After many years of keeping my Tarot website virtually unchanged, I've taken the plunge and started transferring it to a new all singing all dancing WordPress blog site.
While the transfer is taking place, please join me on my new blog http://cosmicfaerytarot.blogspot.com/, where I will post updates, special offers and of course Tarot related articles.
There will be no further posts here on this blog, so please do connect with me "on the other side".
2012 is promising to be an exciting year, when many people are eagerly anticipating the approach of the conclusion of the current Mayan calendar cycle on the Winter Solstice in December. Major changes on a global scale have already profoundly changed our lives over the last three years (e.g. the banking crisis, recession, major natural disasters like the Japanese earthquake), and we may be wondering now what else we can expect for the forthcoming months ahead.
The numerical year card for us all (based on the calendar year 2012) is trump no. 5, The Hierophant. Year cards can give us an indication as to what we need to pay attention to in that particular year as well as what opportunities and challenges we may be facing.
The general key words for the Hierophant are: religion, structures and organisations, institutions, rules, ethics, morality, establishment, education, hierarchy, conformity.
Darker meanings of this card: control, rigid regulations and belief systems that don't allow creativity or individuality, religious fanatism and oppression, lack of spirituality.
The Hierophant is associated with the zodiac sign Taurus and the element Earth. The image shows a papal figure seated on a throne with his feet on the ground and his hands raised into the air, suggesting that the Hierophant is grounded in structure and tradition, yet spiritually connected to the Higher Force above.
On a global level, the Hierophant may ask us to turn our backs on excessive materialism, develop a more sustainable lifestyle and thus rediscovering our spirituality.
What is the Hierophant asking you as an individual to focus on this year?
You may
wish to learn a new skill, start a course at college or university or work on passing important exams
become a teacher or would like to pass on your knowledge and skills in a more informal setting
have an issue with security and stability in your life; you either need to create it or break out to explore pastures new
pay more attention to your spiritual needs; for too long people have focused on their physical (material) and intellectual (scientific) needs, but the human being consists of body, mind and spirit, which all need to be equally nurtured.
question the status quo, e.g. in your workplace, in society or in your relationships with others. Lack of change and innovation can lead to a stale environment and situation, where creativity is suppressed and your potential stifled. Think carefully what outdated structures, rules and moral obligations are holding you back.
equally feel the urge to introduce more traditional customs into your life; are you thinking about getting married and "settle down"? Or perhaps you would like to get involved more formally in political or social organisations and activities, where you can contribute positively to society.
Consider the wisdom found in all religions and focus on the one closest to your heart; observe its festivals and traditions, simplify your life; live according to the core values of religion and spirituality: love, compassion, tolerance, sharing, helping and caring.
Take a moment to study the card and explore your individual opportunities and challenges for the year ahead. You can also contact me for a personal email reading to explore what 2012 has in store for you by visiting my website: http://cosmictarot.co.uk/
Please feel free to share your thoughts about the Hierophant by posting a comment below.
"Sometimes it is necessary to let go only to see if there was anything worth holding on to."
The Hanged Man is one of the less popular images of the Tarot; the first impression many people get is that of an execution, even a slow death. Indeed, when the first Tarot cards were created, public hangings were an everyday occurrence, so we tend to associate the term "Hanged Man" with something ghastly.
But thankfully there is more to the Hanged Man than meets the eye; look closely at his face, and you notice a rather calm and peaceful expression. There is also a halo around his head suggesting a sense of enlightenment or illuminating thoughts. Because he is hanging upside down, he is gaining a different perspective of his surroundings.
The figure's hands are behind his back; we don't know but we can assume they're not bound, which means he has chosen this position in order to make sense of a situation. He is also hanging from just one leg giving him the somewhat restricted freedom to form the number "4" inverted.
Interestingly, there seems to be a connection between the Hanged Man and the fourth card in each suit:
4/Wands - pause, celebration
4/Cups - boredom, apathy
4/Swords - rest, recuperation
4/Pentacles - sitting tight, inflexible
The traditional meanings of the Hanged Man seem to be somehow reflected in these 4 Minor Arcana cards: lack of movement, contemplation, stasis but also literal meanings such as " in limbo", "hanging in there" and "suspension". In order to progress or move forward, the Hanged Man is searching for knowledge or understanding by turning his view of the world upside down. This process usually involves "letting go" of something, which can be hard but necessary in order to change the current position into a more comfortable one. It can feel like making a sacrifice, but it may be more helpful to regard it as finding a new perspective or "thinking outside the box" in order to gain long-term:
"It is easy to create new things, change places or do something different. To keep that sense of newness that creates enthusiasm is more difficult. The secret of newness in life is not to do new things constantly, but to see everything you do with new eyes, new insights and a new perspective." - thoughtfortoday.org.uk
What does the Hanged Man mean to you and how do you interpret this card in your readings? You are welcome to comment on my blog, and you can now share your thoughts and ideas on my Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/CosmicTarot
Money makes the world go round is a well-known saying, and many people may agree, but there is something else that is equally sending the whole world in a spin. Yes, it's love.
Love came before money. It was here first and will always exist as long as there are humans on this planet. Love makes people happy, it makes them sad. It makes some people angry and jealous and can even lead to murder. Other people reach new emotional and spiritual heights when they fall in love. Many great poems, music and paintings have been created borne out of love and passion.
Shakespeare was in love. His famous quotes Love is madness - Love is blind - The course of true love never did run smooth - To be wise and love exceeds man's might are proof that he knew what he was talking about.
Love gives pleasure, love gives pain. Affection, desire, devotion, ecstasy, heartache, desolation. All these emotions can be explained biologically; when we fall in love, it causes an increase of the hormone dopamine, which creates intense energy and exhilaration. This can cause the hormone serotonin to drop at times, which can lead to bipolar mood swings. Falling in love leads to hormonal imbalance. Quite literally, when we fall in love, we are mentally ill. Thankfully, in long-term relationships this topsy-turvy phase of romantic love is gradually replaced with a more sedate phase of attachment and bonding caused by the hormone oxytocin, which is released whilst holding hands, hugging and during love-making.
When it comes to issues surrounding love and relationships, most often it involves the ability to carefully balance your emotions with logic and reason. This is perfectly reflected in the Tarot trump card The Lovers. When this card comes up in a reading, an important choice may affect and influence a relationship; a decision has to be made between your heart's desire and what your head is advising you to do.
The image of the Rider Waite card depicts a scene from the Garden of Eden: Eve is offering Adam the apple from the Tree of Knowledge, but he knows that God has not given him permission to eat it. Should Adam be sensible and obey God, or should he give in to temptation? When Adam and Eve were cast out of paradise after they had eaten the forbidden fruit, they had to take responsibility for their action. Despite hardship they stayed together and had many children, thus creating the human race. The story of Adam and Eve tells us about the ups and downs of relationships and the strong bond between two people, who accept each others strengths and weaknesses and stick together in good as well as bad times.
Here are some inspirational messages that in my opinion reflect the meaning of The Lovers very well:
Love me without fear.
Trust me without questioning.
Need me without demanding.
Want me without restricting.
Accept me without change.
Desire me without inhibitions.
For a love so free...will never fly away.
Dick Sutphen, American psychic researcher and author of New Age books
Love and Anger, by Kate Bush:
Love me or Leave me, by Nina Simone:
"Live in balance between the head and the heart by filling your feelings with wisdom and your decisions with love." Brahma Kumaris
Many people regard The Star as one their favourite cards of the Tarot deck. It is an image of peace, tranquility, hope, rebirth and optimism. After a time of upheaval, the Star indicates better times ahead and the need to stay positive and persevere to fulfil your aspirations.
The message of the Star is simple:
"At the end of the day, on the wings of your thoughts, go beyond the cares and troubles of the world. Remove your mind from everything and everyone, and become blissfully detached, like a star.
Like a star, be free to radiate light, for your essence is light and peace. Enjoy the simplicity of the night sky, the peace. And then, when you want to, you can shoot down to earth." - Brahma Kumaris
The Star is also inviting you to dream about possible futures. Do this by taking a moment out of your daily schedule, close your eyes, be still and dream about all those wonderful possibilities ahead. Where do you want to be? Who do you want to be with? What would you like to do? Put the stars into your dream and then reach for them. Keep nurturing your dream, sustain the vision and over time watch it come true.
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