Cathedral: The Hierophant of the Incidental Tarot

I racked my brains for weeks over Trump #5, and how to portray a card I’ve always held a certain repugnance for.  I’ve never been able to appreciate traditional renderings of this card, called the Hierophant, or the Pope.  Perhaps this is because I am inherently irreligious, and I find the inclusion of a Pope figure to be somewhat antithetical to a set of divinatory images, no matter what its historic or esoteric interpretation.  But in my musings, I realized that the Hierophant does not necessarily portray an individual religious leader, so much as it represents a very human institution of power.  The Hierophant is often associated with organized religion in general, and similarly, any large bureaucratic or hierarchical organization.  Higher education, governments and the legal system all fall within the realm of the Hierophant’s influence.

The Pope, at one time, was the most powerful person on earth, second only (according to the church) to God himself.  The Church was his vehicle on earth, and by its laws all men within its reach were compelled to live.  One can argue the validity of the Church’s sovereignty passionately on either side.  But what is clear to me, is that over the course of human history, we have a tendency and (I daresay) a biological need to create structures outside ourselves that control our behavior.  Historically, religion has been the dominant power structure of the last two millennia, and therefore the Hierophant (or the Pope) was a most appropriate icon.

As a work of art that arose from the power of the Church in the middle ages, Cathedral is an intricately beautiful reflection of that same power structure.  The character of its dubious benefactors aside, to look upon a cathedral’s sheer majesty and mastery of skill, it’s clear that the visionaries who actually built it were indeed motivated by spiritual aspiration, a divine spark that endures and outshines the darker undercurrents of control and abuse that have tainted its past.

I choose to see the vibration of this card in a broader, more positive light.   Every culture on earth has built great monuments to the Gods, whether the Greeks or the Hindu or the ancient Mayans.  Humanity has always strived to build something akin to the house of God on earth…a temple from which man could aspire to the perfection of his divine origins.  But such monuments of greatness cannot be manifest by an individual alone.  Teamwork, cooperation, guidance and organization are absolute necessities to achieve such wonders on earth.  In a way, one can think of these qualities as the opposite of hubris.  These are the highest values of Cathedral’s influence.

READING CATHEDRAL:  Cathedral is a card that indicates dedication, vision, and the mastery of skill needed to realize great ambitions.  Often this means submitting to the will of existing power structures (universities, governments, spiritual organizations) in order to have the support necessary to manifest such dreams. Or more properly, submitting to and cooperating with powers outside oneself, whether those are spiritual in nature or earthly.  If one enters into a relationship with these “powers that be” in a conscientious manner, it can be a truly beneficial learning experience. The danger lies in allowing such organizations too much control over your ideas, behavior, or lifestyle. To submit to an authority outside oneself—to the exclusion of oneself—is a dangerous path to wander down, for ultimately, only we are responsible for the choices we make.  Cathedral is also a card of the slippery slope of power. Just as a government can struggle to rise above its own excesses and abuses of power, such is the warning Cathedral can bring to an individual when it appears in a reading. On one hand, it represents the glory of a cooperative achievement, submitting to the wisdom that came before you, of jumping through the hoops of your chosen system and reaping the rewards of that effort. On the other hand, Cathedral warns of losing your individual spirit in the machinations of those constructs
we set outside ourselves.

To define Cathedral in a word: SUBMISSION.

REVERSED.  Oppression, usury, abuse of power.  Moralizing without conscience.  Submitting to religious or political morals against one’s own instinct.  Feeling powerless to break out of “the machine.”

The Emperor of the Incidental Tarot

I’ve written about the Emperor before. It was a dreary Monday last October…ironically, a day I was feeling rudderless and disempowered. I had just finished drawing the last of the Incidental Tarot cards, and was now back to the stressful yo-yo of the job search, and wondering how I was going to fare in the next six months.  It was not an inspiring day in any way, and I was grasping for the strength the Emperor offered to push forward and take hold of my life again.

Since launching this new Incidental Tarot site a couple of months ago, I began reposting the Major Arcana cards in chronological order; and today, once again I’m struck with the urge to write about the Emperor, which is perfect since he was next in the cue…just waiting for this moment.  I’m going to throw in some excerpts from my original musing last October in today’s post, to give you some perspective.

The theme of the Emperor today: Power and Oppression.

Revolution has been a-brewing since I first wrote about the Emperor.  The winds of scandal have been blowing furiously in recent weeks; a veritable cyclone of gender issues, women’s rights and public policy relating to both these has entrenched itself into the public consciousness. Perhaps the climate has been just right, with the radical fever of the Occupy Movement taking hold in the hearts and minds of everyday people all over the world…or maybe we are simply on the crux of another phenomenal leap of social consciousness, which is my sincerest hope.  Whatever the reasons, it is clear to me that the Emperor’s influence is rampant right now.

The duality of the Emperor lies in the precarious relationship between Power and Oppression.  Power itself is a pendulum; in its highest aspect, it liberates and elevates all to success and fulfillment.  In its basest aspect, it embodies the worst form of self-aggrandizement at the expense of others, discrimination and segregation.  We are in the throes of that duality right now.

The uprising began with a volcanic eruption within the pagan community over the exclusion and disrespect of transgender people by another group, and has continued to morph into a blazing outrage over Rush Limbaugh’s latest disgustingly public misogynistic rant.   Presumably, under the auspices of discrediting President Obama’s health care bill(s), Limbaugh viciously targeted a single woman who was fighting for the right (of all women) to have reproductive health care coverage. How do these two upheavals relate to the Emperor, you might ask?  They perfectly illustrate the conflict between arbitrary power and those fighting to overcome it.

“The Emperor represents earthly power and authority.  Leaders, kings and politicians look to the Emperor’s influence, a model for conquering obstacles and blazing a path to success and prosperity. No small shoes to fill, that’s for sure.  But the Emperor’s reach need not be as wide as the rule of entire countries. The real scope of the Emperor is over the bounds of his own destiny.”

The real scope of the Emperor’s reach is over the bounds of his own destiny.  Yes, I do believe that.  But I would like to amend that phrase now to “OUR own destiny.”  Our…Ours…Us, United.  We can no longer just aim for own rights and comfort and success.  Personal power is not simply limited to how we see ourselves as individuals and our place in the world; it is our god or goddess-given birthright as human beings and must be fought for—for the good of all.  To be denied any human right or respect or dignity because of gender, sexual orientation or spiritual belief is inexcusable on every level.  The Emperor’s most beneficent influence—no, rather the Emperor’s command is spreading across the divides of the disempowered.  SPEAK, ACT, ADVOCATE.  For yourselves and your brothers and sisters.

The rise of a just and powerful leader comes directly from the overwhelming need of a people to be heard, to be valued as individuals, their rights fought for when they cannot fight for themselves.  The Emperor UNITES the people, leading by example, empowering them to stand up for themselves, giving them strength in unity.   He is the ultimate inspiration to those who fight for freedom and dignity of all.

“The Emperor represents assertive action toward your goals, and the power to back it up.”

Yes, the Emperor represents authority and earthly power…but at his core, the Emperor is father, ruler and protector of his people; his obligation is to elevate—not subjugate—and empower every last soul under his influence to become responsible for his or her own destiny.  The Emperor is ordering us to claim our collective liberty: personal, social and political.  Revolt against the arbitrary powers that seek to discredit you, to disempower you, to rape your rights as a human being on this planet!  The time for quietly suffering in oppression is no more.

As one intelligent and eloquent woman, a Dr. Walton, PHd, put it succinctly (thank you internetz):

“We, the Women of America, want to express our deep felt appreciation for throwing down the gauntlet. You have awakened a sleeping giant. You have given us the power to crush the Republican party.  We are coming after all elected officials, Republican or Democrat who have failed us miserably.  Smart strong women are coming after you.”

The Emperor has been sleeping; it is true.  But all those fever dreams have finally awakened him (or her, if you like) to a surge of need.  The Emperor can be our collective role model rather than a symbol of human tyranny…encouraging us to stand up to discrimation, injustice, and oppression.  To re-empower ourselves and reclaim our lives and our future.

“We are ultimately the only party that can best identify and heal our weaknesses. And when we have done that, others will look to us with inspiration to surmount their own obstacles. The great gift of the Emperor is that his power begets the power of his followers.”

The Empress

The Empress, the Earth Mother.  She is a favorite among Tarot-philes, and I certainly count myself among them.  There is something overwhelmingly peaceful about the Empress; she is the epitome of goodness, abundance, and the nurturing hand of nature.  She holds a bundle of ripe wheat in one arm and a bouquet of wildflowers in the other, symbolizing sustenance and beauty, two of her most enduring attributes.  She emanates warmth with the golden glow of her gown and the bright sunburst behind her head.  The Empress is the embodiment of fertility; representing the fruits of the land and also the creative fruits of the spirit.

In contrast with the High Priestess; the Empress is entirely of the earth, the visible and the tangible world of the senses.  Her body is in perfect harmony with the earth, and she is a woman who purposefully takes part in the stewardship of her lands.  She is not a woman who is afraid to get her hands dirty!  Prosperity (of  the heart, not the pocketbook) and fertility are the gifts of the Empress, and blessed are those whose lives she touches.

As an artist and a nature lover, I have a special affinity for the Empress.  She governs both my gardens; the one that grows herbs and fruits and flowers, and also the one from whose soil flowers my creative spirit.  When I began the challenge of creating one piece of art each day at the beginning of 2011, I knew I was tapping into something powerful that I never had the confidence to recognize before.  It’s now quite clear to me that the Empress has been whispering in my ear from the very beginning.  I hadn’t been drawing for two weeks before people started remarking how wonderfully Tarot-esque my work was, and as the process gained momentum I realized that I was creating something much greater than a piece of art every day; I was channeling a BODY of work, for the first time since I graduated from art school so many years ago.  And it was good.

The day I drew the Empress I got an amazing wave of emotional feedback from my audience.  She really resonated with them, especially with the women, and I knew she had come to life for the deck.  The Empress is my totem for this intuitive and generative process I’ve immersed myself in.  When I get lost in the daily hubbub, or lose steam in my creative flow, I only need to look at her warm, reassuring face.  She reminds me that beauty is being born from me every day; some days are more glorious than others, but nevertheless.  Beauty, and abundance.

The Empress represents periods of glorious fertility and abundance in life.  The energy is flowing and the path to prosperity is in full bloom.  She is the icon of creation, embodiment and harmony with the earth.  When the Empress presents herself in a reading, you can be sure to experience profound contentment with your work in the world, whether that is creative or otherwise.  She is a beacon of light, warmth, compassion and nurturing, and she is telling you to stop and smell the roses, see the garden flourishing around you, and to be ready for the birth of something new in your world.

To define The Empress in a word: FLOURISHING.

REVERSED.  Living too much in the mind, feeling disconnected from the earth and the path.  Slow down, reap your harvest, recognize your accomplishments.

The High Priestess of the Incidental Tarot

The High Priestess…one of the most sensuous and feminine of all the trumps of the Tarot.  She is the incarnation of yin energy, consort to the Red King and spiritual mother to the rest of the Major Arcana.  She embodies the quintessential qualities of the water element: emotion, intuition and connection.  Poised to receive, bathed in the light of a full moon and immersed in the ocean, the High Priestess is one with the currents that connect us to the unseen realm, the realm of the magical.  This ability to feel, to see beyond the physical manifestation of energy and to tap into its source is the gift of the High Priestess.  Her feminine beauty is just a visual representation of the depth of her power.

I’ve always aspired to be like the High Priestess.  So elegant, so beautiful, so perfectly in tune with the world around her.  But despite my aspirations, I’ve always felt much more an affinity with the Empress, or Strength or Temperance, also feminine cards, but perhaps earthier, not as delicate or sophisticated as the High Priestess.  I think in some way I felt unworthy of her, too imperfect, too out of touch with what I understood as traditional feminine ideals.

When I was growing up, I never felt like “one of the girls.”  I was clumsy, chubby, awkward and envious.  I eventually found my identity and strength as a woman in unusual—and less socially acceptable ways.  I turned inward and explored things that stimulated my passion for the mysterious.  My earliest memories are colored by ghosts, witches and things that could not be explained.  While this interest of mine did not endear me to my greater circle of femkind as an adolescent (and in, fact branded me more of a misfit in the eyes of my peers) it did set me on the path that ultimately led me here today, creating my own Tarot deck.

What I couldn’t understand at that age, being bombarded by a media culture that elevates perfection, beauty, thinness (and conservative thinking) as the primary virtues of femininity…was that the deepest and most truthful aspect of being a woman has nothing to do with appearance and everything to do with how we relate to the world around us.  It is our nature to interact and respond with emotion, and in a deeper sense react intuitively to the people and circumstances we encounter.  But while we are forced into the physical ideals of femininity, we are lured away from its emotional aspect by society at an early age, our “sensitivity” frowned upon and suppressed.  It’s not generally a blessing to be sensitive in our society, but it is an advantage to be rational, logical and empirical.  Our culture does not value the spiritually inclined child, whether girl or boy.  As a result, children that feel those invisible connections that the High Priestess represents are fretted over and miscast, pushed into mundane roles and careers that do not suit their deepest nature.

The path of the High Priestess is not an easy one.  She is so deeply immersed in the currents of the unseen world, it can be hard for the people in her life to relate to her.  The role of the mystic is largely unsupported in our culture, its attributes looked down upon as hypersensitive, hysterical or even crazy.  Allowing her nature to come forth and flourish in a yang dominated world is challenging, but the power of the High Priestess can actually be cultivated with a small effort: recognition is the key.  Each of us, woman and man, is born with that universal connection the High Priestess embodies.  We can choose to suppress it or nourish it as we see fit, but the source is always there for us to tap into when the need arises.

READING THE HIGH PRIESTESS:  In a reading, the High Priestess indicates a strong connection to the unseen world.  Psychic energy, intuitive counsel, and the ability to see into potentiality are the messages of this card.  The High Priestess tells us to look beneath the surface, to feel the answers to our questions, and to trust our inherently feminine or receptive sense of knowing.  She can see the workings of destiny beyond what a mortal can perceive with purely physical senses.  She is an oracle and an intermediary between the physical and spiritual planes.  Her insight comes not from reaching out for answers, but from opening to the source and allowing its omniscience to flow in and be perceived.

To define the High Priestess in a word: PERCEPTION.

REVERSED.  Clouded judgment, confusion, apprehension of the unseen.  Feeling out of touch, alienated, awkward in your skin.  Unrealistic ideals, self-consciousness, self-doubt.