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MollieO Patrick
The Gentle Use of Power
Email if interested in a beginning Tarot class.
Tarot
I find the Tarot a wonderful tool for personal exploration. I often end a session with a Tarot spread which magically serves as a review of what has been discussed. I mail a copy to you afterwards so that you can use it as a reminder of the energy available to you and the transitions you may be experiencing. A Tarot reading can cover three to four months in the future. However, if you are moving quickly and instigating change, it will cover a shorter period.
The Tarot deck consists of 78 cards. Fifty-six of these are divided into four suits (similar to our modern deck of cards) which represent the elements Fire, Air, Water and Earth. Each of these suits includes cards one through ten plus four face cards. In addition to the four suits are 22 Major Arcana cards representing transitions a person is moving through.
At the heart of the Tarot is the Qabalah, which is the foundation of the Western Mystery Tradition. The Tree of Life within this tradition serves as a map of consciousness of our daily lives. The energy we put out in thoughts, words and actions goes out as vibrations into the Universe bringing similar vibrations back to us. The Tarot emphasizes the importance of our ordinary, daily lives as an expression of our spirituality. It assists us in becoming more aware of the reason we attract certain situations. It is believed that the Tarot served as a tool to pass on the wisdom of the Qabalistic mystical tradition.
 Carl Jung made references to the Tree of Life in his letters. Both Carl Jung's book, Man and His Symbols , and Sallie Nichols book, Jung and Tarot, emphasize the importance of symbols in inner work. One can set her/his intention to receive information regarding a specific situation before laying out a Tarot spread. The format of the spread indicates where the influences appear which are related to present events. As the reader looks at the cards and their position an overall picture begins to appear regarding the issue. As one intuitively studies the layout of the cards, possible solutions begin to surface.
The Tarot cards can evoke memories, associations, and various pathways for further understanding. Within the Tarot are imbedded astrological influences, numerology, alchemy, mythological and hidden knowledge. One can tap into these understandings as they allow themselves to work with the symbolism in the cards on an intuitive level.
There are thousands of card spreads which address whatever issues you are exploring. To name a few:
Daily spread - 3 cards representing Body, Mind and Soul on any topic
Path of Balance – 6 card spread representing mental, spiritual, physical and balance
Self Esteem spread – 6 card spread indicating self-love, trust, self-
respect
Topic spread – 3 cards representing issue, action, outcome
Elemental Indicators – 5 card spread indicating issue, impact on physical,
mental, emotional and spiritual levels
Traditional Celtic Cross – 10 card spread –issue, blocks, surface reality, deep reality, immediate past, immediate future, psychological state
Environmental or social state
Maga Diamond - issue, area of least control, greatest strength, leaving influence, coming influence, surface reality, deep reality, immediate
past, immediate future, outcome/resolution.
Ten Gates of Tarot – 10 card spread – issue, propelling force, guide card, greatest strength, weakness, truth, subconscious, conscious insight, gateway, outcome
Creation of the Universe Tarot Spread (future) – 7 cards representing what
Is waiting in the cosmos to come through you – limitless light, limitless potential, negative blocks to be cleared, and the knowledge to be born specifically through you.
Major Arcana - Tarot of the Spirit
You can do a Tarot spread on any topic simply by setting your intention and focus on a specific issue as you hold and shuffle the cards.
Early Tracings of the Use of Tarot cards
Research compiled by Alfred Douglas shows the following:
1275 Games mentioned in the Townbook of Augsburg, Germany
1328-41 Renard le Contrefait's manuscript may reference cards in a passage
1377 Cards and games are described by a monk in Switzerland
1378 Cards are banned in Regensburg, Gemany.
1379 Purchase of cards recorded in the accounts of the Dukedom of Brabant (Belgium).
1380-84 Cards are permitted by the Code of Nuremberg.
1381 Cards are condemned in the records of a notary of Marseilles, France.
1392 A decree in Paris includes cards; also the Treasurer's accounts of Charles VI of France includes a payment for 3 packs of handmade cards designed especially for the King.
1393 Cards are listed among the permitted games in Florence.
1397 A decree in Paris includes cards amongst a list of games forbidden to commoners on working days.
1415 Tarot cards are painted for the Duke of Milan, later known as the Visconti deck.
1423 Cards are condemned in a speech made at Bologna by St. Bernardin of Siena.
1423-77 Townbooks of Nuremberg name several women as card painters.
1427 Two Master Card makers are named in the Guild registers of Brabant.
1440 Date from which are found the earliest surviving cards printed from wood blocks – French court cards.
1440 Playing cards are printed at Stuttgart.
1441 The importation of foreign playing cards is prohibited by authorities of Venice
1450-70 A Franciscan Friar preaches a sermon in Northern Italy condemning cards. He made a clear distinction between the four suits and the 22 major trumps.
1463 The importation of foreign cards into England is forbidden in a statute of Edward IV to protect home manufacturers.
For those of you interested in pursuing a deeper understanding check out the library, book stores (used and new) – there is usually a separate section designated for the Tarot/Qabalah/Kabbalah. The internet has lots of references as well.
Books recommended:
Arrien, Angeles The Tarot Handbook-Practical Applications of
Ancient Visual Symbols
The Wheel of Tarot, A New Revolution –Tarot Anthology edited by Arrien and James Wanless
Berg, Rav P. S. The Essential Zohar – The Source of Kabbalistic Wisdom
Besserman, Perle Kabbalah and Jewish Mysticism
Case, Paul Foster The Book of Tokens - Tarot Meditations
The Tarot – A Key to the Wisdom of the Ages
Highlights of Tarot
Eakins, Pamela Tarot of the Spirit
Fortune, Dion The Mystical Qabalah
Franck, Adolphe The Kabbalah, The Religious Philosophy of the Hebrews
Knight, Gareth The Occult
A Practical Guide to Qabalistic Symbolism
Labowitz, Rabbi Shoni – Miraculous Living – A Guided Journey in Kabbalah through the Ten Gates of the Tree of Life
Lancer, Bob Inner Freedom Through Qabalah
Matt, Daniel C. The Essential Kabbalah, The Heart of Jewish Mysticism
Nichols, Sallie Jung and Tarot, An Archetypal Journey
Ouaknin, Marc-Alain Mysteries of the Kabbalah
Parfitt, Will The Elements of The Qabalah
The New Living Qabalah-A practical & Experiential Guide to understanding The Tree of Life
Ponce, Charles Kabbalah – An Introduction and Illumination for the World Today
Raphael Pathway of Fire – Initiation to the Kabbalah
Schneider, Michael A Beginner's Guide to Constructing the Universe
Wang, Robert The Qabalistic Tarot – A textbook of Mystical Philosophy
Westcott, William Wynn – Sepher Yetzirah or Book of Formation
Williams-Heller, Ann –Kabbalah – Your Path to Inner Freedom
Wolf, Rabbi Laibl Practical Kabbalah
Zalewski, Pat Kabbalah of the Golden Dawn
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