Chariot Insights and Keywords

My first impression of The Chariot is that it is a 'Feel Good' card. It's very welcoming, as if I've arrived at an oasis. It's very balanced, and quite symetrical, and at the same time it has a dreaminess and other worldly sense to it; there isn't specifically a landscape behind or around the main aspect of the card.

The insights I got from the visuals are that this card speaks of balance, freedom, forward movement, and progress. There is purity and goodness here, and a connection to the magical, and that which is Cosmic. It speaks of gentle control, harmonious opposites and endless possibilities.

Other keywords I'd add to the above (insights) which I'd use for this card would be: purpose, journey, victory, triumph, clear sailing/clear road ahead, all of which comes from completion of the first level (reading Rachel Pollack's book, "Tarot Wisdom" and she splits the majors up into 3 levels. The first is comprised of cards 1 thru 7, the fool being the journeyman so is not included).

Feeling the need to go back and see what I did learn from the first seven (remembering only The Hierophant which pointed out my intolerance to certain things).

Interesting.

Ride Captain Ride Upon Your Mystery Ship

"Ride Captain Ride, upon your mystery ship,
Be amazed at the friends you have here on your trip.
Ride captain ride upon your mystery ship,
On your way to a world that others might have missed."*

I awaken, as if from a dream... or perhaps I have now just entered the dream time. I see a young man before me. He has longish blond hair, and his smile is joyous as he strums a harp and sings a beautiful tune. He is standing within a carriage, beneath a canopy filled with stars upon a many blue hued background. The out side of this drape is a lush purple. It must be a dream; it's so other worldly, multi-dimensional.

This man is dressed in a blue and gold royal robe, with armor covering his upper body, of alternating gold and silver panels, with a badge of the Sun emblazoned upon it, over his heart. He wears a silver single ringed crown, with a green gem set so it rests against his forehead; perhaps at the 3rd eye level.

It all beckons me to climb aboard and soar through the Cosmos, with this young man as my guide. As I approach, it does not escape my attention that the two magical creatures which are harnessed to the golden chariot are Unicorns; one a black beauty, with a silver horn and a billiant green eye. The halter around her neck, a silver etched with crescent moons and symbols of Venus, speak of the feminine aspect, mated to her partner, a pure white Unicorn with a golden horn, and golden halter, only the etchings depict his masculine aspect, showing suns and the symbol of Mars. He gazes at me through equally green eyes. They, like the Yin/Yang symbol which can be seen between them, set into the carriage, convey perfect balance. Above the black and white ornament on the front of the Chariot, is a pair of white wings, with a blue (perhaps star sapphire?) stone.

I step up into the Chariot and settle into place, waiting for this 'star ship of the imagination' to lift off and bring me to the endless possibilities which lay ahead.

*Song for The Chariot: Ride Captain Ride

The Lovers Insights

While the previous couples within the first 6 cards showed how they made life possible, The Lovers show that in the physical world their union will make each other possible. They are two halves of a whole; Unifying energies; balance. Together, they are nurturing, strong, sweet, and within their sharing, creation is possible. Their love is transformational and manifests a ripeness and ready state which leads to quickening.

The keywords for our Lovers would be: Unity, balance, harmony, perfection, transformation, enlightenment, belonging, involvement, caring, sharing, growth, nurturing, strength, freedom and combining.

This One's For All The Lovers Out There

Running, slipping and sliding, panting and finally dropping down onto a soft carpet of grass. I'd escaped the 5th House on the block! I almost wished for a pool into which I could jump and cleanse myself.

Letting the sun fill me up, I finally looked around. It was beautiful here. And there was laughter. Turning toward the sound, I saw them; a couple standing arm in arm, not at all conscious of anything but each other. I might have felt like a voyeur, except I was transfixed by the depth of feeling that radiated from them and from this whole place.

The young lovers were standing in front of a tree, one which seemed to have two very separate halves, melded together. Her side was an apple tree, abundant with bright red fruit, and his side was a tall, sturdy Oak, leaves fully formed, and magnficient. She was radiant, her beautiful dark tresses cascading down over her body; and he, attentive to her, a tenderness that spoke of adoration, and devotion.

On her side of the tree, I noticed, far off, a small cabin, and beyond, just above the peaks, two hawks (eagles? ravens?). Her right hand was held aloft, palm face up, and a full moon, rising in the sky, seeming to hover just above her hand. Likewise, on his side, the setting sun, still brilliant, appeared to be poised just above his palm. Where the trees were fused together, a bright light shone through, showering the world with warmth. I noticed two butterflies danced beside him and surrouinding them was a sacred circle only for Lovers. It was as if they were in their own world where only love existed, and nothing from the outside touched them.

There was a pathway which lead down the hill into a valley beyond, where a river meandered away toward the mountains.

I considered the contrast between where I'd just come from, and into the realm where I now lounged upon the lush lawn. I thought about this journey I'd begun, and realized that this was the essential foundation from which all learning had to commence; that to reach higher levels of knowledge, love must be the guide, and that each of us is one half of a whole, where dwelling within the land of love, each partner learned about the other. The fullness of life cannot be attained with the missing piece that is love; both physical and emotional. For the Lovers, their time together will be transforming, merging the energies of both genders, to form a perfect whole.

Song for The Lovers: The Power Of Love

Not Done Yet

NEW INSIGHTS
From outside the box of patriarchal tradition


Mind blowing revelations! And seeing the bright side of another, otherwise less than pleasing image/representative of this patriarchal-specific, traditional Tarot card.

As mentioned above, I'd been given a link to a blog in which a month-long study of the Hierophant had been discussed. I'd read many of the entries, but had not actually gotten down the whole list. So here's the KICKER.

Today, I finished up (see previous entry) my information about Robin's Hierophant, with some quite astounding revelations at the end. But the insights and revelations never DO end. I actually remember while looking through some of the other images from decks at the link I'd been given, one deck creator had tried to put a new, more reasonable spin on the older traditional graphics, and even renamed it 'Faith.' Still, I did not find solace in the new image, though I was not at all repulsed the way I had been when first setting my eyes on Robin's Hierophant. So I had not seen the light yet and wondered if I ever would, even while I could admit that the Robin Wood Hierophant actually did teach me something... more than any other at this early stage in my journey.

At some point, probably during my time spent with The High Priestess, I'd included some information about a reading I'd asked for at the site for the Gaian Tarot. Of importance is the fact that not all the cards carry the same names of the traditional Tarot decks. Plus, it was long enough ago that I couldn't remember, off the top of my head, what the 3rd card in the Gaian reading had been, though I remember that it did talk about that my teacher (for whom I'd been searching decades worth of time) would appear, but in disguise, more than likely.

In the end, my road led me here, where I discovered my Teacher; which I like to think of as the 78 Insights Into My Soul. And the lessons seem to be coming not only (seemingly) fast and furious, but are of the 'mallet/head' kind - meaning there are more times than not, I have to be hit over the head with a mallet to get something that is right in front of me.

Okay, okay... getting to my point here... After I'd posted the above this morning, I had some stuff to do and when I came back, I spent some time over at the blog where the monthly study of The Hierophant had taken place. I was scolling down, almost scanning when I spied The Gaian Tarot version of this card. Mallet/Head!!!! THIS was the card that I couldn't remember! GOOD LORD GISBURNE! I feel like I'm falling down the rabbit hole! But, but, but, but.... wait... how could there be such a vast difference? That is what is SO outstanding about Tarot.

I THINK (because I do not yet know) that I have found a way to accept, and put The Hierophant into words that make sense to me, to know why this card is in the Tarot deck, and to have a completely diffent perspective... Now I can't say with any sense of validation, yet, but I THINK, that I've seen something else I've never considered as an absolute beginner... the reversal of this card is what Robin presented. The upright is what the Gaian Tarot presents.

For now I'm on Robin's journey and I'm happy to be here; happier than I've been in forever.... okay, maybe in about 10 years (on the inner work front at least). I want to learn to not turn away from things that have been major issues for me. I want to find a way to transform previously held intolerant feelings that reside within, and I may have just seen a doorway to that...

Many thanks to BlueDragonfly for directing me to that month long study, and being fabulously supportive of my efforts here as I tread the waters of this new journey, and to Shadowdancer who brought up the idea about making that perfect Tarot Deck. Thanks also to everyone who previously posted in the Robin Wood group on The Hierophant and to the awesome insight from those who responded to my own query, back before I even got my deck, about 'Cards That Bother You.'

Song for The Hierophant: Tradition - Fiddler On The Roof
I think NOW it's time to move on down the road.

Hierophant Insights and Keywords

THE HIEROPHANT
Insights and Keywords

I had to wonder what the reason for this card was, after seeing it. I have an inkling, now, from a personal inner work pov.

What this card shows me is someone who is controlling, manipulative, hiding behind a powerful institution. It is about conformity, rigidity of thought, being removed from others, self righteous piety, as well as oppressive and repressive actions and attitudes and to the extreme, corruption and deception.

Having had such a negative reaction to this card, after posting my initial blog, and then reading Robin's thoughts on The Hierophant, I went over to post this in the Robin Wood study group thread. I found that the majority of those who participated in the group, stated a similar feeling, as well as similar insights.

While it seemed to me there was a sense of validation for my own thoughts, something else also occurred to me. First and foremost, the reason I am even here is about inner work; growth, and learning from all 'teachers.'

That being said, I posted this after considering, not only what I came across here but also some other information regarding the card (thanks to a wonderful and very helpful ATer) as seen by other Deck creators:

I have since read Robin's own interpretation for the card she has created, and find it interesting that her own feeling about it parallels what I actually saw. I expected she would explain it in a way I could not see.

Of note, but not actually put into my blog (though is in my work journal) is that I wanted to get as far away from the card as fast as I can, and have actually left it in my work journal as a bookmark for those pages, instead of keeping it out where I can see it. Whatever this card has as a 'teaching' for me it shows me there is some major issue I've been ignoring in myself... okay not ignoring, but allowing to manifest, and it's as ugly as Robin's depiction of The Hierophant is. It is intolerance!
MUCH work to be done here.

Unpleasant Meetings

Sometimes life is filled with unpleasantries, but in a Fool's Paradise, well, we have the tendancy to look the other way. To cross the street when we see an unfriendly pack a dogs heading straight for us. What is more, having just recently met four very lovely people, I was quite taken aback when a very displeasing image met me as I stepped into the realm of The Hierophant.

This is an elder man, who gives the impression of self-righteous piousness. He appears stern, and distant. The stark contrast between him and the chamber in which he stands, gives the impression that he feels all else pales in comparison to him. He is large and imposing, dressed in ornate robes with the front panels golden with a flower and leaf filled runner, yet there is something off about that part.

This cloak is hiding all but his hands; the left grasping a scepter and the right held up as if to hush a crowd. They appear bloodless, or are sheathed in white gloves. His hat is that of a pope, large and studded with rubies. The color of the cloak below the runner panels is not quite red, and not quite purple, giving the sense of muted colors. Above his robes is a white collar, all of which (cloak/robes/gloves and collar) seems to hide him, as if he is presenting a false reality to the world, and the drabbness of the pillars between which he stands, may be more indicative of who he is: one dimensional, unyielding. His eyes are dark slits, and his expression is close to a scowl.

There is no friendliness here.

Two young boys kneel in prayer before him, almost as if he hopes their innocence will hide his cold heart.

The pillars present the male aspect on his left, with hoards of common folk behind, laden down like slaves trudging through their day. Likewise, the right side presents the feminine aspect, with sheep and he stands between these, as a seperatist, ruling the flocks as he sees fit.

The feeling of this card is immediate distaste. It is very off-putting and manifests that which is untouchable; higher than all else, like a puppeteer, controlling everything in his domain. There is a rigidity about it. This is not someone I'd care to sit and speak with, even if I thought he'd bother to give his time to the little folk.

I find it interesting that he represents the number 5, which in part, represents on the contrary side, perversion (as if he is perverting the old Ways), and corruption. The presence of the young innocent boys, cannot erase the potential wicked use of his power.