The Beat Goes On

Too often we see this narrative played out in both politics and religion. The details change, but the substance remains the same. Government and the church have a tendency to be constricted by old ideas and orthodoxy long after they are valid or useful. New situations and challenges are met with fear, and an obsession with clinging to the past. A fresh solution presents itself and comes into conflict with the old ways. Inevitably there is a fight, with both sides clinging to their positions with single-minded obtuseness. There is always a compromise, but it lacks the vigor and freshness of new approaches.

I can see in the 8 of swords the Occupy movement, struggling to find a voice but oppressed by mainstream propaganda. We can see corporate America in the 4 of pentacles, consumed by greed and heedless of demands to work towards an improved and perhaps more idealistic society (ace of wands). Overbearing force, violent perhaps, but maybe more subtle, ultimately is brought to bear (knight of swords). Changes are made (ace of swords), but they cosmetic, and preserve the old way of doing business.

A True Believer

It's obvious to us that not all stories end happily, but it's equally important to remember that in life, unlike in Hollywood films, most of our narratives don't have endings at all. At best there are resolutions to the conflicts and difficult situations that are inevitably a part of our experience. Even those resolutions are frequently unresolved way stations in our journey toward the future (and in the time/space continuum of quantum physics, past, present, and future may all exist simultaneously, which is one possible explanation of the Tarot's efficacy).

I heard Jason's story (not his real name) on a radio broadcast a few days ago, and when I saw this spread yesterday evening I knew instantly who it was talking about. Jason is a young man who was deeply conflicted in the past, uncertain about his values and the direction his life was taking (2 of Swords). Raised in a nurturing and comfortable Jewish family (10 of Pentacles), he nevertheless struggled with his inner demons, unable to resolve his crisis (4 of Pentacles). After experiencing a profoundly spiritual revelation he became a born again Christian, which was like being hit by a club (Ace of Wands). He ran off to join a small commune in Alaska and turned his back on his family to become a single-minded and passionate warrior for Jesus (Knight of Clubs). I don't mean to imply any judgment of Jason's new-found religious beliefs, but was struck by his knight-like conviction that his was the only true path.

Follow the Star

Ariadne, a stylist in commercials had not worked in almost two years and was facing the loss of her small New England-style cottage because she could no longer pay the mortgage. It was the lowest she had ever been in her life. She was estranged from her father, a successful corporate attorney, and was surprised when her father offered to co-sign so she could refinance her house. In addition he gave her a substantial amount of money to tide her over for a year and hopefully, get started on a new life path. Ariadne decided she would give up her career in advertising and pursue her original dream of being an artist. In reality she was living with her dreams and fantasies, and refusing to face what would happen if she couldn't make a living from her art. As crunch time approached she came up with an idea for a small tote bag that could be used by artists, one she hand-crafts from recycled materials. She began marketing it through a web site. The idea took off, and while it hasn't yet made her rich Ariadne is earning a comfortable and steady living.

Max's Tale

Knights are by their very nature brash, headstrong, and cocky. They rush into battle with a single-mindedness that can just as easily be admirable as worrisome. As a coach I see it again and again, young athletes of talent and promise. You always wonder where their assets will take them. (Knight of Cups).

Early in their careers they compete as ferociously as anyone else (5 wands), and achieve great success (6 wands). In many cases, such as this one, we learn that sports may not be the most important thing in their lives, and there are other things also taking up their attention (9 of Cups), academic pursuits, hobbies, an interest in the world around them, etc. The resolution is left to fate to decide how this might be resolved (Wheel of Fortune).

This narrative, which I saw in the cards this morning, hit far too close to home, not surprising to anyone who has experience with Tarot. I'm attending the memorial service today for a young Palisades High lacrosse player I helped coached, and who assisted me coaching youth lacrosse last winter before graduating from high school in June. He achieved great recognition as a team captain and high scorer, while at the same time was an outstanding student, fluent in French, talented as a photographer, and a skilled writer. This story could be his. Tragically, fate provided the conclusion before he had a chance to decide the path he would follow, as his life was cut short in an automobile accident two weeks ago.

My heart and prayers go out to his parents, sister, and teammates.

Happy Thanksgiving

It's altogether fitting that the narrative for Thanksgiving is a happy one, with three powerful court cards involved signifying heart, intelligence, and creative impulse. We can count our blessings. The conflicts, such as they are, are mild and rather normal.

The Queen of Cups and King of Swords suggests that emotions are in conflict with intellect, but it is a day of celebration (3 of Cups), though the way we observe holidays nowadays it should be spelled sellebration.  The differences may well be over something to do with an extended family, or involves friends who are getting together for the day. Wands prevail, with the 9 of Wands suggesting that the outcome is peaceable. In the end the Queen of Wands, signifying a strong maternal authority, rules the roost.

Be thankful above all for loved ones today, and know that whatever differences exist, shared bonds are more important.

An End of the Beginning

Yesterday's spread left me perplexed; one could have concluded that the Devil card in the outcome position signified the narrative ended in some dire, even tragic way. But in Tarot even cards like Death and The Tower, which tell of calamitous events, are interruptions in life that lead to another start, hopefully with lessons learned.

The 6 of Cups in the preparation position gives us hope, telling us the subject is nostalgic for the life left behind, missing family and friends and regretful for choosing to abandon all and join a religious cult. But the leader of the sect (King of Wands) is not going to give him up. without a fight He is a powerful force, and despite all that is negative about him he is extremely charismatic, a strong and compelling leader. The subject must find in himself the courage to act. There are a lot of cards that might have indicated submission and defeat, but the Knight of Wands tells us the subject is not easily subjugated, and puts up a struggle to free himself from this man. The Knight of Swords in the turn position tells me the subject is successful. But he doesn't simply sneak off in the night. He stands up to the leader. I can see an actual physical fight.

The Ace of Wands tells of a fresh start. The subject has done much more than break free. His experience allows him to see that in his old life he was defeating himself, failing to recognize his own assets as he wallowed in dissatisfaction and self-indulgence. He can look to the future with a new confidence and courage. In this case an individual allowed unhappiness to be the catalyst that caused even greater unhappiness. On the long fall down he had to hit bottom before realizing he could not rely on others to show him the way back to the top.

There's an obvious moral in this, one we know in our hearts but often fail to recognize in our heads. What fascinates me is how clearly the cards put it out there.

A Tale of Whoa

How often in life, at a moment when we feel dissatisfied with how things are going, vulnerable, and beset by doubt, do we find ourselves suddenly faced with an alluring but perilous option? In this cautionary tale a young person (could be a man or woman) appears to make a disastrous choice. It's a narrative that plays out over and over, all the time, in many different ways. It could be a bad love affair, the wrong friend or group of friends, a business venture, a misguided journey. When in your life have you succumbed to an idea, person, or situation that has been so all-consuming it threatened to obliterate your personality?

A scenario I see in this spread involves a bored and restless individual (4 of Cups) becoming involved in a dangerous religious cult (The High Priestess). The person abandons their old life, turns their back on friends and family, and gives away their money and possessions (10 of Pentacles). The change is impulsive, sudden, leaving no time to consider the possible ramifications (8 of Wands). The person's loyalty to the cult becomes obsessive, total, almost pathological (The Devil).

This could be the end of the narrative, as it was for the Jonestown victims. Most of us find our way back to the light eventually when we become obsessively involved in something (though hopefully not as dire a circumstance as this). Curious, I did another spread, which will be revealed in the next post.

Start At the End

There are many who think of Tarot as a fortune-telling medium, a misconception kept alive by charlatans in backstreet storefronts. Unquestionably there are many examples of the cards predicting the future with uncanny accuracy, and the psychic power of the cards can be convincingly upheld by believers, just as non-believers can as easily argue the opposite. This is true of just about any belief system on earth. I myself have had many experiences with the cards that go beyond rational explanation.

There is another aspect to Tarot, one that even non-believers can embrace and enjoy, its ability to tell stories. Story-telling is one of the oldest and most enduring of human activities, perhaps essential to our survival. Given that Tarot can be read from many different spreads using anything from one card to the entire deck, the number of possible stories that can be told with its colorful images and symbols is virtually infinite. It is logical that these narratives can be recognized in our own lives as powerful guides, lessons, morality tales, and even warnings.

It's interesting that the above narrative spread begins with the Death card as Preparation. In our culture we tend to think of death as a finish, not a start, connected to finality not opportunity. In fact, Death in Tarot is not necessarily literal, rather it is frequently an ending that leads to a new beginning. The slate is wiped clean. It's therefore interesting that the Attack card in the 2nd position is the 2 of Wands, signifying the start of a new venture, full of promise and yet conflicting with the 5 of Pentacles. Whatever the nature of the new venture it will not be without a struggle. The Magician presents us with all the tools we need to succeed, but unfortunately, in this narrative, we see defeat (10 of Swords).

The Magician is one of the 22 cards of the Major Arcana. These are life lessons that must be learned in order for us to move to the next phase in our lives. We are presented with the same lesson over and over until we finally "get" it, and grow from it. The "warning" in this tale is clear: we must take advantage of the opportunities and abilities we are given instead of falling back on old habits, and ideas. Or as James Thurber once said, "if we lean back too far we risk falling on our face."

Snatching Defeat From the Jaws of Victory

How many of us have enjoyed success in our youth and failed to capitalize on it as the years passed? What once came easy to us becomes increasingly difficult as we fail to grow and develop. Rather than meet the challenge we become self-pitying, and when new opportunities are presented we fail to capitalize on them fully.

This spread suggests to me the story of a once very successful tennis player (King of Pentacles). He had it all, skill, good looks, charm, plenty of money, and the admiration of his fans and peers, but he got lazy, careless, and fell from grace. Now, years later, he lives in the past (6 of Cups). His looks have faded, he's gone through his money, and his detractors outnumber his admirers. He has retreated from the world and spends his days wallowing in his unhappiness and dissatisfaction (4 of Cups). He is finally given the opportunity to make a comeback against a strong opponent who has been his nemesis in the past, a player who once took his title from him (Queen of Swords). He wins his match (5 of Swords) when his opponent suffers leg cramps and must forfeit. Rather than accept his victory graciously and humbly he allows pride to overtake him. Deluding himself into believing he is on the top of his game again he suffers a series of humiliating defeats that leave him a broken man.

This spread could also be the story of Hamlet. King Claudius, Hamlet's uncle, has killed Hamlet's father, the previous king, married his mother, and ascended to the throne. Hamlet is obsessed by the events of the past, and the essence of his struggle is symbolized in the 4 of Cups: "To be or not to be." Driven by jealousy for his mother, Queen Gertrude, he kills his uncle. But his satisfaction is short-lived, and he himself is slain.

Perhaps there is something of Don Quixote here as well, ending his life in a series of heroic quests for a world long gone as he battles against windmills.

The Bible Tells Us So

In a narrative context, each individual card in this spread can relate to various possible circumstances in the querent's life. The structure of the "plot" generally remains the same, but the details change.

Earlier this week the 3 of Cups appeared in a different context. The narrative was centered on an individual struggling to break away from a group that was sucking up too much of her time and energy. In this story the protagonist enjoys the companionship of a circle of friends. With the 7 of Pentacles in the Attack position, which is the factor that enters the story to get the ball rolling as it were, we can imagine that he has come into a substantial amount of money. Perhaps it's an inheritance, or he's won the lottery. In any case his circumstances have changed for the better. He could easily continue his life as before, but the 8 of Cups (Struggle) says he is strongly tempted to break away from his friends and begin a new life. The Empress provides the turning point, convincing him that he is right to make the move. Has he met a woman and fallen in love? Can you think of a time in your life when you have left an old life to pursue a new one?

In this spread The Moon (Outcome) suggests the woman is pregnant, or has given birth, both because The Empress which preceded it is an archetypal maternal figure and because the moon is in many traditional belief systems a symbol of pregnancy. But the moon also has a dark side, never seen, which tells us the future may not be perfect.

I was struck by the realization that this story has a parallel in one we all know well, the Creation myth. After Cain slays Abel he departs from his parents, Adam and Eve, unable to remain and enjoy the fruits of the Garden of Eden. In the Land of Nod he meets his wife and fathers children. The future of Mankind from thence forward is an ongoing struggle between the dark and the light, good and evil.

Beyond the Horizon

Do you recognize this scenario in your life?

I am seduced by a dream, an ideal of how I want to live my life (The High Priestess). It takes courage to continue in the face of frequent adversity and struggle (Strength). At the same time it requires that I be blind to reality and remain steadfast in my determination that I can be who I want, do what I want, on my terms, even though it means I am often torn between my physical needs and my dreams (2 of Swords). These two aspects of my life are in conflict with one another, even when things look darkest and I feel I'm on the verge of giving up. But I remain steadfast and single-minded (King of Swords), and somehow challenges are met and difficulties overcome. Often I feel that I am in denial about the adversity tomorrow may bring as a result of my dogged refusal to change course, as I keep fighting the quotidian fight for survival, driven by emotion more than intellect (Knight of Cups). I feel that I am forever swimming upstream, toward the horizon in the distance beyond the horseman, forever called by the High Priestess. But I am at peace.

Onward and Downward

I had difficulty with this spread, trying to relate it to events in my life past or present. I could recognize aspects of it, but it didn't come together in a way that was meaningful to me. Nothing wrong with that, not every narrative is going to have relevance for us personally. But as I was puzzling over the significance of the King of Pentacles in the 4th position (Turn) the word "bailout" popped into my mind. In a flash I realized that this particular narrative fit perfectly with current political events.

The image on the 5 of Pentacles shows hardship, misery, suffering. It doesn't necessarily need to be interpreted literally, but can suggest a state of mind. Isn't this precisely what America is experiencing right now, a sense that things just aren't right? People are feeling anxiety about the present and fear for the future. I don't think there's a better graphic illustration of economic inequality. As the two forlorn figures struggle through the cold, a warm light shines from the window behind them, a window adorned with five coins, symbolizing wealth. Is it a bank? The mansion of a CEO?

The Page of Cups (Attack) and Ace of Swords (Struggle) show us a struggle between two points of view, one emotional the other intellectual, one driven by passion the other by ideas. The Page is all emotion with little substantive thought, battling with the fervor and blindness of youth. The Ace shows the cutting edge of intellect, but still single-minded and assertive rather than analytical. Here then in a nutshell is the essential conflict of the current political debate.

The King of Pentacles, the solution, is to throw money at it, but it's a temporary solution at best. In the outcome to this particular narrative arc (5 of Swords) the battle is over for the moment, one side has won and is gathering up the weapons of the other side, but it's likely to be a Pyrrhic victory, this card tells us the story isn't over and there will be more battles to come. The 5 of Swords also suggests that the winning side is arrogant and cocky, a distinct weakness. In addition, because the weapons being gathered are swords (ideas, intellect) the emotional arguments have won the day.

We can learn a lot from this spread that relates to our current impasse. A balance must be found between our emotions and ideas; we must be willing to listen to the other side, and work together to solve the challenges facing us.

(It's also interesting, for those aware of numerology, to note that this spread is book-ended by fives, the 5 of Pentacles at one end and the 5 of Swords at the other. The number 5 can be characterized by lack of diligence and order, as well as overindulgence. Does this seem familiar? Adding the two fives together we get 10, symbolizing the universe, completion, wholeness. And 55 symbolizes victory in war and defeat for one's enemies. It tells us to use our innate skills wisely or we will ultimately suffer defeat. In this spread we clearly see a path to real solutions if we can get past the petty and undisciplined squabbling that now seems to be the norm.)

Finding the Strength to Face the Future

Not all narratives have a perfect ending. It the case of today's, the denouement isn't unhappy, but it might leave one unsatisfied.

This "plot" begins with an individual who is dealing with issues of doubt and intense worry (9 Swords). The Hanged Man suggests the protagonist is wrestling with the urgent impulse to give up, while The Magician at the heart of the struggle presents possible solutions to the problem. One can imagine that the protagonist's despair is powerful enough to stand in the way of seeking relief. The Empress provides an answer. She is a powerful maternal figure, mother earth, nature, giving life and nourishment. In this narrative she holds the key that releases the protagonist from mental anguish, but the resolution is uncertain. The High Priestess is a seductive mystery figure, teaching us that the future can only be fully understood through experience, but it may not come easily.

This is a story of an individual's doubt and fear, though even the awareness that there are solutions to the problems fails to bring comfort.

It could be about a person suffering a debilitating illness, torn between the impulse to give up on one hand, and facing a conventional but risky treatment on the other. The decision is made instead to follow a homeopathic alternative medicine cure. The patient is at peace, even though the future remains uncertain.

Or it could about career problems. The protagonist is talented in several areas but plagued by self-doubt. Ultimately a career change is chosen, one that will bring greater personal satisfaction and joy. However, though there is potential of reward, there are risks that can only be known by having the courage to push forward.
 
There are endless possibilities. What life narratives have you experienced, or can imagine, that would fit this scenario?

Lonely In a Crowd

3 of Cups. You are involved with a group that is taking increasing amounts of time away from other pursuits. Perhaps it is a club, a community organization or church group. Perhaps you are contributing your efforts as a volunteer, or officer.

The Ace of Cups in the Attack position tells us you are getting more and more involved, more than is comfortable, and your obligations to the group are conflicting with your need for personal space.

Increasingly the group makes demands on you that you don't have the time or energy to meet. Quite possibly you have been too eager to please, and fearful of saying no when favors are asked of you. You are being used, and find yourself too often throwing up your hands in surrender (10 of Swords) and suffering for it. The Ace of Wands (Turn) suggests that you come to the realization that you must pay more attention to your own needs, and stand up to the others regardless of the consequences.

The story has a happy ending (King of Cups). By taking a stand you achieve stability and control in your life. Though you are taking more time away from your friends and colleagues, and showing a new sense of independence, you are respected more than before.

Do you recognize this narrative in your life? How have you handled it?