quote that goes with the flower properties. The guide book (instead of a LWB) is illustrated and has a bit of history or a story to go along with the flower. There is also a fold-out guide to the Secret Language of Flowers. It is just a lovely deck to have if you are a collector of beautiful oracle decks and it also works incredibly well as an oracle. This deck is The Hedgewitch Botanical Oracle by Siolo Thompson and it was just released a few days ago. She is the creator of the Linestrider Tarot deck, which I do not have but is on my wish list. I pre-ordered this deck because it just looked incredibly beautiful but I had no idea how powerful it would be. The illustrations are just gorgeous and the Hedgwitch's Field Guide is thick and full of an abundance of information for each plant as well as her paintings. Again it is a must have if you collect lovely oracle cards but more than that, it works very well as an oracle, on it's own or with other decks. There are 40 cards with a lot of useful information. The cards are well made and shuffle easily. I also bought this book, The Green Witch by Arin Murphy-Hiscock. I tend to hesitate on buying books aimed at witches, because they often have that strict feel of heavy, need to do ritual and I no longer follow that path like I once did. But this book isn't like that and I loved how she talked about being a Green Witch is much like I already live my life, being in tune with my environment in a solitary way and helping to heal and pass on energy in the ways that I can, without that heavy feeling of ritual.
The book has a lot of fantastic information on plants, botanicals and working with the elements in your living area. Both home and neighborhood and I am enjoying it a lot. The only downside is there are no illustrations which I think would be helpful in identifying the plants. All in all it is a gorgeous book to have in my library. Fool's Journey Day 15
With The Vice Versa deck the original side is called This Side and the added side is called That Side. There is no good side or bad side or right side and reverse side. It simply another aspect of the card. The next step on our journey is 14 - Temperance This side: An Angel pours the water of life from one cup to the other in endless equilibrium. Her robes bear the symbols for sulfur (spirit), and mercury (soul). There are 3 prime elements and the one not shown is salt, which represents the body and its absence here shows us that this alchemical process is for the spirit and soul. In a reading: The alchemical act of tempering is to bring it into balance. The angel is tempering the life force by balancing many things. Sun and Moon, gold and silver, active to receptive, day and night, logic and intuition. (These are the many correspondences for the two cups) Where are you out of balance? What element needs to be increased or decreased? What do you need to do to restore harmony? That side: From The Angels point of view you can see the Hanged Mans gallows now empty. Maybe The Hanged Man was so influenced by Temperance that he no longer needed to be removed from the mundane world. Maybe the gallows still waits for The Hanged Man and Temperance is the keeper of this transformational place. A white eagle and red lion sit behind Temperance. These are alchemical symbols for the elements of water and fire. Temperance is the peaceable combination of opposites in perfect balance. In a reading: From here you are looking at the Hanged Man's gallows and the angel stands between you and it, as well as the eagle and lion. Right now they are cautioning you from undertaking an act of sacrifice because now is not the time to surrender your ego to a higher cause. Fool's Journey Day 14
With The Vice Versa deck the original side is called This Side and the added side is called That Side. There is no good side or bad side or right side and reverse side. It simply another aspect of the card. The next step on our journey is 13 - Death This side: Death rides a pale horse holding a black flag bearing the mystical rose. His horse's eyes fiery in the dark. Two men in costume kneel before him. Death brings a storm with him. In a reading: As scary as this image can be, do not fear it as it rarely signifies a real death. It is a reminder, that Death comes for everyone and everything. You cannot avoid it. Something has ended for you, or is about to end and you cannot escape it. Release what no longer serves and make way for the new. Change = growth. That side: The card now shows the view from Death's perspective. An alchemist and a merchant are the men kneeling. The alchemist wishes to learn the art of transformation, lead to gold, hoping to find some sort of immortality. The merchant's goal is to increase his worldly riches. One is holding a lily the other a lotus, symbols of purity and spiritual awakening. Now before Death, they reconsider their priorities and they may do better now, if Death passes them - for now. In a reading: No matter who you are, Death will come for you. Much the same way, there needs to be a death of things in our lives that no longer serve us. This card is saying you have a chance to do so now and the outcome will be positive. Take this next step with hope and serenity and respond to the inevitability of change. Fool's Journey Day 13
With The Vice Versa deck the original side is called This Side and the added side is called That Side. There is no good side or bad side or right side and reverse side. It simply another aspect of the card. The next step on our journey is 12 - The Hanged Man This side: The Hanged Man is suspended from a simple gallows, but not one of death. Notice how calm and serene he appears. His hands are loosely tied and he has voluntarily surrendered here. He has given up control - temporarily - wanting to see things from a different perspective than his own. In a reading: The Hanged Man has the alchemical symbol for sulfer (the soul) on his shirt BUT the symbol is only right side up when he is upside down! This symbol is for you. The Hanged Man is demonstrating how important soul work is and is showing you that you are ready to start. That side: Now it is night but not the dark night of the soul. There is a vast cosmic awareness here. Two men, the acolytes of The Hierophant, standing before him and this is the next stage of their spiritual development. The Hanged Man is their teacher, showing how to give up what they know (Dogma of Church?) and to surrender to the unknowable. In a reading: You could look at the two sides of this card as exhalation and inhalation. On the other side, ego and preconceptions are released. This side, symbols enter the consciousness to be seen more clearly, by a mind with no expectations. Notice, the snake from the Hierophant's cross has come down to earth in this card. Wisdom no longer linked to doctrine. The Hierophant's mask is broken, illusions shattered. What are you now ready to see? Fool's Journey Day 12
With The Vice Versa deck the original side is called This Side and the added side is called That Side. There is no good side or bad side or right side and reverse side. It simply another aspect of the card. The next step on our journey is 11 - Justice This side: Here Justice sits, blindfolded to stay subjective, on her throne. Her diadem is a solar symbol just over her third eye, illuminating insight. She is sitting in Ma'at's temple, the Egyptian Goddess of Truth. Those at death, come to Ma'at, who will place a feather on one side of the scales and the heart of the dead on the other. If the heart is light, they move on, if not, they are thrown to the jaws of Ammit, the Devourer. Justice's scales are impartial, her only duty is to the truth. In a reading: Right now a situation demands the truth. How does your heart sit on the scales of Justice? There will be no pleas, but she is not cruel. Justice embodies fairness but whatever needs to be done in this situation to make it fair and balanced will be done. Delaying it will only bring hardship to you. That side: On the back of Justice's throne is a carving of Ammit. Like Ma'at, Ammit is fair and just, she only devours those whose heart has determined the outcome. But it looks as though the scales of Justice have been broken here and the sword of truth she holds is trapped. Without Justice, Ammit is free to devour whom she chooses, regardless of innocence or guilt. In a reading: You cannot sneak around Justice. You may get away with it for awhile but the truth will come out eventually. Face it now of your own free will or Justice will cast her verdict for you. This situation is fragile and fraught with danger. Fool's Journey Day 11
With The Vice Versa deck the original side is called This Side and the added side is called That Side. There is no good side or bad side or right side and reverse side. It simply another aspect of the card. The next step on our journey is 10 - The Wheel of Fortune This side: The Wheel is carved with symbols that speak to the mysteries of life, death and rebirth. Two Egyptian Gods, snaked-headed Typhon, who brings chaos and destruction and jackal-headed Anubis, who accompanies the dead into the afterlife, stand beside the Sphinx who rests her paw on The Wheel. Because both of the Gods are dressed and have human bodies, they denote a union with the Greek God Hermes, who adds discernment and intelligence to the powers of Typhon and Anubis. As our lives turn on the Wheel, we gain wisdom with each turning. In a reading: The Wheel of Fortune cannot be halted and to be born is to be on the Wheel. The two sides of this card show two approaches to this fact and it cannot be changed. This side speaks to the great mysteries, which can be pondered many lifetimes and still never be fully comprehended. Acceptance of this will bring peace - struggling to understand what is beyond mortal understanding will bring despair. Every time we go around, we learn more and more. That side: The days heat has gone and we are now under starry sky. The Magician stands by the Wheel holding in his right hand the ankh, symbol of life. He calls upon the life force to manifest on Earth, surrounding himself with greenery from a once barren floor. In a reading: The Magician (see card 1) is a master of mysteries but he does not master the Wheel itself. The message is to remember that you are a soul on this earthly journey and you have chosen to ride the Wheel. Use your will in a positive way to influence events to make the most of the ride. Fool's Journey Day 10
With The Vice Versa deck the original side is called This Side and the added side is called That Side. There is no good side or bad side or right side and reverse side. It simply another aspect of the card. The next step on our journey is 9 - The Hermit This side: The Hermit lifts his lantern, illuminating the Orphic Egg, mythic egg of creation - from which the Universe is born. His robe is lined in blue, the color of spiritual peace. In a reading: The Hermit shows up when you need to take time for yourself. Solitude and stepping away from the outside world is vital to gain perspective. At this time, make sure your interactions with others are necessary and meaningful, don't break that solitude for the trivial. That side: From the look of the Hermit's robe, it appears he has done some hard travelling to get to the heights he has reached. From the elevation he has achieved the moon lights his way and the lunar goddess opens his mind to what is unseen as well as seen. (the animals here are the same as on the Moon card, further in our travels) In a reading: Much is going on under the surface of things and some of them might even be things you have hidden from yourself. Now you can no longer avoid them. If you keep trying to put them off they will end up coming to you. Trust your intuition and seek the wisdom that is being brought to you. Fool's Journey Day 9
With The Vice Versa deck the original side is called This Side and the added side is called That Side. There is no good side or bad side or right side and reverse side. It simply another aspect of the card. The next step on our journey is 8 - Strength This side: Strength is here in a sunny field of wheat with a great lion. She is smiling and calm and it is clear that she is in no danger. Strength is the power from within. She is sitting on the lions flank and playfully opening his jaws much like one would play with a house cat. In a reading: Don't be afraid to access your strength and put them to good use. But also be playful and to remember that you can be powerful without being overpowering. Have patience and compassion. You have the inner strength to endure and succeed. That side: Here we see the Devil (which is the card directly below Strength in the next row of 7) looming up in front of Strength, dimming the light of the sun. But she is life force itself and cannot be dimmed by that darkness. The devil may threaten but he can't destroy what refuses to be destroyed. In a reading: Face your shadow self and let go of old chains holding you back. You don't have to repeat the same patterns anymore. Confront your demons and claim your strength and power back. |
AuthorMy Tarot Card Practice. I have been studying Tarot for over 20 years now and am still learning new things daily. Archives
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