Issue Spring 2004.cdr
Transcription
Issue Spring 2004.cdr
Number 16 Spring 2004 Journal of The Tarot Guild of Australia Inc. XX Judgement By Penny Chesney (www.globalight.com.au) Archangel – Azrael Astrology - Pluto Element – Fire (that which burns away all obstacles) st Kabbala – Shin, the 31 path (Hod - Malkuth) Colour vibrations – glowing orange-scarlet, vermilion, scarlet flecked gold, emerald green and crimson. Devic energy – Maidenhair fern (release from aggravation) T Copyright Globalight Tarot he method I used to channel the images for the Globalight Angelic Tarot (Major Arcana) was linked to the colour vibrations of the pathways of the Kabbalistic Tree of Life. I made up colour swatches based on accurate literature backed up by my ever-trusty pendulum to fine-tune to the correct hue. Then I used these swatches as my mental focus upon entering trance-state. I found this to be a profoundly successful procedure with wonderful imagery appropriate to each card filling my vision-state. I started the deck from the beginning (The Fool) and proceeded quite quickly through the following cards – right up to the JUDGEMENT card that is! I meditated and meditated and I could NOT see any images except Azrael holding his sword. Now this is the first time I had worked with this particular Archangel, since this is the only card that he governs in the Major Arcana. I have developed wonderful relationships with those Archangels with whom I have had regular dealings and I can distinguish very distinct differences of personality between them, some very matter-of... continued on page 3. Featuring: Judgement: the path to transformation When Judgement is dealt Judgement and the New Age Sydney workshop report A business perspective The Guild’s twelfth birthday The Tarot Guild of Australia Inc. Committee Mission statement President Lyndel Robinson (03) 9312 1512 lyndelar@labyrinth.net.au The Hierophant To cultivate the relevance of the ancient wisdom of the Tarot in today's world. Objectives Treasurer Christine Bird (03) 9779 9887 cbird@vtown.com.au Justice To foster a greater understanding of Tarot as a valid form of personal growth and healing throughout the wider community. To provide a group for both professional and interest members. To provide a forum for members' ongoing learning and professional development. To provide a nurturing and supportive environment where new ideas and intuitive insights can be shared and encouraged. To encourage the further study of esoteric wisdoms and to provide quality teaching and guidance through the Guild's members. To establish a Code of Ethics and Practice for Tarot professionals / practitioners. To recognise, through admission to the professional member category, members who demonstrate a high level of understanding, competence and professional conduct, and who have pledged to uphold the Code of Ethics and Practice. To encourage networking among members, and between the Guild and other disciplines. To provide a source of information on Tarot as a public relations function. Secretary Natasha Watkins (03) 9849 2468 natasha.watkins@optusnet.com.au The Empress Editor Christine Bird cbird@vtown.com.au Committee members Linda Marson (03) 9585 2114 lindamarson@bigpond.com Judgement Karen de Kleyn (03) 9528 2874 kdkgirlie@hotmail.com The Chariot Cheryl Ford (03) 9754 2310 The Hermit The Magician is published by: The Tarot Guild of Australia Inc. ARBN 100 040 364 GPO Box 3117, Melbourne, Victoria 3001, Australia. Ph: (03) 9859 7355 The views expressed in material appearing in The Magician are not necessarily those of the Tarot Guild of Australia. Members may copy, extract or republish, with attribution, non copyright parts of this publication. Copyright material may not be used without the permission of the author. Typesetter: Printer: Michael Mobley Ink Spot (03) 9725 6699 2 ... Journal of The Tarot Guild of Australia Spring 2004 ... The Magician Monthly meetings Refer to the back page for dates and times of meetings for the next three months. Meetings are held at: Box Hill Community Arts Centre Cnr Station and Combarton Streets Box Hill Victoria Have afternoon tea with us in the café after the meeting. Visit our website at www.tarotguild.org.au. I soon discovered that Azrael was holding back the imagery I needed to work on this card and he just would not co-operate with me until I had done a bit more work on myself. So after having been very diligent with my spiritual self-improvement exercises for a few weeks, Azrael finally relented and gave me the symbols that I needed. But I really had to work on myself continually during that time. I even had to make a vibrational essence from the maidenhair fern to assist in releasing myself from old feelings of annoyance and aggravation. Actually that essence was really the icing on the cake – I have since used it on several clients who are all thrilled with the results. It really is a win/win situation. The other lesson I learned from all this is that when working with Azrael you must be very specific. He takes things quite literally so we need to be careful about how we word what we say to him. He has a pretty heavy-duty job to do so he needs to have the sort of dour personality that he does have. In some faiths Azrael guards the gates of hell, in others he is even described as a ‘dark angel’ – he’s not dark, he just doesn’t have a sense of humour! Azrael’s ‘job’ is to make us look at ourselves through honest eyes and start correcting the flaws that we see, thus he needs to be a nit-picker so he can see everything in us that needs changing! But for those who follow this path, I wish you luck when you come to working with him. And definitely don’t try to play any humorous ‘play-on-words’ games with him as I did; all it got me was an almost week-long Archangelic debate on the purpose of humour! I must admit that I was sorely tempted there for a while to cheat and make up my own symbols since I was so close to completing the deck; this seemed like such a When you look at the frustrating delay. But Globalight Judgement when I thought about the card you will see how energy that the card tightly Azrael holds the represented I realised means of this new that this was just another direction, and that he test and there was just no efficiently bars the way way that I was going to with his sword arm. The go back down to the blue and white of the bottom of the class. So I sword represents did the work and I was Reverse side of the Globalight Angelic Tarot deck ‘communication with so pleased that I did, for higher spirit’, in this case lots of different reasons. with our own higher selves. This colour is then I stopped punishing myself and I was thrilled with reflected in the singing bird that is heralding a new the imagery when it finally came through. beginning. Of course we know that Judgement represents the You may also notice how demanding the young releasing of that last bit of dross before we can step man is who wishes to gain the reins from Azrael. I on to a higher pathway. The main lesson that I smile when I realise how much of myself I put into learnt during the creation of this card was that a that posture! new pathway will not present itself until we stop ignoring what we need to deal with and put it Meditational or dream work using the Globalight behind us. As soon as we make a dedicated Judgement card as a focus may assist in allowing commitment to releasing ourselves from this old the user a stronger determination to gain the baggage, then and only then will the new pathway courage and tools necessary to make these positive present itself to us. Then and only then will you changes. step closer to your full power. Card Copyright Globalight Tarot fact (Uriel/Gabriel) and others with outrageous senses of humour or fun (Michael/Tzadkiel). But I found working with Azrael to be very difficult and at times confusing – he can be very pedantic. The Magician … Journal of The Tarot Guild of Australia Spring 2004 ... 3 Judgement: The path to transformation By Linda Marson © 2004 “For 28 years you couldn’t cross this street. Down the middle of Bernauer Strasse was the wall – on this side you were in West Berlin, on the other side you were in East Berlin. That brown line on your city map shows where West Berlin was walled off from East Berlin.” As the tour guide leaves them to wander up and down the street, the tourists flick through their guide books, talking among themselves about the before and after pictures of the city they’re in. There are shades of the Tarot card of Judgement in the image of Berliners celebrating on top of the wall on that famous night in 1989. Hallelujah! Let’s blow our trumpets and celebrate the end of a worn–out political system. We have nothing to fear from the past, nothing to fear from border guards rendered powerless by an official statement that people can pass freely between East and West Berlin. Let’s do it and see what happens! Nothing! Look we’re walking back and forth, we’re climbing the wall, we’re taking sledge–hammers to it. Watch the wall come down! Watch the past crumble! We’re free! We’re ready for a new world. Hallelujah! Of course, coming to terms with the past and moving on doesn’t happen over night. But the image of Berliners beginning to tear down the wall is a powerful symbol of change, of a turning point where the past is left behind forever. In Germany people speak of life “vor” and “nach der Wende” – before and after the turning point. Judgement is the final call to change. It challenges you to confirm absolutely that you did really embrace change back there with the Death card. Or did you just sweep a few hard truths under the carpet and never move beyond The Devil? Or perhaps change was forced upon you and you’re still sifting through the rubble of your collapsed Tower. Or maybe your path was easy and you skipped straight from Death to Judgement – after all, journeys are not always difficult! As the penultimate card in the Major Arcana, Judgement is the final call to assess the jigsaw pieces that make up your life so far. You are being asked to accept and release aspects of your past 4 … Journal of The Tarot Guild of Australia Spring 2004 ... The Magician that are holding you back. These could be attitudes, habits, relationships or jobs. By doing so you will be transformed, you will be able to move forward and wholeheartedly embrace the next phase of your life. You are no longer the carefree, innocent Fool starting out on your journey. You have experienced the highs and lows of life and arrived at Judgement Day. You are being asked if you have the courage to blow the trumpet, to summon up the memories of your journey so far – your loves, your losses, your successes and your failures. You are being asked to acknowledge them for what they are, to say “yes, I accept the consequences – good and bad – of everything that I have done so far.” Through this act of acceptance, the memories slip back into the past where they belong – they fade to black and white. If you do not accept the challenge, you’re likely to remain in a state of suspended animation, full of self–doubt and regrets, doomed to think about all the things that might have been. The choice is yours to make. During a year in Berlin I looked with fascination at photos that traced the history of the wall and a divided city. I spoke to people about what it was like to live in either East or West Berlin during those 28 years and how that compares to now. Many older people still carry the entrenched attitudes of the past, and from former residents of East Germany there’s a wave of nostalgia about the good old days. By contrast, young people have moved into areas of the former East Berlin and there’s a buzz of a new Berlin, where the divisions and attitudes of the past are no more than a distant memory. Parts of the wall still stand as a reminder to the past, but, true to the theme of Judgement, they have been transformed. The longest stretch is the East Side gallery where artists in the early 1990s were invited to paint images on the former eastern side of the wall. The west side of the wall had long been painted. Near Bernauer Street fragments of the wall run along the top of a hill and blend in with the wall of a large sporting complex. The barren stretch of land that used to be Potsdamer In this city of transformation I found myself changing. I went through the Judgement process as I reviewed my working life and lifestyle. How could I best use the skills I had developed over the years? How could I avoid the mistakes of the past? street? The Wheel of Fortune offering work in a field I would never have imagined myself in! I seized the opportunity to find, with great delight, that I could use old skills in new and creative ways. Back in Australia the challenge is to stay focused on that new direction. But, hey, if that was Judgement, I had a good time and it must mean I have only The World to look forward to! I had come to Berlin looking for a change. And, lo and behold, what should I see rolling down the Copyright Rider Waite The Brandenburg Gate in Berlin shortly after the border was opened in November 1989. Photo: Ullstein - H.A. Scherhaufer © publicon Verlagsges.mbH Platz has been transformed into a modern shopping complex and entertainment centre. Behind the Brandenburg Gate and to one side of the Parliament there is nothing but a line of bricks in the pavement to show where the wall used to stand. The East Side Gallery, with the former Berlin Wall as backdrop, is the venue for innovative exhibitions such as this international sand sculpture competition in 2003. Annual General Meeting Saturday 9 October 2004 The Tarot Guild Committee invites financial members of the Guild to propose items for consideration at this year’s Annual General Meeting on Saturday 9 October 2004. Professional or interest members wishing to submit items should do so in writing by Thursday 23 September. Send your item(s) to the Secretary, Tarot Guild of Australia, G.P.O. Box 3117 Melbourne Vic 3001. The committee for the next 12 months will be elected at the AGM and the outgoing committee encourages everyone to consider nominating for a position. There are a few vacancies, so contact any member of the current committee if you want to know what’s involved. The Magician … Journal of The Tarot Guild of Australia Spring 2004 ... 5 Editorial By Christine Bird W elcome to the Spring edition of The Magician. This month, our featured card is Judgement, and we present a host of different ways to understand the meanings which underlie this card, along with life’s lessons to be learned and acted upon when we reach this point on our Fool’s journey. In keeping with our aim to promote the Guild Australia-wide, we have recently held our first workshops in Sydney, facilitated by Linda Marson, and Matthew Favaloro. Linda provides a report of these two landmark days – and as she says, great oaks from tiny acorns grow. Linda also shares with us her insights gained from a year living in Berlin, and the very strong imagery linking the fall of the Berlin Wall with the Judgement card. In keeping with Judgement’s theme of rebirth, reawakening and renewal, Rosemary Wade examines the nuances of Judgement where it appears as The Aeon and Time-Space in the Thoth and Voyager decks – both truly cards for this our New Age. Rosemary discusses the concept of Karma, and how the very act of self-judgement can provide exactly what we need for our spiritual growth. On our cover, we feature Penny Chesney’s delightful Globalight Angelic Tarot. Penny has written a wonderful account for us of how these images reached her. She suggests that we may also try meditating with her Globalight Judgement card as a focus, at those times when we wish to harness our courage and bring positive changes to our life. The Tarot Guild of Australia reaches an important milestone this Spring – we are celebrating twelve years since our inception. In the centre pages you will find photos of Guild activities ranging over those years. Whilst our workshops provide time and place for sharing our Tarot knowledge and skills, these photos also show many light-hearted moments enjoyed by Guild members. Whilst browsing the website, Aeclectic Tarot, (aeclectic.net), I chanced upon an evocative new deck, the Baroque Bohemian Cats’ Tarot. The deck’s creators, Alexandr Ukolov and Karen Mahony, present richly themed images of cats, whilst staying true to Tarot traditions. The Judgement card (pictured below) shows two cats being lifted heavenward by angels. Karen Mahony told me that she wanted this card to be “…joyful as well as poignant, and honestly to have even have some gentle humour about it…” and that she hoped “…this card will be both enjoyable and supportive to those who live with cats.” I believe she has succeeded admirably in this aim, and in creating a truly beautiful deck – particularly apt for those of us with cat companions. Our summer edition of The Magician will feature the Strength card. We look forward to reading your views! The Baroque Bohemian Cats Tarot Judgement 6 … Journal of The Tarot Guild of Australia Spring 2004 ... The Magician A time of rebirth and renewal. It's a good moment to look back on your life, forgive yourself (or be forgiven) for past faults, and take the first steps towards a life that is fulfilling and to a meaningful existence. Your new life is just beginning. The Baroque Bohemian Cats' Tarot - copyright 2004 baba studio, Magic Realist Press. President’s letter By Lyndel Robinson O f the Judgement card, Waite says that it represents a "change of position, renewal, outcome". The call of the supernal has been "heard and answered from within". The founders of the Guild heard and responded to such a call when they established the Guild as a place where Tarot lovers could meet together, share their knowledge of and passion for the cards, and promote Tarot as a tool for self-knowledge and psychic healing. The Tarot Guild is twelve years old this year, so in this issue we take time to celebrate our achievements as well as look forward to a certain but unknown future (pick a Tarot card for that). This year the Guild has had as a major focus the promotion of Tarot (and therefore the interests of our members) in the commercial world. As luck would have it, as Professional members would be already aware, we were aided in these endeavours by a recent approach from the Sydney-based business Sasy n Savy. In their search for professional Tarot readers (and readers from other esoteric backgrounds) who are known to work within a strong ethical framework, Sasy n Savy turned to the professional membership of the TGA as a source of recruits for their website. I am pleased to report that a number of our members have responded to this call and will shortly undertake the training required for on-line chatting. Though you may not be aware of this, the Tarot Guild regularly receives calls from people who want to have a Tarot reading, learn Tarot, or employ Tarot readers for their businesses or special functions and we are pleased to advise them that they can choose from our list of professional readers and teachers by visiting our website. We held our first Transition process for 2004 in May and I am pleased to welcome three new Professional members into our midst. Congratulations to Annie Dunlop, Cheryl Ford and Elizabeth Wheldrake on their successful completion of the Transition process. I take this opportunity to encourage Interest members, especially those who would like to make a living from working with Tarot, to become Professional members. Once you have successfully undertaken Transition, you have the right to advertise yourself as a member of the Guild for professional purposes and we can advertise you too, and you can list your details on our Teachers and Readers pages on our web site. Other advantages of becoming a Professional member are that you can represent the Guild during fund-raising activities and you are eligible to be involved in the assessment of future Transition candidates. For those who are interested, our next Transition will be on the 30th of October. You can find details on our website. In Melbourne, over the last three months, we have been privileged to have two regular length workshops, one on palmistry with Helena Edwards, and the other on discovering our Goddess energy with Jacqui McLeod and a full day's journey on the Heroine's path where we were guided by Jeni Bethell. These were very positively received and we thank all our presenters. You can read more about these sessions on our website. On September 11th we will be taking time out from regular workshops to focus on the Tarot Guild itself. This is also a clarion call and we hope that as many members as possible will come and that the meeting will be a 'full and frank' discussion about our Guild. Linda Marson will be facilitating this session so if you would like to contact her with your ideas before the workshop you can email her at lindamarson@bigpond.com. The rest of the year's program looks fantastically exciting and you can check the program on the back page of this issue. On the weekend of the 21-22 August, the Tarot Guild ventured out of Victoria for the first time. Linda Marson and Matthew Favaloro (one of our members from Sydney) ran two workshops for the Guild in Sydney. These workshops gave Tarot practitioners in Sydney a chance to meet with members of the Guild and learn more about the Guild's activities and what we have to offer. Whilst attendance was relatively small, Linda reports that the reception was enthusiastic. It is our intention to hold other workshops around Australia when possible. Continuing on the theme of spreading our roots, the Tarot Guild has recently approached the Canadian, American and British Tarot associations with regards to becoming affiliated with them. We have recently become affiliated with the Canadian Tarot Network and we are awaiting replies from Britain and the USA. Closer links with these organisations will no doubt be beneficial for us and we will be able to pass on relevant information to you. Finally, I would like to mention the forthcoming Tarot Conference in Melbourne next year. The program is shaping up and you can check its progress by visiting the conference website at association.tarotstudies.org. If you're interstate, you need to start making arrangements to get here because it's an opportunity not to be missed. The Magician … Journal of The Tarot Guild of Australia Spring 2004 ... 7 EXPAND YOUR HORIZONS Explore the Voyager Tarot This course explores the deck which is a powerful tool to assist you on your life's journey. 12 x 2 hour sessions or, for those who are familiar with Tarot: 6 x 2 hour sessions. One Day Workshop: Exploring intuition and playing with the deck. Art Classes for Inner Peace (1) and (2) The focus is on the creative process not the finished product and, no, you do not have to be able to draw. Each course: 5 x 3 hour sessions. Colour, Creativity, and Symbols Explore the personal significance of colour and symbols through a series of hands-on 'fun' activities that are also designed to stimulate your creativity. 3 x 3 hour sessions Stepping into Astrology (1)- Stepping into a Greater Understanding of Your Self This course is intended for those who wish to develop an understanding of the basics of Astrology as an adjunct to their other work or in preparation for undertaking a more comprehensive course. Stepping into Astrology (2) Stepping into Greater Balance with the Asteroids This course is intended to complement the first course and is also suitable for anyone with a basic understanding of astrology. Each course: 7 x 2 hour sessions Empowering the Feminine Working towards balancing the Yin aspect of your Self with the dominant demanding Yang energy prevalent in the modern world. 8 x 2 hour sessions. Inspired Paintings Works of Art Created Specifically for You as a form of Energy Healing. For further details contact: Jacqueline McLeod, Ph 9818 6169 www.tarotguild.org.au/dancingpentacle.htm 8 … Journal of The Tarot Guild of Australia Spring 2004 ... The Magician Spreading our wings By Linda Marson © 2004 A ugust 2004 was a landmark month for the Tarot Guild of Australia. Two workshops were held in Sydney – the first ever to be organised outside Melbourne. Attendance was low but the response was positive, boding well for the future. Tarot – what’s on the cards for you? That’s how we advertised two workshops designed to introduce the Tarot Guild to Sydney-siders. I started each workshop with an overview of what the Tarot Guild is all about and the benefits of membership. I assured people that we’re keen to provide services and activities for the increasing number of members who live outside Melbourne. Then it was over to long-time professional member of the Guild, Matthew Favaloro, who used material from his comprehensive Tarot course to discuss the symbolism of the Major Arcana cards. He followed this with a hands–on segment filled with tips on doing effective readings using a 15–card spread. The majority of people attending already had a working knowledge of the cards so there was Matthew Favaloro does a reading for one of the participants at the Bondi Junction workshop. lively discussion of how to interpret spreads done for members of the group. Matthew, who has been advocating a Sydney chapter of the Guild for some time, offered to facilitate regular sessions in Sydney. Details of this exciting initiative will be posted on the Guild’s website and advertised in the alternative press. Thanks, Matthew, for taking up the baton with such enthusiasm! Great oaks from tiny acorns grow….that was the feeling I had as the second workshop drew to a close. Several other participants who stayed around chatting over coffee felt the same way. We saw beyond the small attendance at these first two workshops to a point in the not too distant future when the shape of a Sydney chapter of the Guild will begin to emerge. The Guild’s journey beyond its place of origin has well and truly commenced. Without a doubt, the long drive to Sydney and back was worth it. Browsing through the books for sale is a popular pastime at Guild workshops. Lilyfield was no exception. Transition The next Transition Day will take place on Sunday October 30, 2004, between 11.00 am and 2.00pm. at Box Hill Community Arts Centre. To register your intention to sit for Transition, contact the President, Lyndel Robinson, on (03) 9312 1512. For more information about doing Transition at any time by telephone, mail and email, visit our website at www.tarotguild.org.au. The Magician … Journal of The Tarot Guild of Australia Spring 2004 ... 9 Celebration! 10 … Journal of The Tarot Guild of Australia Spring 2004 ... The Magician The Tarot Guild of Australia turns twelve this year. Here we have glimpses of workshop activities - and some just plain fun - shared by TGA members over those years. The Magician … Journal of The Tarot Guild of Australia Spring 2004 ... 11 XX Judgement By Dianne Failla © 2004 As the fool, who took the ultimate leap with confidence and faith, we came unprepared but willingly back into this world, forgetful, innocent of what we must face – the trials and disappointments the loneliness, the love the benevolence of grace – Now, the cycle of karma complete the time of harvest has arrived Here, our life’s work laid out before us, we must answer for our journey jettison our bundle of illusions and relinquish the dog of instinct still snapping at our heels – And so, as if awakened from a long, deep sleep, released from the coffin of our existence, not begrudging our loss of innocence but transformed, heart full of bliss, having taken up the staff of Hermes and climbed to the mountain peak we can see at last, our higher purpose, miraculously, free to realise our true vocation – we spiral into new awareness God is calling us home …. 12 … Journal of The Tarot Guild of Australia Spring 2004 ... The Magician When Judgement is dealt By Jason Dean © 2004 “We are the sum of our choices. Sometimes, at our own peril, we choose not to act.” ‘Don’t kick yourself’ Your present exists through choice and events are secretly connected you will be responsible for your unconsciousness when Judgement is dealt ‘You needed comfort and you got it’ Indulge yourself, it’s OK when Judgement guides you, choose the mystical future and don’t be too rational, logic can lie ‘So you bathed in the luxury of the moment’ Who has a monopoly on wisdom? Create your own future or be enslaved by choices you didn’t make and the dogma of others ‘By leaving, he did you a favour’ The Fool’s journey is over Good and bad have cycled through A new chapter is heralded so don’t deny yourself ‘Time to move on’ There will be no mourning only clear perceptions of choices and the future that beckons you ‘will’ be rewarded for your actions ‘When Judgement is dealt’ The Magician … Journal of The Tarot Guild of Australia Spring 2004 ... 13 Judgement - a business perspective By Pat Martian, Wishcraft Psychic Adventures © 2004 I like to look at the cards from the business perspective. We are all in the business of life. So whether or not you are “in business” in the conventional sense, you may still find it a useful viewpoint to adopt. Some people find the Judgement card a difficult card to come to terms with. This is not surprising, since it represents examining some rather difficult issues. Clearly it is a wake up call - but to what? By this stage in his journey The Fool has accumulated a lot more baggage than he started out with in the form of memories, experiences and material possessions. He is no longer the naive innocent that he was when he began his adventure. Some of this baggage is physical, some of it is mental, but a lot of it is carried on the subconscious level. For this reason, Judgement signifies dealing with the past, particularly with the baggage that is carried in the unconscious. Judgement asks us to examine our values, in particular how past issues are affecting our present lives. It asks us to look at whether we are getting personal fulfillment and suggests to us that it is time to exercise our judgement about how we are living at the moment. What is the real purpose of our lives, and are we heading in the right direction to achieve it? It is a spiritual wake up call. When you get the Judgement card, ask yourself whether you are being too harsh or judgemental, either with yourself or with those about you. It is time for forgiveness and letting go of past grievances. Think about what lesson the person or incident in question has taught you, then move on. From a self-esteem point of view, we are often our own harshest critics. In many families love does 14 … Journal of The Tarot Guild of Australia Spring 2004 ... The Magician not appear from the child’s point of view to be unconditional - it is often seen as a reward doled out for good behaviour. Children who grow up trying to “buy” their parents’ approval develop an inner belief that they are not worthy of love and affection as a right. They go through life trying to please others, with an inner sense of unworthiness and self blame. If you feel that Judgement could be pointing out issues of this sort, professional help may be needed to help to work through and let go of this belief system. The Judgement card warns us to make informed choices - not to jump to conclusions. We need to ask ourselves, why do I think like this? What is the real source of my ideas and beliefs? Are they still relevant and are they still serving me well? It is a warning not to let past experience stand in the way of the present. Past experience is a good benchmark, but it should not be allowed to blindfold us or to shackle us to outmoded ways of behaving. In a business sense, Judgement is about quality control and evaluation procedures. When you draw this card it is an indication that it may be necessary to examine closely the quality of the services you, your team or your organization are delivering. It may also indicate a need for team or personal evaluations. The Judgement card calls for procedures to test and measure outputs. Are your advertisements producing results? Are you successfully converting inquiries into sales? Is productivity increasing? Might it be necessary to carry out more market research? Classics on the need to monitor advertising are My Life in Advertising and Scientific Advertising by Claude Hopkins, and Tested Advertising Methods by John Caples. Career wise, the same principles apply. How will you know when you have reached your goals or targets? It they are not measurable or quantifiable in some way you may be left with a nagging sense of failure or dissatisfaction, even if from the outsider’s perspective you seem to be doing rather well. This can be a real trap - a fast track to ulcers and the divorce courts. Re-examine your goals and make sure that there is some way of identifying when you have achieved them. Q: Am I being too hard, or perhaps not hard enough, either on myself or on others? Your inner voice is calling to you. What is it saying? Q: How could I best prepare for my next personal evaluation? Q: How are past experiences helping or hindering my ability to do my job? Q: Am I being right in ways that aren't working? Q: How could I improve either quality control or evaluation procedures in my place of work? Judgement: time of reckoning By Jan Hunneybell © 2004 Correspondences: Astrological: Pluto Archetype – The Journey Tree of Life – Hod Malkuth A lmost at my journey’s end, it is time to be judged by my deeds. Throughout life I have made many mistakes, had some triumphs, sometimes helped and sometimes hurt people along the way. Now is the time of reckoning, but I’m not worried for I understand that it is part of my soul’s journey to appreciate and to take responsibility for the consequences of our actions. At this time we are shown the meaning of the law of cause and effect, and we see how one small action causes a chain reaction. The usual illustration of the power of our actions is that of a stone being thrown into water. If the stone is a word or deed, whether good or bad, each ripple emanating from where the stone hit the water is a consequence. Now it’s time to discover how everything I have done will balance in the book of life. Does this sound ominous? Don’t feel this way, for we are just nearing the end of a chapter which needs summarizing. For example, every financial year is a cycle. At the end of that cycle, the books must be balanced to see if there is a debit or a credit balance. So it is with life. At the conclusion of a stage of our life cycle, whether a time frame such as a day or a year; a situation like marriage, a job, or a course of study; there is a time of evaluation and examination. Each night we may cast our minds over the triumphs and tragedies of the day, to try to understand, so that we can accept what has unfolded during that time. It is the same at the end of one year and the beginning of the next, and when we make ‘resolutions’ on birthdays, anniversaries or at the conclusion of other important phases of our lives. Then, whether the ledger shows a negative or a positive balance, we can move to the next stage of our development with a better grasp on the size of the task at hand, and what now needs to be achieved. The dead rising from the grave can represent the death of old attitudes. It is a time of triumphal renewal, the integration of the masculine and feminine energies aspects of ourselves, together with the inner child that brings with it healing and the dissolving of blockages from the past. This time of resolution heralds a new start with ‘a clean slate’. The trumpet sounds to waken the dead from their sleep, perhaps waking those who live unconsciously, so that they become aware. This awakening enables people to see their issues with greater clarity and to know that there are positive outcomes available to them. I appear when it is time to examine and reflect upon past events to see what has been learned before moving into a new phase without the burdens of past baggage. This is a time of seeing the meaning of “as ye sow so shall ye reap”, and with that understanding, to advance further with more awareness of our actions in the future. Sometimes I am there just to remind everyone that we have no right to judge anyone else, and no reason to fear the judgement of others. I am finally in sight of my goal and ready to walk forward on the last stage of my journey. The laurels of victory are mine – I claim The World. The Magician … Journal of The Tarot Guild of Australia Spring 2004 ... 15 Judgement and the new age By Rosemary Wade © 2004 a peer group of other souls, but we ourselves who review our lives and finally understand how much hurt we may have caused. According to this theory, it is oneself alone who decides how to redress the balance. This brings us to notions of Karma, often seen as reward or punishment for the good or evil we have done, all catching up with us in the next life. New Age thought has it that Karma is, rather, a balancing process whereby we receive what we need for our spiritual growth. So, according to our cultural beliefs, we might be deciding whereabouts in Purgatory to send ourselves, or what experiences we need in our next incarnation. Either way, it's our call. We do not judge ourselves in a pejorative way as saint or sinner; we exercise our discernment as to where we're at and what would be in our best interests next. New Age is exactly what Aleister Crowley called the Judgment card in his Thoth There was a time when people deck. Er, let me hastily correct took such ideas literally, though The Aeon, Thoth Tarot deck myself: it is what he meant by the creators of those Tarot decks his name for the card, The Aeon. used them symbolically. By now a shift in thinking This card too depicts human figures, which has taken place. The New Age view is that it is not Crowley described as “arising to partake of the God who judges us at the point of death, nor even essence of the New Aeon.” This time there are The card of Judgement. A liberation, Renewal and salvation, Overt elation. The twentieth card. Copyright Haindl Tarot Haiku poem By Doug While The Aeon, Haindl Tarot deck 16 … Journal of The Tarot Guild of Australia Spring 2004 ... The Magician Copyright Thoth Tarot I n our culture we are warned against sitting in judgement on our fellows (except of course for jury duty — but the Judgement card is to do with religion rather than law, so that doesn't apply). It's in the Bible ("Judge not that ye be not judged") and also on the lips of every New Ager who tells you self-righteously not to be judgmental. That's God's business, we are told — and never mind pleading the need for discernment. The RiderWaite Judgement card depicts this fundamental interpretation. Here is the Day of Judgement come at last; Gabriel blows his trumpet and the dead rise palely from their graves with upraised arms and beatific faces, confident of being taken home to Heaven. In the Mythic Tarot we see a pre-Christian version of the same idea. Hermes the Psychopomp, Conductor of Souls, confronts the dead rising from their coffins. He has the power to restore them to life, free them from Hades, or usher them there if that is warranted. three deities, Egyptian ones — “Nuit, the star goddess, representing unlimited possibility … her mate, Hadit, standing for eternal energy” and, dominating the card, the child Horus, “a solar deity who is the incarnation of the New Aeon.” In the Voyager deck, the card is re-named TimeSpace. The predominant symbol is the Aztec god of spring, Xipe Totec, representing “the new life which comes after your judgment of death to old karmic patterns that are self-destructive”. Other images indicate a continual rising to new spiritual levels — which indeed is what all the Judgement cards portray, each from the viewpoint of the context in which it was created. In Voyager, Wanless presents the card as “a harbinger of new things to come … the departure point in consciousness for the sowing of new seeds Perth - mystery The Rune Poem - Verse XIV Peorth is ever the laughter and play of proud men, Where warriors meet with cheer in the beer hall. Runic number: Letter: Old English name: Meaning: Element(s): Zodiac sign: Gemstone: Colour: 14 P Peord Mystery, chance, gamble, dice cup Water Capricorn and Aquarius Aquamarine Black Copyright Voyager Tarot What is indicated in all these cards is the possibility of resurrection, Judgement leading to rebirth of one kind or another. With the advent of modern psychology and New Age mysticism both, the religious symbolism becomes a metaphor for transformation of the self, which involves reexamining our past before letting it go. James Wanless, creator of Voyager Tarot™, suggests we can begin consciously creating our Karma by this self-examination. Time-Space, Voyager Tarot deck that will result in a higher synthesis.” Xipe Totec's message is entirely metaphoric. Voyager, the Tarot for the 21st Century, places the responsibility for our rebirth not with Archangels, Psychopomps or Deities, but with ourselves. And we need not wait until after we're dead; we can do it here and now! Introduction: Perth is the rune of mystery. The Vikings were troubled by mysteries like why some should die in battle while others survive. The symbol depicted on this rune is said to represent a dice cup tipped to reveal the die. Interpretation: upright. Something hidden comes to light or a secret is disclosed. Look beyond the surface things are not always as they seem. Use your intuition, take a gamble. An unexpected gain. Inner transformations. Inverted: Play your cards close to your chest, now is not the time for revelations. At this time gambling can only lead to failure and loss. Do not rush in, but stand firm. The exposure of betrayal or hurtful secrets. © Curtiz-Caine DI, 2000 Text compliments of www.mystic-mouse.co.uk The Magician … Journal of The Tarot Guild of Australia Spring 2004 ... 17 Judgement: breaking the cycles. By Laura Fitzgerald © 2004 M y understanding of this card is related, essentially, to the clarion call of the trumpeter. I don’t necessarily mean this in any religious sense, but rather some kind of epiphany or awakening. If a person thinks deeply, especially about the patterns and synchronicities that underlie existence, then at certain points in time it is almost inevitable that she/he will have moments of clarity where, often quite suddenly, things are seen differently from the way they’ve been seen before. The point is that once we see things from this changed perspective, with clarity and insight, it is impossible to go back and see them, or think about them, or believe in them, as we previously did. That level of understanding can’t be denied or renounced at any but superficial levels. So, for me, one of the strongest messages in the Judgement card has been in acknowledging that change in understanding/perspective, firstly on the inner level, and secondly when I apply that inner change to the outer aspects of my life. It’s a bit like drawing a line under all that is past, and moving into a new ‘transformed’ life. It has been about breaking cycles – patterns which may be genetic or familial (or both) – patterns that have not served me or the people I care about in my life very well. Consequently, Judgement has been a card of great significance for me. And, like The High Priestess and Justice, it proved to be significant for me early in my Tarot work, puzzling me with potent symbolism that burnt its way into my brain, challenging me to meditate upon the message it contained. Mary K. Greer puts this idea succinctly when she says, “ As a 20-2 you are aware that although the past has made you who you are, you can transcend these limitations. You will have many such awakenings in your life: jolts or “epiphanies” in which you suddenly recognise a purpose behind the events”.1 I like to think that one of my “better qualities” is the ability and commitment I have to changing what is not working in my life. I am not prepared to endlessly wallow in how miserable I am when things are difficult, but have a very strong determination to make the necessary changes. Of course, such changes don’t usually take place over night. More often than not, change requires a process of inner change. Although sometimes it has required major “outer” change too, such as when I had to admit that I was no longer physically or emotionally capable of continuing my work as a teacher. 18 … Journal of The Tarot Guild of Australia Spring 2004 ... The Magician The immediate consequences of making that decision were lack of money and a very strange transition period where I felt I was swimming against the tide. (One counsellor told me I was wasting my life by putting what little energy I had into looking after my husband and two teenage sons.) However the long-term consequence of that decision - studying to embark on a career in Tarot has been overwhelmingly positive, and one which I have absolutely no desire to change. Once someone gets to Judgement in the Tarot journey, there really is little chance of turning back. In fact, it is quite possible the change has already occurred, but “the fool” may not yet have any awareness of it. So Judgement is the call to awakening, to awareness. One final issue brought to my attention by Judgement is the concept of forgiveness. I know that in this respect Judgement and Justice are loosely related, but for me, the pictorial image of Judgement spurs contemplation of forgiveness with all its implications. After all, forgiveness is a judgement about life. Tracey Porter says “Judgement augers a rebirth, but this regeneration is gentler than that predicted by Death. Judgement serves to heal all wounds that 2 have caused so much pain.” This is no easy task, and so is often avoided, especially by those with a strong inner critic. I used to be unforgiving not only to others, but to myself as well, and whilst I am not a vengeful person, I held grudges and stayed stuck for a long time in the pain of the past, often with no consciousness of what I was doing. It was a revelation to me to even contemplate that some injustices from the past may never be righted. They can simply be let go of and hence forgiven. It is often a matter of relinquishing control over old pain in order to gain true freedom. According to Evelin Burger and Johannes Fiebig, “This card is also an invitation to look at the extremes in your life, to analyse them, and to connect them. Basic desires and fears, feelings of guilt and selfrecrimination, must be dealt with again and again until all of the past and the horizon of the future are clear and clean. Only then will rebirth mean that you are discovering new qualities in your life, 3 that you have transformed what was old.” I remember receiving Judgement as the best course of action to take in a very early spread I did regarding my relationship with my mother. That relationship has never been easy, but for a long time after my father died, there was an increased level of intransigence on both sides. I developed a kidney problem. I thought long and hard about Reiki Master Barbara MacGregor’s comment on the metaphysics of this kind of illness. She said, “What we have to remember is that forgiveness is the price of joy”. Recently I did Geraldine Amarel’s Bright Shadow spread which featured in the Winter 2002 Magician and was heartened to see both Judgement and Justice in the pile of cards, Want to reach more people? Advertise your esoteric business in The Magician. Rates: Full page $90 Half page $50 Quarter page $30 OR Send out your A4 leaflets and brochures with The Magician for $20 plus printing costs. Have your own website on www.tarotguild.org.au The Guild offers individuals and organisations the opportunity to have a small website housed on the Guild's site. As a Guild affiliate, your website address will start with www.tarotguild.org.au/... followed by whatever you want to call your site. which addressed the question of what aids me in developing my bright shadow. At a more earthy level, I am reminded of the Zen Master who is famous as The Drop It Rochi because when a person comes to see him with their problems, he tells them that all they need to do is drop it. There’s something of this in the Judgement card too. 1. Greer, M. K. (1987) Tarot Constellations, p 60, US Games Systems. 2. Porter, T. (2000). Tarot Companion – An Essential Reference Guide, p14.Llewellyn. St Paul Ma 3. Burger, E & Fiebig, J. ( 1997). Tarot Basics, p58. Sterling Publishing Company Inc. NY. Missed a workshop? We may have it on tape. One tape $15. Two tapes $25. All day workshops $45. Email orders to Lyndel at lyndelar@labyrinth.net.au Next issue The Summer 2004/5 issue of The Magician will feature Strength Deadline for copy is November 12 Email the editor at: cbird@vtown.com.au or send hard copy by post to: 22 Stephen Crescent Croydon 3136 Tel: (03) 9779 9887 Service Design and setup Annual fee and text updates TGA members nonmembers $200 $350 $50 $100 Visit our affiliate sites by following the links from the Tarot Guild website at www.tarotguild.org.au Copyright Spiral Tarot Check out our very competitive rates. Strength from the Spiral Tarot Deck The Magician … Journal of The Tarot Guild of Australia Spring 2004 ... 19 Monthly workshops and development sessions October to December 2004 Saturday 9 October. (1:45pm - 3:30pm) Self care and client care in Tarot practice with Julie King To be followed by the Guild's Annual General Meeting Julie has had a wealth of experiences as a psychic development teacher and spiritual counsellor and will guide us through the areas of psychic protection, pre-client and post-client self care practices, mind mapping our Tarot business and the valuable use of essential oils to support the Tarot reading experience. We encourage members to stay a little longer, to hear the annual reports and elect the next committee! Saturday 13 November (1:45pm to 3:30pm) Love and other catastrophes with Evelynne Joffe One of the most common questions a Tarot reader will hear is “I’ve come to see you about my relationship / lack of relationship”. In this workshop we will learn new relationship spreads and which cards to look out for. Evelynne is well-known to TGA members as a past president. She is also a director of the Institute of Esoteric Studies, a teacher of Kabbalah and Tarot, and dream therapist. Saturday 11 December (1:45pm to 3:30pm) TGA Christmas party ~ facilitated by Julie King and friends. Come dressed in the energy of a Tarot character and be ready to dazzle your TGA friends with the strength of your intuitive powers. Give and get a flower reading and find out what your jewellery would say if it could talk. Bring a flower to read, wear your favourite jewels, and bring a small gift too, up to the value of $5, to place in our Christmas sack so that everybody goes home with a present! Party fare provided. Workshops are held at the Box Hill Community Arts Centre Cnr Station and Combarton Streets, Box Hill, Victoria. T Shirts, printed with the Tarot Guild logo, can be purchased from the Guild. These are available in many colours and sizes, at a cost of $22 each, with a 10% discount to members. 20 … Journal of The Tarot Guild of Australia Spring 2004 ... The Magician