Women In Tarot from Bonnie Cehovet

Bonnie Cehovet needs no introduction, but she’s going to get one because I just want to tell you all how wonderful she is and outline her achievements in tarot.

She is a Certified Tarot Grand Master. If you’re unfamiliar with what it takes to become one, check out the levels of certification from the Tarot Certification Board of America. It’s no mean feat and it takes years to accomplish. She has written books, numerous articles and countless reviews of tarot decks and books, and writes for her own website, Aeclectic.net, and many other websites and blogs. She is also a top Amazon reviewer, Professional Tarot Reader and Reiki Master/Teacher.

It’s her latest offering that I want to draw your attention to tho – Women In Tarot. A collection of full and indepth interviews with some of Tarot’s top ladies including:

• Mary K Greer
• Johanna Gargiulo-Sherman
• Rachel Pollack
• Valerie Sim
• Sandra Thomson

This collection was compiled a few years ago and made available on Aeclectic until she had the recent brainwave to revamp it, ask and add the views of present day tarotists who are making waves, and add a new category: The Future. Featuring none other than me

It’s one thing to have a book published (Beyond the Celtic Cross), it’s another to have people seek you out to review their decks. It’s something else again when someone you totally respect and hold in very high regard approaches you for an interview for an upcoming ebook. And not just that, they see you as ‘the future’ of women in tarot. I’m just going to sit down for a moment and gather myself…

Ok, I’m alright now. Momentary wobble. This to me is a big deal, I’m being honoured and yet I feel totally humbled. Life is grand indeed.

Meeting Bonnie Cehovet

My first real contact with Bonnie was when I approached her for help. I was about to review the Gaian Tarot after the utterly lovely Joanna Powell-Colbert kindly agreed to the review and interview we also did. Only I didn’t feel up to the task and asked Bonnie for help in approaching this in the right way. I asked her to critique the couple of reviews I had already written on my blog, to see where I could improve and tighten up. Be honest I said, I can take it I thought. And honest she was, in the most professional, sensitive and polite way; offering her own suggestions for where I might improve, what I could do differently.

A friendship was born that day and with it, the confidence to review the Gaian Tarot and do it justice, as it rightly deserves. The interview and review I did of the Gaian Tarot flew round Tarot circles and across the internet. The review itself touched Joanna so deeply that she included part of it in her promotional material of the Limited Edition, available this spring.

All of that is thanks to one lady who was polite enough to answer my email, critique my current work and gently lead me to a place of confidence and self-belief.

This post is just as much about promoting Bonnie’s new ebook, Women In Tarot, not just because I’m in it, or because of what she feels about my future in tarot, but because I owe to the one lady who believed in me.

So what other goodies are available in Women In Tarot?

One of my favourite ladies in tarot today, the Queen of Swords herself, Theresa Reed – aka The Tarot Lady gives the lowdown on reading styles; the Boss and Chairman of TABI, Alison Cross addresses the future of tarot with a tarot reading (of course, why didn’t the rest of us think of that?); Nicole Diamond talks decks while Debbie Sophera Rossignol gets creative in her tarot garden and Fred West gives a frank outline of his idea of the future of tarot.

Opinions, ideas and how we ended up where we did are all yours for for a token payment of $3.99. So turn the phone off, grab a coffee and follow this link to Bonnie’s website and treat yourself to Women In Tarot.

Did I mention I’m in it?

Women In Tarot

Bonnie Cehovet can be found on her website, at her Wordpress tarot blog, or Twittering the day away as @Crystalgate on Twitter.

~ Freaking You Out Since 1991 ~

That’s my tagline for my website. That, and “I already know you want one..” The truth is, though, that I’ve been freaking myself and my family members out since I was a kid. My family is part Native American, part Czech/Polish gypsy. We know stuff. We’ve got ‘The Shinnin’, as the Simpsons put it. My grandmother, most of my aunties and uncles, my sister and my Dad – a few of my cousins, me and my kids – we all have it to some degree.

…it’s in my family…

I wonder if the reason I can easily do tarot readings is because it’s in my family. Dad would ask me about my dreams, and listen to them. I was a bit wild when I was a teen, but if Dad would tell me to stay home, I would. He was wild, too, and tells about the time he decided to stay home on a weekend. His parents came home to the police in the driveway. My Dad’s friends were in a car accident, and they thought Dad was there, too. They spent all night looking for his body, and found him instead asleep on the couch. So yeah, I listened.

When I was about 12, my great uncle Richard died at 3:30am. I know the time, because I woke up screaming. My Dad woke up in tears, and my sister woke up asking, “Who?”” I remember so clearly the phone calls going back and forth across the country. “Who died? What happened? Do you know yet?” My whole family had woken up and started calling. From Alaska, Kansas, Missouri, Texas, Florida. We all felt it.

I was 14 when I got my first deck of Tarot cards from my friend, Steve. (Thanks, Steve!) I was raised Catholic and had never seen them before. I’d watched my Grandma and her sister use a regular deck of cards before, but these were so pretty. So colorful, and a bit freaky. Luckily, I was into freaky. I started doing readings on and off for my friends. I would always stop, though, if things got too accurate. It scared me too much. Like those dreams I had that came true. If I shut them down, I could be just like everyone else.

College Days

I started college in 1993, and started doing readings for beer and pot money. Ahem. Yeah, well, I also started drinking a lot. At least three nights a week, and it wasn’t just drinking, it was heavy drinking – til I passed out. I felt emotionally overwhelmed and shaky – I had panic attacks and would spend days in bed. I can look back now and see that I thought I was going crazy. I was picking up on EVERY emotion floating around me. I was hearing people’s thoughts, and I had no way to ground or center myself. I know that this wasn’t the only reason for my drinking, but it sure didn’t help. I could drink it quiet, so I did. If you’ve ever been in a college dorm, you have an idea of the heady mix of drama and crazy that is sloshing around. I’m surprised I didn’t truly go insane instead of just self-medicating.

My readings in college were hit or miss. I was still using the book and still didn’t take it too seriously. I predicted the deaths of several people’s grandparents – one while I was giving the reading. After each of these, I’d put the cards away for a while. Too real again. I barged into a very new friend’s class to tell her, “Call your mom – something happened to Nick.” I didn’t know where she was – just walked to the classroom. I didn’t know that her brother’s name was Nick, and I didn’t know that he’d just been in a car accident and was in a coma. I just knew I had to find her and tell her to call her mom. This is hard to explain to people. It’s hard to fit in when the crisis has passed and you’re trying to explain to strangers that you just ‘saw’ it – hence the drinking.

Then Mary came along…

After graduation, I moved back to my hometown and concentrated on work. I did readings every now and again, but it wasn’t really a part of my life. Then Mary came along. Mary is pretty amazing. I say she’s a shaman, and she tells me “Nah, I’m just me.” Well, I can tell you for certain that she’s an Elder, so there’s that. She helped me learn how to quiet down, how to ground and center. How to call on it if I needed it, and shush it if I didn’t. I also became a Pagan during this time, and with help from my friends Mark and Kristin, I found resources to help me use this gift, rather than letting it run rampant over me.

So I did readings at my friend’s bar. I started doing Tarot parties for groups of friends, which was really fun. I even had an ad in the paper for “Mystic Melissa”. I SO did not pick that name. I got married and moved and started working for a circus. They’d find jugglers, fire-eaters and fortune tellers for parties, and I will dress up like a gypsy if need be. It was fun, too. My confidence grew and I picked up a few regular clients.

My friends had NO secrets from me…

Becoming pregnant with my children made my gift go into overdrive. People who had been getting readings from me for years were shocked. My friends had NO secrets from me, because I could just pick things out of their heads – and I couldn’t control it. It went away a bit after my daughter was born, but when my son was born 17 months later, it stuck. If I’m overtired or hot or have had a few drinks, I can pick thoughts up. Last summer, I gave about 50 readings in two days and heard my first spirit. Freaked me the hell out. I have to be careful about how open I am, how tired I get, or I can’t turn it off. I’m more mature now, so I just find a place to sit or eat a cheeseburger and it goes away. Since this summer, I’ve heard more spirits, but it’s been when I’m tired or vulnerable. Or in one case, when a very angry German woman REALLY wanted to talk to her daughter. She jumped all my walls, yelled at me and went away. Thanks, lady. I also discovered why I always have a radio or the television on – if I don’t, I hear thoughts pretty easily. So, I discovered some coping mechanisms accidently.

It’s a gift, for other people…

I think that I have very strong intuition plus a gift with tarot cards. I wish I’d had someone to talk about it when my gift came on so strong in college, but I don’t regret the journey I’ve taken. My kidneys do, but that’s a different post altogether. I’ve realized that this is a gift, and that I’m good at it. That I can turn it off if I want, and more importantly – that it comes through me. It’s not of me. It’s a gift for other people, not for me, and I’m so okay with that. It doesn’t scare me anymore, but it still freaks me out. Luckily, I’m still down with freaky.

Melissa

Melissa Tarot
melissatarot@gmail.com

Melissa has been doing tarot and palm readings for 22 years. She lives in the St. Louis area with her family and can be found all over the internet under the name Melissa Tarot. Feel free to say hi at melissatarot@gmail.com

You betcha!

I haven’t used a free online Tarot reading service for quite some time. As I progressed along my own Tarot journey, and got better at reading the cards, I had no need to. There are some good services out there, Lotus Tarot, Llewellyn and Tarot.com all have excellent services, some free, some paid, but the lack of specifics in positions is always a let down, and sometimes, even when there is a “the Chariot in this position tells you to….” it’s still a little general and non-specific.

So what a revelation I had the other day when I tried out a free service, for fun, and found it to be wholly accurate, relevant, sharp and to the point, but more importantly, it was well written without any padding – making its relevance even more remarkable. Now I don’t wish to be seen to be bashing anyone’s services, it’s no mean fete writing out all those interpretations for all those possible positions and combinations, but if you’re going to do it, if you’re going to go to all that trouble, don’t you think the service provider would make it a cut above the rest? You’d think.

Well I found one that did just that and I’m going to share the website with you, but not just that, I’m going to share with you the reading I received, for free that hit me like a steam train because of it’s relevance and attention to detail within the cards. The reading itself is a Celtic Cross, and interestingly, the sequence and names of the positions of this Celtic Cross are very different to my own. And you know what? I really liked it. I liked it because it was different yet relevant and I think I may just have to adopt this Celtic Cross as opposed to my own version of the Celtic Cross, if only for a little while, as an experiment…

Free online Tarot readings – excellent!

And so, onto the good stuff, the website itself is called Celtic Cross Tarot which is actually part of Tarot Live. I can’t find any owner details but in the written text there are some clear indications that whoever wrote the definitions, did so in their second language, meaning English isn’t their mother tongue. That doesn’t bother me one little bit, what’s a little second hand English amongst friends? It’s the definitions that count. And the proof, as I’ve always believed, that what’s in your heart and your head, is what the Universe will answer – not your question specifically, or your Tarot reader’s rephrased question (see the comments in this post at Tarot Eon for a range of ideas and beliefs regarding rephrasing or rewording the question.)

Now, I won’t go into the specifics of my own question – it was very personal, but regular readers of my blog will know I’ve had a bit of a rough ride lately and so this reading answered many peripheral questions relating to my life and my current situation. The reading begins with you adding your name and selection of a deck and I chose the Legacy of the Divine. It also only uses the Major Arcana, which may explain why it had such a big impact on me. The following sequences are very slick, if a little slow. Lots of lovely Flash and appropriate music makes the experience more convincing though. You select your own cards and then they are displayed with their meanings. There currently isn’t a way to save your reading other than a copy and paste of the text. But that is a small price to pay for such a fabulous experience and an accurate, free online Tarot reading.

The Reading

Pro:

Facts in favour of the consultant and point of view of progress. The symbol of the card represents the positive influences and strengths that go along with the consultant and work on his or her favour and continuously stay by his or her side.

The Chariot: You are in an excellent moment in which the outcome of any circumstance you are living largely depends on you; don’t hesitate to move on; at this time you are the one in control of the situation.

Against:

Point of view of opposition and obstacles that the consultant will find in his or her way. It represents those internal opposing strengths that have not come to light yet, as well as the external obstacles that will find in his or her evolution.

The World:This card, in this position, indicates that trips are temporarily stagnant, so if you have in mind to travel, now it is not as smooth as you can imagine. In general and regarding the actions you undertake in your life, work on self-confidence so you can feel fulfilled; otherwise, nothing will make you feel pleased and peaceful.

Present:

In this card, the consultant is in direct relation to his or her question. It encourages clearly defining his or her relationship towards the subject and fitting positions, to calm down his thoughts and place in a more realistic position.

The High Priestess (i): This card tells you that in the present things are very slow, passive and motionless; they do not move on and they are stagnant; you are in an environment where there are hidden intentions, unclear situations. It may also indicate a single woman who is being a heavy burden for you because of her passivity; this situation tires you out and makes you feel unenthusiastic, but you should continue because it is only a temporary situation.

Immediate Past:

The basis of the problems, the origins of the problem and its consequences in the present.

Wheel of Fortune: This card tells you that you are just coming out of a period characterized by changes and turns in all aspects, and it suggests you to adapt now to cycles and changes that the process you have just experienced indicates, by respecting the others’ pace of life and adapting to new circumstances that are undoubtedly favourable.

Prior Past:

Ancestors, theorizing of concern, the root of the presence of the subject, support and the connection between the consultant and the whole issue.

The Hierophant (i): This chard indicates that the origins of the problem were characterized by a lack of morals, order and established values; contrary to that, your environment was governed by a grown-up, who may be a teacher or the person who was responsible for rehabilitate you into society; this person did not have the capacity to act consistently and rationally; it was someone extremely critical with a narrow mind. In your past, you felt the need for spiritual support.

Near Future:

It shows the different possibilities, choices or paths that are available or we can follow at the time.

The Magician: This card indicates that whatever would be the project you have in mind, it will be entirely successful and better than what your think. You have everything you need to make your dreams come true and your ideas come from an open, audacious and skilled mind just like yours. You have endless possibilities to achieve everything you want; you have all energies on your side.

Personal Reasons:

It explains the true reason of the consultant for his consultation. The consultant is usually surprised with this card, because reasons he or she has kept hidden for himself or herself come to light.

The Star: This card indicates that you are in a wonderful internal process in which you want to heal the wounds of the past and to do that, you need to revive the unconscious, you need to dig about inside of you in search of the truth. It suggest you to learn to trust the opportunities you have and keep faith and hope alive inside of you, and even though you accept you are abandoned in life, you should trust you are protected by heaven. After succeeding in this process, you will understand that happiness and tranquillity lie inside of you; live your own truth; find you; there is nothing to hide.

Surrounding Environment:

The environment, opinions f people around us, family, neighbors, and friends. The relationship between them.

The Empress: According to this card, fruits of previous efforts start to appear in your environment. It also shows a very important woman for you, who is maternal, loving and cosy. This is a very positive card and it shows an environment that has to do with good relationships and good results achieved by one’s own efforts.

Hopes and Fears:

In view of the things we go through and those that are about to come.

Strength: This card shows that your hopes lie in your capacity to rationally handle situations and calm down visceral and passionate reactions that appear. You are confident about the fact that inner strengths change the irrational side and you have a great willpower.

Final Ending:

Potential achievement of the goal if the way to follow has been meant to be, and another way, partial results, and analysis of the path that has been followed, so that if it does not give the results that were expected, it does explain the reasons of the final ending.

The Lovers: This card suggests you to make decisions while you resort to your spiritual feelings; this way, you will be in a situation of harmony and balance, and you will succeed in overcoming any vicissitude you might come up with. This card represents the beginning in the processes of love and selection of your partner. It describes the choices in life according to which you should make a decision…

I really enjoyed the experience and reading I had with this free online Tarot service, but I’ve had plenty that were too vague. Is that the fault of the writer of the free tarot reading? Or did I just strike lucky this time? I’d love to know what experiences you’ve all had – please share them in the comments section below

“Cath, I’m telling you – you’re a medium. There’s spirits all around you trying to talk to you, you’re just not listening!”

That’s a powerful statement to make. It’s also one that my good friend, and psychic medium Jules of Living Tarot insists on saying every time we meet. I’ve never fully believed I have that gift, though I know I have some awareness of spirit. Sometimes I feel spirit, sometimes I hear spirit and sometimes I get visions or flashes. Sometimes. So I never felt I qualified as a psychic medium despite Jules relentlessly insisting I am.

Last week Jules invited me to her home for dinner. I love visiting Jules. She is such a warm, funny, shoot-straight-from-the-hip kinda gal. She also always gives you fabulous cakes with your cup of tea. Apart from a lovely evening I knew I would have with her, I knew it would be a fabulous dinner too. I was really happy at her invitation and said yes immediately. Jules then threw in a very casual and blase “hey Cath, bring your tarot cards, I’d like a reading.” I nearly fell off my chair! Jules is a psychic medium – how on earth could I give her a tarot reading worthy of her ability? Enter my fear, I began to shake. Then some other part of me was doing its level best to take control and point out some positive attributes I have. The terrified side of me was having none of it though.

Feel the fear and do it anyway?

I have always believed in the power of positive thought. I have subscribed to the idea that you should face your fears, to conquer them. It’s never worked. I’m still terrified of flying and only last week after waiting over 8 months for a specialist dental appointment, they still had to sedate me before they could begin. So facing my fears doesn’t conquer them, they’re still there, but somehow, some part of me is able to overcome this fear and do the very thing I’ve become terrified of doing. I’ve often called it ‘getting over myself’. The reason being quite simply that I know these two fears, or phobias, are irrational and I understand the logical arguments for flight safety and the effectiveness of oral anasthetic. I’m still terrified of both and yet I still fly and I still get into that dentist’s chair. Seems logic and irrationality are evenly balanced on the fulcrum in my mind.

So I knew I would turn up at Jules’, tarot cards in my hand. I also thought I would bomb. Then I though “ah, to hell with this! If I bomb, I bomb. Jules is so nice, she wouldn’t make me feel bad, even if I do. I have a chance to get over myself, I have a few days to do it in too. Why don’t I just try and enjoy this? For once in my life I’d like to step up to the plate and be smiling at the end of it!” And then I didn’t think about it for a couple of days. Friday teatime arrived before I knew it and I began to feel a little tetchy. Then I had a brilliant idea! Why don’t I try and tune into Jules, see what I can find, get a head start, so to speak?

Second sight in glorious Technicolour

Applying mascara has never been so interesting. I thought about Jules and actually said in my head “Is there anything about Jules that I need to know, that I can tell her at dinner?” Amazingly I was getting images! And a name. I asked about this person and was told (in my own voice and head) it was a health issue. Interesting. Again, in my head, I asked if there was anyone around Jules that would like to come forward so I could tell her they were there? Again, I saw the image of somone, I couldn’t see this person’s face, but I made a mental note of their clothes, height and build. Finally I asked about her business plans and was there anything I could tell her. Immediately I saw a tarot card and was taken aback. This small session of ‘tuning into Jules’ had been very productive and had been quite a surprise. Of course, the pessimistic side began to chip in and before I knew it, I was questioning what I had been given “Well you know Jules, you know the people around her, you could just be picking them out because they’re familiar.”

Fear and doubt. Two equally powerful and destructive bedfellows. I knew them well and they were working overtime to keep me from progressing here. Aggravated by their presence again, I told them to shut up! We’ll let Jules be the judge of what I had seen and the tarot reading I would give her. Ooh, this was more like it – a more confident me! Though aware I still had to give my psychic medium friend a tarot reading, I was now eager to share the information I had been given and was now driving to her home with an excited anticipation of a good night ahead. I wasn’t disappointed.

Fear and Doubt. Who?

Dinner was fabulous, of course. And the company is the best around. Then Jules wanted her tarot reading. I began to tell her of my little experiment, of trying to tune into her to assist my tarot reading. Excited by my new foray into pyschic mediumship, she confirmed what I had told her as identical to what she had been picking up, and the identity of the second person I had seen. On describing this gents trousers, I told her of a brand they resembled to me. She confirmed they were indeed the brand this gent wore. Really? Oh my. I had tuned in so well, for a novice that I told Fear and Doubt to go take a running jump! Bring on that tarot reading.

That tarot reading turned into three tarot readings. Laying out the cards for the question relating to her business plans, the same card I had seen lay staring at us from my Tarot Elements Signature Spread! Jules was sat there just smiling “I told you all along girl and you didn’t believe me. You are a psychic medium!” I couldn’t help but smile myself, who could blame me. Perhaps she was right? Fear and Doubt trying to get in by the back door? Forget it, it’s closed.

Since last Friday, I have been ‘tuning in’ to as many people as I’ve come across. People have asked me questions and I have just said the first thing that came into my head. Jules said I must learn to trust the process and trust what I am given. “It may not make a lot of sense to your or your client, not straight away, but it will, trust me on that.” I do. And I’m trusting myself and what I hear and see, with and without my tarot cards in front of me, because as it was shown to me, they can be used as a means of communication, in my minds eye.

Try it for yourself, you might be as surprised as I was.

Image courtesy of Green Lion – Life Enhancement Opportunities

It’s not every day that you get to write a book, not one that gets published. And it’s not every day that you become friends with an eminent and highly respected Tarot reader and author. But that’s exactly what happened to me. I met Paul Hughes-Barlow online through his Supertarot website and we wrote a book together – Beyond the Celtic Cross: Secret Techniques for Taking Tarot to an Exciting New Level

Not wanting this to be your standard promo – nothing ordinary will do for this Tarot reader – I thought it would be a great idea to take you behind the scenes to the creation of our book. So instead of beyond it, I’m going to take you behind it, and back to February 14th – Valentines Day, 2008

I had just been blown off by my ex. He had someone new in his life, and while I was happy for him, he was now suddenly unavailable to me even for a chat, at his request. I respected that, but this event got me thinking that perhaps it was time I too opened my mind to the thought of finding someone new. I vowed I never would after we broke up, as you do. I decided to ask the Tarot the scary question “Will I find the man of my dreams?”

Using the Celtic Cross spread, I quickly scanned the cards starting with the Final Outcome – yes! A knight! Good times. But oh, another Knight in the Immediate Future. What did that mean? I was learning first hand that reading your own cards, about your lovelife, a very emotive subject, isn’t always the best move. I have to admit to being perplexed and I pondered the meaning of these two Knights for a couple of days with no clear indication of who, or what they represented. Time to call the cavalry.

Enter Paul Hughes-Barlow

I had been a frequent visitor to Paul’s website and had followed his lessons on Elemental Dignities, which I felt I had gained a handle on, though I knew I hadn’t learnt to fully apply the technique to my own tarot readings. Card Counting though was mystifying and I didn’t really get it. I knew there was magic going on with this technique, but I didn’t understand it all.

Suddenly, I had an idea, and a bold one for me at the time; ‘why didn’t I contact Paul and ask him to read my tarot spread?’ Eek, the idea was a little terrifying at the time, and Paul and I have since laughed at my patheticness back then! Still, if anyone could help, he could. I had long admired his work and so I checked Supertarot to see how to contact him and how much it would cost. £30 for half an hour. Well, this wasn’t a telephone reading, but I presumed half an hour would be all he would need. I checked my bank balance online – £32 available. Isn’t life something. Damn, if ever I needed to take a risk, it was now. So I did – I boldly went where I never thought I would. I emailed Paul, extremely nervously, and asked him if he could re-read my cards.

I waited with bated breath until he confirmed he had received my payment and then for his assessment of my cards. I actually paced the floor for about 2 hours, checking my inbox every 5 minutes until his email came through. He predicted a new man in my life, but I wanted to know more. Bold as brass, I asked if it was possible to re-read these cards, this Celtic Cross spread and reading, using the techniques he taught on his website: Elemental Dignities, Card Counting and Pairing.

Moving Beyond the Celtic Cross

Paul will admit to not using the Celtic Cross for many years in his own tarot practice and felt a little bored by my original request. With his interest now pricked, we set about dissecting, counting, comparing, deciphering and re-reading my original tarot reading using all of the techniques he promotes. We did this through email and it took us about 10 days, by which time a friendship had taken root – which is a good job because I was a stroppy mare at times. I didn’t always understand everything and felt frustrated. Paul though, is just Paul, unaffected by stroppy mares and waited patiently for the proverbial pennies to drop. When they did, it was a magical experience. I finally understood the methods and the techniques, it all just clicked into place.

Beyond the Celtic Cross: Secret Techniques for Taking Tarot to an Exciting New Level is the whole process of me learning to understand and apply Elemental Dignities, Card Counting and Pairing. You get front row seats to all that deciphering, the dissecting and the penny dropping – but best of all, you get to do it too. Pull out your favourite Tarot deck and lay out the cards from my reading and follow what we did and watch your own penny drop. This is a step by step process, a walk through in understanding and applying these techniques. You also get a decent look into my mind, my thoughts and the visions and dreams that occurred while working so closely with Paul. This was a life changing experience for me, it can also be one for your tarot practice too.

Buy your copy right here:

Praise for Beyond the Celtic Cross

There are many different platforms that a Tarot reader can work from. They can engage in face-to-face readings, text based readings, email and phone readings, but it is in through the medium of phone readings that I think this book will be of enormous benefit. The techniques are fast, accurate and easy to use … everything you want if you work for a psychic phone line.

Douglas Gibb – Professional Tarot Reader and Blogger
Douglas’ review of Beyond the Celtic Cross

…I then tried this method with an actual reading myself. The Celtic Cross spread that I laid out was OK but a bit ambiguous in places and I didn’t gain much insight from the interpretation. I then re-did the reading using the card counting technique and the reading came to life and made absolute sense – I was amazed and so pleased that it actually “worked” for me.

Lori Green – Professional Tarot Reader and Blogger
Lori’s review of Beyond the Celtic Cross

Card Counting is very new to me and it was confusing to understand – but by following along with their example, it finally begun to sink in. And yes – it does add a new dimension to tarot reading. I had a basic understanding of Elemental Dignities but this book cleared up any lingering questions I had. I am a very visual learner and by having Catherine’s reading to “see” what was happening, I put the pieces together and was able to understand where they got their interpretations. This is a huge plus in my opinion.

Theresa Reed, aka the Tarot Lady – Professional Tarot Reader, Teacher and Blogger
Theresa’s review of Beyond the Celtic Cross

There’s A Hole In My Sidewalk

An Autobiography in Five Short Chapters

Chapter One

I walk down the street
There’s a deep hole in the sidewalk
I fall in
I’m lost. . . I’m helpless
It isn’t my fault
It takes me forever to find a way out

Chapter 2

I walk down the same street
There’s a deep hole in the sidewalk
I pretend I don’t see it
I fall in again
I can’t believe I’m in the same place
But it isn’t my fault
It still takes me a long time to get out

Chapter 3

I walk down the same street
There’s a deep hole in the sidewalk
I see it there
I still fall in. . . it’s a habit
My eyes are open
I know where I am
It is my fault
I get out immediately

Chapter 4

I walk down the same street
There’s a deep hole in the sidewalk
I walk around it

Chapter 5

I walk down a different street

by Portia Nelson

Portia Nelson (1920 – 2001) was a renaissance woman: author, singer, composer, lyricist, painter, photographer, and actress. Over the years she wrote the music and lyrics for many revues, television specials, and films. Portia authored the much-loved book There’s a Hole in My Sidewalk: The Romance of Self-Discovery, originally published in the 1970’s. There’s a Hole in My Sidewalk was made into a… Inspiration Line

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1193610/Dont-look-Cyclists-faced-huge-hole-ground-towpath–luckily-just-pavement-art.html

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by Nikki Mackay

The Tarot is my first love and continuing passion, its history is entrenched and animated with family, ancestral and archetypal patterns way back to its very roots.

When it is used to its full capacity as a spiritual and divinatory system the Tarot can be an amazing tool for enlightenment, transformation and change. I first starting working with the Tarot system as a young teenager and went on to read professionally a couple of years later and continued for the next 15 years. It became an integral part of my life even when the focus of my days shifted to more logical and scientific realms as I studied Physics at University. As I continued to work with individuals I would see the patterns affecting them in the present moment unfold in front of me in the cards. Tracing the pattern of behaviour back to its root gave the client some awareness of how they could stop the cycle, if they chose to, and move forward with their lives. The very nature of Tarot has a tendency to attract individuals in emotional crisis looking for answers and often looking for the responsibility of decision making in their life to be passed on to someone else. I found that using the Tarot to trace their own personal patterns enabled the individuals to see the choices they had in front of them and to leave with an understanding of why certain things were occurring in their life.

Tarot is first and foremost a tool for self-awareness and self-empowerment, allowing observation of yourself, your life, your strengths and those areas causing you difficulty. Identifying the patterns and underlying trends from your past and present can highlight ways in which you can break out of those patterns which do not serve you anymore. Simply to recognise that you are following a pattern of behaviour can be pivotal. The Tarot is a gateway to our subconscious, where we store away our hopes and fears, our memories and our true self. All our problems and blockages in life are rooted within our subconscious. By tapping into it, through the use of Tarot, we can find solutions and seek guidance. When you lay out a spread of cards, the unique story of a life appears before you in picture form, with its own individual patterns made up of universal experiences and emotions, a powerful tool for understanding and influencing a life’s pattern.

There are traditionally 78 cards in a Tarot deck and within the 78 cards there are 56 Minor Arcana cards and 22 Major Arcana cards. ‘”Arcana’” is the plural of the Latin word, Arcanum, meaning ‘‘secret”’. Over the years that I have been working with the tarot I have developed my own way of interpreting the cards that follows closely the theories of A E Waite, but also encompasses the idea of ancestral knowledge and ancestral working. It is my personal preference to think of the system of Tarot as having three interlinked aspect of the Major Arcana, the Minor Arcana and the Court Families. No one aspect is more important than another as they are so interlinked and intertwined. I also like to think of the Tarot in terms of the symbolism of the spiral. The spiral is undoubtedly the oldest symbol of human spirituality. It has been found on every continent in the world scratched into rocks, burial tombs and sacred sites as well as the many naturally occurring examples in nature (think of snail shells, hurricanes, fern shoots etc). It is suggestive of a cycle of rebirth or resurrection, as well as being an ancient symbol of the goddess, the womb, fertility and the evolution of the universe.

So how does it fit with Tarot?

A popular teaching method for Tarot is to lay the entire 78 cards out on a circle, representing the circle of life, working through the Minor Arcana (with Court cards) and then the Major Arcana. This would suggest though that the Tarot (and the journey through life it is representing) comes back to the same point and is static which we know is really not true. I prefer to think in terms of the spiral where once you reach the end of the cycle that you are on, you continue onwards (or regress backwards) on your path taking with you the knowledge and experience as you continue. I also prefer to journey through the Tarot, for teaching and development purposes, starting with the Minor Arcana (through the suits of Wands, Swords, Cups and Pentacles), then in to the transitional and archetypal themes of the 22 cards of the Major Arcana, finishing with the Court Families of the four suits. I have very specific reasons for this.

This is not intended to be a ‘“How to’” guide to working with Tarot, instead I hope to offer insights in to the world of Tarot and introduce it to you as a useful tool for exploring the archetypal and personal patterns that are imprinted in each of our lives. Think of it as a gateway to the psychological and trans-personal aspects of the self, which can often at times be left to the realm or the psychologists and psychotherapists. When you can uncover and discover the patterns inherent within your own life and also see the broader, far reaching effects of the current situation you are in you take yourself closer to a point of resolution.

The Major Arcana and the Spiral

On the surface, the Minor Arcana may appear to deal with mundane everyday issues, but scratch the surface and they are a gateway to your psychological, spiritual and physical realities. They offer guidance on our chosen path, showing us the patterns at play within our lives and point towards their origin, mapping out the entanglements. They animate the patterns and allow them to come to life. I am not going to include an in depth discussion on their themes as that would be another book in and of itself, instead I shall highlight the patterns inherent to the Major Arcana and Court Families and illustrate the blueprint to the patterns of life that they hold within.

Where the Minor Arcana is concerned with animating everyday life; the Major Arcana deals with traditional archetypes, universal influences and our family roots. These cards shed light on our spiritual and ancestral journey and illustrate turning points in our life, events that will happen or have happened that change our lives. Our attitude to these changes and phases in our life is the key. The situation and changes can work to our advantage or disadvantage depending on our outlook and what we are willing to acknowledge.

I see the Major Arcana as having three distinct aspects or realms within the spiral (the realm of the family, the ancestors and the dead) with the Fool card acting as our guide through each aspect. I have provided some description on particular Major cards, but this is just a very basic start.

The Fool is the naive and innocent child and can be placed anywhere within the Major Arcana as he acts as a guide; think of him as walking you through your family lines. The Fool stands at the start of the journey and represents infinite possibilities and infinite potentials viewing life through the eyes of your inner self, sometimes the inner child.

The Realm of the Family

The first aspect of the Major Arcana spiral is made up of the first seven numbered cards from the Magician through to the Chariot. It is the aspect that is concerned with who we are in the present situation and the influence our family and ancestry is having on us in the immediate moment. It is mainly concerned with personal, emotional, communication and interaction with others, as we create bonds and forge ties with those around us.

The first two cards are the Magician and the High Priestess, they act as gatekeepers to the masculine and feminine ancestral lines. The High Priestess & the Magician belong together; they represent masculine and feminine duality of inner power. Whilst the Magician is more representative of being active in the material world, the High Priestess is much more passive. She represents hidden knowledge from the ancestors, intuition and the unconscious mind. A balance between the Magician’s control and the High Priestess’ passivity is needed.

The next two cards are the representatives of our parents and are the Empress and the Emperor. It is our relationship with the Empress and the Emperor (our Mother and Father) that determines our journey through the rest of the Major Arcana spiral and indeed through the spiral of our own life. Should we choose to distance ourselves and disassociate from them, then we find the transitions through the spiral much harder.

When we reach the Hierophant and we do not have the support of the Mother and Father, or, if we have rejected them, then we find ourselves blocked and unable to move. The influence or lack thereof becomes even more telling as we move into the realm of the Lovers, with the patterns laid in place for how we communicate emotionally with those around us. When we come to the Chariot, we have the choice to take control, accept our roots and move forward, or to flee further from whom we are as we seek out another path.

The rejection of the parents in some form or another is at the root of many individuals’ personal issues. By holding on to the belief that your parents weren’t good enough, weren’t there for you enough or by wishing that you had a different Mother or Father, you are in effect rejecting or belittling your own life by rejecting and belittling them. In saying this I am not suggesting that hardships or trauma experienced as a child are justifiable or insignificant; I am saying simply that there is a choice about the future. An acceptance that your Mother/Father is the only Mother/Father for you, that they gifted you your life in spite of what it cost both them and you, and an acknowledgement of their place as your Mother/Father, and your place as their child, is far more freeing than holding on to the energy of the past and any mistakes that might have been made. To say “I wanted more” or “they weren’t good enough” or “I reject you as my Mother/Father” is in effect rejecting your own life and creates a very difficult path forward for your life.

The Realm of the Ancestors

The next phase of the Major Arcana is represented by the next seven numbered cards from Strength to Temperance, and is the aspect that brings up the patterns from the family generations that influenced your formative years. This aspect really highlights the struggle to come to terms with your place in your family system. The first two cards in this realm are Strength and the Hermit and they represent the changing relationship between parent and child as the child (or the individual looking back on their childhood). When the child is able to accept their parents as they are, then they move forward to a place of strength and inner knowing. Strength in particular is a need to confront and release feelings and desires that have been locked away. It is indicative of a period of self-development with an honest appraisal of you and those around you.

If however, there is a rejection of the parents then the “child” sets off on a journey or path looking for what is missing, namely the relationship with the parent! This journey is often at the sacrifice of their own family/personal relationships and in that instance, the Hermit becomes a very self-serving place to be. This is because the energy of the Hermit highlights a need for a period of withdrawal to assess the family system and how you feel about it. The Hermit and the lamp he holds represent inner wisdom, inner guidance and knowledge from the ancestors.

Lingering too long in the indulgence of the Strength and Hermit can lead to events in life taking over as the patterns and fates from the past come to the fore to be repeated, or to re-present themselves again. It is how these events are handled that is the key. If the family support and openness is there with the positive acceptance of the Child aspect, then the Wheel of Fortune and Justice are a simple transition. If however, there is still rejection of the family, parental roots and the ancestral lineage, then they are indicative of a difficult period of “why me?” type thinking.

The Wheel of Fortune is based on the ancient belief that our fortunes change in a cyclic manner and embodies the mythology of “The three fates”; one who spins the thread of life, one who measures the length, and one who cuts the length for each individual’s life. The wheel represents the mysteries of fate and also embodies the laws of karma and ancestral knowledge.

Whereas Justice indicates a lesson that has to be learned. Looking honestly at where you are, do you deserve to be here? Did your actions lead to this? What can you learn from those that have gone before you? What needs to be honoured and acknowledged or allowed to lay at rest?

Again, the period represented by the next three cards within the cycle is either extremely freeing as the individual sees and accepts their place within their family system in respect to the entanglements that are present within both their Mother and Father’s family lines, or extremely self-indulgent as the individual further disconnects from their roots and goes off on various personal/spiritual quests to find themselves. This behaviour is especially evident in the Hanged Man where from one angle the hanged man is suspended in space, viewed upside down he is quite happily dancing. He epitomises the martyr who blindly carries the burden of the fates that have gone before or the sacrifice of the self for the sake of the victims in the realm of the dead, which is often unwarranted and unwelcome.

The Death card often symbolises a need to shed and let go of old patterns, and if these patterns are held on to in can lead to physical/emotional illnesses. Signifying a time of change, coming to the end of a cycle and a need to let go of what was in order to move on. This can be a painful process if there is a fear of change and letting go with the temptation to stick to old habits where the individual can often have an inflated sense of self-importance as they place themselves within the centre of their family patterns.

Temperance however heralds a sense of peace and freedom with a blessing from the ancestors in the realm of the dead to the realm of the living, and also indicates the point of balance and resolution between the male and female ancestral lines. The word “temperance” is derived from the Latin word “temperare” which means “to mix” or “combine properly”. This card represents the ability to combine all parts of the self to be true and accepting of who you really are, and where your place truly lies.

The Realm of the Dead

The final aspect of the Major Arcana uncovers some of the deeper ancestral patterns that have been passed down through the generations that become an inherent part of who we are. It can be more difficult to release and clear the energy associated with this aspect of the Major Arcana as the patterns are often old or entrenched. The ancestral energy that is influent from the Realm of the Dead is from those ancestors that are not at peace, who have been excluded or who have not been acknowledged. Of course those that we refuse to let go of and be at peace also influence from this realm, both in the symbolic world of the Tarot as well as our own reality. It is represented by the final seven numerical cards of the Major Arcana, from the Devil through to the World.

The quests started in the family and ancestral realms of the Major Arcana can often involve intense but one-sided relationships with other individuals that are similarly disconnected from their family, this is highlighted by the ancestral aspect of the cycle in particular with the Devil and the Tower. The Devil especially highlights the self-destructive patterns of addictive behaviours such as alcoholism, drug and even food addiction. These addictions again link back to the rejection of the parental influences of the Empress and the Emperor and reflect the communication issues of the Lovers although the patterns held may be older than the current or previous generation.

The Devil links back to the lovers with the theme of choices and shows an individual feeling trapped in a situation but unwilling to make the choice to change. The card can also indicate that the individual is letting their desires overpower their judgment and that they are not basing their decisions on the full facts. There is a need here to break free from a negative situation or negative behaviour pattern that really belongs to another. Again as mentioned previously the theme of the Devil is strongly linked to addictions and substance abuse. This in effect is a long- term suicide bid and often is because someone in missing from the family field. In most cases it is the Father that is missing or a member of the male line and this links back in with the first aspect or realm of the family and the relationship with the Emperor and the Hierophant. The link to the Lovers and emotional communication can result in very destructive relationship patterns as women with alcoholism in the male line of their family become entangled in relationship with a similar destructive masculine element.

The Tower represents difficult experiences and violent upheaval that is repeated throughout the family lines. Occurrences of abuse, suicide, violence as well as fertility/birth issues are very often the hallmarks of this type of ancestral pattern that is left unchecked. Often arises when a family has attempted to erase the past by moving away from their roots, in most cases the energy of the past will still worm its way back in to future generations regardless of the location as one or more of the descendants resonates and unconsciously seeks to absolve the past.

We loop back and have a chance to revisit our roots and essentially ‘“come home’”, take our place and accept our true fate with the final phase of the aspect or realm of the dead as we have another opportunity to reintegrate in to our place as see with honest eyes where our place is… This is possible with the peace, healing and recovery of the Star, an acknowledgement of the mysteries of the family system or of that which has been hidden with the Moon and aided by the freedom, letting go and liberation of the Sun. After the night comes the dawn and this card represents strong success and break through with support from the ancestors on your journey.

Judgement is associated with Karmic balance, you will reap what you have sown, so indicative of act responsibly and acknowledge your place as well as whom and what have gone before you.
We finish with the World, you are in your place, you are self- aware and life is harmonious and balanced. Pause, enjoy what you have accomplished, then continue the spiral of life.

The Court Families

This brings us on to the Court Families. In my opinion the Court Families are the people that have journeyed through the spiral of life and have the scars to prove it. They carry with them the knowledge of the element of their particular suit as well as the archetypal knowledge of the Major Arcana. They represent you, your family members and your ancestors and when you connect to them they become you, your family members and ancestors and tell the tales of your life, your family life and the patterns therein. They can show you how these patterns are being acted out by the people surrounding you and the different situations occurring in your life.

The four suits of the Minor Arcana (Wands, Swords, Cups and Pentacles) all have elemental associations which represent the essence of the suit and its purpose.

We start with the suit of Pentacles. It is concerned with the physical world, our ancestral line, our family and our place in it. The function of this suit is to help us to ground ourselves in order to progress and literally “find our feet” in who we are and where we come from.

We then move on to the suit of Swords which is the element of air. Swords have the reputation, unjustifiably of being very negative. They can signify pain, anger and destruction however being the element of air is very often the perception of something rather than a physical reality. They signify a need to cut through illusion and pain. Their main function is to give clarity on where we are in the present moment, to show us any patterns or blocks and what needs to be done to clear them so we can move on and heal. So, in essence they highlight the burdens or fates from the ancestors that we are carrying forward.

Next is the suit of Cups. Cups are related to the element of water which is concerned with emotion and emotional communication, connections with others and our intuitive sense of self. The Cups indicate and suggest where the healing of the past karma needs to occur. They also link in to the female ancestral line.

The suit of Wands relates to the element of fire, which embodies connection to spirit, transformation, change, clearing, and the drive to move forward. The Wands also provide a connection to the male ancestral line.

They each bring different messages:

1. Messages of karmic influences with ancestral rooting in the earthy Pentacles to the male ancestral line
2. Messages of clarity of where you are now with the air suit of Swords to the female ancestral line
3. Knowledge of how to heal past karma with the watery Cups to the female ancestral line
4. The energy of transformation with the fire and the Wands to the male ancestral line

Below is a guide to the Court Families, with their masculine and feminine aspects. The feminine line is carried by the Page (Princess in some decks) and the Queen the masculine line is carried by the Knight and the King.

The Wand Family

The Wand Family helps us to understand where we are being blocked, where change needs to occur and what needs to be cleared through their element of Fire with strong male ancestral energy.

The Female Line

The female line of the Wand family in youth is not rooted; there is a need to look to the other siblings, or for missing siblings within the family in order to help her find her place. She quickly loses interest and moves on amassing a pile of unfinished tasks and relationships.

The older female Wand, with the patterns left unchecked, will have amassed many responsibilities through her inability to say no to her passions. She is open to emotional blackmail and her interaction with the male line is often destructive upon her, she is ruled by her passion and guilt. It would be wise to look to the former partners of this lady to see the path that lies behind her.

The Male Line

The young male Wand has an unquenchable desire to prove himself to family and those close to him often losing sight of why he has started something. He seeks to be seen and is often overlooked. As he grows older he becomes strong minded, dominating and assertive and often appears as a ‘block’ for individuals to overcome as he has little awareness of others on their own path as he expects everyone else to follow him to the fates that he himself is bound to follow.

The Sword Family

The Sword family brings us the honest clarity of where we are in the present and what influences or patterns from the past are affecting us in the present. They show us, in their own particular style, what we need to cut from our lives or what thought patterns we need to release. There is strong female ancestral energy with the Swords.

The Female Line

The young female Sword is hesitant to put herself back out there and have the same pattern repeat itself (this can be a perception rather than a learned behaviour as she strongly carries the ancestral line). Guarded and detached in emotional relationships and communication, she can seem cold to outsiders.
The sense of detachment continues as she grows older, she is excellent at seeing others as they really other but cannot apply this emotional logic to herself. She feels isolated from her masculine counterparts.

The Male Line

In youth he is completely reactionary. Everything is in his head and is intellectualised and he finds emotional communication uncomfortable. He is constantly on the defensive as he is not rooted in who he is, he feels trapped between the masculine and feminine lines. With age he becomes calm, calculating with a tendency for narrow-mindedness. He ‘remembers’ the burdens from the past and carries them with him unconsciously which leads him to detach. He finds emotional communication difficult and feels disconnected from the influence of the Feminine line. He often has a string of broken relationships behind him to match with the Queen of Wands. His detachment leads him to feel little for others though he can appear very charming.

The Cup Family

The Cup Family carries the knowledge of how and where to heal Karma from the past down the lines and also strongly carries the energy of the female ancestors.

The Female Line

In youth the female cup is ruled by her emotions and intuition and holds on to other people’s emotions like a sponge. She has the energy of being stuck between the family lines but feels extreme loyalty to the female line as there is often a pattern of trauma perpetuated by the masculine line. As she ages is still ruled by emotion but instead of focusing on her own emotions (like the page) she finds it more comfortable to work with other people’s emotions in order to move them forward, staying firmly stuck herself. She has an intuitive knowledge of past karma but refuses to acknowledge or clear her own. Here you will find many a social worker, carer or therapist unconsciously trying to free themselves by helping others.

Male Line

So obsessed is the young male with his own emotions and his own perfection that he is oblivious to others. Is constantly trying to live up to an ideal that he has set for himself (in reality it has been set before him in his family line but he has no awareness of this). He grows up with far more awareness and guilt. He is linked more to his family’s feminine line than the masculine and feels unexplained guilt because of this; he will put family and responsibility to family before himself and is often mistreated within this role.

The Pentacle Family

The Pentacle family brings the karmic influences from our ancestral rooting in to our physical reality as well as carrying a strong masculine link to the ancestors.

The Female Line

She is overly influenced by what is expected of her and has a tendency to veer towards the masculine line in the family and doesn’t hold respect for the feminine line. She will shoulder the responsibility for old guilt and needs to release it. As she matures she can often find herself placed in a role as she carries forward the responsibilities that belong to others. She is the grown up version of the young page that hasn’t realised that she is living her life for someone else. Often the Father or a significant member of the masculine line will be missing from the family system.

The Male Line

In youth he is someone who sticks to his path as he sees it and will take the road that is right for him even if it is the road less travelled. He is determined, strong-willed and sticks to his guns. He is unconsciously finishing what those before him have started and has a stronger family link with the older generations rather than his peers. He becomes a self made man from the school of hard knocks who strives to be a provider so that the past does not catch up with him. He often has no awareness of why he strives so hard and can lose sight of the family he has created himself as he is driven by the past. Releasing the past will free him from this, there is a positive relationship with the Mother but the Father is often detached (e.g. masculine line of the Sword family).

It should be noted that the practice of divination and using the Tarot as a tool for working with individuals on their ancestral and family patterns requires a different approach to working with the spiral for your own development. The Tarot spiral is then used as a tool for the reader to place the individual within the spiral and to uncover the trends or patterns inherent in the present moment and to allow them to be traced back through the spiral to their root, thus offering the individual an opportunity to clear and move forward. You do not have to use the cards in the traditional manner for divination when you want to work for yourself.

Accessing the energy of the Tarot through a visualisation meditation is a very effective way of highlighting some of the patterns that are currently at play in your own life. If you have a Tarot deck that you currently work with you may want to lay out the four Court Families and spend some time familiarising yourself with them for the next exercise. Do not worry if you do not have a Tarot deck you can still try to the following exercise. It would be useful to either read through the exercise a few times before you try it, to record it (leaving sufficient space for your own personal exploration) or to have a friend read it aloud for you. The family members that come to you during the exercise may be actual members of your own family or they may be symbolic representations.

Exercise for Connection to your own Court Families

1. It’s probably best to be lying down for this meditation, make sure that you are comfortable and warm before you start. You may need a blanket as your body temperature may drop when you are relaxed.
2. Close your eyes and relax down your body. Imagine water flowing over the front of your body washing away any tension or stress from your face your neck and chest, your legs, all washed away through the soles of your feet into the earth. Now imagine water flowing down over the back of your body, washing any tension and stress from the back of your head, your neck, your shoulders, back and legs. All this is washed into the earth through the soles of your feet. Now imagine water flowing through your crown chakra, flowing through your entire body, cleansing you of any stressful thoughts or emotions, taking away any stress and tension, all this flowing away through the soles of your feet leaving you completely relaxed.
3. Now visualise yourself lying down in the middle of a clearing. You are lying down on a blanket; the sun is shining and warming you. There is a light breeze ruffling the grass and trees surrounding your clearing. You are completely at peace.
4. Now it is time to invite in the Fool from the Major Arcana. He is going to be your guide for this journey. Notice how he looks, how he makes you feel. Spend some time connecting with his energy and listen to what he has to say.
5. Once you have connected with the Fool it is time to ask him to bring to you the members of the wand family who bring the element of Fire. Notice how they look, how they makes you feel. Spend some time connecting with their energy and listen to what they have to say. When you are ready ask them “What is my fear?” listen and feel the message they bring to you. Thank them and allow them to leave.
6. It is now time to ask the Fool to bring to you the members of the Sword family who bring the element of Air. Notice how they look, how they makes you feel. Spend some time connecting with their energy and listen to what they have to say. When you are ready ask them “What do I need to release and let go of?” listen and feel the message they bring to you. Thank them and allow them to leave.
7. It is now time to ask the Fool to bring to you the members of the Cup family who bring the element of Water. Notice how they look, how they makes you feel. Spend some time connecting with their energy and listen to what they have to say. When you are ready ask them “What do I need to heal?” listen and feel the message they bring to you. When you feel ready thank them and allow them to move onwards.
8. It is now time to ask the Fool to bring to you the members of the Pentacle family forward who bring the element of Earth. Again notice how they look, how they makes you feel. Spend some time connecting with their energy and listen to what they have to say. When you are ready ask them “What is my purpose?” listen and feel the message they bring to you. Thank them and allow them to leave.
9. Spend some time again alone with the Fool, you can ask him if he has any further guidance for you. When you are ready gradually bring your awareness back to the room you are sitting in, become more aware of your physical body, wriggle your fingers and toes. When you are ready open up your eyes.

You may want to spend some time recording your experience so that you do not forget it, what seems vivid and unforgettable at the time does have a tendency to slip away and you will be doing further work with this experience.

Further work on your own Patterns

I have designed a simple nine-card spiral Tarot spread specifically for focusing on ancestral patterns which you can use for your own development. It is also an excellent tool if you are already familiar with the Tarot and would like to incorporate ancestral patterns in to your work with others. The layout is illustrated below Ancestors Spiral Spread.

Ancestors’ Spiral Spread

1. The Root Cause
2. Earth Influences – message from the Pentacle Family
3. Air Influences – message from the Sword Family
4. Fire Influences – message from the Wand family
5. Water Influences – message from the Cup Family
6. Current Situation
7. Immediate Future
8. Guidance for moving forward
9. Final Outcome

Nikki Macaky

Nikki MacKay is a family constellator, sound therapist, Reiki master and an experienced psychic medium. As a medical physicist she has researched the effects of energy healing on the nervous system and published her findings within the scientific and new age community. An experienced intuitive and teacher, she is now the editor of The WitchHiker’s Guide magazine, a guide to all things alternative in Scotland. She also teaches seminars and works with individuals exploring family and ancestral patterns. Her book, The Science of Family is published by O-Books.

Recommended Reading

This is a collaborative work between Douglas Gibb of Tarot Eon and myself, and is part of the Elemental Dignities Dictionary series.

…from the Marriage of Heaven and Earth. The Tao produced one; one produced two; two produced three (Tao Te Ching).

Have you been confused by Elemental Dignities? There was a time when I was; most of the information available lacked clarity. This is the article I wished I’d read when I was learning Elemental Dignities.

This article will provide you with not only a complete how-to guide when applying Elemental Dignities to Triads but it will also provide you with a complete listing of all possible three card combinations and possible interpretations.

If you would like to head straight to the Elemental Dignities Dictionary now, just click this link and like magic you’ll be there!

What you need to know before we begin!

Douglas and I will be showing you how to read Elemental Dignities as taught by the Golden Dawn. There are many systems out there that teach you how to read Elemental Dignities, but for the most part, they’re “variations” on the Golden Dawn system.

It’s important that you realise that Elemental Dignities is a fluid system and it will naturally change, adapt and develop the more it’s incorporated into the Tarot reader’s personal repertoire. This happens naturally. For instance, Douglas’ method of applying Elemental Dignities is different from mine; as mine will be from yours! However, for the purpose of this article, we wanted to teach you the Golden Dawn system, which, in our opinion, is the most practical, eloquent and robust system available.

Therefore, we want you to remember that:

• Fire and Air are active Elements.
• Water and Earth are passive Elements.
• Fire and Water are enemies; they weaken each other.
• Air and Earth and enemies; they weaken each other.
• All other combinations are friendly with each other.

Please refer to the above list throughout this article as the system depends upon these rules.

1. This how-to guide is Golden Dawn based.
2. By learning how to use the Golden Dawn system you will be in a much better position to understand all the other “variations” that teach Elemental Dignities.
3. The more you use the Golden Dawn system the more it will adapt and morph into your own reading style; becoming a valuable component and powerful tool in your Tarot reading arsenal.
4. Have fun

The mechanics of applying Elemental Dignities to Triads

In this article you are going to learn how to read Elemental Dignities in three card combinations, triads.

I’d like you to grab your favourite Tarot deck, deal out three cards, and follow along.

Key information to reading Triads:

1. The centre card is the most important card.
2. I want you to remember, above everything else, that when reading Elemental Dignities in a triad the centre card is the most important card.
3. The centre card is modified by the two flanking cards next to it.
4. A centre card can either have its “meaning” strengthened by the flanking cards, or weakened by the flanking cards.

Once you fully understand that the centre card is the most important, the rest of the system falls into place. If you remember nothing else, remember that the centre card provides us with the “meaning” but the flanking cards modify the importance of that “meaning”.

Deal out three cards. I’ll do it too

Each of the examples that are presented below, build one on top of the other. Take your time working through these examples, and most of all, have fun.

Focus on the Centre card! In a triad, the centre card provides the Tarot reader with the “meaning”.

The left flanking card is modifying the centre card. It will either strengthen the centre cards “meaning” or weaken the centre cards “meaning”.

Again, we can see another flanking card modifying the centre card.

Here we can see that both of the outside cards are responsible for modifying the centre cards meaning. This is the basic dynamic that is created when reading triads using Elemental Dignities. In a triad, the centre card has all the “importance” while the flanking cards will tell the Tarot reader just how important that centre card really is.

In this picture we can clearly see what happens when the two flanking cards are elementally contrary to each other – they now don’t have any modifying effect over the central card. The central card stands alone.

Using Elemental Dignities can provide a Tarot reader with really useful information, but the most important bit of information Elemental Dignities provides is knowing which cards are highly influential and which cards aren’t.

For example, in one Tarot reading, the Tower card might play a pivotal role in the client’s life, whereas in another Tarot reading its influence might be largely unnoticed by the client. According to The Golden Dawn: An Account of the Teachings, Rites and Ceremonies of the Order of the Golden Dawn (Llewellyn’s Golden Dawn series), “…a card is strong or weak, well-dignified or ill-dignified, according to the cards which are next to it on either side.”

The centre card is the most important card; the flanking cards can modify its “meaning” and “influence” in a Tarot reading.

Let’s look at some examples

For this example we will use the 10 of Swords. Traditionally, this card in known as the “Oh dear” card; often signifying the complete end or ruin of something the client considers important. What the following examples will show is how, in certain cases, the 10 of Swords has very little influence over the “client’s life” while in other cases, it has a large influence over the progression of events. Elemental Dignities lets us know how influential its “meaning” in a Tarot reading really is.

The Golden Dawn didn’t use a positional layout as such. They relied upon the Elemental Dignities of the cards to determine which cards were important and which cards were less important; or even superficial.

Here we have the 10 of Swords as the centre card. The two flanking cards are the 6 of Cups and the 9 of Wands. We already know that the 10 of Swords provides us with the meaning of the triad, and the flanking cards determine how influential that meaning will be within the Tarot spread; but what does this triad tell you?

First, it shows the 10 of Swords as being unaffected by the two flanking cards. These two cards are elementally contrary to each other. In other words, they are enemy elements and are busy warring against each other. As a result, their ability to modify how much influence the 10 of Swords has is zero. When you see a triad like this, remember that the centre card is not being influenced in anyway whatsoever. In a Tarot reading, this would signify that the 10 of Swords stands alone.

To paraphrase The Golden Dawn: An Account of the Teachings, Rites and Ceremonies of the Order of the Golden Dawn (Llewellyn’s Golden Dawn series)
, “… but if a card passes between two which are naturally contrary, it is not affected by either much, as a Sword between a Cup and a Wand which latter, being Water and Fire, are contrary and therefore weaken each other. Here the question being of the Sword, this card is not to be noticed as forming a link between the Cup and Wand.”

Here we can see that the centre card is in a fairly strong position. Although one of the flanking cards is weakening its influence in a Tarot reading, the other card supports the centre card. This card acts like a bridge, supporting and strengthening the 10 of Swords. To paraphrase The Golden Dawn: An Account of the Teachings, Rites and Ceremonies of the Order of the Golden Dawn (Llewellyn’s Golden Dawn series)
, “If the card of the suit of Air falls between a Disk and a Wand, the Wand modifies and connects the Air with the Disk, so that it is not weakened by its vicinity, but is modified by the influence of both cards; therefore fairly strong.”

In a Tarot reading we would therefore place significance on the 10 of Swords; we would recognise that this has some influence on the rest of the cards and the client will certainly be aware of the 10 of Swords influence. However, it’s only fairly strong so other cards may come along that steer things in a more positive direction – away from ruin!

In this triad we can see the 10 of Swords being supported by both flanking cards. This tells us that the 10 of Swords has a strong influence over the client’s life and will no doubt be affecting most areas of their life. The flanking cards are also Fire which is an active Element. With all three elements being active, we have a very strong combination.

In this triad, the 10 of Swords is weakened by the two flanking cards. The picture that Douglas and I are using illustrates how the 10 of Swords has very little influence.

In a Tarot reading, this combination would tell us the 10 of Swords is not a significant influence and should be read as such. In many of the Tarot readings that I do, some of the more traditionally powerful cards are little more than “background noise”. The rules of Elemental Dignities allow me to make this kind of judgment with confidence.

To further illustrate the concept of “background noise” we have used another picture which visually reduces the size of the 10 of Swords. This is to emphasis how Elemental Dignities can give us access to information that we could otherwise miss.

Although it’s still the 10 of Swords, with all its associated divinatory definitions, its influence has been so greatly weakened that those “meanings” will not be noticed or felt by the client.

In this triad the 10 of Swords is flanked by two Water Elements. Although the Water Element is friendly to Air, it’s not a strong combination. It’s rather passive. In this case, although the 10 of Swords still has influence, its influence is only moderately strong. With this particular type of triad, we would still need to factor the 10 of Swords into the Tarot reading, but without placing too much significance upon it. The 10 of Swords is there, the client will be aware of it, but it won’t completely overrule the other cards.

Further examples of reading in triads

These examples are taken from The Golden Dawn: An Account of the Teachings, Rites and Ceremonies of the Order of the Golden Dawn (Llewellyn’s Golden Dawn series), and are a great way to examine how they read Elemental Dignities. Bear in mind these examples are also blended with the divinatory definitions of the Tarot cards:

• 9 of swords 10 of swords 5 of swords: Very strong and potent in action. Very evil.
• 10 of wands 10 of swords 2 of wands: Not quite so strong (as the top one). Ruin checked and perhaps overcome.
• 5 of swords 2 of wands 9 of swords: Moderately strong. Rashness which brings evil in its train. Evil.
• 9 of disks 2 of wands 6 of disks: Fairly strong. Good. Considerable gain and victory.
• 10 of cups 2 of wands 6 of cups: Weak, evil. Victory which is perverted by debauchery and evil living. But other cards may mitigate the judgment.
• 9 of swords 10 of cups 5 swords: Medium strong. Evil. Sorrow arising from pleasure and through one’s own pleasures.
• 10 of swords 6 of cups 9 of disks: Fairly strong and good. The sword and the disk being opposite elements counteract each other. Therefore is it as if they were not there.

Summary

In summary, we have four distinct types of triads:

1. We have those that are very strong and support the centre card, giving it “influence” over the reading.
2. We have those that are very weak and weaken the centre card, which “weakens” that cards influence over the reading.
3. We have “bridge” triads where one flanking card weakens the centre card while the other one supports it. In this case, the supportive card acts as a bridge to the centre card “so that it is not weakened by its vicinity (to the enemy Element), but is modified by the influence of both cards; therefore fairly strong.” The Golden Dawn: An Account of the Teachings, Rites and Ceremonies of the Order of the Golden Dawn (Llewellyn’s Golden Dawn series)
4. We also have those types of triads were the flanking cards, being contrary to each other, neutralise their influence, leaving the Tarot reader to disregard those cards and to focus completely on the centre card.

The Golden Dawn would use Elemental Dignities to help them figure out which cards were significant, and which cards weren’t. They provide lots of valuable information, particularly if you read the Tarot without a traditional Tarot spread layout.

One way to practice using Elemental Dignities is to read a linear spread of cards without positions. Start by dealing them out in a straight line and group the cards into triads. Read the triads from one side of the spread across to the other, developing your narrative as you go, until you read the final group of cards.

For additional practice you might also like to pair the Tarot cards afterwards.

The following example will take an 18 Tarot card linear spread and read them using Elemental Dignities in triads. We will also explore which cards are significant, lack influence, act as “bridge” triads, or are neutralised according to the rules of Elemental Dignities.

Example Tarot Reading

Douglas and I wanted to illustrate how easy it is to develop a narrative in a Tarot reading. Using only triads and elemental dignities, we have created an 18 card  Tarot reading without a question or positions, to show how you can develop a story from any group of Tarot cards, and most importantly, with relative ease.

We have 18 Tarot cards that can be read in 6 groups of three. We start at the left hand side of the spread and work our way towards the right.

The first three cards are Aeon or Judgment, Emperor and the Eight of Swords.

Elementally, they are Fire, Fire and Air. The centre card is the Emperor which provides us with the “meaning” behind this triad. The two flanking cards tell us how influential or not, the Emperor is. In this case, one flanking card is Fire, while the other is Air. Elementally the Emperor is very significant and is highly influential in this reading.

So here we have a man who’s looking at a new beginning, there’s been a closing of a chapter in his life and he’s ready to move forward but he’s hindered; something is trying to hold him back from moving on. What we do know from the Elemental Dignities is this reading is all about him!

Douglas: This combination of cards indicates a change in status; is he being allowed to express himself in his role properly? He looks to be in a position of authority; probably a manager in his respected career. Regardless, with Elemental Dignities, we can see that this person in his role as “Emperor”, takes himself and his authority very seriously. What is he trying to prove?

Here we have the Ten of Disks, Four of Wands and Ace of Swords.

Elementally, they are Earth, Fire and Air. In this combination, we can see that the two flanking cards are enemies of each other. This means that they have little or no influence over the centre card; the Four of Wands.

He seeks happiness and family security so perhaps the new beginning is a second chance with a relationship or marriage. There are a number of options available to help, but it seems he’s fixated with the glory, but not so keen on the work! As with the Emperor in the first Triad, there seems to be a lot of bravado to this man.

Douglas: In the Tarot reading, this would indicate a change in his residence (moving home) as a result of promotion. It looks like he has worked hard to get this promotion and now he’s not not going to let anything stop him celebrating.

Here we have the Six of Disks, Five of Wands, Art or Temperance cards.

Elementally we have Earth, Fire and Fire. This is a strong combination with the centre card being well support. This combination shows how influential the centre card is in this reading.

His lack of solid action has now resulted in dissension and arguments, he has perhaps outwardly displayed the actions of a man seemingly doing his level best to succeed and this is probably what is causing the problems – all chat and no action!

Douglas: In a Tarot reading, with the flanking cards making the 5 of Wands highly influential, we could say that the client’s career looks like it’s highly pressurised. I would also suspect that the client would have had to take a long and difficult route to get to where he is now.

Next we have the Four of Swords, Lovers and Eight of Disks.

Elementally, we have Air, Air and Earth. In this combination we can see that one of the flanking cards is acting as a “bridge” to the central card; ensuring that it’s strengthened against the Earth card. This would indicate that the centre card has some influence within in the Tarot reading. In fact, this triad is fairly strong.

And so he’s faced with a choice – the continuation of the relationship, or not. He may well find a period of separation is forced upon him, to reflect; but one thing is certain – he needs to do a whole lot more to make things better. There’s a whole learning curve ahead of him, which includes the need to behave with more decorum and putting his money where his mouth is.

Douglas: This indicates the client needs to make a decision. Has he been bullied? Is he torn between emotional and financial considerations? Is his lover sick and he needs to make a decision between making a good impression at work, or being with his lover? Regardless, hesitation between his private life and his public life is now a “fairly strong” component in this reading.

We are possibly beginning to get a glimpse into the client’s character at this stage: someone who has the capacity to be ruthless and single minded.

The Two of Wands, Death and Two of Swords make up the fifth triad.

Elementally, we have Fire, Water and Air. Again we have another “bridge” triad. However, in this example, the centre card is the Element Water. The Element Air provides a “bridge” between Fire and the central card – Water. This results in a slightly weak combination. The influence of this triad will still be felt within the reading, but not significantly.

A final separation looks likely, or a change in attitude and circumstances. It’s interesting that on either side we have a two, often indicating a coupling; he could be seen as the Two of Wands – still with his fighting talk and wanting to drive this forward, but still being ineffective; with his partner as the Two of Swords, tired of it all perhaps and in need of her own rest? maybe she has even put down her armour, there’s a certain acceptance for her that perhaps nothing will change.

Douglas: This perhaps indicates that November will bring around a change to both the client’s working and personal relationships; it looks like the client will decide to stay where he is, continue working and sacrifice his private life for his working life. However, the Elemental Dignities involved in this triad show how this won’t really cause him too much of a moral dilemma. How do we know this? The centre card in this triad isn’t particularly strong, which means that it isn’t particularly influential.

The last triad is the Five of Cups, The Star and the Chariot.

Elementally, we have Water, Air and Water. The two flanking cards support the centre card which provides it with influence over the reading. However, there is still a rather passive feeling taking place so one might get the impression that this triad represents things that are going on in the background.

Do our couple split up? I think they do despite the Star and the Chariot. I feel these two cards show a movement forward, but the key is the Five of Cups and thoughts of what might have been. So a tough time for our couple and perhaps a series of reconcilations that really go nowhere.

Douglas: It would show that emotional pain has occurred while acquiring this promotion; the client’s close relationships have suffered. It’s also probable that his working relationships have suffered as well. Has he made too many personal sacrifices to get where he is today? Interestingly, because of the rules of Elemental Dignities, we know that this won’t stop him from continuing to make those kinds of sacrifices in the foreseeable future.

Summary of the Tarot reading

So we painted a picture of man, full of his own self importance and despite wanting to make good his relationship issues, just not having what it takes to stop talking and actually start doing! His glossing over of the work involved and his own role as leader and not partner in this relationship will seemingly continue to hinder the forward progress of this relationship.

It would seem that this relationship has an off-on element to it that won’t change for the foreseeable future; something that his partner seems less willing, or able to live with. There’s already an air of defeat to the cards towards the end of the reading with his partner seemingly ready to call it a day; while the egotistical nature of the man refuses to let him see the reality of his situation, just the gloss on the outside. To him, it’s how it looks, now how it is.

Douglas: The client is someone who has a history of working hard and making sacrifices to progress in his career. We can see that his personal relationships have come second place to that career. The longed for respect that he desires at work is now beginning to transpire, but the question is, at what cost?

Most likely, this person sees his many personal sacrifices as “doing what was necessary”. Overall his career continues to do well while his personal relationships continue to deteriorate.

Using just Elemental Dignities we are able to build a comprehensive story of the client’s life. We discovered, through the rules of Elemental Dignities, just how much these “sacrifices” have simply been background noise to his overall ambition for career related success and respect. We know that this person is unlikely to regret making those choices and will continue to believe that he “doing what is necessary”. However, we can also speculate, given the changeability of the Elements, that this “background” noise will no doubt get louder as time goes on.

Overall then, Elemental Dignities are able to tell us how much significance to place on the centre cards when constructing our story. By practicing this technique, and incorporating it into your Tarot readings, you will have a powerful tool in which to provide complex, accurate and in-depth Tarot readings.

The next section of this article will now list all possible Elemental Dignities in triads. Enjoy!

The Elemental Dignities Dictionary – Three Card Combinations

Both Douglas and I hope you find this useful and would love to hear how you get on practicing Elemental Dignities in triads.

How we’ve ordered the Elemental Dignities Dictionary

We thought it would make more sense to order the dictionary in terms of its groupings. These are:

• Single Element Combinations
• Double Element Combinations
• Split Double Element Combinations
• Triple Element Combinations

Within each section, we have listed the entries in colour codes to maintain ease of searching for an individual combination. The sequential order of the elements, and therefore the listings run as follows:

• Fire
• Water
• Air
• Earth

Single Element Combinations

In a single element combination, the central card is extremely strong – supported on both sides by the flanking cards, these combinations produce the most brilliant, or devastating effects. Regardless of whether or not the client will like the outcome of these particular types of triad, they do contribute very powerful indicators of what will happen in the future.

This combination can be exactly what you need when you’re back’s against the wall and you need to muster all your strength to get out. Likewise, it can be destructive – like a wildfire out of control and all consuming.

Douglas: This triad is extremely powerful; promising dramatic and swift change within the client’s life. It also indicates passion, creativity, and something coming out of nowhere. The affects of this “change” can either be something welcomed by the client or not – it all depends on the centre card.

Drowning in a sea of love…. this can be one of the most wonderful ‘loved up’ feelings in the world; it can also render you useless! So much passivity can keep you locked in the feeling with no way out.

Douglas: This triad hints at powerful and deep healing. Psychic ability, intuition and a deep sense of “knowing” are also indicated. At the same time, this triad can indicate infatuation, obsession with the past, apathy and depression.

Such focused mental clarity can be your saviour when you need to think clearly, but it can also be ruthless in its speed and delivery. Such a lot of air is very cleansing, which provides the focus and heightened mental activity.

Douglas: Mental clarity and problem solving can be indicated by this triad. There are usually “ethical” concerns when this triad appears; as well as social and political ambition.

The grounding and safety provided by all this earth is very satisfying leaving you feeling secure. Don’t expect any action though, this all earth combination isn’t going anywhere, it will feel like home though.

Douglas: This is a great triad if you’re looking for safety and security. There is a real sense of firm unshakable foundations to this combination. However, there is also a lack of movement and action which could become frustrating. Again, the centre card would indicate if this is something that the client would welcome.

Double Element Combinations

In double element combinations, the centre card is always supported by at least one, if not both of the flanking cards.

Some of these are examples of “bridge” triads. This means that one of the flanking cards weakens the centre card. When this happens, the supportive card acts as a bridge to restrengthen the central card. This gives the centre card a degree of influence to still affect the Tarot reading. Whether that affect is good, bad, strong or weak, depends on the Triad in question.

These triads are moderately strong.

There’s a real desire and impetus to move forward and get things moving with this combination, but it’s really being dogged by an emotional tug, perhaps a conflict of interests; guilty feelings of putting work before love maybe? However, it’s still action over emotion.

Douglas: The central card will still have a slight influence over the client’s life. This triad brings images to mind of eagerness and enthusiasm for a project just begun but…, resistance to that project. As with most things, despite what we want to happen, things inevitably slow it down; whether that is the client’s inner emotional resistance, or the environments apathy. Overall, things move forward, but expect resistance.

In this triad we have three active Elements.

This self belief, whether right or wrong. Acting on an impulse that feels right, convincing yourself with brilliant logic you can’t fail – the perfect sales pitch.

Douglas: The centre card is Fire which promises movement and it’s certainly well supported by the two flanking cards. Overall a strong combination where an authority can only just guide events. Also a plan, idea, goal or political manipulation which is acted upon with 100% commitment.

This triad is fairly strong.

Perhaps the most balanced combination; a call to action coupled with sensibility and a measured dose of realism to keep things in check. Movement, action, responsibility.

Douglas: With the centre card being Fire, we need to expect forward movement. One of the flanking cards provides a solid foundation for this action to take place while the other card adds even more energy into the mix. Overall, this indicates that the client’s life will support a strong move towards furthering their goals. Realism and the ability to “keep it practical” might ensure its long term success.

This triad is moderately strong.

This is actually more hopeful than it looks. Yes, it’s overly passive and emotional, but a small flickering flame of desire burning underneath the surface hasn’t been extinguished. Things may not be moving yet, but there’s hope.

Douglas: The centre card is supported by another Water Element which adds to its overall influence in a Tarot reading.
The desire to enjoy the moment wins over the need to move things forward.

This triad is fairly strong.

This is still too passive and emotional, but the air is ensuring we haven’t taken total leave of our sense, yet. There is still reason and logic amid the fog.

Douglas: Although all three elements are friendly with each other, there isn’t enough strength in this triad to “make things happen”.
Overcoming illness, problem solving within relationships, communicating emotional needs and an ability to discuss the arts – abstract thinking (which isn’t always a good thing when it lacks grounding in any kind of “reality”) can take centre stage here.

This centre card in this triad is strong and will be influential within the Tarot reading.

Guilty pleasures, hedonism and having fun. There’s sensory delights for the inner being in these combinations. It’s also very comforting, like being soothed when hurt. There’s pandering perhaps, but enough grounding to not let things get too carried away.

Douglas: The overall passive nature of the Elements involved means that nothing is happening as such.
Self indulgence; two people that indulge each other; the need to “binge” drink; a certain level of self control during the working week is overcome by a hedonistic lifestyle at the weekends.

This triad has three active elements which makes the centre card strong and influential.

There’s no lack of clarity here. We have drive and ambition and the mental focus to see not just the bigger picture, but to execute any plans with exacting force and precision. It’s also ruthless.

Douglas: A need to act is delayed through hesitation over the options; a ruthless ability to act without considering other peoples feelings; travel; making a drama out of a crises.

The centre card in this triad is moderately strong and being an active Element, is most likely to happen.

This could be mentally ruthless but for the soft side of the water. Keeping in touch with your feminine side or allowing yourself to relax a little and enjoy softness. There’s sentience to decision making, with perhaps all sides being considered fairly.

Douglas: There is the need to understand the past; a belief that rational understanding is the only understanding necessary; can be a good listener, yet doesn’t like ideas conflicting with theirs; an indulgence in food; a need to make an “example” of someone; guilt; a need to create an emotionally supportive environment, either at work or in private.

The centre card is moderately strong implying that the idea could be acted upon.

There’s a real danger here of dissension or getting carried away with your thoughts. Reality tries to ground you but the mental fuzz is a strong pull. It’s an odd combination as reality, often based in logic, is having a tough time being heard amid the mental fracas.

Douglas: An attempt to inspire the people into action is succeeding; a feeling of being trapped and the use of will-power to break free. An attempt to re-write the book; an overly high self regard; “things will change and I don’t care who gets hurt or what gets destroyed”; someone who detests the family business.

The centre card is fairly strong in this triad and adds significance to the reading.

It’s safe at home, but sometimes we need a little fire to give us a shove. This combination would be good when plans are new and only just beginning; the fire providing a little tease in moving toward excitement.

Douglas: A business that is slowly building a reputation based on credibility and creativity; a place of safety where risk can be managed and controlled; the need to control their environment, perhaps even indicating obsessive compulsive behaviour.

The centre card is strong.

This could still be seen as hedonistic, the earth as the body is sensual. There is an awful lot of sensibility here too. Sentience and sensibility – a nice combination for a comfort zone, but not really going anywhere, but sometimes that’s okay.

Douglas: The centre card is strong, indicating a need to enjoy life; to indulge in pleasures; to appreciate nature; responsibility is starting to pay.

This is a “bridge” triad and the centre card is moderately strong.

The pulling away and holding of these two elements can create tension, or inner conflict. This can represent someone set in their ways with a fear of stepping into the unknown, no matter how much sense it makes, it’s safe and familiar right here.

Douglas: Feeling isolated, perhaps even outcast from the social group to which the client belongs; an outsider; an original thinker; trying to change the world; denying the way things really are in favour of an ideal; a well established business or reputation that doesn’t need to adapt to survive; no risk taking in this triad but then again, there is real-world success already.

Split Double Elements Combinations

This is where you will see the extremes of strengths within elemental dignities, in the split double elemental combinations. There are no bridging elements to support a weakened central card – the central card is either weakened or supported. The degrees of which depend upon the nature of the elements flanking it.

The centre card is weak and therefore the influence that this card will have on the Tarot reading is small.

If the fire was aggressive, this could be unpleasant for someone emotionally. Likewise though, it could represent the final stages of overcoming emotional issues.

Douglas: This can indicate emotional unrest; being challenged to rethink who you are; trying to reestablish communication with the family; despite needing to change ones life in order to survive, this person hides away – physical symptoms related to stress are inevitable.

The centre card is weak and its influence in a Tarot reading is so small that it’s almost worth ignoring it.

This reminds me of my own mantra “down, but not out” – you can almost hear a feint heartbeat from the fire, it’s no doubt in awful trouble, but fire has terrific spirit…

Douglas: However, the Element Fire is a fighter, and movement is still indicated; the amount of which is tiny because it’s so weak – however, this combination fights to be accepted. This is about trying to belong; either within the social group that the client is in currently, or by finding a new “tribe”.

The centre card is strong in this triad and is well supported.

Setting those well thought out plans into action; I even feel this combination describes a Roman Senator whipping the crowd up into a frenzy with a great oration!

Douglas: Whatever Air wants to happen, Fire will make sure it happens. This combination indicates a sudden change in career; a complete lifestyle change; the ability to reinvent your life.

The centre card is strong and has influence over the Tarot reading.

Now is the time to stop talking, stop planning and get out there and do it! Mental brilliance with a readiness to step up and step out! Having bright ideas and being excited about them!

Douglas: This combination indicates a business man who, once hearing all sides of the debate, makes the final decision; a decision maker in general; a position of authority; able to change the course of other people’s lives.

The central card is fairly strong.

Earth is acting a little like a party-pooper with the fire, rather like a parent putting their foot down with an over-excited child. You can’t hide the fact though that the earth does provide a great base for the energetic fire so long as they’re singing from the same song sheet.

Douglas: Despite outside pressure to change, things stay the same; peer pressure that has no affect.

The centre card is moderately strong.

And in reverse? It’s like the younger generation trying to convince their elders to lighten up and get with it! Again, a solid base with a great energetic start for any new venture or project.

Douglas: This combination hints at a fitness instructor trying to motivate people that have no interest in fitness and are being forced to attend the class; someone with ambition who’s trying to help others; a niche interest that a small amount of people could eventually become passionate about; courses and activities designed to increase confidence.

The central card is moderately strong.

Cutting through a clouded and emotional issue. Making sense of how you feel, and feeling okay with that. This could also be therapy, counselling or just talking it through and clearing the fog.

Douglas: Trying to make sense of the past; other people trying to make the client “own” their emotional baggage; unconscious projection; the ability to think coldly when everyone else has allowed their grief to overpower them; trying to keep two lovers apart.

The central card is moderately strong.

In reverse? Is this losing control of your logic to your emotional self? The water divides the air, laying down a fog and bringing in confusion. Clarity is still there, only it’s in danger of being covertly overtaken if the emotions get a foothold.

Douglas: This combination hints at someone being overcome with emotions; losing clarity; acting on emotions; the unconscious swallows the conscious mind; psychic visions; confusion; no wanting to face up to the harshness of reality.

The central card is strong and influential.

No man is an island, they say; but earth looks like one here. Where reason and logic may fail to win over the indulgent, emotional self, earth has the strength and fortitude to set itself down like an anchor, redressing the balance.

Douglas: Is someone pushing those closest to them away? Hiding behind work; money comes before love.

The central card is strong.

This is water telling the earth to relax; enjoy yourself, you’ve worked hard and put down some strong roots and foundations – now’s the time to rest a little and recuperate, tomorrow is already on its way.

Douglas: This is water adding an important emotional dimension to life; what was once a cold, harsh and uncaring place has changes into something more supportive, nourishing and loving; relaxing and fun are indicated by this combination; time spent with relaxing with your family and friends.

The central card is weak and will have very little influence in a Tarot reading.

Oh, someone’s trying to put their foot down! It won’t work though. The air will just rise above it and regroup, indignant of the bossiness and weight of the earth. Check your plans are built on strong foundations.

Douglas: Someone who is afraid of change; a technophobe; someone who doesn’t like new ideas; someone who doesn’t like to think about abstract reasons for “why”; someone who is much more comfortable being practical rather than philosophical; someone who needs to “see” it to believe it; a need to stop things getting out of control; taking charge of people who don’t understand how something works.

The central card is weak.

The foot stomping works in this combination – earth has the upper hand and the air is stuck. A situation you may find yourself in may feel like suffocation – but remember, even Joshua broke down the walls of Jericho.

Douglas: A need to assert authority; trying to convince people that there’s a better, more efficient way of doing things; an idea that could make a lot of money if other cards intervene; something that could turn out to be very profitable if other cards intervene; a change in lifestyle that never gets of the ground without outside help.

Triple Element Combinations

In triple element combinations, the central card can be weakened by an adjacent enemy element. It will be restrengthened by a neutral or friendly element in the other modifying position. This acts as a bridge or link between the two elements at odds with each other. The restrengthening depends wholly on the relationship between the central card and the supporting modifier.

With the best will in the world, you just can’t help but feel that this situation is not going to resolve itself. The fire’s not helping and the air has little effect on the water leaving this combination looking rather like someone who knows what they should be doing, but would rather indulge themselves than sort things out.

Douglas: An outside factor steps in to take control of a situation that is going nowhere; a lack of direction despite clear goals; an inner resistance to success; the need to understand why the goal is a good one before being able to follow through on the plan; someone who won’t be hurried.

The central card is moderately weak.

With the fire again not helping, the earth has to do it all. Acting like a benevolent friend or Samaritan, the earth is propping up the water providing stability at a time when it was under-fire.

Douglas: Nothing is moving forward; feeling under pressure to make more of a success out of one’s self – because of the “good education” that one has received; making decisions to please others; ignoring one’s own needs in favour of living up to another’s idealised image of what you should be.

These triads show how the flanking cards cancel each other out, leaving the central card with a neutral influence.

Poor air! Who needs enemies when your friends are fighting! This is like having a great idea and no-one’s buying, the board can’t agree and so you may have to go it alone; depends on how much you believe in your idea.

Douglas: Despite things going wrong, you are able to keep a level headed approach; your will-power will still drive things forward; the opportunity to exploit the current situation will never be better; wanting to do everything and be everyone to all people; it’s hard to be yourself with so much going on around you.

Poor earth has such a bad rep for being dull, but you can’t help but see how it’s being antagonistic to the air who just wants to get moving! The fire has put its cards on the table in favour of the air and despite it understanding that earth wants to keep things on the level, it’s working with the air to see it through – the air is doing it anyway!

Douglas: Can’t see the forest for the Trees; being focused on the little details at the expense of the bigger picture; being trapped into a way of life you have always known; not understanding why things need to change; loving and hating life both at the same time; never feeling like your good enough to realise your dreams but always feeling like your better than everything in your current situation; a kind of strange arrogance.

The flanking cards have cancelled each other out in this triad.

Poor earth, got everything ready, got the food and drinks in and his party’s having a row! You’d think this would be better, wouldn’t you? Earth has enough backbone to sustain itself here and if this is you, then know you can too.

Douglas: This looks like a case of divide and conquer to me. The central card has taken control over the immediate civil unrest and imposed a type of law and order. Another way of thinking about this combination is to imagine a political debate where all parties argue their point but nothing gets resolved and in the meantime, other people suffer. The central card controls the indecision.

In this triad, the central card is fairly weak.

This combination looks like self-sabotage to me. On the one hand it’s friends with the fire but doesn’t get on with the air. The fire and air, which could gain strength from each other, are squarely put asunder by the earth. It’s rather like having the impetus to move forward, then you talk yourself out of it. There’s definite movement and progression, but you have to wonder for how long.

Douglas: I feel someone is being bullied; being pressured into making decisions they don’t want to make; I feel other peoples feelings aren’t being considered in this triad; despite all this pressure placed upon them, they hold true, as best they can, to their beliefs – although the emotional costs of doing this are high; someone who stays with an abusive partner; passing a test, only to find out that it was worthless in the end.

The central card is fairly strong.

Air seems like a knight in shining armour here – helping the fire overcome the emotional tug from the water. There’s logic and reason still in a situation that could easily find itself out of control with no winners. The fire is responsive though to the support from the air. This one feels like a pep-talk from my Dad the first time I had a broken heart.

Douglas: A counsellor keeps the marriage afloat; pain, anger and confusion; betrayal; a choice in careers which is unsuitable; profoundly creative and inspirational as a result; an inability to have close relationships.

The central card is moderately weak in these triads.

Solid, stable, reliable earth. Often misunderstood and maligned and yet always it wants to support, and do the right thing like a wise elder. Once again its strength sustains another element, it’s a familiar role. No matter how strong you think you are, sometimes you just have to take another’s hand.

Douglas: Someone who is trying to accept the situation for the way it is, not the way they want it to be – but finding it very difficult. Feeling confused and unsure, but finding an experienced guide to help. Someone recovering from addiction and attending a support group.

The central card is fairly weak.

You can see how frustrated the air is feeling – at odds with the earth and getting only dreamy 1960’s Hippy love from the water. It’s pretty stuck and not able to think its way out of this little scene just yet, though it will, eventually, and maybe with a little help from its friends…

Douglas: Despite wanting to see the world, guilt over leaving others behind prevents the client from committing to an extend trip abroad. A fascination with Ships, boats and the sea. Someone who wants others to understand them but feeling isolated and removed from that emotional support and understanding.

The central card is moderately weak.

Where the earth and water were separated in the previous combination by the air, in this one they’re together again like long parted lovers, at home and at ease with each other. The air can try and spoil this party, but hey, no-one’s really going anywhere anyway. This combination is a little self-indulgent and a little dangerous – ignoring your problems won’t make them go away, distractions don’t last forever and at some point you have to face the music.

Douglas: Someone who constantly criticises someone else’s lifestyle. Someone whose career is a “profession” but who wishes for a simpler life. A realisation of who they are, and who they want to become; and the conflict between the way things are now, and the way they want them to be. The ability to see the big picture and plan well into the future – yet, unable to put that plan into effect.

The flanking cards cancel each other out.

Earth and air are at it again, these two just don’t get on causing friction wherever they meet. The fire is more than capable of standing alone, this is less about ego and more about an inner spirit, the flame that never dies. Fire alone against the world? No problem.

Douglas: Despite all the problems, despite all the obstacles, despite the amount of things that go wrong, Fire fights on. The central card in this case has influence.

The two flanking cards in this triad cancel each other out.

Will water cope on its own while these warring parties continue to square up? Water isn’t known for its strength but for its adaptability and flexibility, it can cope in its own ways. It will be a long shot, but that’s all we sometimes need for we can often surprise ourselves when we have no other choice but to adapt to our situation.

Douglas: The use of intuition finds the solution to an impossible problem; psychic development; acting as a mediator in the work place; being seen as a good listener and wise counsellor.

Recommended Reading:

The Golden Dawn’s system of Elemental Dignities was used to read Tarot cards in triads and pairs. In Two Card Combinations – Elemental Dignities Dictionary both Douglas of Tarot Eon: The Elemental Dignities Compendium – Two Card Combinations, and myself explained how to use the Elements to read two card combinations in pairs. We would highly recommend that you read that article for further information on the rules of Elemental Dignities, card pairing, and the rules involved in card pairing as well as a complete list of all possible two card combinations.

I hope you enjoyed this article and found some of the content useful. I’d love to hear how you get on with Elemental Dignities. Do you use Elemental Dignities in the way Douglas and I have outlined? Is this your first time? What ever your thoughts, ideas or suggestions are, I’d love to hear them.

by Barbara Moore

Do you think about the number of Minors, Majors, and Court Cards and thank the tarot goddesses and gods that there are only sixteen Court Cards? I know I did. Even today, after almost two decades of studying and reading tarot, I still cringed when Court Cards turned up in readings. Court Cards are usually considered among the most difficult cards to interpret. I can think of several reasons why this is true.

First, Kings and Queen, Knights and Pages, don’t really play relevant roles in our lives. Second, the card images usually don’t provide much help. They are vague images of someone sitting or standing, but not really doing anything. Third, traditionally (in fortune telling) they represented people based on skin, hair, and eye-color, gender, and age.

Later, astrological associations were included. Because the traditional appearance system didn’t include all combinations, it fell out of favor. The interpretations then evolved into a description of personalities and/or occupations. The collections of personality traits and occupations are so very long for each court card that it would take a significant amount of time to go over all the possibilities with a querent and finally identify who the card represents. In addition, many of the traits are shared among several of the court cards. For example, all of the Wands cards can be “warm, charismatic, and confident.”

Finding a Base Meaning

In writing a new edition of Tarot for Beginners, my challenge was to simplify card meanings, drilling down to the essence of each card’s meaning in a reading. Writing a line or two that sums up a card’s meaning and yet holds the seed of all possible meanings for that card was a challenge, particularly with the Court Cards.

Instead of lists of possible personalities or jobs, I focused on the role that the Court Card represents. The roles are not that of King, Queen, Knight, or Page in the traditional sense. Instead, they are roles that makes sense within the context of our modern lives and our usage of cards and, most importantly, they are the roles played that are directly affecting the situation described in the reading. In my book (which will be released September 2010), the role of the Court Card is matched with the elemental description to create a core meaning. The core meaning is generic by design and is meant to be a way for a novice to remember a broader meaning.

Rank roles

• Pages are “one who observes.”
• Knights are “one who acts.”
• Queens are “one who develops and cares for.”
• Kings are “one who has authority, makes decisions, or is a professional.”

Elemental description

• Wands: the realm of will, inspiration, and energy.
• Cups: the realm of emotions, relationships, and art.
• Swords: the realm of ideas, systems, or communication.
• Pentacles: the realm of the physical world, resources, and finances.

Putting it Together

Here are the explanations of each rank for the suit of Wands.

Page of Wands

Core meaning: One who observes in the realm of will, inspiration, and energy.

The Page of Wands is someone who has just discovered (or rediscovered) their sense of self, has experienced (or re-experienced) what inspires them, or has just learned (or relearned) what drives them, represented by the wand. They know what it is and have some idea of its power, but have not yet grasped all the ramifications. They are still getting used to the idea, playing out scenarios in their head, and imagining possibilities. This experience bestows a sense of power and self-determination. They may find this either freeing or frightening but more likely both.

Knight of Wands

Core meaning: One who acts in the realm of will, inspiration, or energy.

The Knight of Wands is someone whose actions in this situation are fired by their will. They have something very specific they want to achieve; they very much want to have their way and will stop at nothing to get it. The Knight is all hepped up and passionate about something and may heedlessly run roughshod over anyone in their way. If their will is in sync with the querent’s, it will help. If not, the querent could get run over. Such intensity is often not maintained for very long.

Queen of Wands

Core meaning: One who develops and cares for in the realm of will, inspiration, and energy.

The Queen of Wands is someone with a strong sense of self and wishes to inspire or help the querent. She understands the importance of personal power and strength of will. She can encourage the querent to boldness or force the querent into action. She is strong and confident and wants others to be, too, whether they want to be or not. The Queen of Wands is involved in this situation because it furthers or thwarts her will. If she were to give one piece of advice, it would be: Just do it.

King of Wands

Core meaning: One who has authority, makes decisions, or is a professional in the realm of will, inspiration, and energy.

The King of Wands is someone who has authority over the querent or in this situation and whose decisions or actions will affect the outcome. Like the Knight, his actions and decisions are guided by his will and his desire to attain what he wishes. Unlike the Knight, the King has broader influence; his actions will have a more significant impact on the situation. If a professional, he will be involved in areas such as entrepreneurship, advisor, politician, consultant, or charismatic religious/spiritual leader.

Test drive

Arriving at these core meanings took weeks of agonizing over pages and pages of possible meanings for the cards. It seems such a responsibility to be someone’s very first introduction to the tarot, to lay a solid foundation with plenty of room to grow.

There is still time to revise the manuscript, so I continue to work with these meanings in my readings. And if you, my colleagues and fellow tarot lovers, cared to take them out for a test drive and report back, I would be very grateful. I’d also love to hear how you would condense court card meanings down to something simple and effective, yet easy enough to not overwhelm a complete beginner.

Barbara Moore

Tarot has been a part of Barbara Moore’s personal and professional lives for twenty years. Her recent projects include The Vampires Tarot of the Eternal Night guidebook for a deck by David Corsi and contributing author for the companion guide to Shadowscapes Tarot by Stephanie Pui-Mun Law. She recently completed a manuscript for a new edition of Tarot for Beginners, to be released next fall. Even after all these years and all these projects, she can’t seem to stop talking tarot and does so via Twitter, Facebook and her little corner of Llewellyn’s blog.

by Helen Howell

Should I cry for that which is passed?
Tears, sparkling drops that dampen the soul.
Does it change what I can see?
Oh knife that stabs, a pain that lasts.

~

Am I filled with regret for things done,
Tears, that flow and burn their path.
What good is a breaking heart to me,
For life’s moments that can’t be undone.

~

Has peace left me, flown like the white dove,
Tears, so fluid, drain away life’s blood.
Is this hurt unreal, yet it feels so true,
It’s wrapped around me like a silk glove.

~

Yet out of darkness, light flows through,
Tears, dull and fade, no more to wound.
I can learn from life’s mistakes,
My eyes now take a different view.

Helen Howell

Co-author of the very informative and excellent Tarot blog, Tarot Notes – Major and Minor.


Helen is also a wonderfully creative artist. She is currently producing her own Tarot deck and when I saw it on her blog – I just had to shout about it! Check it out here: Tarot Bella by Helen Howell

The Bohemian Gothic Tarot was created by Karen Maloney and Alex Ukolov. For more details, please head over to their detailed and comprehensive website.