Where do you find Truth? The Sixes, Justice, and the Hanged Man

With all the active upheaval that has surrounded the solar eclipse in the United States, it is perhaps unsurprising that I haven't dedicated much time to continuing my information on my interpretation system for the tarot. Over the last couple of days, I've started drilling down through the confusion and trying to get back to basics, starting with my own personal goals and how I want to achieve them. One of the first and most pressing for me now is getting back to my creative work. Boom! Guess what I've waited to complete for so long? The Universe is prodding this student to get back to basics.

In thinking about that, I've also had to realize that, in working so actively on the Tarot Nerds page, I've evolved some of my interpretations. I believe it is for the better, but it has made me think of changes I would like to make to what I've already written. This is great and annoying, as most change is. So, most of what I had already written is already up. Everything from here on is original now. I hope to go back and make some updates and additions so they match more completely. In the meantime, I'll leave it as is so people can see something with some semblance of completion rather than another obvious work in progress. Guess that's why they call it a journey!

And so, here is what I have written on the Sixes!
The Sixes - Justice, the Hanged Man, and the sixes of the Minor Arcana

And here is what I posted previously.

Introduction
Getting Started
Building Blocks - Numbers
Building Blocks - Elements

The Fool
The Ones - The Magician, the High Priestess, and the aces of Minor Arcana
The Twos - The Empress, the Emperor, and the twos of Minor Arcana
The Threes - The Hierophant, the Lovers, and the threes of the Minor Arcana

The Fours - The Chariot, Strength, and the fours of the Minor Arcana
The Fives - The Hermit, the Wheel of Fortune, and the fives of the Minor Arcana

The Challenges begin: The Hermit, the Wheel of Fortune, and the Fives

I am starting to put these out a little more slowly. In case you are wondering why, it's because I had not written it all yet! lol Finishing this has been a real slog without having anyone read it, so I'm using this as an opportunity to get it going in the right direction. You don't mind being my guinea pigs, do you? :)

So, we are now on to the Fives, which include The Hermit and The Wheel of Fortune. This is where the interpretations start getting more complex. The initial half of the Major Arcana are a bit more forthright, simpler to interpret, less murky, if you will. Once things start coming in contact with the World, they can be anything but simple. That doesn't mean impossible, though, just challenging. ;) So, welcome to the challenge!

The Fives - The Hermit, The Wheel of Fortune, and the fives of the Minor Arcana

And here is what I posted previously.

Introduction
Getting Started
Building Blocks - Numbers
Building Blocks - Elements

The Fool
The Ones - The Magician, The High Priestess, and the aces of Minor Arcana
The Twos - The Empress, the Emperor, and the twos of Minor Arcana
The Threes - The Hierophant, the Lovers, and the threes of the Minor Arcana

The Fours - The Chariot, Strength, and the fours of the Minor Arcana

I am enjoying this adventure, and I hope you are, too! Please let me know if you have any questions about how I came to my thoughts or any feedback!

Facing the Fours, with the Chariot & Strength

Strength has been a watchword for me this week, as my grandfather passed from his journey on this earth into the journey beyond. I had been stalked a bit lately by this card, but nothing prepares oneself for the message that it has come to pass. My grandfather, JW, was an incredibly interesting and important man who accomplished many things and hid behind a self-deprecating, kind exterior. He taught me how to bird watch as a child, and I still keep an eye out for local songbirds because of him. He & my Grammy supported my love of music in material and important ways, giving me instruments and funding my lessons for piano through most of my childhood. He was sure to come to every recital he could, even my Master's recital. My aunt Gay had to escort him, as he had already gone blind by that time, but he still made sure all my friends felt welcomed and paid for everyone's dinner without making anyone feel uncomfortable or unwelcome. In short, he was loving, kind, amazing, and generous, and I love him still, very much. I have missed spending time with you for years, and now, I know that my memories will be all I have. I cherish them as a sign of how cherished I always felt as your granddaughter.

I'm sure others have different associations with the Chariot and Strength. I find them a fascinating pair, and I hope that you will enjoy my take on them and the minor fours.

The Fours - The Chariot, Strength, and the fours of the Minor Arcana

And here is what I posted previously.

Introduction
Getting Started
Building Blocks - Numbers
Building Blocks - Elements

The Fool
The Ones - The Magician, The High Priestess, and the aces of Minor Arcana
The Twos - The Empress, the Emperor, and the twos of Minor Arcana
The Threes - The Hierophant, the Lovers, and the threes of the Minor Arcana

Thank you for following along with this series of interpretations. Next week, we'll visit the Fives, and that's when things really start getting interesting, numerologically speaking, at least to me. ;) I look forward to hearing what you think about this. In the meantime, I wish you happy reading.

Creation in the Threes, with the Hierophant and the Lovers

This has been a crazy two weeks for me, partially because of work and partially because Saturday, July 8 was my 41st birthday. (cue music) I had a really nice and relaxing time for that weekend, but I've been making up for my sloth at work, so I was unable to post the threes when I wanted. (boo, hiss) I'm sad about that, since the 3's are really one of my favorite sets of cards. Is it right to have favorite cards? I don't really know, but the creation energy is something I really enjoy. I may not create quickly, but I do love the creation process. I hope you do, too!

Here are the Threes!

The Threes - The Hierophant, the Lovers, and the threes of the Minor Arcana

And here is what I posted previously.

Introduction
Getting Started
Building Blocks - Numbers
Building Blocks - Elements

The Fool
The Ones - The Magician, The High Priestess, and ones of Minor Arcana
The Twos - The Empress, the Emperor, twos of Minor Arcana


I hope you are all enjoying these interpretations and finding them useful. What I would really enjoy is if you let me know how you think the pairing of Major Arcana works in these interpretations. Do you find them helpful or no? I think, as we go along to the further numbers, that it will be easier to see if you agree with this system or no. It gets really fascinating with the latter numbers, since the associations are more complex. After all, what do the Devil and the Tower really have in common? What about Death and Temperance/Art? I will be excited to see whether your conclusions match mine... or not. :)

Until next time, happy reading and cards for you and yours!

The Empress, the Emperor, and the Twos

This has really been a tough week in a lot of ways, but I really wanted to forge onward with these interpretations. I have been thrilled so many have downloaded them and the kind comments I got. Please continue to let me know what you see about this.

And without further ado, here are the Twos.

The Twos - The Empress, the Emperor, & twos of Minor Arcana

And here is what I posted previously.

Introduction
Getting Started
Building Blocks - Numbers
Building Blocks - Elements

The Fool
The Ones - The Magician, The High Priestess, & ones of Minor Arcana
Until next time!

Tarot Unfolding - The Fool and Ones

I am continuing to have a lot of fun working with the Facebook group Tarot Nerds and refreshing/challenging/working on my understanding of the tarot. It is really stirring up my interest in a way I haven't experienced in (ahem) far too long. Because of this, I have started doing edits on my work for this again, so I'm adding and changing a few things based on where I can see a need for improvement. It is fun to be pursuing a creative endeavor this way again. I've waited too long!

So, since I have already posted the introduction material, I'll jump straight in to the meat of the matter: the card explanations. I'm realizing some things are not as completely aligned with the original RWS imagery as I remembered. That is partly because my first deck was the Enchanted Tarot, and partly because I have a slightly different image for each card anyway. (Does this mean I need to design my ideas? lol I could try it!) I hope that does not make things confusing.

So, here is the material for interpretations on the Fool and the Ones, which include the Magician, the High Priestess, and the ones of each suit of the Minor Arcana. Enjoy!

The Fool
The Ones - The Magician, The High Priestess, & ones of Minor Arcana

And, for convenience, here are the intro chapters.
Introduction
Getting Started
Building Blocks - Numbers
Building Blocks - Elements

Until next time!

Tarot Unfolding: Introduction

Good morning, tarot fans! I don't claim to be an expert, but I have been reading the tarot cards for over two decades, so I've seen a few things even though I've never read for others professionally. That was never really my goal anyway; I was more interested in the personal development and the symbols. Oh, the symbols. I could talk about those all day. :)

Since a couple of you indicated interest in reading what I had to say about how I organize the tarot meanings in my readings, I thought I would "unlock the vault" and pull out what I had written about this subject. I will say, I've not seen anyone else use this sort of organization for the Major Arcana, so while I doubt everything in here is unique, I do think it is unusual. I find it very helpful, so I hope you do, as well.

As for what to do with it, I would hope you would read it, analyse it, see if it's useful for you. Keep a copy for yourself if you want, but please send people here with a link if you want to share. I did write every word of it, so please don't say someone else did.

So, without further ado, here are links to the "introductory" chapters of the book tentatively titled "Tarot Unfolding." Hope you find something useful.

Introduction
Getting Started
Building Blocks - Numbers
Building Blocks - The Elements

Please don't leave me hanging! If you find something useful or think it's full of hogwash, please let me know. I'm ever refining my interpretations based on what the world sends my way, so I would love your feedback.

Thanks for reading my little book.

Remodeling

It's been a long time since I've written on this blog. I've passed through many battles and parties on the way, and my family and I have grown from them.

I've spent a good time recently working to reach a life that aligns more closely with what I believe are my highest goals. This has been a slow process, but it has been well worth the extra soul-searching and thinking and figuring out. For me, the biggest difficulty has been hubris. So often, it is easy to fall into the trap of thinking one must be remembered, honored, or regarded as famous or fabulous to make a difference. For years, I fell prey to those thoughts of "special" things to do and accomplish. No wonder I was confused when my life kept handing me humble tasks! My truth, as I've worked to uncover it, really doesn't have much to do with acclaim or fortune, as fun as both sound (in theory). And really, I've learned that neither "ideal" is actually a goal I would enjoy. Why would I be obsessed with fame as success when my life urges retreat, relaxation, and gestation? Could the cultural ideal be a mismatch to what I really need? Yes, yes, yes. But sometimes, it takes a hammer upside the head, as we say in the South of the US, to realize the truth of a situation.

So, why write publically again. Well, it doesn't really matter if I'm famous, but if I have something that needs to be shared, there are ways to share it without letting ego get in the way. I want to help others, and if I have no point of contact, how can I do so? How can I get feedback if I'm only transmitting? I feel like blogging is a good compromise for these situations.

As to what I will share, well, I'm going to start with the "easy" route and share some of my work on symbolism. I have YEARS of dedication and obsession with symbolism, how humanity uses it, abuses it, can learn from it, can hurt from it. My first real forays were with fairy tales and mythology, but the first that really caught my full attention was that synthesis of tales told in the tarot deck. After about a decade of interest, an online friend and new learner of the tarot asked me how I organized the meanings of the cards, and I started a project that sat unfulfilled for another decade. I've taken it out, brushed it off, and started finding that the waiting period feels more like a gestation, so I'm ready to try to bring this to the world, poor little child that it is, and let others see it, touch it, and help it grow. Perhaps it will turn out to be a marvelous living document that brings help to many. Perhaps not. Perhaps it will only give one little inspiration to another person. Perhaps everything that grows from this will be internal and personal. All of these possibilities are ok right now. My little Fool of a manuscript deserves its chance to meet the World and see what comes of its work. Perhaps I deserve that, too.