The Incidental Tarot"A posse ad esse" From possibility to actuality
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The Incidental Tarot - "A posse ad esse" From possibility to actuality
The Incidental Tarot

The Devil is in the Details

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15 Chimaera

Chimaera: The Devil of the Incidental Tarot

The ugly, nagging details.

I’ve never had a very concrete idea of how to apply the message of The Devil, or in the Incidental Tarot’s case, Chimaera, to my own life. It’s a murky sort of card…calling on questions of morality, behavior and choice…the concept of “sin” in the traditional canon of philosophy. Is The Devil a card meant to mirror the sins of an individual, to shine light on the consequences of our selfish actions and desires?  Or is it more a card reflecting the moral and ethical challenges of “this mortal coil” we all labor within? I think it’s a bit of both.  If The Hanged Man (or Eclipse in the IT) is the door that opens our psyche to our own darkness, then The Devil is a florescent spotlight on our choices and actions…our sins. Individually, and collectively as a people.

I would never consider myself an immoral or sinful person. I strive to live my life with good intentions, to avoid harm and cultivate integrity in all that I say and do. But am I free of “sin”? Hell no, and I know it (pun intended). We all make choices day in and day out that have harmful repercussions in the world around us. Some, more impactful than others.  No soul is free to cast stones; that is the nature of incarnation. The Devil is an indicator of how we relate to our own flaws, and how we work through the conflicts that they bring about. It is a frightening card to many people, as it is never comfortable to examine our faults and take responsibility for our sins, no matter how great or small they may be. For some, the facade they present to the world is so strong they cannot even see through their own glamour…and it can ultimately destroy them. Chimaera expresses the illusory nature of this facade: the fact that terrible things often come in shiny, seductive packages. It peels back the layers of artifice we construct around our desires and shows us the often vulgar nature of what it means to be human.

For me, Chimaera’s mirror often shows a wide reflection. I see the broad, devastating vista of evil humanity has committed and how I am inextricably bound to it. The seven deadly sins now come in new and ever-innovative packages. Pride comes in the form of racism and bigotry. Greed comes in the form of hedge funds and oil barons and energy wars. Gluttony comes in mindless consumerism and wasting of resources. Lust comes with exploitative pornography and the culture of rape. Sloth resonates with entitlement, irresponsibility and ignorance. Envy brings about discontent, misery and the shameless pursuit of schadenfreude. And Wrath….Wrath is the most insidious of the sins. It is like a virus carried on the backs of its brethren…infecting each of them with active malice and physical harm. Wrath escalates the other sins, bringing them unceremoniously to the surface and breaking the illusions they hide beneath. In this way, Wrath can actually be a purifying force…bringing the infection to the surface where it can be treated and ultimately healed. That is the flip side of the Devil…the raw truth beneath the lies, the unfolding consciousness that is the first step to healing and wholeness.

So how should we react when Chimaera shows up in a reading? How do we determine its context?  For me, it shows that I am in need of the “unflattering mirror.” I also need to remember that I can only control my own thoughts and actions, and that no matter how powerless I may feel on my path or my place in the world, I do have that small power to change myself…to not succumb to the 7 deadly sins as they would manifest in me. I have a tendency to become overwhelmed with the madness of the world, to give in to depression, anxiety and a sense of utter helplessness. I become nihilistic. That is the rock bottom for me, the feeling that there is no hope in the world, that all is meanness and madness and nothing I wish or will can affect it.  I allow the Devil’s mirror to strip away my own integrity…and thus give in to the very urges that contribute to the problem. I languish in my purpose, I lash out at those who remind me of how I’ve failed, and I give in to the soulless pleasures that seem, even transiently, to numb the pain of it all.

But all these are illusions…the Madness and the Sins that perpetuate it. We need only remember that the gravest danger lies in the deception itself, the monster beneath the shining facade…and in uncovering it, we have the power to heal.

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Going with the Flow: Polarity

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14 Polarity

Polarity: The Temperence of the Incidental Tarot

It’s been awhile since I’ve blogged about one of the cards. Since mid-December to be exact…when I briefly touched upon the Death card. It was an eerily appropriate card to close 2012, at its core, a year of tremendous transformation. It was a year dominated by politics and human rights, life and death and somewhere between the two, the dogged pursuit of happiness. And now, it seems I’ve blinked and six months have passed! Between work and wedding planning (this September is closing in like wildfire!) I’ve barely had time to keep my head above water, let alone try to keep up with blogging and my usual philosophical musings.

2013, what little I’ve seen of it thus far, is different. From my eye it has an interesting new life to it. Not that there is suddenly an end to global drama and turmoil…but there is a sense of palpable relief that we made it through 2012, and from that a kind of invigoration to move forward. 2013 is the year of The Lovers, a welcome diversion from the tangles of the Hierophant last year.

For me, not without intention, this year of the Lovers is dominated by the planning of my wedding, set for September 22 (the Fall Equinox for those counting). It is a simultaneously fascinating, exciting and maddening process at times. This brings me to the influence of Polarity, otherwise known as Temperance in the Tarot. The card of divine balance.

Temperance has always been one of my favorite cards, which is fitting, since its message of balance is one that I am constantly charged with pursuing in my life.  I like to think that I have two settings at which I operate: FULL SPEED AHEAD and a low idle.  The idle is the frustrating part, because rather than using my lack of active direction to fully experience some form of relaxation, I often end up enduring these periods with a sense of urgent anxiety. If I’m not engaged, active, or producing something tangible, I’m haunted by “What could I be doing right now, what should I be doing right now?”

As you can imagine, this is not a healthy way to go about one’s life.  There are only so many hours in a day, and at least part of the learning experience of incarnation is found in the state of receptivity. Especially for artists (of all kinds), this is a crucial element of the creative process. We have to stop thinking, sketching, writing, conceptualizing for periods of time, so that we can look around and absorb the state of the world around us. Polarity instructs us to strike a balance between the active and the receptive, and to be able to flow between the two states for a harmonious existence. For this, we often have to purposefully un-learn certain cultural expectations, such as “I need to be working/producing/constructing/progressing at all times, or my precious waking hours are being wasted.” This kind of thinking is an unfortunate side-effect of the Western lifestyle. Capitalism and technology have hoodwinked us into believing that we have to keep up with the manic pace of western life in order to be happy or fulfilled.

Polarity is the embodiment of balance: the ever flowing relationship of yin and yang, masculine and feminine, active and receptive. She reminds us not to drain the well of consciousness and creativity, but to give it–and ourselves–time to receive. Because there is an infinite universe out there, full of wonders to inspire and feed the spirit, if we stop long enough to receive them. For many people, meditating is a daily tool to come into the receptive state. I’ve yet to be able to master complete and sustained quieting of my mind, but I have found that the simple act of turning off all screens (computer, tv, phone, etc) is an effective disconnect tool for me. To let go of my own stimuli addictions for a period of time is for me, a powerful act of receptivity.

The classical definition of Temperance (thanks to Wikipedia), as one of the four cardinal virtues is:

“(Sophrosyne in Greek is defined as “moderation in action, thought, or feeling; restraint.”[1]) has been studied by religious thinkers, philosophers, and more recently, psychologists, particularly in the positive psychology movement. It is considered a virtue, a core value that can be seen consistently across time and cultures. It is considered one of the four cardinal virtues, for it is believed that no virtue could be sustained in the face of inability to control oneself, if the virtue was opposed to some desire.”

Moderation is a tough one for me, at least moderation of behavior. I’ve never been one to over-indulge in hedonistic pleasures (food, drink, sex, etc.), but I do have a very bad workaholic streak that in recent years has been very difficult to moderate. Sometimes I find that the only solution when I work myself into a maelstrom of activity and obligation is to drop everything and wallow–again, not the best or healthiest of habits.

The beauty of Temperance is that it is a life-saver to hang onto in the stormy, choppy ocean of life. Its mediating energy floats effortlessly between our extremes, giving us a faithful marker to reach for as we yoyo through the heights and pitfalls of our routines. A reminder that there is a middle ground, a level path waiting for us when we are ready to step onto it. One foot on the ground, one foot in the water…poised, but not pointed. It is also a reminder to release expectation and submit to the flow of energy that surrounds us. You know how they say to “steer INTO a fishtail” when you skid out on a wet road? It’s kind of like that. You might feel like you are veering out of control in some unknown direction, but there’s a good chance if you just roll with it you’ll feel the necessary release and return to balance. I’ve had to do that recently, let go of a seemingly desperate need for answers, in order to shake off my feeling of helplessness. It’s no picnic, and it doesn’t remove your desire to take action or alleviate the stress of a given situation. But it does serve to lift you out of that awful, rubber-bandy feeling of helplessness. And that is SO worth the price of admission.

I’m doing my best to keep steering into that fishtail right now. Letting go of all the nagging obligations that tug at my shirttails every day: “I should be shopping for wedding favors, I should be planning the honeymoon itinerary, I should be doing some art…” It’s all still going to be there tomorrow, and the next day, and the next. Polarity is holding out her hand to rescue me from the rollercoaster for a little while.

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Death

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I have no words today. I can only share with you this song that gives me comfort in times of grief and confusion.

13 Death

The Incidental Tarot: Death

Nature Boy (version by Chris Whitley, 1960-2005)

There was a boy, a very strange enchanted boy
They say he traveled very far, very far
Over land and sea.
A little shy, and sad of eye; but very wise was he.
And then one day…one magic day he passed my way
And while we spoke of many things, fools and kings
This he said to me
The fairest thing you’ll ever learn
Is just to love and be loved in return.

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The Potential of Darkness

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12 Eclipse

Eclipse: The Hanged Man of the Incidental Tarot

I should know this feeling by now, the creeping feeling of something in the universe—in my psyche—coming unhinged. Somehow, my inner bell starts ringing and making a ruckus when the stars align in this certain way, but I never seem to have the foreknowledge that it’s coming.

It is November of 2012, a month drenched in the intense energy of the Eclipse. Not just the Tarot card that corresponds to the Hanged Man in traditional decks, but a full solar eclipse in the southern hemisphere, and a lunar eclipse 2 weeks later. When this happened in June of 2011, I drew the Eclipse design that would become the Tarot card you see here.

All of 2012 has seemed to be a year of strife, for individuals and for nations. Radical, transformative energy is all around us, slowly ramping up for the much-anticipated cosmic shift on December 21. I don’t profess to know the ins and outs of such a momentous astrological event, or ancient Mayan wisdom, or the musings of apocalypse theorists. But I do know when the forces that drive the world are in high gear and threatening to knock me on my proverbial rear. Tides are turning, old barriers are being broken and we are experiencing a deeply moving transition into new territory.  We are at the mid-point of growing out of an old, crumbling era and journeying forth toward a potentially great new horizon. Some people interpret this as a balancing of the polarities: raising the divine feminine up out of oppressive darkness and bringing her into balance with the still overwhelmingly patriarchal structures of our civilization.  A sort of cosmic recentering.

At first I attributed much of my recent emotional angst and overwhelm to the super-charged rancor of the Presidential elections. I kept thinking, everything will eventually “break” and the steam will dissipate after the elections are over. But really, it’s just not proving to be so.

And it’s not political at all, this residue of tension. It’s energetic, celestial, cosmic. Eclipses are windows of intense transition: brief interludes when we come face to face with our fears, mistakes and burdens—even our crimes—and are given the opportunity to overcome them. But it isn’t sunshine and roses with Eclipse. It is difficult pathworking; facing one’s dark side is never a cakewalk. You have to give yourself permission to take comfort in this darkness for a period of time… know that it is temporal, and that healing follows in its wake. But as with any invaluable opportunity, it carries a risk. That dark window can also be looked at as your own ignorance, whether willful or unintentional.

Last night I came home after having written the beginning of this blog, and forced myself to take some time out. I tidied up the house, turned off the computers and phone, lit a few candles and sat down to be in stillness and muse on the Eclipse energy. I managed to quiet my mind for a period of time, which I’ve not been able to do for some weeks now, and some very uncomfortable thoughts bubbled to the surface. Thoughts that wouldn’t go away. As I lay in bed last night, processing that brief interlude of meditation before falling to sleep, it occurred to me that those thoughts weren’t truths, but fears. Deeply held fears that couldn’t be addressed in the short period that Eclipse was moving through my cosmos. But I also realized that I wouldn’t have been able to hold that mirror up to my own psyche without acknowledging and tapping into that magical marginal space between darkness and light. The task now is to work through the fears as the light returns and integrate them into my whole-self.

No pressure there.

Eclipse energy lingers.  When I went out to my car this morning to head off to an extra long work day, I found that my car had been broken into and all my belongings carelessly rifled through (thankfully nothing was taken—I never leave anything of value in the car overnight).  After the shock of being thus violated subsided, I realized part of the fear of the Eclipse is this: not only is it a time when the lights go out and we must come to grips with our fears, but it is also a time when chaos has a prime opportunity to exert its influence. Under cover of darkness, mischief and miscreants abound. In our necessary self-absorption and introspection, the rest of the world carries on, taking advantage of the space of uncertainty and transition—sometimes for good, but sometimes not.

It is with this knowledge that I now see the flip side of Eclipse in action. That embracing the darkness, even fleeting as it may be, allows the terrifying unknown to enter your physical space as well as your consciousness. It allows chaos, and disruption and the actual forces driving your fear to find the holes in your defenses and work their way in. That sense of residual violation is a reminder that certainty (of anything) is an illusion. Perfect self-containment is an illusion. In reality we are (no matter how tediously we tailor and control what we think the world knows of us) still subject to the random bursts and billowings of an unknown wind… and sometimes we get knocked down.

The trick is, as they say, to always get up again. Look into that mirror, acknowledge what it reflects back to you—then throw it against the wall and don’t bother to pick up the shards of glass. Let them be a monument to your growth, a reminder of the sharp and trialsome lessons you’ve come to learn, and make a new path around them.

This is the gift of Eclipse. A powerful, sometimes frightening opportunity to face the unknown, to face your own darkness and name it. To name a thing is to have power over it, after all. Then you move forward.

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Justice: Striking a Balance

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11 Justice

The Incidental Tarot: Justice

This seems to be a theme for me lately, as well as a meta-theme in global politics.  I find myself drawing parallels between tarot and politics a lot recently, perhaps as a result of the impending election here in the U.S. We seem to be, as a country and an aspect of the emerging global community, rife right now with imbalance at every level of society. From the disparity between the rich and ever-growing-richer, to the war on women, to rampant discrimination of people based on race, sex, sexuality or religion. In some ways, the underlying movement here seems to be a destructive tension, the painful stretching of our social fabric. The collapse of our economy and massive paradigm shifts that are erupting in our way of life have polarized civilized people against each other in unthinkable ways.  Hatred is amplified by misfortune, and when misfortune abounds, distrust and intolerance of anyone outside the perception of safety spins out of control. It’s a chain reaction, and we’ve traveled very far down that chain in the last decade, for all the progress we’ve made as a nation in the last 100 years.

Freedom is our ultimate aspiration as Americans. But Freedom is too often misunderstood as an “all or nothing” ideal. The truth is, there is no Freedom without Consequence; it is a perpetual balancing act. The pursuit of Freedom requires judgment, moderation, and responsibility.

Nature always rights herself. And though we actively seek to remove ourselves from her, humankind is a product of Nature. We are one branch of an infinite tree of life. And though that branch may have grown far, far from its root, it is still connected. The force of Nature is working through us as a species right now, seeking to right disparities and restore balance. The pendulum is swinging back towards center, and as it reaches toward this profound shifting of consciousness, we are experiencing the violent backlash of fear and uncertainty. The consequences of our flight from Freedom.

Justice represents this struggle to regain balance, to reset the scales and restore our relationships to each other and to the planet. Justice is a card that resonates with our earthly constructs of balance, fairness and responsibility, therefore it works through our social and political constructs. Government, law, and the judicial system are the ethical filters through which we function as a nation. Spiritual laws and systems find their expression in Awakening (Judgment), and pertain more to the individual than the society in which he lives. This is not to say that the shifting paradigms we are experiencing in America and the rest of the world do not have a spiritual element; they most certainly do. But the structure must be forged through Justice’s vibration first, then fine-tuned to each person’ spiritual frequency.

Justice brings to us the hope of remediation, the righting of past wrongs and the restoration of harmony. It is up to us, as individuals, community members, and countrymen to work together to let Justice ring true to her calling.

In keeping with this theme of balance and the righting of injustice, I am in the process of organizing a large scale collaborative art project called Columbia Rising. In short, it is an effort to revive the feminine personification of America, once known poetically as Columbia. I’ve blogged on my personal page about how I came up with the project here. There is also a Facebook group forming of people interested in joining the project, please contact me at columbiarising@gmail.com if you want to join the project.
 

E Pluribus Unum.

 

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Triskelion: the Wheel weaves…

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10 Triskelion

Triskelion: The Wheel of Fortune of the Incidental Tarot

And the wheel turns; it turns.

I’ve always known that each card of the Tarot—the Major and Minor Arcanas—has a twofold meaning.  Not just right or reversed, but a shadow if you will.  Just as every person on the earth casts a shadow when the sun shines on them, so does every trump when it is pulled for a reading.  The Wheel of Fortune is no exception; in fact, its shadow may be one of the Tarot’s most frightening…because it is completely unpredictable.

Triskelion, the Incidental Tarot’s Wheel of Fortune, is a metaphor for the movement of the world and all its interconnectedness. One cannot force it to turn, or even to reveal where in its rotation it is at any given point. Unlike the Red King, who has the force of will and the power of magic to manifest his desires into being, Triskelion represents the heretofore unseen manifestations of our thoughts and actions coming forth.  And not just our own manifestations, but the collective expression of all lives and fates that come into contact with us.

Composed in whimsical greens, blues and purples, the colors of Triskelion reflect the high vibrations of its nature. The warm greens represent growth, movement and prosperity, the blues for peace and tranquility, and violet for the spirit’s connection to the universe. But don’t be deceived, the Wheel turns through all the colors of the rainbow; when one side of it is basking in the sun, the opposite side may be shrouded in darkness.

I have recently found myself riding the rollercoaster of the Triskelion’s movement.  My job has recently experienced a completely unexpected turn of fortune.  Working for an established non-profit seemed to be a lucky stroke of grace for me (one who has been  a struggling self-employed artist for most of my life). It is an organization with two decades of growth and an ever-widening sphere of influence, a seemingly failsafe position.  In the current economy of scarcity and fear, I know just how lucky I am to have found this place, and thank the stars for that blessing every day.  But in recent weeks it became clear that the primary funder for our program had disappeared (literally and figuratively), and last week a very difficult decision was made.

Again, I was one of the lucky.  But two wonderful people who each gave a decade of their lives to the work were let go, and in an office of just 7…it is like having your legs cut off.

That is the shadow of the Wheel at work.

We have no control—over anything really.  We can plan and work and hope and dream, but when Triskelion rolls through our lives, it can roll right into the mud. We are pinned, powerless.  Or sometimes even worse, we can end up with a tremulous hold near the top, watching helplessly as our friends and loved ones disappear beneath the wheel. It is the way of Nature at times: eternal, dispassionate, random.  But the redeeming virtue we must not forget when we are in the mire, is that the Wheel never stops turning, and will always naturally come back into the light.

Inspired by last week’s experience, I created a collage for the Wheel of Fortune.  Here it is, with its full range of beauty, intrigue and fear.

The Wheel of Fortune
The Wheel of Fortune

Some call it luck, some call it fate. Triskelion is a symbol of the trifold pattern of thought, action and consequence. The number three is sacred in almost every spiritual belief system. The Threefold Law, the Triple Goddess (maiden mother and crone), the Hindu Trimurti, and the Christian Trinity are all reflections of Triskelion. Each wave rolls out of the one before it, and each gives birth to the next in a continuous flowing form. Birth, life and death. Growth, prosperity, loss. Misfortune, redemption, destiny. All these patterns embody the essence of Triskelion, the threefold Wheel in motion that governs the energy of the Universe.

In a reading, Triskelion represents the turnings of Fate that the querent may have no conscious control over. It is almost always a card of great positivity, signifying good fortune, completion, and gratification. It can also represent unforeseen windfalls and unexpected strokes of luck. The surprise element of this card comes from the fact that we can never have complete knowledge or control over our destiny, and Triskelion appears to let us know that even when we feel out of control and fear misfortune or loss, the universe has our back. It tells us that the workings of Nature are still mysterious even to the adept, and to trust in its inherently benevolent nature.

To define Triskelion in a word: FORTUNE.

REVERSED. The stalling or impeding of plans; trying too hard to force change or influence results. Unforeseen consequences, unintended side-effects.

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A Time of Solitude

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Solitude…the blessing and the curse of the sensitive soul.

9 Blue Buddha

Blue Buddha: The Hermit of the Incidental Tarot

I am an only child, and grew up completely at ease and happy in the company of myself.  I think intensely; I make connections; I draw deeply from the well of my creativity when I am alone.  But solitude is not always easy to obtain, especially once you become entrenched in the responsibilities of adulthood.  It can be exceedingly difficult to take time out in this fast paced, hyper-stimulated world.  We are always on the go, ever encouraged—even demanded—to think more, act more, produce more!  And yet the well, though it has an infinite supply of inspiration, can drift further and further away from us as we overload our minds with data and burden ourselves with higher expectations on a daily basis.  We get confused, stressed, overwhelmed, lost.

There is a balance we must strike between being productive and being receptive or at rest that is often best sought in solitude, away from the chaos of the outside world, away from the busy brains and agendas of our compatriots.  In solitude we can calm the mind, soothe the heart and empty ourselves of the trivial and distracting details that hold us back from achieving our destiny.  I was reminded of this frequently during my daily art challenge; it could feel extremely burdensome at times, when it seemed there was just not time enough in a day to accomplish all the goals I’d set out for myself.  Inevitably, if I didn’t take the time to “disconnect” and empty myself of expectations, whether creative or mundane, creative burnout followed and all my efforts were marked for failure.

Trump #9, in traditional decks known as the Hermit, is pictured as the Blue Buddha in the Incidental Tarot.  He is the seeker of knowledge and wisdom, he who is at peace in solitude.  In Eastern traditions, this blue-skinned figure is also the Medicine Buddha, a healing aspect of the universal buddha nature.  Blue is a spiritual color; it denotes peace, tranquility, and healing.  Blue Buddha finds the path to his enlightenment through disconnection with the details of daily life and a reconnection with Nature, the wider sphere of existence. The path of this Seeker is ultimately a solitary one.  By becoming completely removed and empty, he is open to the enlightenment of the star above him.   But solitary does not mean alone indefinitely; by disconnecting from the commotion of daily necessities, Blue Buddha opens to the pure, peaceful energy of the universe.

Blue Buddha

Blue Buddha Tarot Pendant on Etsy*

This card suggests a cleansing of cares…of the tedium we accumulate in our jobs, our relationships, our desires. Once refreshed by this experience, he can return to the world with a new vigor and a new approach to solving problems. He began as the Seeker and is transformed in his purposeful solitude into a dispenser of spiritual medicine to those who now seek his guidance.  On a broader scale, Blue Buddha represents a person who is drawn to the spiritual nature of life. Gentle and wise, he has an inherently calm demeanor that gives comfort and guidance to those who seek his friendship.

The flip side of Blue Buddha…the “curse” aspect of seeking solitude, is that there is always a danger of retreating too far, of alienating the outside world and the people who love you and wish you well.  “Loner,” “introvert,” and “recluse” might be ascribed to those whose pendulum swings far to the side of solitude and withdrawal. It is important to communicate the need for retreat and respite in a way that does not devalue the guidance and support of your loved ones.  For myself, I’ve learned that not everyone can understand an only child’s need reclaim their aloneness.  So in order to honor myself, mine is a daily practice of taking time out and nurturing what needs attention most in my soul, while still communicating my appreciation to those that love me.

READING BLUE BUDDHA:  Blue Buddha can represent the seeker himself, or the object of the search: guidance, wisdom, enlightenment. The means to this card’s message is the same: purposeful disconnection, meditation, solitude and spiritual healing.  Blue Buddha can also indicate a mentor or guide that can assist the Querent in his quest for peace of mind, meaning, and guidance. Profound insights can arise from a quieted mind, and also be channeled through it from the divine source. This meditative reprieve can be addressed on a small scale, such as taking a half-hour walk each day to clear the mind, or a larger one, like a long weekend camping trip in the great outdoors.  In whatever form feels best for the Querent, Blue Buddha advises a well-deserved respite.  A little bit of personal healing time and rejuvenation can do wonders for the stressed-out soul seeking counsel.

To define Blue Buddha in a word: SOLITUDE.

Reversed.  Overworked, stressed, disillusioned, lost.  Imprisoned by the material world and its responsibilities, or an inability to disconnect from its burdens.  Looking for answers in the wrong places, or refusing to look at all.  Succumbing to overwhelming stress.

* For a full catalog of the Major Arcana pendants available, see the Incidental Tarot section of my Etsy shop.

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Gryphon…a leap of faith

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8 Gryphon

Gryphon: The Strength of the Incidental Tarot

Strength has always been one of my quintessentially favorite cards.  I love its message of transcendence: mind over matter (or heart over mind) and spiritual steadfastness over carnal desire.  I have often needed to remind myself of those challenges over the course of my life.  I am an artist, an intuitive, and an empath; sometimes this combination of sensitivities can be quite a lot to bear in times of stress.  Gryphon is a card that gives me strength when I feel overwhelmed…it reminds me to follow my heart, especially in those moments where my head just won’t settle down and let me see the world with clarity.

Recently, my fiancé and I took in a woefully neglected little stray kitty, sweet and desperate for attention, she clearly had not been cared for in months, if not longer.  We took her to the vet, got her some antibiotics and food and set her up in a spare room while she got comfortable and stronger.  It turns out she is an older kitty, probably around 10 years old, and struggling with hyperthyroidism and a probable accident that left her with arthritic hips and a loss of sensation in her tail.  Thankfully, she tested negative for Leukemia and FHIV, which is great, but even under the best of circumstances, she will be a special needs companion for the rest of her life.  We’re calling her Annapurrrna, since she purrs like clockwork and could use the blessing of the Hindu Goddess of Nourishment.

Annapurrrna1This is one of those Gryphon-inspired “lead with your heart” situations.  Every logical thought in my head told me this is never going to work in our house (we already have 3 cats in the household that don’t get along with each other), and she wouldn’t last a week in a shelter.  It will be an uphill battle trying to find her a permanent home, and there will be a lot of care and money to be spent in the meanwhile.  But the heart doesn’t obey logic, and I couldn’t (and still can’t) bear the idea of sending her off to a shelter where she’d be living in a cage with little or no hope of ever getting out again.  It was a leap of faith we made, scooping up that little sweetheart and making the commitment to give her a better life…and even now, I’m still looking down and not seeing any ground.

(***If you’d like to help us find little Annapurrrna a loving and permanent home, please see my note at the end of this blog.)

In traditional decks, the Strength card is often pictured as a maiden calmly taming the ferocious lion of adversity.  I love this image, but I see many more layers of meaning beyond the simple “beauty and the beast” aspect of this card.  I believe her strength actually comes from the lion itself, not in opposition to it, as the card might suggest.  Spiritual clarity, represented by the maiden, coupled with the might and physical endurance of the Lion indicates true strength; the unification of inner and outer resolve.

Gryphon is a symbol that incorporates both aspects of the traditional Strength card: the hybrid union of the eagle (spiritual power, grace, wisdom) and the lion (brute strength, prowess, valor).  Mythologically, the Gryphon is a powerful and majestic creature, thought to represent strength, courage, boldness, protection and intelligence.  It is also a symbol of heavenly power on earth, and was thought to be a guardian of divine knowledge and unseen treasures.  As opposed to many other fantastical creatures of ancient mythology, the Gryphon was frequently an ally to humanity, an icon of strength and leadership that was adopted as heraldry by king and country alike.  Like many of its raptor cousins, Gryphons were also thought to mate for life, and thus were emblems of loyalty and faithfulness.  In the Christian mythos, the Gryphon was associated with Jesus, being of both heaven (the eagle) and earth (the lion).

In many ways, Gryphon is a parallel of Chimæra (the Devil in traditional decks); a symbol of spiritual fortitude in opposition to that of vice and temptation. Chimæra represents the potential agonies of life on earth.  Gryphon on the other hand, possesses the strength of the lion with the freedom of the eagle, giving it the power of transcendence.  Gryphon is not trapped on this plane, but can travel freely between earth and heaven.  His claws, unlike Chimæra’s, are not meant to rip and destroy, but to hold fast, to carry us securely as we rise above adversity and the pitfalls of our misfortunes.

Maybe I need to see another parallel here: Gryphon represents the choice to save a life and make a sacrifice…and Chimæra represents the lonely and dangerous journey of a lost animal on the streets.  Kind of puts things in perspective when I get distracted by the doubt and worry. We took the leap, but now we need to hold onto that strength without knowing where the road is going to end.  That’s where real faith happens.

AnnapurrnaIf you distill it down, the eagle represents purity (spirit), and the lion, passion (body).  Individually, each has its own path to growth and enlightenment.  But when paired, passion and purity merge into a new force, an alchemical union of the body and spirit.  This is the ultimate Strength.

READING GRYPHON:  Gryphon is a signpost of transcendence.  When we are overwhelmed with the grievances of day to day life, Gryphon gives us something to hold onto, an reminder of our own divinity and the strength that is available to us when we combine spiritual resolve with earthly action.  He is our guardian and a beacon through times of adversity.  In a reading, Gryphon is a reminder not to give up the struggle, nor at the same time give in to either extreme of coping: the physical (workaholism) or the spiritual (escapism).  He embodies the qualities of endurance, balance, and fortitude.  Gryphon also reminds us that we are creatures of spirit, and must not succumb to victimization of circumstance; we must not endure to the point of being trod upon.  Hold yourself in strength and confidence, knowing that all earthly adversity is temporal.

To define Gryphon in a word: STEADFASTNESS.

REVERSED.  Weakness of the spirit, giving up, pessimism.  Falling victim to the outside forces of the world, feeling out of control and overwhelmed by circumstance. Giving in to vice.

***We are holding a fundraiser to offset Annapurrrna’s medical expenses!  Please visit my Etsy shop to see the special kitty merchandise…beautiful art, jewelry and accessories (more coming this week) for a worthy cause!  Or if you live in the SF bay area and are interested in adopting her, please email me directly at ravenandrosearts@gmail.com.

 

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The Chariot’s path…

by The Incidental Empress 0 Comments
7 The Chariot

The Chariot of the Incidental Tarot

The Chariot…I will admit, it is a card that I’ve always given short shrift to in the past.  Being largely at a loss as to how to portray it, it was one of the last four trumps that remained to be designed.  It had always seemed to me to be a very masculine card, speaking of war and strategy and dominion.  But as I delved into the mythos behind its traditional imagery, I realized there is much more to the Chariot than meets the eye.  It is in fact, an allegory of the Soul’s journey.  In the Tarot, the Chariot is a direct sign of the Soul Path of the querent.

Some years ago, I was at a Renaissance faire in Washington with the musical ensemble I perform with, and I found myself mysteriously drawn to the symbol of horses.  I found a lovely ceramic mug with a depiction of the Celtic Epona, goddess of hearth and home (originally patron goddess of the Roman military).  At the time, I felt very drawn to Epona as a grounding influence, and I was so enamored of her image, I bought myself a number of beads to string into a necklace: a large jade floral wheel at the center, flanked by two horse heads, one white and one black.  I really don’t know where the concept came from; I didn’t have any conscious association with the Chariot in mind at the time.  In fact, it was only just recently as I was doing the research for this card that I made the connection.  That summer in Washington, I was purposefully (if unconsciously) grounding myself on my Soul Path.

Plato’s narrative on the Chariot is one of the earliest representations of the myth, though it seems to be based on even earlier ancient texts.  He describes the Chariot as the vehicle of the Soul’s progress from its maker, through its various incarnations on earth, and on to its eventual return to heaven.  The driver of the Chariot is the Soul, and the horses, one white and one black represent the two opposite but tandem forces that drive the Soul on its journey.  The white horse is symbolic of the highest and noblest form of action, the perfection of reason and sensibility.  Chivalry, charity and grace are qualities of the white horse; the black horse represents the more primal aspects of human nature.  The force of passion, which is not inherently negative in itself, opposes the nature of the white horse and often clashes with it, creating the conflicts and challenges of earthly life.  In the extreme, the black horse symbolizes intense emotion: lust, obsession and rage.  These passions can throw the Chariot off course, and draw it back into the baser levels of existence.

I realize now, that to some degree, my own Chariot has been driving in circles for a very long time…often slogging through mud and wind and the harsh weather of my own distraction. But the weather is quieting down, the horses have gotten some rest and I am starting to see a path clearing before me.  And you know what?  It’s a little scary out there… leaving behind those well-worn circular tracks and facing the wide open road ahead.

But here I am, the sun is shining, and I found a map.

READING THE CHARIOT:  The Chariot’s appearance in a reading heralds an important opportunity wherein the querent’s Destiny shall be recognized and engaged.  The foundation has been solidly built and much effort has been committed to achieving goals, and a great portion of that work is now coming to fruition.  The Chariot represents victory through hard work, responsibility and dedication, of foregoing the extremes of experience in favor of balance and moderation.  This card is also a spiritual milestone being number 7 of 21 trumps, indicating a strong sense of completion, of promises fulfilled and intentions realized.  In general, the Chariot is a card of pathworking, an excellent omen of success, and signals that the querent is well-established on the path to his Destiny.

To define The Chariot in a word: ACHIEVEMENT.

REVERSED.  Leaning too heavily on the passionate nature (the black horse); letting emotion and distraction obstruct the way of the Soul’s progress.  Obstacles, trials, lessons to be learned.  Emotional clarity must be diligently sought, and discipline applied to remain on the Path to Destiny.

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That elusive spark of the Lovers

by The Incidental Empress 0 Comments
6 The Lovers

The Lovers of the Incidental Tarot

Have you ever felt that ecstatic rush when you meet that special someone…the one who ignites something inexplicable within you and sends your heart racing with anticipation?  That is the influence of the Lovers: intense feeling, pure passion.  The Lovers represents the moment of turning that occurs when you meet someone who will change your life in a profound way.  In the same sense, this card is also an indicator of perfect timing, that moment of serendipity within which we forge emotional or sexual bonds and experience epiphanies that propel us forward (or backward) on our path.  The Lovers also speaks of compelling esoteric connections, of coming together and a synthesis of ideas.  I discovered an aspect of this shortly after I completed the design for this card.

In the spring of 2011, I was immersed in esoteric imagery for a private project I was commissioned to do: an alchemical divination/meditation set of icons.  I love the realm of alchemy, with all its inherently mysterious and metaphorical conjurings.  Its imagery has always captivated me, though I don’t delve deeply enough in exploring its intense and often contradictory implications.  It is a study for which I would require another lifetime of dedication, and so in the here and now, I merely scratch the surface of its deeper wisdom.  But from time to time, I am struck by how simple and profound certain of its principles are, and how frequently they will appear (unbeknownst to my conscious mind) in my art.

Shortly after completing the Lovers, I went back to the alchemy project with renewed enthusiasm.  I began to go through the resources the client had compiled for me, for symbolism and explanation of the subjects he had commissioned.  “Solutio” was the aspect that caught my eye immediately.  I pulled up an antique engraving he had forwarded to me of the alchemical Solutio operation, and found to my shock several key elements that I had just incorporated into the Lovers.  The two trees, an apple and an oak, the man and woman coming together in and around the flow of water…it was too coincidental.  It was serendipitous.

Alchemical Solutio

Allegorical Solutio

The essence of the Solutio operation is a dissolving, a breaking down of the outer forms and constructs and return to the “Materia Prima,” or the pure matter that is the basis of all life.  Whether speaking chemically or metaphorically, Solutio is a sign of surrendering, merging, and loosening of physical barriers until all that is left is one…the soul, or materia prima.  And isn’t that in essence, what happens when we lose ourselves in love or lust?  We let go of the fears and barriers we place for ourselves, and submit gratuitously to the bliss of wild abandon.  We dissolve ourselves into union with another.

In many Tarot decks, the Lovers offers a twofold message.  Love, certainly.  Lust, frequently.  But there is also the inherent notion of a choice that the Lovers implies.  As if to indulge in a profoundly passionate love affair cannot be, in itself, sustainable.

The word passion is defined as “an intense emotion, compelling feeling, enthusiasm or desire for something.”  Ironically, the word comes from the ancient Greek term, passio, meaning to suffer.  Is it not a coincidence that in experiencing one extreme of love, that one must too often also experience its loss, evoking passion’s earlier, less fortunate meaning?  A balance must be struck with passion; for to make room for such a powerful connection in one’s life, one must often let go of something else.  And that is not always an easy decision.

READING THE LOVERS:  The Lovers indicates a powerful connection or union is emerging; destiny is at work to bring these two forces together. Most often, it represents the coming of an intensely passionate new relationship, a bond that has the power to change the course of the querent’s life.  The key to recognizing the influence of the Lovers is that profound sense of serendipity, as if every little twist of fate has ultimately led to this rapturous moment of meeting.  But it is not for The Lovers exclusively to dictate whether this newly discovered union paves the path for the future; look to the cards that come up with and around it to clarify its ultimate context within the querent’s life.  It is no doubt an important marker for the present, and its presence may imply a choice to be made that will directly impact the course of his or her life.

To define the Lovers in a word: PASSION.

REVERSED.  Complete denial of reason, destructive lust, disregard for current relationships.  Allowing extreme emotion to rule one’s life, inability to balance romantic relationships with the other aspects of life.

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