Tarot The Holistic Approach

Chapter One

The Fools Journey Begins

The Fool’s Journey is a symbolic representation of our journey through life. We are the seeker, the innocent, the traveller. We embark on this journey from birth to death, beginning with The Fool and ending with The World. Each step we take through the cards brings us closer to a heightened self awareness and eventually, enlightenment. But do not be mistaken by the numbering of the cards or the sequential aspect of tarot. It is a journey, but it is not a linear one. It is not a one sided experience that is walked through from start to finish where we say to ourselves, ‘Thank God that is done. Now I am perfectly aligned and enlightened!’ Instead the journey is a multidimensional one that can have several Archetypal, or Major Arcana, lessons occurring simultaneously in one’s life. These may happen in cycles, rotating from The Fool to The Magician and so on, as the cards are numbered, or they may be experienced in blocks of lessons in unison with the Minor Arcana, ‘the daily lessons’, which support and guide us from a practical standpoint. When we pick up our first set of cards, each reading we do has a quality to it, a vibrational quality that is set by the frequency in which we sit vibrationally, and the amount of times we lay the cards out. The intention is the same as programming a crystal, if one is familiar with this process. We set the intent clearly as to what the reading will be about, place the cards in sections corresponding the intention and then tune into that which is unseen. The art of reading tarot can be one of two things. It can be a lovely play with symbols with which we attach meaning to fit our current perception, which is fine because we create our own reality, so in a way tarot is what we make it. But the other way is far finer and beyond what we feel, see, know and touch in the physical. It is a truth that resonates in such a way that when we look back on the information ten minutes, one year, twenty years later, the message and information is eternal, still flowing, vivid and far reaching superficial comprehension. With truth in tarot, comes a sense of synchronicity and support. It should never come from a place of fear and yet this does not mean that negative aspects will not be consistently present. This is essential to understanding, reading and knowing tarot holistically. Let me explain this further. Our world is a polarised, dualistic, three dimensional plane. Therefore, tarot is set in this reality of positive and negative energy. The very essence of our life on earth is about understanding how to manipulate and create using the laws of the reality we live in. So if we live in a dualistic world then it is a given that the basis of tarot is set within these constructs. How we use them to evolve is the key and we do this by breaking down the archetypes into negative and positive and applying the power of the symbols to our lives as a guide. They are just a guide. I’ve jumped right into that statement and made it seem matter of fact and I mean this to be. I have to repeat this; they are just a guide. Now if you say either, great I knew that already, then sit with me for a bit and read on with an affirming knowledge, if not let me go into this statement in more detail.

I’ve mentioned we create our own reality and if you are reading this you will have read that sentence many times over in many other texts, but I am referring to this in relation specifically to tarot. I will begin by compiling a few facts I have come across. One is that we affect our reality purely by observing it. Quantum physics has shown us now that the scientist’s expectations of an outcome in an experiment affects what the results will be. If we focus on separation, particles separate, if we focus on waves, they become waves and so on. It is the same with tarot. Tarot mirrors our reality. It is our higher self using the symbols to communicate with us, to open us up to growth and change, as a trigger to get us on the path to alignment with Source energy, or if you wish, God, The Universal Creator, the All that Is and the All that Is Not, Isness. That is why tarot is so brilliant as a tool for growth. But it is also why it is just a guide, because we create the messages needed for our growth through the symbolism, we draw the messages to us. Therefore, tarot guides us back to the true essence of who we are, by reflecting who we are back to us.

But it is not a predictor of that which is inevitable or inescapable, because energy is constantly shifting and changing and cannot be contained within one perspective. Once you read the cards, the reading itself has affected the vibration of your own awareness, therefore opening you up to new potentials of growth. You can never hold down one outcome and say to a person you are reading for, ‘This is it, so good luck with that, now pin your whole life on this picture and hope!’ As a tarot reader it is your responsibility to the person you are reading for, to make it clear this is not a definite, this is a reading of potential, a reading of the energy’s current focus and direction at this moment in the Now.

Well let’s bring it back to the Now, the moment within which you will lay out the sacred cards and symbolism and begin to read. When I mentioned before the significance of frequency I meant how often you read and what space you are coming from. Fear based readings will always be inaccurate in the sense that they will mirror your fear rather than give a full perspective. What comes next is this, which by the way is the worst way of participating in tarot readings, trust me I have done this a million times. I’ll bring it back to myself. Because in essence this is a truth, because I have experienced it for myself and can speak from a place that I have manifested and watched this manifestation form and was left thinking holy crap this really sucks, I hate this, tarot is rubbish, it’s a self fulfilling prophecy that misleads people, what a load of trollop, to which my husband echoes a resounding ‘Yep, see it’s all bull! ‘. Of occasion I have found myself in an argument with a friend, or partner and have understandably been very upset! So of course I have dashed to the bedroom, a sobbing mess, picked up the tarot cards and shuffled them with mixed, confused, fear filled and emotion based intentions, to find out what was going on and how I was going to fix things. I would start off with ‘Spirits who are from the light please help me. I’m really struggling, I’m so angry. What should I do?’ I spread out the cards to find a mish mash of pictures staring back at me saying, you have to let go, but wait there are coins so maybe you should hold on, but only if you don’t see them for days, but wait, more pain and yet happiness, including the birth of something…. ‘Green?’….? So I pile the cards together and create another spread. More confusion. Then one or two cards to add to the mess, more confusion. By this stage I’m beginning to see what I am doing. My vibrational frequency is at it’s lowest and my frequency of readings, one after the other, is similar to making a cordial batch and adding more water to try and make it taste better! So, what makes the reading potent is your own vibration and connection to ‘spirit’. Sit in your own knowing, your ‘home frequency’ and tune in from a place that is centred. Do this when reading not only for yourself but for others who need guidance.

Another important aspect is timing. The timing has to be in tune with the Universe, so to speak, and must be treated as sacred. It’s not just about pulling out the cards willy nilly. It’s about knowing when you’re pushed to by a sense of urgency or clarity. Readings of this kind have often been my clearest. Sometimes I’ll trip over furniture to get to my cards because I’ll feel myself tune into either my guide or my higher self, just at the right time. The next essential aspect to exploring tarot as a true way to communicate with your, or the querent’s, higher self, lies in seeking out the connections between the messages given to you through the archetypes and symbols themselves. There is a blend of skill, intuition, knowledge and interpretation of the cards required for reading. You must be able to combine this with ‘reading’ the energy of the person you are ‘reading’ for, and when reading for yourself, truly understanding your own manifested self when the spread applies to you.

Begin with this, if you want to become a competent tarot reader. Study! Study the cards, play with them, research as many books as you can and take notes on each archetype and Minor card. Combine the cards in mock readings and write down what the combinations would mean. For example, the Death card with the Ten of Swords as opposed to the Death card with the Star, have two completely different meanings. The Death card and the Ten of Swords would likely be a possible death of something more negative, a serious ending of something that has been potentially mentally difficult to deal with, as the Swords represent thought, being the element of Air. The Death and The Star would be an amazing combination of the death of the old and obsolete, with the fulfilment of hope and a connection to the true self. As you go along and try out different, random combinations, you will start to recall the meanings of each card with less effort. Once this begins to happen you will find matching and combining cards and their meanings, becomes more fluid. Write any inspirational epiphanies down for later reference, as they usually become the bedrock of your connections to that card, or combination. Next we’ll take a brief, overall look at the Major Arcana.

The Major Arcana Basics

Archetypes and Truth Based Concepts

Let’s look at what an archetype is, because this is the main theosophy of the ancient art of tarot. I’m going to put this plainly, and for those who have studied archetypes in relation to spiritual development I respectfully ask, please take this with a grain of salt. Archetypes are basically spiritual stereotypes. Their symbolism runs through the ages with longstanding energetic and vibrational meaning which reflects the perception of mankind perceiving itself.

For example, The Fool, or Joker, is an archetype we may see in the courts or kingdoms of European history. The Court Jester has little need for intellectual debate and his position represents freedom to roam, appreciation for simplicity and wisdom which comes from lack of obsession or want. If the world is made up of energy constantly forming due to focus, then the reason I believe tarot has power is because of this focus of thought, put into the archetypes over extended periods of time. If we create a vibrational concept, that vibration forms and stands on its own, amongst us. It reflects us as a civilisation through the collective consciousness if you will. So if energy is poured into this representation of generalised identity, then this can be used as a tool for growth through the observation of which archetype keeps showing up in our lives, which ones we remain stuck with, and which ones will set us free through working with the shadow aspects of the archetype. We can in some sense, experience every archetypal lesson at some stage in our lives. Some of the Major Arcana are not based in a personality identity, but in a concept which relates to a higher truth. For example, The Star is not represented by an individual, it is a representation of the concept of hope through surrender, which we all experience as a collective. So the Major Arcana are either archetypes which are collective concepts of generalised identity, or they are higher truth based concepts, universally agreed to.

When I first began studying tarot with a friend, who happened to be a numerologist, I remember feeling connected to one archetype more than others. It also so happened that people in my life who had not felt ‘clear’ to me before suddenly became very readable regarding their tendencies and core beliefs. I was able to associate their personalities with an archetype, usually one main figure, and therefore detach from their behaviour, observing, rather than judging. We all get stuck, that is my point. We get caught up in ways of behaving that restrict our growth. When tarot is utilised, it allows us to work objectively with ourselves, and others, with the detached joy those in the higher dimensions get to experience. For example, when reading for others we can step back and say okay, The Hermit keeps coming up for this person during a reading. We can plainly see they are going through a period of isolation, then if they are open, we can work with them on the positives of The Hermit by looking at why they have been so alone. We can point out the value of walking a path lit by their own understanding, of finding our own truth. Sometimes we need solitude to find out who we are without the distractions life throws up at us.

Another example may be that a friend who has often felt repressed by a religious upbringing asks for a reading and The Hierophant archetype has made itself present. Once you have looked at how this religious presence influences their lives, then you will have a clear basis with which to begin working out how they can move through this period of potential restriction in belief systems. Tarot then creates for us a discussion point with which to bring to the foreground other possibilities of personal concepts regarding the self or God. You see tarot allows us to go to places with ourselves and others into which we would normally never venture. We putter along in auto pilot for so long, but when we find the cards something spiritual is awakened that gives us glimpses of the world we cannot see. For someone who has never looked at themselves as a spiritual being, tarot is the perfect jumping off point to begin with.

Cycles and Phases

So far we have looked at the Major Arcana from two aspects, the archetypes and universal truths or collective concepts, but there is one more, and that is cycles and phases. For all life on this planet and in this third dimensional realm, cycles are an integral part of growth and change, whether that be physical or spiritual. Most people know of the physical and some of the spiritual, well tarot encompasses both. When looking at change and growth tarot can be an exceptional tool to start a process, deal with one in the midst, or end a cycle. If one has had a friend, or foe return to their lives and they choose The Wheel of Fortune, this suggests the cycle has not yet been completed between the two beings. There is either more to face, let go of, or heal. If a woman has given birth to a still born child and chooses the Death card and the Queen of Swords, this indicates there is still grief yet to be dealt with. The seeker has detached from the pain in order to cope with the loss. This is the cycle of life, Death and rebirth and so when the seeker, is ready to complete the cycle, they will cut the ties that bind them to their grief and move through this period in their own time. Cycles in tarot require time, the right time for the next stage to begin. The timing is crucial. No one can be ‘pushed’ through. The Major cards are our guide as to where we stand in our own spiritual progress. They are the indicators. So we wait until we get that nudge to move from a lower vibrational learning to the next cycle, which is higher in vibration and so on. We cannot start at the top of understanding and work our way down. We do not yet have the knowledge and so the natural process of the cycles in tarot, is to give us that knowledge through our own experience of it, to get us to the next level of growth.

Having said this, I have been taught that there is no ‘learning’ so to speak to correct what is ‘wrong’, as we already have knowledge and awareness outside of this cumbersome body, rather, life here on earth is about expansion of who we are. We are the projection of Source energy, a point of light streaming from the All that Is. But our perspective is so limited that we can’t see clearly and that is where the art of tarot can be a light in the dark. So to sum up, a couple of important points I would like to make regarding the Major Arcana are as follows:

As human beings we naturally make associations with things and develop concepts that sometimes get stuck or remain rigid. This is quite normal. But with tarot we must guard ourselves against it and ensure that we do not place such a strong energetic understanding on a card, that we can no longer learn from it and every time we do a reading, we have the same idea and same advice and neglect to read the aura and potential of the person we are reading for. We can become stereotypical about the reading. That is why cleansing is important. I will go into this further in the next section.

Phases on the other hand, although similar to cycles, are defined by how long we spend in them. Stay too long in a phase and you may move into the shadow aspect of the archetype, which is not much fun. The Moon for example is a phase of quiet contemplation, of lunar healing. But stay there too long and we will find ourselves in danger of becoming disoriented by the subtle light. As a result, confusion infuses our thinking and we become lost in the dim light of The Moon. Stay with The Hermit and the once cherished solitude becomes a sentence of loneliness and isolation. Know when it is time to move on and push to get out of the phase you find yourself in. A phase can repeat many times over, but it is a clump of learning rather than a progression. We learn how to be alone, we learn how to love, we learn how to let go. Although things will link within the reading, the signature energy in a phase hits us with a surge of learning, be it laborious or freeing, that is defined and unique to that archetype. The surrounding cards will let you know, as well as your own instinct, if you need to work through the phase in order to get out of it.

Another important aspect of the Major Arcana, which must be mentioned, is that when there is more than one Major archetype in a reading, huge change is afoot. This means the seeker may be going through simultaneous transformations in several different areas of their life. This is where the Minor cards are excellent for clarification as to how the Major cards connect to each other. They ground the reading.

But in a spread, most times the Major cards take precedence over the Minor. The Minor cards are more like day to day dealings and tools for managing life, they help us to work through the Major shifts. But the Major cards are called major for the reason that they are transcendent and require the focus of the reader. Look at the card, be still, then tune into the querent and their auric field, in relation to the card. Because once the reader, that is you, begins to explain the Major card, you will feel the seeker connect themselves, make associations and then look to you for further clarification. Whichever Minor cards surround the Major, use them to bring the information down to a practical and relevant level. They are the three dimensional channel used to grasp how to deal with growth, or lack thereof. I will mention this a few times but reading tarot is like putting a puzzle together. The clearer the connection, the clearer the reading. So delve into the meanings, the symbolism and the energy of the cards and trust your first instinct. For example, if you have The High Priestess with The Hanged Man, this can mean one will start to develop very intuitive, new ways of looking at life that may be coupled with the introduction of clairvoyant abilities, new perspectives on past life connections and seeing the truth behind the mask. The Tower coupled with The Empress may suggest new growth emotionally after a major life collapse. The Tower is often connected with the material collapsing of life, either wealth or health, anything we hold onto that causes major issues in our lives. But more of that in the card descriptions. Although, you can always jump ahead and have a quick glance at the key words or phrases for these cards if you desire to know now, or are not sure. You see I have written this book to function as a teaching tool, a text book for life, based in the most brilliant art of tarot. I want it to be read spherically not just in the traditional, linear fashion, so jump to any place, at any time, and read and then come back to your place.

The last point I would like to make is that all cards, since they represent our world, have both negative and positive aspects to their meanings. How to find which dominates, takes skill and involves reading the energy of the person you have read for. The surrounding cards will assist in showing from which space the seeker is coming from. Yet we