The Emperor

Key phrase – Reasoned Authority
Archetype – The Father and the Hero

Symbolism - fatherhood, masculine sexuality, confidence, courage. Masculine Authority and power.

· Developed strength and vigilance; producer and planter of seeds, determining which ones are worthy of growing – seeds can represent ideas and opportunities
· Passing on secrets of success, showing you how to survive, he is at the heart of order, rationality and a methodical approach.
· Clear thinking, discipline, going ahead with decision with extreme confidence.
· Announcing principles, assuming responsibility for actions.
· Mythologically related to Zeus, metaphysically – the masculine aspect of the God Self and Supreme Authority.
· He tells us to use reason in handing out problems, to set limits, respect and live within societies regulations, to pursue out ambitions with confidence and courage.
· Discipline leads to self-sufficiency, however he is positioned to resist change other than his own.
· Presence in a layout could signify delegating responsibility; examine own authoritative behaviour or lack thereof.
· Look for control issues

Shadow: getting angry or vindictive when out authority is challenged exercising oppressive self-control or hardly any; depending on others to control our behaviour; difficulty making definitive decisions and carrying them out; confusing authority with aggressiveness or domination.

When you draw this card:
· Check your recent behaviour for signs of stubbornness or lack of responsibility
· Recognise and appreciate how you utilise your strengths and self-discipline
· Use more logical reasoning when evaluating your immediate problem.
· Consider accepting more responsibility for your project or for your actions in a relationship.
· Review your ideas or behaviour regarding a current authority in your life.

(Echols, Mueller & Thomson 1996)

The Fool meets The Emperor
The next person the Fool encounters is the Father in the figure of the Emperor (4). He is the representative of structure and authority. As a baby leaves his mother's arms, he learns that there are patterns to his world. Objects respond in predictable ways that can be explored. The child experiences a new kind of pleasure that comes from discovering order.

The Fool also encounters rules. He learns that his will is not always paramount and there are certain behaviours necessary for his well-being. There are people in authority who will enforce such guidelines. These restrictions can be frustrating, but, through the patient direction of the Father, the Fool begins to understand their purpose.
(http://www.learntarot.com/journey.htm)

Image: http://www.newmoontradingco.com/page/page/5565623.htm

Tarot - Questions to Consider

~ Tarot ~ Two of Pentacles ~

http://www.dana-mad.ru/gal/image.php?img=2742

Key phrase: physical dualities

·         Juggling the dualities in your life. You don’t have to do one at the expense of the other.

·         Consider alternatives and try to achieve a balance.

·         One of the dualities you need to acknowledge is that while you think you act logically, most of your actions come from your unconscious.

·         Two or more projects happening at the same time and the ability to watch both.

·         Link between spiritual and material in our lives. Recognise both – and don’t ‘drop the ball on either.

Shadow: failing to consider alternatives in any situation, clinging stubbornly to one extreme position, false gaiety when we’re really worried or struggling to attain inner balance.

When the Two of Pentacles turn up

·         Look to see what aspect of your life you may have been neglecting. R3eevaluate your priorities for more balance.

·         Changes are taking place in your psyche or your self-concept.

·         Consider that all new awareness doesn’t have to come from serious contemplation. Having fun offers insight too.

·         Realise that there is a broader perspective or meaning to the situation than you have been experiencing.

(Echols, Mueller, Thomson, 1996)

~ Tarot 101 ~ Numerology

 

http://www.thereadingroom101.com/

 ~ 1 or Aces ~

• Introduce the message of the suit
• Indicate the creative energies available to us
• Indicate potential – we just have to take the first step to explore
• What principle needs to be expressed in our life? Where will it lead?

 

 ~ 2 ~

• Indicate a choice and the need to consider two alternatives
• The test is to figure out how to handle the dualities in our lives
• According to Jung, when a symbol occurs twice in a dream, a new aspect of the psyche  is at work

 

  ~ 3 ~

 

•  Completes activities or events, making way for new situations
•  Reflects conflict between higher ideals and worldly concerns
•  Tests our ability to handle the mundane, indicate restlessness, urgency and striving
•  What is our duty in the situation? Will we embrace it?
•  Transformative moment – will we act on it or fight all the way?

 

  ~ 4 ~

 

•  Natural order, personal logic, reasoning and inner organisation
•  Earthly success from the 3s.
•  Personal and societal boundaries that attempt to put an end to chaos.
•  Conflict between our desire for order and security and our desire for change
•  Natural plateau after intense period of creativity
•  Renewal and time for new ideas to generate
•  New concepts, new strengths, new abilities
•  Opportunity to release the past and stabilise changes

 

   ~5 ~

•  Symbols of humans and sensory life
•  Opportunity to change direction
•  Midpoint, so denotes meditation and adaptation.
•  Signal a time for testing and the presence of an inner struggle which will require a decision
•  Direct our sensory input and feelings into actual creative projects
•  Will we take advantage of the opportunity for a new reality?

 

    ~6 ~

•  Symbolises the Union of masculine and feminine energies and facets of our personality
•  Need to look earthward and heaven ward for guidance.
•  Draw upon consciousness and intuition in order to understand and sustain conditions and relationships
•  Bring balance, equilibrium and coordination.
•  Sign of wholeness and completion of effort
•  Willingness and self-discipline to accomplish what we set out to do

 

    ~ 7 ~

 

•  Ordeals, obstacles, tests or temptations and how to overcome them
•  Victory or achievement
•  Stimulates increase in energy, ideas and insights
•  Movement, development and creation of consciousness leading to transformation.
•  A combination of 3 (the Divine) and four (Matter) – sevens represent unification

 

   ~ 8 ~

•  Can be a number of balance rhythm and renewed energy
•  Call for a choice – another opportunity to evaluate and reorganise our priorities.
•  Are we spending too much time on one project at the expense of another? Are we harbouring attitudes which inhibit our enjoyment of life?
•  Are we collectors of gold coins (positive feelings) or brown stamps (negative feelings)?

 

 

 ~ 9 ~

•  Can suggest material success from a spiritual point of view
•  Ask us to reflect on whether or not we have learned enough from numbers 1-8 to have a new sense of inner fulfilment.
•  Offer another chance for completion, to gain new insight before moving on to the next lesson
•  We are once again initiates considering the next phase of our journey
•  Have we realised life’s meaning does not come from material wealth but from spiritual wealth?

 

 
~ 10 ~

• Represent culmination.
• Transitions to higher wisdom to be gained.
• Beginning and the end. A temporary respite to acknowledge the success of our previous efforts and prepare for the next spiral of growth.
• They are the culmination of ordinary experiences of the suit and offer a glimpse of something more and quite different to be discovered.

 

http://www.wallpapermay.com/Games/Game/geek_dice_gold_games_20_sided_die_d20_1920x1200_wallpaper_55246

 

~ PaganesqueTarot Series ~ Tarot 101 ~

~ Tarot 101 ~
 

While I have lots of books on Tarot, and I am the eternal student, the information  on Tarot that I will start with comes from Spiritual Tarot, by Signe E Echols, Robert Mueller and Sandra Thomson, unless otherwise stated.  It’s an awesome book – definitely worth buying.. or borrowing – but so tempting not to return! They do another one, called Lovers' Tarot which I would like to check out at some stage. 

The topics I will cover in the Zenefertiti Tarot Series
Archetypes
Correspondences
Cards
Readings
Other things you can do with Tarot

• meditation
• pathworking
• drawing a daily/monthly card
• spell work
• creative writing

That's all that comes off the top of my head at the moment, I'm sure I will think of more :) Let's begin with Archetypes and why we study them. What use do they have for us?

Image from: http://worldofmythology.tumblr.com/search/octoberseries

Why study Tarot archetypes?
Tarot triggers your memories, feelings and associations and as a result,

your awareness of what is happening in particular areas of your life. The more you use the cards, the more you grow. Each card represents an archetype in some way – and its symbols give you clues or help you better understand the archetype and how its meaning can help you grow spiritually.

 

What is an Archetype?
An Archetype is an essential building block of your personality. We all manifest them in some way. Getting to know the archetypes and recognising them in our own souls, minds and lives will help us connect with our higher self, and hopefully we will become happier and connected with our life purpose in the meantime!

When you are facing a challenging situation, for example, a Tarot Archetype can help you decide the next course of action.. like those questions "What would Jesus do?" hahaha But ask yourself "What would the Warrior do?" (referring to the Chariot). Perhaps in a personal or family relationship, you can ask yourself "What are the values of the Lovers' card I can follow? How can I do what they do, in my own life?"

There is always much to learn and understand, so let’s start with some main questions we can use to study the symbolism and archetypes of each Tarot card. I won’t go through the questions for each card myself … that is something only you can do. I've made a picture of the Archetypes and Questions posted here.   

 

* Practical stuff you can do *
 

Lol – Start a Tarot Journal (I’m beginning to see a pattern here... journals for this, journals for that ;p) with one card per page – or 2 pages would be better. You can also use the binder idea. 

Questions to ask as you study the cards:
For each card, ask the following questions. Do this in a reading before turning to the definitions for each card. You can also do this as you work through each card to learn its inner meaning, values or message as you understand it. I will post more on drawing cards later.  

Image from http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/crystal%20ball

1. What does the card convey to you?
2. Of what life experience does it remind you?
3. Have you had this experience or only heard of it?
4. How close to or removed from the depicted characters do you feel?
5. Overall, do you like this card?
6. Are there some parts you are more drawn to than others?
7. Are there parts of it you don’t like or that make you uncomfortable?
8. If the characters on the card could speak, what would they say? Speak to them, write it down.
9. What does the figure’s depicted position on the card suggest to you about his or her state of mind? If you were the character in the card, how might you change you placement in the scene, or your posture?
10. What might this character do next?

(Spiritual Tarot, by Signe E Echols, Robert Mueller and Sandra Thomson, 1996)


 

 

 

 

 

~ Tarot Archetype Correspondences ~

 Its finicky work! Hope you like :)

Click on the picture to view the full size :)

 

 

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Tarot books

These are the main Tarot books I use at the moment.

Spiritual Tarot

I've had this one for years - its pretty good - includes detailed descriptions of the cards of three decks - the Rider-Waite, Aquarian and Morgan-Greer. It also has questions to think about when the card comes up in a reading.. this is the oldest Tarot book to survive my possession :)
 

Druid Craft Tarot
This is the book that came with the current deck I'm using. I like the Druid/Celtic mythology behind the imagery on the cards. The only problem I have with this deck is that Temperance is The Fferyllt, The Devil is Cernunnos, The Empress and The Emperor are the Lady and the Lord, Judgement is Rebirth, Pages are Princesses and Knights are Princes. It's a little bit distracting. As I become more familiar with Celtic based Wicca, I'm sure it will make more sense.

 Tarot Made Easy

This book really does make it easy. It has definitions for each card in categories such as Focus, Outcome, Travel, Home, Work, Romance, Esoteric and Mundane guidance and so on. There are about 20 different ones. It doesn't really discuss the imagery or mythology - it's useful for a quick reference.

 

The Mythic Tarot Book
This book came with a previous deck I was using (and now cannot find ) - based on Greek Mythology. I really liked the mythology behind the images on these cards too. The funny thing was the hero in this deck looked exactly like the boy I had a crush on at the time. (yes.. this was high school) And in some parts, he is naked..



                                      

Which card best represents my Wiccan Journey right now?

IX - The Hermit

That's funny - It came up recently for something else. And I asked a question of the Tarot a few days ago - The answer then was The Moon - in the Druidcraft Tarot book, the Hermit is a companion card for the Moon.