The Devil You Know….

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When the Devil card appears in a Tarot reading people have strong reactions. “Does this mean I am evil?” they ask, or “Is evil around me?” they wonder. Neither is the case, although the second fear comes closest to the implication of this card. The Devil appears stark and sinister, a demonic looking beast seated authoritatively, smugly watching as a distortion of the “lovers” stand in chains at his feet. There is often black or dark backgrounds, flames appear and we know this is an indicator of difficulties encountered by the Querent in his or her journey. The Devil in Tarot is a helpful indicator, though. Not to be confused with the presence of evil, this card represents the presence of an interpersonal type of evil; the enslavement brought on by compulsion and addiction.

It is no surprise that during prohibition alcohol was likened to and called “the devil” or a “demon” and people describe embarking on rehabilitation processes as personally being called to “face their inner demons.” A popular Irish folk song calls Whiskey the “devil” and “Demon Rum” was a popular term in days past to conjure the reality of those living with alcoholism, and alcoholics, in American history. The Devil here is not portraying an evil person or entity, it is alerting the Querent to the fact that their life is being drained and slowly overtaken by some form of compulsion or addiction. Looking at the other cards, or discussing this with the Querent can often yield clues as to what that addiction is.

Regardless of the external vehicle for one’s addiction, it is a force to be reckoned with. It assumes a position of power, becoming an obsession and taking priority over all other goals and relationships. High moral posturing aside, those who have been acquainted with the demon of addiction know all too well that no one is spared its influence.

A loving parent will follow the inner obsession with their child in the sidelines; a dedicated worker will find their career infiltrated by the infestation of their addiction. It creeps in gradually with allure and seduction and slowly takes hold, taking no prisoners. Usually before one realizes it, the wondrously gratifying illusion they have been pursuing has brought havoc to their lives and relationships, naturally they simply try to leave, only to find they are fastened in place by heavy chains that are not so easily unlocked. Just as the fellowships of AA and NA propose that it takes a power greater than an individual to restore “sanity” in the grips of an addiction, so do we see the powerful clutches holding the Querent in slavery, likewise sucking away any chance at spiritual progress so long as the Querent remains in bondage.

When this card appears, there is a need for some higher intervention, a greater perspective, and a force larger than will or ego to help break the chains tying the figures to each other and the Devil. What that powerful benevolent force will be will depend on the situation. It will involve some form of spirituality that has been missing from this dark vacuum of compulsion and obsession, but the type and manner can be varied based on the individual’s lifestyle and circumstances.

When the Devil appears be ready to face facts; something that began as rewarding and pleasurable, fun and positively reinforcing, has taken on a life of its own. What has enslaved you? What do you feel you cannot live without? Are there relationships that have become compulsive, needy and codependent? Has work become an obsession, draining energy from you and keeping you from nurturing other goals? Are substances like alcohol, pills, drugs, or even food carrying more significance than they should? Are processes such as gambling, cleaning, exercising or care-taking defining you more than your spiritual path, leaving no room to have a life? These questions can be difficult to answer because as dark as the Devil is, this card also represents a sense of need and often accompanies a belief that the substance, behavior, or relationship is needed and that without it life would not be manageable. This is a false illusion.

It can be useful to contemplate both the Devil and Lovers card and meditate on what has been missing, what is needed to set the figures involved free again. As always don’t hesitate to seek professional help if matters seem to be beyond your personal control, and when the Devil card appears there is a pretty good chance things have reached that point.

The D Card – The Meaning of the Death Card in the Tarot

Tarot has gained a sinister reputation thanks to popular media conveniently manipulating certain cards to add flash and suspense to horror and mystery stories. You can already imagine the card referred to in this article, the skeleton on horseback bearing a black banner and armor, passing by the poor and powerful, all pleading for mercy but none receiving it, a sunset in the background. It is, of course, the “Death” card.  Easily mistaken for a literal death, this card has amassed the power to invoke fear in those who do not understand the purpose of Tarot and the archetypal and symbolic power of its images.

When consulting the Tarot it is not advisable to inquire about physical death. The answer serves no purpose and will be unclear anyway. Life contains a million endings none of which may be due to a physical death, and the lifespan brings a million changes before one is released from mortal binds. The Death card does not mean the end of one’s life is near. It bears a sinister energy because it represents that which most of us, if we are honest with ourselves, fear more than actual death - living through change that we have no control over.

Recall the lessons of the Hanged Man, release through acceptance and development of a new perspective. After experiencing some degree of sacrifice, loss, and stagnation, the Hanged Man becomes wiser. For all his time contemplating (after all there wasn’t much else he could do in his situation…) he emerges with a new vision and it is not likely what he would have wanted had the crisis never occurred in the first place. He is set back on his feet, but the road he must walk is no longer the carefree daredevil path of the Fool, it is a lonely and sorrowful path through transition, through Death’s domain. It is as if life has set him free to experience growth and transition, but it is far from paradise. A major change is at hand, and some endings are part of this. The Death card portends a large scale transition that redefines the self. Whether it is “good” or “bad” is irrelevant. It is happening whether you like it or not.

Growing pains accompany any transition. Adolescence brings excitement, new ways to test boundaries, and painful heartache that accompanies exploration into relationships, independence and limits. The Death card brings a similar rite of passage, an initiation into a new chapter in one’s life. One must be willing to surrender ideas, attitudes, and perhaps even important identity roles and relationships that have been outgrown and are not suitable for this transition. This tends to be a slow process of metamorphosis where we learn one stage at a time what will lie ahead and what more sacrifices and adjustments we need to make. Death brings awakening. We cannot hold on to old illusions as we walk this road and the bleak horseman is there to remind us that endings are beyond our control but give way to new motion, new growth and new connections.

Ever wonder if a butterfly misses being a caterpillar and dreads the instinctual pull toward cocoon building? Ever consider if they resist the process, mourning the loss of so many legs and the security of life without wings? Likely we simply see the final product as so graceful and beautiful that one would never think that a butterfly would grieve its new shape and abilities and miss its previous identity. Yet here we are, facing the Death card and without the security of knowing we will emerge with greater abilities, gifts, and growth than we started out with, we cling to what we have known, begging the horseman to pass us by with minimal “damage.”  Death is here to remind us that change brings new opportunities and that by letting go and accepting the transition we can embrace our new beginnings with the grace of the butterfly.

Article by: Angela Kaufman.  Angela is a Priestess for the Dragon Warriors of Isis Coven in Upstate, New York, and the co-author of Wicca: What's the Real Deal?  She is a professional tarot reader.  For more information about Wicca: What's the Real Deal? visit http://www.wwtrd.webs.com.

Rope with a View- The Hanged Man

A journey through the early Major Arcana cards brings us face to face with Magicians, Priestesses, wise guides and teachers. We experience limitations within large systems and the freedom of the open road. We find the support of powerful leaders and loving, nurturing guides sympathetic with our cause and concerned for our well being. We journey forward, maturing with each lesson encountered and gradually the challenges become more sophisticated. We must share, maintain boundaries, keep our cool in the face of danger, and have faith that justice in the universe will eventually prevail. Our sense of integrity is challenged, as is the concept of our capabilities and limits. With each lesson we find ourselves able to prevail, to initiate change, to make choices and to come out triumphant, learning and making gains each step of the way. Then it happens…

We thought we knew bad times, feeling invincible in the face of dilemmas overcome one by one. It was only a warm up. The greater tests still remain. The Hanged Man reminds us of this.  Having to choose between the lesser of several evils is hard enough, but when the Hanged Man appears, it may feel as though choice itself is no longer even a factor. The Hanged Man is suspended from a tree by a rope tied around one ankle. From his outstretched leg he dangles, bound and powerless, while his other leg bends at the knee, foot tucked into the knee of his straight leg like an upside down “4”.  He is without mobility. The carefree stride of the Fool is stripped from him. In the midst of this dilemma his face betrays no panic, but rather appears serene and contemplative. A halo crowns his head. It is as if the Fool has decided to take advantage of his situation by absorbing as much of the unusual view as he can - and being content with this for the time being. Indeed, he makes it look so easy!

Assuming most people no longer are under threat of hanging we may wonder what type of situation in modern life could parallel that of this unfortunate man. Is he being punished for a crime or as a traitor? In that case, we may assume, he is deserving of his fate! Have enemies conspired against the Fool so that he can be hung out to dry as a scapegoat? Perhaps then, he is an undeserving victim. The key to the Hanged Man’s situation is powerlessness, the lack of mobility and lack of ability to effect change to one’s surroundings. This is not for lack of trying.

The Hanged Man represents a significant event that leaves one in a state of inertia and inability. In modern day this can be likened to being physically limited suddenly by an illness or injury, or a prolonged experience of life being “on hold” in spite of any effort you may take to initiate change again. Make no mistake, this is not a matter of the bus being late or not having the money to buy the mansion of your dreams and being stuck with a mere four bedroom house. This is a condition in which one is experiencing sacrifice, an intense experience of futility, an obstacle or burden that one will carry for a period of time.

The situation surrounding the Hanged Man is not one that bends to our previous logic and lessons. Working harder will not loosen the ropes, in fact it may intensify the pain. Begging, pleading, bargaining, and putting forth more effort will also not prove advantageous now. It may seem like all is lost, but rest assured that is not the case. After all, we still have 9 more cards to go! So what does the universe want from us? Why are we being tortured, punished, or even abandoned?

Liberation for the Hanged Man will come, but it will be an inside job first. Our feelings of betrayal, anger at the Powers that Be, or loss of hope in the world is part of the internal prison that would exist even if a passerby kindly cut the ropes and released the Hanged Man from his tree. The events precipitating this difficult time stand to strengthen us, from the inside out. We are forced to accept external situations beyond our control and not to our liking. We are forced to find new meaning, new definitions. In a sense, “being hung upside down” forces us to consider a new view of the world not accessible to us before. We are forced to take a new perspective. Just like Odin, we are forced to learn a new vocabulary, develop new insight into the world through the loss of many of our previous senses. As Odin was suspended from the World Tree, sacrificing an eye but given the wisdom of the Runes, we are compelled to stretch our strength, limit our control, accept our situation and gain a greater, deeper understanding through sacrifice. When contentment and acceptance have been found through this new understanding, we will be released.

Article by: Angela Kaufman.  Angela is a Priestess for the Dragon Warriors of Isis Coven in Upstate, New York, and the co-author of Wicca: What's the Real Deal?  She is a professional tarot reader.  For more information about Wicca: What's the Real Deal? visit http://www.wwtrd.webs.com.

Divine Justice

The Tarot card often numbered 11 is the Justice card. It typically portrays a female figure, blindfolded and holding a scale in one hand, a sword in the other.  This card holds great significance in the spiritual and mundane world. While most Major Arcana cards reverberate powerfully through the individual’s life sending significant messages pertaining to growth and development, the Justice card does this and more. It holds a microscope over the life of the querent and cautions that not only are spiritual matters unraveling to produce powerful Karmic feedback, but these lessons are also playing out in mundane life at this time. It is likely the querent will deal with matters of justice, legal issues and consequences of various sorts in their daily life as a means to echo the larger spiritual message carried by this card.

So what are the ramifications of Justice on the grand scale? Justice portends returns. These can be good or bad depending on what the querent has been cultivating karmically and spiritually. This card should serve as a warning to remember basic spiritual principles surrounding consequential thinking and if all else fails, should summon the great lessons inherent in Murphy’s Law - if something can go wrong, it will. This is not a card of doom and gloom per se, but it reminds one to not cut corners, even if “everyone else” seems to be getting away with it. Justice bears a reminder that we are never truly in a situation where “no one is looking” that we have a higher authority of one form or another to answer to, even if that authority is none other than the chain of events our actions set into motion. The Justice card appears to remind the querent of their integrity and not to compromise this at any cost. To do so now would ensure retribution on a large scale. This is not the time to park where you are not authorized, speed, or “borrow” office supplies for personal use, no matter how clever your ego can be in justifying why you are entitled to bend the rules. The Justice card is a reminder that there is a grand balance in the universe even when this may not appear to be the case.

When involved in a conflict with another, the Justice card warns one to play fair, and if need be, fight fair. Even if it appears that others are gaining an advantage by cheating. It will all be brought into balance, Justice reaffirms, but may require patience. This card can be difficult for people to grasp because it entails forms of justice beyond what human beings are used to expecting to see enforced in the mundane. When we feel slighted or wronged we expect instant results, many times in the form of monetary compensation or punishment of the offender. When we do not see these results, or worse, when we see punishment doled out that does not seem to “fit the crime,” it can be easy to lose faith and question the purpose in doing the right thing in the first place. This card is beckoning one to expand the understanding of justice to more than the “tit for tat” bargaining that occurs in court rooms.

The Justice card asks you to expand your faith and understanding beyond the mundane and remember that Justice is not executed solely by mankind, but exists in the balancing act performed in nature and the universe that brings harmony on a much larger level. This can be frustrating, as we all would love to be the fly on the wall when our adversary gets their just deserts. We may not get the pleasure however, and must have faith that our actions bring the returns we deserve, as do the actions of others. When this card appears it is a reminder to uphold one’s own truth and integrity even if it means waiting for the slowly cultivated spiritual balance brought about by Karma rather than instant gratification one may desire through vigilante measures. It is possible you will be called to account for your actions whether in a court, police station, or through some type of authority in the workplace, family or community. It is also a portend of being involved in conflicts or legal issues whose resolution will be much more advantageous as long as you ensure you are not bending or breaking the rules yourself. If you have acted outside of your highest ethics, use this time to amend the situation in a way that is appropriate. Come clean with others, act to balance the scales and amend broken trust. If it is not possible to directly “fix” the situation, learn from it and take efforts to promote positive and help to others where you are able.

Likewise if it seems that you have lost out in a conflict or situation that was not resolved to your immediate liking, take heart, you will likely find positive returns you could not have planned or anticipated coming your way from a higher authority than the mundane court and government systems. Strive to be open to the return of your positive actions in whatever form they may take. Avoid feeling like the victim at this time as to do so may limit otherwise benevolent gains that are blessings in disguise.

Article by: Angela Kaufman.  Angela is a Priestess for the Dragon Warriors of Isis Coven in Upstate, New York, and the co-author of Wicca: What's the Real Deal?  She is a professional tarot reader.  For more information about Wicca: What's the Real Deal? visit http://www.wwtrd.webs.com.

Spinning with The Wheel of Fortune

Of the twenty-two Major Arcana Tarot cards, the Wheel of Fortune is one of the more exciting and suspenseful cards. The images typically depict a wheel strewn with characters or figures in various forms of conquest and stages of evolution or regression. In some traditional decks the phrases “I will reign,” “I reign,” or “I have reigned” also accompany this image. The Wheel of Fortune represents the presence of fate and circumstances beyond prediction.  Obviously someone consulting the Tarot wants to know the nature of future events. To draw the Wheel of Fortune can portend luck and fortune itself, but often leaves one with an air of suspense and anticipation. The meaning of the Wheel carries a bit of a contradiction in concepts. Things are afoot that will reroute your destiny, alter your fate and change the course or your plans. Do not get too rigid in your own expectations, for what you get will be what you could never have anticipated. There is nothing like a dose of “expect what you least expect” to make one’s brain hurt and heart race.

The Wheel of Fortune is a card beckoning one to open up to more spontaneous occurrences. “’You will be taken care of” Lady Fortune reassures, “Just not according to the plans YOU designed,” she adds, perhaps with a smirk. This card signifies new beginnings, a ripe time for change, and a strong likelihood that what comes your way will be an array of doors opening, new opportunities knocking, and blessings landing at your feet. What could be wrong with that? Nothing, as long as you are not so busy tied to your carefully crafted and well controlled plans for the future that you fail to go with these changes and be open to the flow of new possibilities. There is a required compromise here. You will find luck and opportunities for success coming your way but they will not be the dreams you thought you were chasing. They may also not be the roads you thought you would take to get to your destination.

When the Wheel of Fortune appears in a layout, Fate has a greater plan. The Powers That Be are lining you up for success, but in order to get there you must surrender to a bit of a rollercoaster ride. It is as if you were planning a vacation to a moderately nice hotel and along the way were caught up in anticipating every minute of your trip being spent in accordance with what the brochures, websites and advertisements promise will be a fun filled time. When you arrive however, a mistake has been made, your room is not available, and just as your visions of recreation are shattered you are offered an even better room, at an even better price. Doors have been opened up that you could not have planned for and if you are able to get past the fact that your well laid plans have been disrupted - you might have a far better time than you originally planned!  When the Wheel of Fortune presents itself things are shaken: those who had power or had power from a role or status they held, may find themselves having to seek status and identity elsewhere. The Wheel turns, and what used to define success will now change.

Largely this remains a promising card. The biggest precaution to consider when this card appears is how tightly you may be holding on to your own definition of yourself, your success and your value. Are you holding on to one vision and one dream so tightly that you cease to allow new blessings to enter your life? If so, the transition brought by the Wheel of Fortune may be difficult to adjust to; regardless of whether you are ready or not, surrendering to changes around you will ultimately work in your favor. After all it is the Wheel of Fortune, not the Wheel of Crushed Dreams!

Article by: Angela Kaufman.  Angela is a Priestess for the Dragon Warriors of Isis Coven in Upstate, New York, and the co-author of Wicca: What's the Real Deal?  She is a professional tarot reader.  For more information about Wicca: What's the Real Deal? visit http://www.wwtrd.webs.com.

The Hermit-Illuminated by Inner Light

The Hermit is a mysterious figure in the Major Arcana of the Tarot. He is weathered and wise and has walked a solitary path free from the binds of social constraint and opinion. He has mastered the strength to forge his own road and does not rely on the opinions of others. He is not void of interaction however. In fact, the Hermit holds a lantern to light the way for any who choose to seek his guidance. He does not seek out students but rather patiently awaits those who would join him in search of the road not often traveled.

The Hermit stands on a precipice on a desolate snowy mountain. He looks down where the light from his lantern illuminates a path to be taken by those willing to climb to his ascended but lonely heights. His message brings an invitation to turn within one’s self and likewise turn away from the noise found in the external world. He awaits those who would learn mysteries not often recognized by the mainstream and signals a spiritual if not solitary journey. He also harkens the need to detach from the crowd or more importantly, from the influences of the crowd. Your path, he suggests, lies outside of what those close to you may envision for you. This suggests that it is time to recognize that your pursuits will be taking you down an uncommon path, and that your solutions are not to be too heavily influenced by the mainstream, for their answers will not solve your problems, your situation has become unique and you strive for an original resolution that is spiritually satisfying regardless of the risks involved.

This card also marks a time of learning great valuable lessons. The Hermit is a passive teacher. He is ready to bestow wisdom on others but requires the majority of the effort to be made by his students in the classroom of daily life. The Hermit suggests a time of meeting influential gurus and role models of an unconventional nature and of choosing to follow minority examples rather than majority opinions. It is time to disconnect from mundane chatter and busy work and dig deeper within to align your actions and attitudes with your most spiritual aspirations regardless of short term losses. This card appears to suggest a deeper truth and more integral road awaits you but requires some searching and decision to forego popular opinion to develop in ways that are more spiritually nourishing. This is a great time to take up meditation, monitor your dreams, and become aware of life’s unlikely teachers. It is also a time of evaluating priorities for their value in your highest evolution vs. the service of that which others want for you more than you may desire for yourself. Asking yourself “whose ambitions am I serving?” and reflecting on what and who you are following are key questions when the Hermit appears.

This card also carries a reassuring message to those who have felt abandoned or alone. In solitude there is opportunity for the development of wisdom. Without the distractions and commotion of outside influences one can begin to hear their inner guidance. With a solitary path one has the freedom to adapt and choose what is in their best interest, with guidance that speaks to their truest ambitions. In this sense being alone ceases to be a reason for distress and becomes a temporary phase promoting growth and evolution.

Article by: Angela Kaufman.  Angela is a Priestess for the Dragon Warriors of Isis Coven in Upstate, New York, and the co-author of Wicca: What's the Real Deal?  She is a professional tarot reader.  For more information about Wicca: What's the Real Deal? visit http://www.wwtrd.webs.com.

In For the Ride of Your Life - Reflections on the Chariot

The card numbered 7 in the Tarot is the Chariot. This card depicts a warrior about to arrive to receive a hero’s welcome - or a bittersweet homecoming, the end result is dependent on a few variables. The Charioteer is decked out in formal attire patterned with stars, a crown, and ornamental zodiac symbols upon his belt; they are typically faced forward, confrontational, and commanding. Hoisted off the ground by the Chariot, they are a cut above their peers on foot. The Chariot is different from the cards we have seen thus far in that it is the first card to represent something more than a concept embodied by or in an individual. It is a vehicle. It is describing a process or tool, not so much a persona.

The Chariot is the journey, the process, the unfolding of events. The characters in the card are important but work as part of a whole. The Charioteer commandeers the vehicle, but he alone does not manifest his ultimate victory. He relies on two Sphinx who pull the chariot. One is white, one black, reminiscent of the pillars in the High Priestess card, representing the internal, intuitive, and receptive nature as well as the outward, active, and projective powers. These two opposites provide a balance but in the present situation they also represent two opposing drives or forces that bring progress to a halt. A stalemate is reached and further action is delayed until the Charioteer finds a way to overcome the stagnation caused by these two drives cancelling each other out. Success is not out of the picture, nor is the near completion of a project or task, but the chariot is brought to a halt by a conflict that forces closer examination.
   

The opposing forces in this card are not typically signs of outside interference. It is not an enemy caravan that blocks the road ahead, nor is it debris left by a careless traveler. It is a part of the vehicle itself that has ceased to work. The wheels of the chariot have been sabotaged not by foreign intervention, but by a breakdown within the vehicle itself, namely the forces being called forth to drive it in the first place. We see the Sphinxes as being part man and part animal, and in this card, the forces that create motion to begin with; in this sense, they are not an innate part of the Charioteer but have become a part of his process of action, behavior, routine, and conquest. They have served him well for the majority of his journey but suddenly what has been driving him will no longer suffice.

This is the message in this card. Ideals are important, the finish line is within reach, and outwardly, much effort has already been expended. What remains is the internal work, the recognition of forces that compete rather than enhance each other. This is where one must now focus to recharge their mission and find an integrated source of motivation, mission, and power to continue onward.

In a mundane sense these obstacles can look like someone who has put effort into getting an education to prepare them for a career only to fall victim to last minute doubts and fears that slowly sabotage the launching of what would otherwise have been a successful business. It could also be the nagging doubts that keep one from making a significant positive change to their lifestyle even though a part of them relentlessly dreams about this change. It is the vision of having what you have worked for and desire, darkened by the tension and anxiety about what it would mean to finally have the results you want. Stalling, or worse, self sabotage are possible here, but so is growth, transcendence, and success.

The key is in finding the energy to push forward. When the Chariot appears, success can be yours, but internal re-organization needs to occur. Old baggage, outdated thoughts and routines are weighing you down and will not allow you to pass the crossroads successfully if they are not dealt with soon. In order to reach success a full commitment must be made, and this involves belief in one’s self and willingness to take risks in order to finish the journey rather than settling for “good enough.”

Article by: Angela Kaufman.  Angela is a Priestess for the Dragon Warriors of Isis Coven in Upstate, New York, and the co-author of Wicca: What's the Real Deal?  She is a professional tarot reader.  For more information about Wicca: What's the Real Deal? visit http://www.wwtrd.webs.com.

The Hierophant- Law, Morals and Other Boring Matters

The Empress and Emperor bring inspiration and backing to increase personal development based on individual mentoring, guidance and nurturing. The individual’s development and goals are at stake and just as a young child’s dreams or preferences are attended to by encouraging grownups, so do these archetypes seek to nurture the individual needs of the querent, in hopes that their influence will be a positive contribution. As the individual matures through the encounters with archetypes in the Tarot deck, one arrives at the first indication that, as the saying goes “it’s not all about you.” Such is the oppressive but useful lesson of maturity brought by the Hierophant. The Hierophant is a guide and a helpful one at that, but his skills and assets are expressed through the presentation of structure, hierarchy, rules, ethics, and systems that prove helpful to those willing to align with a large established structure in order to learn and develop. The Hierophant is less tolerated by maverick souls, individualists who struggle to compromise for the greater good, and who fail to see that traditions have a purpose even if the customs are not of individual preference.

The Hierophant brings lessons and messages concerning alignment with or appeals to a large organization in hopes of gaining access to the many benefits of this structure. The individual is not in charge and must grasp this. It is not about what the company (church, agency, government, and club) can do for you, it is what you can do for the company etc. This is embodied within this archetype and the best way to gain and grow as an individual is to find the humility, compromise and teamwork to be part of the whole. By doing so one is gaining security, wisdom, knowledge of a trade or profession, specialized skills, and support they would not have without the backbone of this large organization. In return, one must temporarily forego the need to claim the throne. With the Hierophant you are a worker bee, not the Queen, but stand to benefit from the association you’ve made as part of a hive. This card speaks to networking, organizations and in particular affiliations with institutions of higher education, philosophy, law, religion, government etc.; hierarchy and bureaucracy exist within this structure, but so do great gains and benefits for those able to compromise and apply themselves.

In Tarot’s early days this card would be considered (and was sometimes called) the “Pope” and embodied the association with one who rules a religious faction in the physical realm and is given ultimate respect and authority, not in the secular sense but in sense of philosophical purpose. This card was considered more than just a King or other type of ruler, but an overseer who was on a mission that contained a moral or ethical agenda, translated into human structures and systems. Just as a large religious organization relies on human qualities to enforce and teach concepts pertaining to the abstract/spiritual (and thus may fall victim to losing touch with its mission) so can the Hierophant reflect an organization or system that has wisdom, ancient learning and philosophical underpinnings in its core mission, but may lose its way in the drudgery of the mundane world. A subtle meaning in this card is the possibility of losing touch with one’s vision by getting lost in the mundane, appealing to or affiliating with a large organization in which one’s individuality is compromised can be another message in this card. When this card presents look for interactions with colleges, religious institutions, government agencies, large hospitals and organizations that have a humanitarian mission, but are established within a large hierarchy. Even institutions themselves such as that of marriage or other significant rites of passage can be indicated.

The tone this card takes largely depends on one’s individual reaction to the notion of being part of a larger system. It is reassuring for those who seek comfort in tradition and support, but may feel oppressive or confining to those who want to forge their own road. The key lesson is to grow in wisdom and skills through affiliation with this organization. It need not be a lifelong confinement to service, but can represent the process of maturity, transition and learning from the role of bringing service to a larger common good which can strengthen the character even when or if one moves on from ties to this institution in the future.

Article by: Angela Kaufman.  Angela is a Priestess for the Dragon Warriors of Isis Coven in Upstate, New York, and the co-author of Wicca: What's the Real Deal?  She is a professional tarot reader.  For more information about Wicca: What's the Real Deal? visit http://www.wwtrd.webs.com.

The Empress and the Search for Abundance

The Empress sits in a lush fertile garden, sometimes accompanied by signs of growth such as a rabbit. She is the symbol of physical feminine power, although this is not indicative of any disrespect to the High Priestess, who also symbolizes the power of the feminine.  From the shadows, sending intuitive cues to those who read between the lines, the High Priestess commands a subtle respect and wields the power of the subconscious and mystical. The Empress, however, is the ruler of the Divine Feminine in the material plane; hers is the domain of the tangible, the nurturing life sources in the world around us, the bringer of abundant harvests and the nurturer of physical needs. In this way she is the quintessential Earth Mother and represents many things.  She is growth and abundance and a sustaining source of nourishment.

It is exciting to have the Empress present in a Tarot reading, as she signals that growth and promise of filled potential are waiting or nearly here. She portends profit for hard labor, available growth and development that will be eventual and will bring material growth and gain. The number three is associated with this card, for expansion, the trinity of Divine Feminine and the number of growth even within human relationships (speaking of fertility). In traditional readings some would look at the Empress as a sure sign of physical fertility and pregnancy, but this is not always the case.

Whether in business, relationships, finances or health, the Empress shows that the blessings of our work’s profit awaits. The abundance we sought will arrive, our hard work pay off. There are some times that we do not see the immediate presence of the Empress. We have worked hard and do not feel rewarded, or our advancements do not seem to be enough. Our abundant garden does not seem as green and vital as our neighbor’s. It is crucial to call on the power of the Empress to help bring us closer to the source of vitality and growth as it is often associated with money, but may come in a variety of forms. The nurturing guidance of a powerful and self confident female boss brings invaluable gifts that extend beyond a week’s pay; the granting of a business opportunity that will allow one to grow and spread its influence, eventually acquiring wealth as a result: these are also the gifts of the Empress.

The Empress wants to inspire growth and expansion and this can mean numerous opportunities to grow as an individual and break out of restrictive comfort zones by taking new risks, especially with the support of groups or teams of three. She is reminding us not to abandon our growth as human beings and not to settle into lazy complacency whether material comfort surrounds us or not. When we have reached a reasonable degree of success she is a reminder of our obligation to spread and share our wealth by showing others the generosity we have been shown. 

In a reading in which the Empress is somehow compromised, reversed, or surrounded by challenging cards, her message is to examine if and how our own growth and creativity is being stifled. Are we conducting busy work and making no progress? Are we limiting ourselves and not allowing the full harvest to unfold? Are we inadvertently squandering the blessings we may have been given or missing opportunities to grow and expand?  Most importantly are we ignoring the connection to feminine power that comes through the process of creativity, failing to nurture ourselves and those around us? The Empress is a reminder to connect to the archetype of the Mother and recognize the abundance and opportunities for growth and success.

Article by: Angela Kaufman.  Angela is a Priestess for the Dragon Warriors of Isis Coven in Upstate, New York, and the co-author of Wicca: What's the Real Deal?  She is a professional tarot reader.  For more information about Wicca: What's the Real Deal? visit http://www.wwtrd.webs.com.