Five-Ten-Fifteen / Bruegel Tarot

Time for an update on what area(s) of life need my attention at this time. For the FIVE-TEN-FIFTEEN SPREAD, I shuffle the deck then count down to the 5th card in the stack and turn it over. Next I count down to the 10th card after that and turn it over. Finally, I count down to the 15th card after that and turn it over. Is there a significance to five-ten-fifteen? I don't know. It just sounded good to me!

These three cards go into the following positions:
1.....2.....3
(1) Urgent. Deal with this right now.
(2) Important but not urgent. Can be set aside for now, but don't forget.
(3) Not important. Not urgent. Let it go. Forget it.

Das Bruegel-Tarot by Guido Zibordi Marchesi (Lo Scarabeo) volunteered for this round, so here we go.

(1) Urgent. Deal with this right now.
TEMPERANCE (Adaptability. Equilibrium)

The proverb given in the Little White Book for this card is: "The burden becomes light for those who know how to carry it. (Everything has a right way of being confronted.)"

Okay, I am being told to deal with something that is out of balance or going to one extreme or another in my life. I need to do a better job of blending diverse elements of my life so that I create a pleasing, beneficial whole. And yes, the key to doing that is knowing how to "carry" or "confront" the various demands, challenges, and responsibilities that are placed upon my time and energy.

(2) Important but not urgent. Can be set aside for now, but don't forget.
FIVE OF WANDS (Ambition)

Proverb: "Those who rise too high often fall. (It's easier for those who rise too much to fall.)"

Oh dear, am I being too ambitious? Am I in danger of setting myself up for a fall? I sure hope not! Perhaps this card is telling me that I do need to be competitive in certain areas but not to the point of a knock down, drag out fight. Also, I think this card often refers to internal conflicts that need to be acknowledged and addressed to restore peace and calm to my life.

(3) Not important. Not urgent. Let it go. Forget it.
EIGHT OF SWORDS (Conflict, Bad Luck)

Proverb: "Two wives in one house cannot get along. (Only one person can be the boss.)"

The illustration on this card is quite a departure from the traditional Rider-Waite-Smith version, which depicts a bound, blindfolded woman surrounded by a ring of swords stuck in the ground. However, if we look at the issue of "control," we can see some similarities in the interpretation from the Bruegel deck.

The two women on the Bruegel card are fighting over who gets to be boss -- who gets to be in control. The woman on the traditional Eight of Swords is under the control of someone or something. I need to think about how much or how little I control an area of my life and what, if anything, I need to do about that. Since this position is "not important, not urgent, let it go, forget it," maybe I need to just let someone else be in control of something and not try to take charge.

All three of these cards are "positive" or "active" from an elemental standpoint (Temperance and Wands = Fire; Swords = Air). Not much sitting around and sipping tea here! But I get the distinct impression that I need to choose my battles (or activities) wisely and carefully.

Journey through My Decks: Page of Swords

In this series of posts, I plan to discuss all of the Tarot cards in order, using a different deck for each card. Today I'm exploring the PAGE OF BIRDS from The Merlin Tarot by R. J. Stewart, illustrated by Miranda Gray (The Aquarian Press).


The Merlin Tarot uses Tree of Life associations as well as a system of Three Worlds and Three Wheels as its foundation. The suit of Birds is the equivalent of Swords in other decks. It is associated with the element Air and the direction East.

The Page of Birds is shown with a large bow (as yet undrawn), a full quiver of arrows, and a sharp dagger. The Page appears to be about to remove the bow from his or her shoulder, presumably to use it.

The Page of Birds is one of the "People of the East," described as "a child of Spring moving into Summer." (Stewart) The Page of Birds is also viewed as "Earth of Air." John Michael Greer tells us that Earth is negative, cool and dry -- its nature is stability. Air is positive, hot and moist -- its nature is separation. Earth and Air are considered weakening, incompatible, or antagonistic to each other.

When Earth combines with Air, "all the fine qualities of Air are weighed down, suppressed, suffocated" (Crowley). Earth gets in Air's "space." Air can't pass through Earth, so it has to go around it. Such an inconvenience when Air has so many important places to go! Of course the limitations imposed by Earth help Air take form and direct its energy toward specific goals, but Air is reluctant to acknowledge that benefit. Earth under the influence of Air can behave in an uncharacteristic manner: Tornadoes can uproot trees and send heavy objects flying. Air sculpts Earth as it blows across deserts and plains, over hills and through valleys -- creating changes that are alternately beneficial and destructive, depending on point of view.

Small wonder, then, that the keyword for this card in this deck is "Difficult." The obvious youth of the person on this card coupled with the keyword automatically makes me think of the expression "a difficult child." Stewart taps into that idea, discussing the Page of Birds as possibly obstinate, willful, or demanding yet also possibly highly intelligent -- "perceptive beyond his years" -- a child to whom less intelligent adults have no adequate response. This Page can have "inner conflicts that will only be resolved with maturity and experience."

Waite describes this Page (the Page of Swords in his deck) as vigilant, a quality that requires both mental activity (Air) and an awareness of physical surroundings (Earth). The appearance of this Page may alert us to get Earth and Air "energies" in balance within ourselves, so that they complement each other instead of opposing each other. Awareness of the limitations and opportunities afforded by my physical (Earth) environment  will help us make our ideas (Air) a reality. The challenge is to see things as they really are, not just the way they appear to us in our mind.
--------------------------
Sources:
- The Merlin Tarot Handbook by R. J. Stewart, illustrated by Miranda Gray. The Aquarian Press.
- The New Encyclopedia of the Occult by John Michael Greer. Published and distributed by Llewellyn Publications.
- Book of Thoth by Aleister Crowley, Frieda Harris (Illustrator). Publisher: Samuel Weiser, IncB - The Pictorial Key to the Tarot by Arthur Edward Waite. WeiserBooks.
                                     

Week at a Glance: The High Priestess

The purpose of drawing a "Week at a Glance" card is to get a sense of the sort of energy, circumstances, or personal qualities I might need to be aware of during the upcoming week.

For the week of January 27 2013, I am using the Russian Tarot of St. Petersburg, illustrated by Yury Shakov (U.S. Games Systems Inc.)

My card is:   THE HIGH PRIESTESS, reversed

My first reaction is that I am apparently dealing with energy at a "higher" or "deeper" level this week. I view Major Arcana cards like The High Priestess as symbolizing significant aspects of our sojourn through life.

Secondly, to me, The High Priestess is about wisdom, perception, intuition, hidden knowledge, and spiritual awareness or enlightenment. The element I associate with this card is Water. Astrologically, in the Golden Dawn system, this card is linked with the Moon.

Reversed, The High Priestess can suggest a situation in which no clear answers are available, or indicate an inability to see and understand something at more than a superficial level. My intuition may be hindered or clouded in some way. I may fail to perceive the deeper truth or complete truth about someone or something. The reversed High Priestess might also suggest that I am having trouble keeping something a secret or having difficulty "keeping my own counsel." There is a saying where I live: "You don't have to tell everything you know." Perhaps The High Priestess reversed is reminding me of this. I will think twice when I am tempted to share knowledge that perhaps would best be kept hidden.

REVIEW: Resonance Oracle Cards

R E V I E W

  Resonance Oracle Cards
by Dara Caplan
Schiffer Publishing
Boxed Set: 40 cards, 96-page paperback guidebook
ISBN-10: 0764341383 / ISBN-13: 978-0764341380

TOP LINE (formerly Bottom Line)

I am naturally attracted to the type of dark, mysterious images that dominate this deck. I find the card titles -- such as Relocation, Sensual Being, Spellbound, Musical Movement, Mind Pieces -- intriguing. Dara Caplan tells us that she channeled these messages and art, and I find that easy to believe. The titles and images are unusual and clearly not in conformation with any sort of "oracle template."

Because the images are dark, they encourage the reader to get very close to the card, to peer into it so as not to miss anything that might be important.

I like the combination of a narrative discussion of each card with bullet points that suggest activity or behavioral options. For example, the Alternate meanings for the card titled Out of the Box are:

• Love yourself and all your beautiful facets.
• Your creativity is the key.
• Be true to you and all will work out.
• Free yourself!

This truly is a deck I can recommend for beginners as well as seasoned readers because it doesn't require previous experience or familiarity with a particular tradition or set of symbols. It encourages the use of intuition and subconscious association from the reader and/or client.

THE PUBLISHER'S PRODUCT SUMMARY
Find answers for all your deepest questions including the emotional, mental, and spiritual guidance allowing you to find your own path of joy, peace, balance, and wisdom. Messages also embrace nuances of physical reality, such as technology and lines of communication. Author/artist Dara Caplan channeled the messages and art, and includes the power of intent in order to give you the best experience possible. The images and meanings do not discriminate between gender or type; the animals, magical beings, people, and plants of this world are all honored as special beings in the artwork. The 40 beautiful images reflect life's truths – there are some cards that are surreal and dream-like, and some that are romantic or dramatic. While each is different, they all are on black backgrounds, and have warmth and light to balance the shadows – the warmth of memories, or soft light of new beginnings. Through this magical oracle, find your own path that resonates deep inside you.

BASIC INFORMATION

"Dara Caplan has been channeling and doing other spiritual work for many years. As an energy worker seeking peace and balance, she knows that there are many people seeking the same, and she considers it her privilege to pass on these messages of wisdom." (from the guidebook)

Caplan tells us that these cards are designed for beginners as well as experienced users. She stresses that they work on the Law of Attraction and therefore, a card that falls out while shuffling is a deliberate message. She also advises readers to clear any previous energy from the deck before using it. "To do this," she writes, "all you need do is hold the deck (preferably in your left/receiving hand), and, making a fist with the other, gently knock or slap the deck with your intentions to clear it in your mind." Specific instructions are given for "making these cards your own."

For each card, the guidebook provides a paragraph containing the interpretation, plus Alternate meanings. Cards are illustrated in black and white in the guidebook.

APPEARANCE, SIZE, QUALITY

The cards and book are packaged in an illustrated storage box with hinged lid and magnetic closure. The cards are approximately 3 1/2″ x 5″ and oriented in landscape mode, with solid borders in coordinating colors, from navy blue to deep violet to sepia to terra cotta to dark teal green.

Card titles appear at the bottom of each card in a color that contrasts with or complements the border.

Card backs depict (as best I can tell) a feather, acorn, rosebud, and a blue, roundish item that could be a jewel. On either side is a branch with a few leaves sprouting from it.

The card stock is sturdy and glossy, and the self-bound guidebook has a sturdy, glossy cover. Two lined pages for Notes are provided at the back of the book.

ART

The images are dark with an infrequent burst of color -- for example, the red-orange glow of the "Sun" portion of the Sun & Moon card and the golden-orange flames on the Ancestral Legacy card. Green, teal, and turquoise make an occasional appearance as well. It is possible that someone who has poor vision might have trouble seeing these images well.

The predominant mood in these images is deep and dreamy, surreal, and dramatic -- with a sense of mystery and hidden meanings.

In accordance with the FTC Guidelines for blogging and endorsements, I hereby disclose that this product was provided by the publisher for free. Other than the occasional review copy, I receive no monetary or in-kind compensation for my reviews.  The substance of my reviews is not influenced by whether I do or do not receive a review copy.