Issue 30.cdr - Tarot Guild of Australia

Transcription

The Magician
Number 30 - Autumn/Winter 2009
Journal of The Tarot Guild of Australia Inc.
Fern Mercier - a profile
The Lovers from the Oceanic Tarot - artwork by Fern Mercier
Fern Mercier is from our sister Tarot Guild in New Zealand and will
be visiting our shores in July this year, bringing with her a wealth of
knowledge, insight and life experience to share. Fern can be
contacted at www.tarot.net.nz. We look forward to welcoming you
Fern.
The Oceanic Tarot deck is a wonderful achievement - Winnie
the Pooh as the Fool won my heart! Can you tell us how this
deck came to life?
The story begins with the arcana event that I helped organise in
September 2006 which featured the Tarot in all its glory. arcana was
a world-first, art extravaganza that showcased over 60 contributors
exhibiting a wide variety of artworks including paintings,
photography, fashion and costume design, mosaic, tattoo, graffiti
and textiles. We had an extraordinary turnout of more than 1000
people who flocked to interact with arcana’s wonderful diversity of
artworks, performances and educational seminars. The carnival
spirit mixed well with arcana’s more serious intent of educating the
public about Tarot.
Through our website, Ernesto Faziolo and Morena Poltronieri contacted us from their new Museum
of International Tarot Art in Riola near Bologna, in Italy - the home of Tarot www.museodeitarocchi.it. We were invited to come to the museum’s inauguration in July 2007 –
and so we did. Lyn Olds and I arrived in Riola carrying 16 pieces of New Zealand art which were
gifted to the museum by the NZ artists. You can read more about this trip on my website.
Every year the museum proposes a new Tarot project. They invite artists from all over the world to
create an original Tarot work of art following a specific theme, which is decided by the museum.
The chosen contributions are then published by the museum as unique collectible Tarot decks.
During our stay at the museum, Ernesto and Morena asked Lyn and myself if we
might get together 22 artists from Oceania to create one of the Literatarot decks
they were planning to publish. How could we say no?!
The theme of the Literatarot Tarot is the great classics of literature – either
contemporary or from the past. The Oceanic deck has sisters in American, Asian
and European versions which can all be viewed on
www.museodeitarocchi.it/corrispondenti2.htm.
On returning to NZ, Lyn and I spent a lot of time on the email connecting with
different artists who were inspired to create for the Oceanic deck. It was easy
... continued on page 3.
Contents:  Editorial p5  President's letter p6
 Spotlight on the cards p7  Reviews p15
 Professional membership p18
 Calendar of events p24
The Tarot Guild of Australia Inc.
Committee
Tarot energy on the committee
Mission statement
Each year incoming committee members select a
Major Arcana card to represent the energy they bring
to committee. As you can see, some interesting cards
emerge!
To cultivate the relevance of the ancient wisdom of
the Tarot in today's world.
President
Objectives
Annie Dunlop - (03) 9773 4340
president@tarotguid.org.au
The Sun
Vice President Natasha Watkins - (03) 9849 2468
vicepresident@tarotguild.org.au
The High Priestess
Treasurer
Linda Henery - (03) 9877 2917
treasurer@tarotguild.org.au
The Hanged Man
Secretary
Position vacant
secretary@tarotguild.org.au
Membership
Secretary
Cheryl Ford (interim) (03) 9704 2126
membership@tarotguild.org.au
Temperance
Committee
Members
David Camp - (03) 9399 3585
davidtarot@optusnet.com.au
The Chariot
Kerry Gummersall - (03) 9512 0654
kerrygum@optusnet.com.au
The Wheel of Fortune
Tony Trimarchi – 0409 568 070
trimtony@gmail.com
Death
Megan Williams – 0411 510 676
Megan@meganwilliams.com.au
The Star
Tania Yorgey – 0432 408 815
magician@tarotguild.org.au
The Magician
The Magician is published by:
The Tarot Guild of Australia Inc.
ARBN 100 040 364
Editor:
Tania Yorgey 0432 408 815
Editorial support: Linda Marson (03) 9585 3618
Typesetter: Michael Mobley
Printer:
APMG
(03) 9555 8282
Contact details
Tarot Guild of Australia
GPO Box 3117 Melbourne
Victoria 3001 Australia.
Tel: (03) 9859 7355
Website: www.tarotguild.org.au
 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.
Workshops and meetings
The calendar of events from May to August 2009 is
on the back page and continues on pages 22 and
23.
Workshops are held in different venues in
Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.
Disclaimer
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.
2 ... Journal of The Tarot Guild of Australia Autumn/Winter 2009 ... The Magician
finding Kiwis who wanted to join our jolly
band, for we had already met most of them
through arcana. We spread our net far and
wide and it was a joyful experience meeting albeit virtually – the different Australians who
volunteered.
Winnie the Pooh as the Fool was created by
Pat Rebel, who is an old friend and Tarot
colleague. I am thrilled you love her artwork
as she is one of the most original Tarot artists
I know. Although we can claim her as a Kiwi,
she has lived in Perth for several years now.
You have written for many wonderful
publications. Do you have plans for a
book?
I strongly believe that when we work in
marginalised professions such as astrology
and Tarot – or as agents for social change
(which was my life during the ‘70s and ‘80s) –
it is important to document our herstory/
history. I was part of a NZ Herstory project
during the late 1970s, which taught me the
necessity of writing ourselves into our social
and cultural history.
Writing star sign columns is good regular
writing practice for me, but documenting the
weekly or monthly cycles of the planets is
ephemeral work. I also edit our monthly Tarot
Pages for the Tarot Guild of Aotearoa.
What would be your greatest challenge at
the moment and your greatest support?
I love writing although it’s a tough discipline
for me – I adore words and thrive on the
challenge of crafting them. I feel like the
Magician when I’m writing. First there’s a
blank page and a pen - or a keyboard and
white screen these days – and then poof! Out
of the nothing which is the mind, comes a
coherent thought or word. The invisible made
visible - that feels like magic.
I would like to finish writing a book – I have
two in process - but life keeps running away
with me. I am such a Sagittarian archer –
always shooting off multiple arrows into the
future and running after several of them at
once. I would love to write something that
offers a more enduring legacy of my
experience and I shall, when the time is right.
Where do you find your greatest creative
energy when working with the Tarot?
People and the endless fascination of their
lives are my greatest source of creative
energy. My clients and students who share
their most personal secrets, desires, dreams
and traumas, constantly gift me the most
incredible resource. I am so lucky to have this
vocation/ profession that enables me to be a
steward – or perhaps midwife – of that
profound energy that opens up during a Tarot
reading. Real healing magic happens through
the medium of those amazing pictures on
cardboard laid down on the table between us.
It’s a source of constant wonder for me how
the Tarot’s ancient images interact with
peoples’ vastly varied personal experiences.
My temperament is a volatile mixture of fire
and water, so I guess Temperance personifies
my biggest challenge. She shows me how to
move between extremes of feeling and still
remain integrated. Making time and
distributing myself comfortably in the flow of
time while I juggle professional commitments,
family responsibilities, maintenance of
friendships, creative work and the enjoyment
of solitude.
I love the thought of her – the Angel of Time –
pouring through my dramatic, lurching, hot
and cold life and encouraging me to find a
happy medium. She teaches me not to push
things too far - unless it’s really necessary and how important the little things are. For me
she’s all about the daily alchemy of sorrow
into song. She helps me understand the
business of transforming my impatient, raging
blood into the milk of human kindness.
What card would represent your life
journey at the moment?
I pondered upon this question and tried to
consciously choose a card, but couldn’t, so
gave up and drew one. Out popped the Wheel
of Fortune. Sooooo yes, just like the whole
The Magician … Journal of The Tarot Guild of Australia Autumn/Winter 2009 ... 3
world is vibrating to this card – so too am I
rising and falling on the great carnival roller
coaster, subject to forces far beyond our
control. The reversals in the economy so far
have been treating fortune-tellers well. In New
Zealand, my colleagues and I have been
busier than usual – people seeking answers
because their normal infrastructures are
disintegrating.
The opportunity to come to Australia and
teach and meet Tarot folk in Melbourne,
Brisbane and Sydney seems a terrific gift from
Providence, which I grasped with both hands!
I have had a long career teaching and reading
Tarot, but this seems a real highlight and
honour to be invited to share some of my
ideas and experience in Australia. I hope to
sow seeds of closer contacts between our two
sister countries and Tarot Guilds as the Wheel
turns. And to enjoy the thrills and spills of
riding that Big Wheel of Fate.
When you worked for the 0900 Smilelines
how did you find working with the energy
of telephone readings? Do you have any
special techniques?
Smilelines was the very first 0900 line in New
Zealand and when I was approached to work
on the telephone, I balked as I didn’t feel
convinced the Tarot would work unless faceto-face. The first reading utterly convinced me
I was wrong! A woman rang from Christchurch
in the South Island and as she spoke I pulled
a card – the Tower. Then she started
squealing – “oh, oh, oh my goodness there’s
an earthquake, my things are falling, my desk
is moving…..!!!”
Startled, I felt the hairs on the back of my neck
stand up and as the quakes stopped and we
settled down, I spoke to her of the Tower and
we laughed and laughed. I didn’t pull any
more cards for the rest of a 20 minute session
– just continued to discuss the Tower and its
effects with her which of course were
completely relevant to her personal life at that
time. When I got off the phone, I realised of
course that the Tower was also speaking to
my beliefs about telephone work…
I worked on 0900 lines for about five years off
and on during the 1990s. It suited me working
shifts from home, as I was a solo mother and
writing astrology and seeing clients from
home. The first years were great. I reckon just
about everybody in NZ rang an 0900 line at
some time or other. They were a real
phenomenon then and completely opened up
our profession in a way that had never
happened before. An incredible shift in the
social consciousness happened. I believe that
the 0900 line was responsible for dispelling
fear about Tarot and psychic work and
bringing it into the open forum of the
marketplace. Before the 0900s, people who
“dabbled in the occult” were in their suburban
homes with no collegial support and working
undercover really. Word of mouth was the only
advertising.
I found colleagues, kindred spirits and working
companions through my phone work for the
first time ever, which was so exciting,
liberating and supportive for me. I got a tax
code (entertainment!) and entered the
mainstream workplace.
My favourite mantra as a teacher, I learned on
the phone-lines – “less is more”. Use few
cards, even one card and stick with it – the
pressure forces through the answer. Anyway
the Tarot images have so much symbolism in
them – each one is a mini encyclopedia - if
you can just get the key to turn between you,
the card and the querent.
You are currently teaching a one year
Diploma of Tarot. This is a wonderful
achievement for you and a blessing for
your students. The saying goes "we never
stop learning"... what do you learn from
your students?
The year-long course grew out of my years
teaching Tarot in Community Education
throughout Auckland where I was dealing with
ordinary folk and often dispelling the fears
they had around Tarot (the Devil’s picture
book).
I designed the Diploma course as three tenweek terms (two and half hours weekly) and
that’s the structure it has kept since, although
the content changes and deepens as I learn
and grow with my students.
Yes, I get smitten with my students and learn
so much from them. They never cease to blow
me away with their depth of wisdom and life
experience they bring to the cards. Although I
spend some time each night with theory at
least half of the time is spent work-shopping
doing individual and group readings – as well
as readings in twosomes or threesomes.
For more information on Fern Mercier and
Tarot Aotearoa visit their website at
www.tarot.net.nz.
4 … Journal of The Tarot Guild of Australia Autumn/Winter 2009 ... The Magician
Editorial
happen. There’s no procrastination, no
remembering something you had to do midsentence and steering off course…it’s just on
with the job and make it happen. Thank
goodness there are another 21 Major Arcana
to help us bend, stretch and break free, but
we do appreciate his direction and astuteness.
By Tania Yorgey © 2009
A
t the TGA committee planning day in
January, the question was asked if we
could go back to producing four
editions of The Magician. If you are up for it,
so are Linda and I!
With your help, the four issues will be phased
in over the 2009/2010 year in line with the four
seasons, that is, Spring Equinox (September),
Summer Solstice (December), Autumn
Equinox (March) and Winter Solstice (June).
If you find any professional practice
information on the web, in magazine articles
or through courses you attend, we would
appreciate you sharing the information with us
– so long as you have permission to do so, of
course! We have been receiving wonderful
feedback on the content and presentation of
The Magician and this is thanks to you, our
contributors and members. Let’s continue to
grow and continue creating The Magic…ian!
With the Emperor as our spotlight card, I’ve
been thinking how he affects the Guild and
this magazine. My thoughts are that he has
helped us get to where we are today - we
wouldn’t be as professional and admired
without the Emperor leading the way. He
evokes change just with a thought, okay,
maybe there’s not a lot of emotion attached to
that thought but he definitely makes things
The Emperor has been playing an important
role in my life too. He has helped me stay
focused and on the straight and narrow with
my move to Daylesford from King Island - I
couldn’t have done it without him. I have
passed on my business to a wonderful friend
who loves it just as much as I did and
completed the Oxfam 100km Trailwalker in
less than 24 hours (hardest thing I have ever
done in my life!) and moved myself and my
animals back to the big island. The Emperor
has also challenged me on a relationship level
but I guess that inevitably comes with moving
and the energy change associated with it. It
can take a long time to break free of the
ascendancy of the Emperor, but we love him!
When I asked the cards about the next focus
for The Magician, I pulled the Death card now there’s a tale worth telling! I look forward
to receiving your connections with this card
and any other information you would like to
share with us.
Enjoy the upcoming Winter Solstice and all
that it offers.
EXPAND YOUR HORIZONS
For details: Jacqueline McLeod, Ph 0403 890894
www.tarotguild.org.au/dancingpentacle.htm
Explore the Voyager Tarot - a powerful tool to assist you on your life’s journey.
Art Classes for Inner Peace (1) and (2) - focusing on the creative process.
Stepping into Astrology (1) - stepping into a greater understanding of Your Self.
Empowering the Feminine - empowering the Yin aspect of your Self.
Crone Wisdom Consultations – to assist you in clarifying your circumstances and direction.
Inspired Paintings - created specifically for you as a form of Energy Healing.
President’s letter
By Annie Dunlop © 2009
T
hese past few months have been very
eventful! A lot goes on ‘behind the
scenes’.
At the end of January the committee came
together for a planning day at my place. Many
exciting ideas came out of this meeting. We
mainly focussed on re-establishing Tarot interest
groups in Sydney, and making a list of
international Tarot presenters we could invite to
Australia to run workshops for the Guild.
With the first goal in mind, I sent a short
questionnaire to our Sydney based members,
asking them for their preferences for meeting
places and so on. There was a very enthusiastic
response and we are now trying to find suitable
locations for these groups to meet on a regular
basis. (If I missed contacting you, I would like to
hear from you, so please email me at
president@tarotguild.org.au)
Our second goal has also been accomplished!
We are thrilled that Fern Mercier, a dynamic and
popular presenter from our sister Tarot Guild in
New Zealand, is coming to Australia in July, and
has accepted our invitation to run workshops for
the TGA in Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney.
(Fern is featured in our lead article). Details of
Fern’s workshops can be found in the enclosed
leaflet and on our website.
In Melbourne in May, Karen Seinor of Wild
Woman Consulting will lead a workshop on The
Tarot reading as an experience…as a spiritual
healing and in June, one of the Guild’s founding
members, Jeni Bethell will present a workshop
entitled Tarot and the wheel of the year.
restoration of Bruno’s art gallery and sculpture
garden in Marysville.
In the words of Andrew Kade, Bruno’s son-in-law,
“Bruno has been able
to re-enter Marysville
on a special pass to
investigate the state of
the garden. What he
has found there can
only be described as a
bittersweet miracle.
Just over half of the
terracotta sculptures
have survived the
blaze or have a
chance of being
repaired. We are
humbled by this fortunate outcome. Many
people lost everything they had. At least there is
hope for us.”
We will be having raffles at our meetings and will
be deciding on a future fund raising event. Do
you have any ideas for this event?
I encourage you to see for yourself some of
Bruno’s magical art work on the website at
http://www.brunosart.com/. You can subscribe to
the newsletter and see what is happening under
the ‘Rebuilding’ heading.
We do have a busy year ahead and more
surprises in store! Thank you all for the support
and encouragement you have given me over the
past few months.
Blessings in life,
Annie Dunlop
Alison Cross, Chairperson of TABI (Tarot
Association of the British Isles), featured the
TGA and the Tarot Guild of Aotearoa in the latest
TABI quarterly The Tarot Reader. Even if you
are not a TABI member you can sign up for their
monthly e-Zine, Tracker on their website at
http://www.tabi.org.uk. We are hoping to
maintain these close links so that we can let
members of our respective organisations know
what is happening in the Tarot world.
Bruno’s art gallery and sculpture garden,
Marysville
You will all be aware of the devastating effects of
the bushfires in Victoria. We, the TGA, have
decided to raise money to contribute to the
The TGA committee in January. Back row (left to right):
Kerry Gummersall, Kate Ellis, Sara Gilbert, Linda
Henery, Cheryl Ford, Tony Trimarchi, Megan Williams
Front row (left to right): Natasha Watkins, David Camp,
Tania Yorgey, Annie Dunlop
Spotlight on the cards
The Big Daddy of them
all – the Emperor as
Sol Invictus
of, by the Catholic religion, as God’s
agent on earth. Sun worshipping
religious cults were popular and Sol
Invictus was the name of a number
of solar deities.
I
have always thought of the Emperor as a
“Yahweh-type figure” – he who rules with
absolute authority, and my stern RiderWaite-Smith Emperor certainly looks the part.
The Emperor as Hero-Sun King is a new idea
for me and is the result of pondering on the
Hanged Man. I had not previously considered
that the Hanged Man was indeed the Emperor
hanging upside down.
In the Marseille style decks, this idea is more
apparent by the stance he takes, with his legs
crossed representing the element of air and
his upper body positioned in the triangle of
fire. The combination of the symbols of fire
and air become the symbol for alchemical
sulphur.
Philosophical or alchemical sulphur is the
male combustible principle. This principle has
the fiery, inflammable, volatile properties of
Aries, which can be seen in the ram
symbology of the Emperor. When the
alchemical Sol sinks into the Lunar sea of
darkness (unconscious regions), the Sun King
is surrendering his power to the Lunar Queen.
I now understand why the Hanged Man is
represented in the upside-down sulphur
position. He has surrendered his need to
control.
Since my view of the Big Daddy of them all,
has expanded to include Sol, I’ve learnt some
fascinating stuff about the cult of Sol Invictus,
particularly the fact that Roman emperors
from the Severan dynasty, up to the time of
Constantine, portrayed themselves wearing
the radiant sun crown of Sol Invictus on their
official coinage.
“Deus Sol Invictus” means the “unconquered
Sun God” and the religion of Sol Invictus was
the leading official cult of the fourth century in
Rome. Sol Invictus was also called Oriens or
Oriens Aug, the Augustus rising sun. The
unconquered Sun was considered to be the
Emperor’s companion and representative in
much the same way that the Pope is thought
Sol Invictus appeared on imperial
coinage from the time of Septimus Severus.
This apparently began when Emperor
Elagabalus (Marcus Aurelius Antonius)
became emperor of Rome in 218 at age 14.
He attempted to impose the worship of the
sun-god of his native city Emesa in Syria. He
was assassinated at 18 in 222. The Lord of
Emesa (El-Gabal) reverted to being a Syrian
Sun-God.
The cult ceased when Elagabalus died but
Roman emperors continued to be portrayed
on coinage with the radiant sun crown for
another country. Emperor Aurelian was a
solder-emperor who ruled from 270-275. His
mother has been a priestess of the Sun and
he supported the cult of Sol Invictus. Aurelian
dedicated a temple to the Solar God in
274AD. This dedication to Sol Invictus
occurred on the third day after the Winter
Solstice, which was considered to be the day
of rebirth of the Sun-God.
Emperors up to Constantine portrayed Sol on
official coinage, honouring the Sun King as
their companion with the words “Soli Invicto
Comiti”. There was no immediate change
when Constantine the Great became
Emperor, but Sol Invictus disappears from
imperial coins by the time of the First Council
of Nicaea. The religion of Sol Invictus
continued to be
tolerated until the
abolishment of
paganism by
Theodosius on Feb
27 390AD.
In the words of Walt
Whitman, ‘Give me
the splendid Sun, with
all his beams fulldazzling’.
Internet sources:
Wikipedia, Absolute
Astronomy, Economic
Expert and Patrick
Harpur’s “Mercurius”
The Emperor from the Tarot of the New Vision
published by Lo Scarabeo
By Barbie Davidson © 2009
The Emperor
T
In this latter statement,
I think Waite is saying
that the Emperor and
the Empress
complement each
other. It is the Empress
who gives birth, but it is
the Emperor who
provides the structure
and security in which
she can give birth - if
you know what I mean.
Astrological attribution: Aries
Let’s look at the
symbolism in the RiderWaite-Smith Emperor:
By Helen Howell © 2009
he esoteric title for this card is Son of
the Morning, Chief among the Mighty. I
wonder if the title Son of the Morning is
connecting the Emperor to that outgoing
energy - the ability to rejuvenate and reinvent
oneself - like a new day dawning. Chief
Among the Mighty speaks for itself really…he
is the male principle archetype - the one you
look to for leadership.
Aries, the first sign of the Zodiac, is a fire or
cardinal or initiator sign. This sign is ruled by
Mars, a planet that is known as the 'god of
war' and represents courage and
forthrightness. I always think of Aries as a sign
that says "me first" *lol* and can be a sign that
symbolises those with leadership qualities,
initiative, energy and new ideas.
Elemental attribution: Fire - elemental fire is
hot and dry and its nature is energy.
Kabbalistic path 15: 2 Chokmah to 6
Tipareth. Chokmah is position two on the Tree
of Life and its keyword is wisdom. It relates to
the masculine energy within and the ability to
use logic and reason in order to make choices
and decisions.
Tiphareth is position six on the Tree of Life
and its keyword is beauty and relates to our
higher self. This sephira talks about the higher
meaning in our lives and points us towards
defining our purpose, principles and
objectives. It sits in the middle of the Tree of
Life and may be related to the centre of being.
I think these two may be saying that the
Emperor shows us that he is able to combine
his leadership skill with compassion and
reason, and that his overall objective is the
search for truth.
Waite says of his Emperor, "He is a crowned
monarch-commanding, stately, seated on a
throne, the arms of which are fronted by rams'
heads. He is executive and realisation, the
power of this world". He also says "it should be
understood that this card and that of the
Empress do not precisely represent the
condition of married life, though this state is
implied."
 Grey throne: ability to combine opposites
so they harmonise.
 Rams’ heads on throne: connect him to
Aries, first sign of the zodiac.
 Sceptre is ankh + orb: The orb is the
symbol of the female quality and the ankh
is a symbol for the breath of eternal life, as
well as the male quality.
 Armour under robes: symbol of
responsibility, protection and defence willing to defend one’s principles.
 Red robes: self-confidence, action, energy,
power - also the colour of the fiery planet
Mars - so connects him again to Mars and
Aries.
 Fiery coloured mountains in the
background: mountains are part of the
natural world, and these are hot and fiery,
so perhaps they indicate his awareness of
how hard some aspects in the world are to
overcome…just a thought.
 Red and white stones in crown: from
Pictures of the Heart I found this bit
interesting - "there is the merest hint from
the red and white stones in the Emperor's
crown that Waite may have identified the
Emperor with an alchemical king (red and
white being the fundamental antithetical
ingredients of alchemy).”
The Emperor represents the power that can
be achieved through self-control. He is
rationality, order and structure. This is a card
that speaks about translating ideas and
dreams into actuality. He is the stability from
which the Empress's ideas can take form – at
least that's what I think Waite was saying.
The Emperor from the Rider Waite Tarot
published by US Games Systems Inc.
it is in perma-hot Australia) and was also
known to ruin his mother's French-polished
table with hairspray when his wishes were
vetoed.
My soul mate the
Emperor
By Alison Cross © 2008
(Chairperson Tarot Association of
the British Isles)
W
hen my friend announced she'd had
a Tarot reading that pronounced her
soul mate as the Emperor, her
enthusiasm nose-dived faster than a pension
fund when I showed her his image from the
Rider Waite Smith (RWS) deck.
'He doesn't look very promising material' she
said, eyeing up the silver-haired gent propped
up on his stone throne.
Admittedly, he does seem a bit severe to be
someone’s soul-mate. I mean, what kind of
bloke would sit in that hot, dry landscape in
armour AND heavy robes? Not one that you
hope to spend the rest of your life with. Not
unless you own a deodorant factory. But I look
on the Emperor with more than a hint of
fondness these days. Why? Because, Reader,
I married him.
OK, I admit, not quite the illustration in the
RWS, but swap that crown and pashmina-look
for a merchant navy chief engineer's uniform...
replace the armour with motorbike leathers
and, well, that's pretty much my man you've
got there. So, to cheer up my despondent
mate and hopefully give you a smile or two,
here's my entirely personal take on the
Emperor.
As Julie Andrews once sang, let's, start at the
very beginning.
I've known my chap and his long-suffering
family since the 1970s, so I can assure you
that the Emperor does not spring fully formed
into the world. Sure, the need for people to
listen to him, even as a child, was built-in, but
when the resulting decision didn't go his way,
he was a complete terror. He simply couldn't
stand being told what to do. As fiery and rash
as the Knight of Wands, my young Emperor
would wreak havoc when over-ruled.
For example, mine set fire to old railway
bankings (admittedly, in permanently wet
Scotland this isn't quite as serious an event as
Those rams’ heads decorating the Emperor's
throne are there for a reason. Yes, the card
does have astrological associations with Aries,
but believe me - arguing with an Aries-born
Emperor is like banging your head off a brick
wall.
If you're lucky, and my Emperor's family was,
he learns to see that naked aggression and
constantly arguing is not the best way to get
on in the world. The Emperor can knuckle
down (albeit reluctantly) to study or work. In
this way, he sees that he can carve himself
out a pretty good career (or empire!) in
whatever field he sets his mind to. If you're
unlucky, the young Emperor sees that this
CAN be an effective way to get what he wants
and can thus carve himself out a pretty good
career - but amongst the criminal fraternity.
As far as suitable career paths go for the
Emperor - I think that any field where things
do what they are supposed to do, every time,
like maths and engineering would be
attractive. But this doesn't mean that he would
fail in a career where the results were less
predictable. This is because, when the
Emperor sets his mind to something, whether
that be painting, plumbing or photography, he
will master the skills to successfully handle the
materials in hand.
What's the difference between a King and an
Emperor? Well, a King only has the run of a
single kingdom, an Emperor has to keep
control of lots of kingdoms. He's not called
Son of the Morning, Chief among the Mighty
for nothing, you know!
This need to control manifests in real life as a
natural inclination to be the boss in every
situation. This can arise in a healthy and
unhealthy way. A healthy Emperor knows that
having fair and just rules and regulations
makes for a happy ship and an easily
managed empire. When you know where the
line in the sand is drawn, one can,
paradoxically, find a great deal of freedom. An
unhealthy Emperor becomes dictatorial and
enforces his rules and regulations to keep
people restricted and beaten down.
I let hubby read this article and he sighed at
this point and said: 'It's not that I always HAVE
to be right, it's just that I naturally am.' Hmmm
- I'm not entirely convinced that he was joking,
you know.
He likes a place for everything and everything
in its place. After all, you can't run an empire if
you're wondering where you left your
spanners.
At the top of this article I asked the question:
“What kind of guy can sit in a hot, dry
landscape in armour and a robe?” The answer
is, of course, one with incredible will-power
and self-control. And the Emperor is loaded
with both. This type of man runs along steelier
lines than most (hence that armour!).
My friend really wanted to know what the
Emperor was like as a partner. Truthfully?
He's about as romantic as a dose of malaria.
He just doesn't have it in him to be openly
loving and nurturing. If he was, he'd be the
Empress, not the Emperor, after all. But one
mustn't forget that the Emperor's severity is
usually tempered by great kindness.
As a young man, the Emperor starts out as an
ardent Knight of Wands - quick-witted, keen
on the girls and not terribly sensible when it
comes to danger. You will find that as he
matures, he develops an interest in fast cars,
fast motorbikes and even faster girls. Again, if
you're lucky, this buzz for action and danger
will ebb away as he gets older and has more
responsibilities under his belt. If not, well,
welcome to my world.
Oh, I sound
like I'm
moaning about
him, don't I?
But truly he's a
great force to
have on your
side. I know
that I can
depend upon
him, without a
shadow of a
doubt.
Although
we've known
each other a
long time,
there have
been other
men in my life. But once you've had a
significant relationship with the Emperor, all
the rest seem a bit wishy-washy by
comparison. I mean, it's all very well being
with a guy who writes you sonnets in Elvish
when you're an infatuated teenager, but
eventually you want a bloke who can fit
carpets and unblock your plumbing. No
euphemism intended. Sure - he can be
opinionated and unromantic, but if you like a
man who can fix cars and hard-landscape
your yard, he might be the perfect soul-mate
for you too. And let's not forget, when he's
your Emperor, it means you're his Empress,
and that can't be a bad thing, can it?
In Knight of Wands phase, the Emperor will
pursue you relentlessly with all manner of
grand gestures and offers, but once he's got
you..well, don't hold your breath for much
romance. Neither should you be the sort of gal
who depends on compliments either. You can
stand around dolled up like a 1950s starlet
and it will fail to register with the Emperor.
Unless, of course, you're also holding a
welding torch.
Here's an example of just how far he can push
the boat out, romantically. When our son was
born, the girl in the bed to my left got a
bouquet of red roses from her husband; the
girl on the right got a single white rose. What
did I get? A printer for my computer.
The Emperor from the Spiral Tarot published by US Games
Systems Inc.
The Emperor - love him
or hate him?
By Sara Gilbert © 2009
I
t's an interesting phenomenon that we are
instantly drawn to, or repelled by deep subconscious drivers in the cards of the Major
Arcana.
The cards that appeal most to me have
always been the Lovers, the Empress,
Strength and the Star. I've come to terms with
the usual suspects (the Devil, Death and the
Tower), but I really struggle to come to terms
with the stern old Emperor.
Using traditional card meanings, I had
assumed this related to my previous work in
male dominated fields and corporations (I was
a metallurgist and quality manger in
automotive companies). There, I had had to
achieve my success as a woman, in the face
of very patriarchal systems. Certainly gaining
acceptance, promotion and equal
remuneration had always been a challenge!
Strength and the Star made early sense to
me, since they resonate as my Zodiac card
(Leo Trump VIII) and numerology life path
cards (17/8). But it wasn't until I studied the
Kabbalah and Tree of Life, that I became
aware that the Empress is actually a more
highly evolved form of Strength on the Tree
(being closer to God).
I also discovered I am learning path 17 from
the Tree this time around, which corresponds
to the Lovers. As we are trying to achieve a
state of equilibrium and to balance ourselves
into the centre of the Tree, we need to call on
the energy from the opposite path to our
lesson for help. In my case this is path 15
which corresponds to (surprise, surprise!)....
the Emperor! Isn't it fascinating!!!
Having gained self-knowledge and become in
touch with our higher self through Tipheret,
the task on path 17 is to balance on the sword
of discrimination (Zayin), learning to make
wise choices, by exercising our free will in a
reasoning manner, that is not influenced by
society's rules and dogma. This makes
considerable sense in my current
understanding of what my life has been about,
most especially my life following my second
Saturn return, 5 years ago. The influence of its
opposite, path 15, is actually to open up the
window (Heh), in order to allow enlightenment,
intuition or God's will, to start filtering through
into our consciousness, but in a safe and well
protected manner. Quite a different way of
looking at the disciplined, organised
structures, rules and regulations our traditional
Emperor represents!
As a final irony, when I painted my own Tree
of Life, early in the course I studied with
Evelynne Joffe, and before I understood how
to calculate my own path, I left out the paths
that correspond to the Lovers and the
Emperor - the two paths I needed to work
with! Talk about not wanting to pay attention to
one's life lessons!
The Fool and the
Emperor
By Linda Marson © 2009
T
he energy of the Fool is quite different to
that of the Emperor, so why am I linking the
two? The answer lies in the concept of
personality and soul cards - introduced first by
Basque anthropologist and Tarot teacher,
Angeles Arrien, and explored further by Mary K.
Greer in her book, Tarot for Yourself.
Using your birth date you can numerologically
calculate your Personality and Soul Numbers.
The corresponding Personality Card indicates
what you have come into this particular
lifetime to learn. The corresponding Soul Card
shows your soul purpose through all your
lifetimes.1
An early baby boomer, I was born on 26
November, 1947. To work out my personality and
soul cards I add the following numbers:
Day
Month
Year
26
11
1947
1984
Then I add the numbers together (1+9+8+4=22).
Because the Major Arcana has 22 cards, you
keep any number from 1-22. If the numbers add
to more than 22, you reduce the number down to
22 or less. For example, if your initial addition
came to 29, you would reduce this to 11.
The Fool and the Emperor from the Universal Tarot
published by Lo Scarabeo
Your personality card corresponds to the relevant
card in the Major Arcana. For example, 18 is the
Moon, 11 is Justice, 12 is the Hanged Man and
so on. The number 22 corresponds to the Fool,
which is placed at the end of the Major Arcana
because nothing adds to its number of zero.
Your soul card is calculated by reducing your
personality card number to a number between 1
and 9. In my case this gives me 4 (2+2), which
means that my soul card is the Emperor.
For some people, their personality and soul cards
are the same. This happens if, for example, your
first addition comes to 26, which you reduced to
4. This means you have a double dose of the
Emperor! Mary Greer explains this as indicating
that, ‘in this lifetime you are specifically working
on your soul purpose. It makes you more
focussed and directed.”
Before looking at how this personality and soul
card stuff plays out in real life, let me provide an
update on how to interpret these two cards,
based on a conversation with Mary Greer after a
recent tutorial when someone asked me a tricky
question about the implications of having a
different birth date in another lifetime. After all, a
different birth date would generate a different
combination of numbers and different personality
and soul cards. A different personality card for a
different lifetime is OK, but if the soul card is
meant to be your soul purpose through all
lifetimes, then how can it change from one
lifetime to the next?
In talking to Mary I learned that over time, she
has come to realise there were several problems
with Angeles Arrien’s logic that she either didn't
see at the time she was learning from her, or
never thought to challenge her on. The issue
raised in my tutorial was one of them!
So, after some consideration, I think the best way
to look at your personality and soul cards, is to
see them as working in tandem to provide a
picture of who you are. Your personality card
represents the lessons or challenges you face as
you come to terms with your true purpose. If your
personality and soul cards are different, you are
learning to integrate the two energies. If they are
the same, your energies are more focussed and
directed.
So what about this intriguing Fool/Emperor
combination? I absolutely love the Fool, but have
always been wary of the Emperor. All cards have
a light and shadow side, and for whatever
reason, I focus first on the shadow side of the
Emperor – the tyrant, the dictator, the
uncompromising maker of rules in the outer
world. The Fool, on the other hand, knows no
rules, acts on impulse, takes a leap of faith
trusting that the universe will support his or her
actions. I never focus first on the shadow side of
the Fool, the person whose actions are
misguided and encumbered by baggage from the
past. For me the Fool is a wonderfully positive
image, heralding new adventures in new terrains.
I look back on my life and can see that I have
happily embraced the challenge of taking leaps of
faith. I’ve never been afraid of change, of leaving
situations behind and starting again. As I wind
down work prior to travelling abroad for longish
periods of time, people ask whether I’m worried
that I might not have work when I return. My
answer is always “No, I’ve always found work in
the past, why should this time be any different?” A
very Fool-like statement!
However, as I get older (and maybe wiser) I
realise that leaps of faith are all very well, but you
do need a structure in which to start all those new
ventures. Whether I like it or not, I do need that
Emperor! And I need to integrate him into all
aspects of my life. In my world of work outside
Tarot, I have been the Emperor extraordinaire
over the past four years, leading projects that
have set new rules across Australia for screen,
media and music qualifications in the vocational
education and training sector. However, at a
personal level and in my evolving Tarot practice, I
have been less inclined to focus on the Emperor,
preferring to rely almost solely on the energy of
the Fool. The time for me to balance the scales of
the Fool and the Emperor in all aspects of my life
is long overdue – it’s time to bring the positive
energies of these two archetypes together.
The TGA’s contribution to the Autumn
and Winter issues of Spheres included:
Marson
 What’s love got to do with it? by Sara
 A turn of the wheel by Linda Marson
 The Tarot swords – sorrow or
opportunity? by Helen Howell
Spheres is available in newsagencies
around Australia or subscribe via the
website at
www.spiritguide.com.au
.
1
Greer, Mary K., Tarot for Yourself: A Workbook
for Personal Transformation, The Career Press,
2002, p. 29.
The following bookshops offer members of
the Tarot Guild of Australia a 10% discount
on purchases of Tarot books and decks:
 The shadow side of love by Linda
 Tarot Q&A by David Camp
The child is the Fool – he just says what he sees
without a thought for the rules of society. The
Emperor’s shadow side is to the fore - he has
forgotten that the title of leader means nothing
without actions that demonstrate leadership. The
fairytale shows that the energy of the Fool brings
the shadow side of the Emperor into balance.
They need each other.
10% discount on
Tarot books and decks
Tarot talk in Spheres
Gilbert
An intriguing metaphor for the nexus between the
Fool and the Emperor is contained in the fairytale
by Hans Christian Anderson, the Emperor’s New
Clothes. It shows that leaders run the risk of
becoming irrelevant if they let vanity and an
unswerving belief in their own power cloud their
judgements. In the story, two enterprising tailors
play on the Emperor’s vanity by promising to
make him beautiful new clothes. “Only ignorant
and stupid people will fail to see the beauty of our
creation”, they say. However, the tailors only
pretend to make the clothes, and so convincing is
their pretence that the Emperor, his courtiers and
subjects applaud the beauty of the clothes as the
Emperor parades naked in public. During the
parade, a child, not intimidated by the thought of
being dubbed ignorant, proclaims loudly that the
Emperor is naked. But the Emperor, afraid to
acknowledge his vanity, continues with the
charade even though he finally knows he has
been the butt of an elaborate joke.
 TS Bookshop, 126-128 Russell Street
Melbourne (www.tsbookshop.com.au)
 Adyar Bookshop, 230 Clarence Street
Sydney (www.adyar.com.au)
 Cosmic Pages, 338-340 King William
Street Adelaide
(www.cosmicpages.com.au)
Simply show your membership card at the
cash register to obtain the discount.
Discounts at bookstores in other cities are
currently being negotiated.
A beautiful range of aromatic Tarot Oils® to promote spiritual empowerment and profound inner
healing.
These oils are literally gifts from spirit and have been lovingly blended and bottled in a serene
natural environment, and then balanced and charged for optimum effect with healing symbols and
magical rites.
The Tarot Oils can be applied topically; at the pulse points as a
perfume, they can be introduced into the energy field as a fortifying
auric wash, applied to the chakras or added to your bath water.
Tarot Oils® are available individually or as a complete set of 22.
Each Tarot Oil comes with its own information sheet that includes an
affirmation to work with and an explanation of the healing properties
of the main ingredients. The Complete Collection comes in a
handmade timber presentation box with an information booklet and a
set of Major Arcana cards based on the Rider Waite.
You can use these oils for yourself, or your clients. For yourself
simply choose directly from your box or shuffle your cards and
choose one that way.
If you are a Tarot Consultant, Psychic Reader or Healer you can
incorporate the Tarot Oils into your client’s sessions to add another
element to the work. If you have a good working knowledge of the
Tarot you might like to experiment with ‘Tarot Oil Readings’ and for
teachers of the Tarot they can become an additional teaching tool –
especially useful for kinaesthetic students.
Try closing your readings by having your client select a Tarot
Oil from the box while holding in their mind the question
“What energy can I draw on to support and nurture me in the
coming weeks and months”. Place a drop of their chosen
Tarot Oil onto their wrist, have them rub their wrists together
to activate the positive aspects of that archetype and then
watch them breathe the fragrance in. The response is
instantaneous and visible and it leaves a lasting impression.
If you feel that the Tarot Oils® would fit with your work and
your clients I would love to talk with you. Please feel free to
contact me at any time for further information.
Wholesale enquiries welcome.
The Tarot Opens Doors and Empowers People
Wild Woman Consulting P.O. Box 8200, Wodonga Vic 3690
www.tarot.net.au Phone: 0409 777 116
Reviews
Ticket, Passport and
Tarot Cards
By Linda Marson
Review by Sheri Harshberger
This abbreviated
review is reproduced
with permission of
the author from Tarot
Reflections, an online
publication of the
American Tarot
Association at
http://www.atatarot.com/reflections/.
The review was
published in
November 2008.
O
ne of the coolest Tarot books I have run
across has to be Ticket, Passport and
Tarot Cards, by Linda Marson. Frankly,
I've had some difficulty writing this review
because there is so much to talk about, I didn't
know where to begin! This book is part travel
guide, part resource for Tarot card meanings,
part how-to manual on self-discovery, and part
case study in how to journal. It's also part
autobiographical, as Linda uses her own journey
through self-discovery and her personal
readings for family and friends as examples. It's
an enlightening experience to be invited along
for the ride!
The book is organised in a very logical order.
There are two main sections to the book. The
first section prepares us for the journey ahead.
In the first chapter, Linda includes suggestions
on what deck you might use (if you don't have a
favorite), and explains why she uses the RiderWaite. She also makes suggestions on how to
read reversals, and she introduces us to the
incredibly powerful Self-Reflection Spread that is
used throughout the book. I could, but won't,
describe the spread design, other than to say
that there is a key position that is always
occupied by a Major. I feel that to expand more
than that gives away too much information about
the spread, information that I feel that you need
to buy the book to get. The second chapter is
devoted to the introduction of the Major Arcana.
The third covers the Courts by suit, and the
fourth chapter rounds out our preparation for the
journey with a discussion of the Minor Arcana by
suit.
The remainder of the book is devoted to Linda's
travels through the Major Arcana. The section
themes are the key, universal milestones in
everyone's life: leaving the nest, marriage and
motherhood (maybe we could substitute
fatherhood for the male readers), selfawareness, change and healing, and true
purpose. Each section is formatted with a
question, posed by either Linda herself or a
family member, the spread is thrown, and the
key to the spread, a Major, is discussed within
the context of the real life situation. Linda has
selected 22 events from her life that she uses to
illustrate her own journey through the Majors.
The book is printed in black and white, but a 22page color insert is tucked in the center of the
book. Each page of the insert is devoted to a
card of the Major Arcana, and includes several
introspective questions associated with the card
at the top of the page. The remainder of the
page includes a reference to the pages
associated with that card, and small color photos
of the locations with a summary description of
each.
As if the book weren't enough, there was an
award-winning companion television series
based on it. The installments are short, but they
carry great impact, as the words from the text each of the 22 cases - are matched with scenes
from the locations in the world they are taking
place in or are applicable to. The words from the
text are brought to life through Linda's own
narration. I liked the theme music, too! The CD
contains nine segments of the show and the
trailer, organized in a menu format so each can
be explored individually.
It isn't hard to recommend this book - there is
something in it for everyone! This book is a
particularly powerful tool if you are someone
who wants to journal or who is having a difficult
time associating cards and meanings within the
context of actual life. Using her self as the
model, Linda Marson teaches these things and
much more through demonstration. It is
interesting, entertaining, and most of all,
inspiring!
Ticket, Passport and Tarot Cards is published
by Brolga Publishing Pty. Ltd., 2005 and the
RRP is $24.95. The discount price for TGA
members is $22.45 + $3 postage and handling,
i.e. a total of $25.45. The DVD of nine
segments from the TV series costs $8.50
(includes postage). Purchase at TGA
workshops or online using Paypal at
www.tarotguild.org.au/linda.htm.
Reviews
The Tarot of Perfection
by Rachel Pollack
Review by Helen Howell
T
his was my holiday reading and as
expected I found the stories well written.
They captured one's imagination and at
the end of each, I found myself nodding my
head in some sort of understanding.
I loved the story called The Pickpocket's
Destiny. It illustrates how we cannot always
understand the journey we are on, or even
envisage how it will end, and not until we get
there, are we able to go, "Ah now, I
understand!"
This is very much like consulting the Tarot, in
that we cannot always see the relevance of
what the cards are showing us right at the
moment. But if we are brave enough to follow
their advice, we find that further down the
track it all comes to light.
I also loved the story, The Fool, the Stick and
the Princess, where the younger brother of
two others did not have their intellect, but
embraced the world with a child-like
innocence, so they called him the Fool. His
brothers left in search of their fortune and
both, at different times, came across a stick
which they recognised as magical. They each
thought they knew how to use it, and did so to
their own detriment.
When they didn't return, the Fool decided to
set off to seek his fortune, even though his
parents tried to stop him because they thought
he couldn't do such a thing. He didn't let that
deter him, for he was unaware that he could
not! He too found the stick but didn't see it as
magic, just as a stick that could be used in
various ordinary ways to help him on his
journey. By not being burdened with any
preconceived ideas about what he could or
could not do with this stick, the stick actually
worked its magic for him. He finally made it to
the princess, married her (much to his
surprise), brought her back home with a
fortune and rescued his brothers from their
stone prisons to boot!
He so reminded me of the Tarot Fool, where
somehow he did not over-think his situation
but experienced it instead. His journey took
him further than he would have gone if he had
had the problem of being burdened by
previous knowledge. Like the Tarot Fool, the
Fool in the story had faith enough in himself to
take that leap....
These stories definitely illustrate that, although
we do not always understand the journey we
are on, the most important thing is the
travelling itself. Intriguing titles for other stories
include The Girl Who Went to the Rich
Neighbourhood, The Souls in the Trees,
Carolina in the Morning, Master Matyas and
Simon Wisdom.
Rachel has produced a book full of stories
here that will make you view the possibilities
of Tarot or oracles and destiny in a slightly
different light.
The Tarot of Perfection, A Book of Tarot
Tales is published by Magic Realist Press,
2008. RRP is $23.75 + $5.50 postage and
handling. Copies can be obtained from
Spheres, The Spirit Guide, PO Box 6019
Mitchelton 4053, or order by phone on
1300 551 071.
Professional membership
What’s on in the Tarot world
Castlemaine, Victoria, Australia –
Association for Tarot Studies
Annual Convention
3rd – 5th July, 2009
Guest presenters include:
 Alex Ukolov from Prague (co-creator of
the Tarot of Prague and numerous other
Tarot projects)
 Kat Black (Golden and Touchstone Tarots)
 Fern Mercier and Lyn Olds from New
Zealand (coordinators of the Pacific
Literatarot project)
 Jeni Bethell (foundation member of the
TGA and well known Tarot teacher).
For more details
www.association.tarotstudies.org/2009convention.html
Kim Arnold is the founder and
organiser of the UK Tarot
Conference. Kim’s client list
includes high profile
celebrities in the world of fashion, film and TV.
More recently, her Tarot expertise has
catapulted her into the dazzling world of
movies. During 2008 Kim worked at Pinewood
Studios and on location for the Universal
Studio movie, The Wolf Man (release date
April 2009), starring Benicio Del Toro and
Anthony Hopkins. Kim was headhunted to be
a consultant Tarot advisor and to prepare
Geraldine Chaplin for her role in which she
reads the Tarot cards.
For more details visit:
http://www.tarotconference.co.uk/programme.html
The Pamela Colman Smith
commemorative set
th
East Anglia, UK – TABI regional
meeting
th
th
18 and 19 September, 2009
A one-day meeting for TABI members and
guests. Topics include
Celebrating the 100 anniversary of the RiderWaite Deck, the Pamela Colman Smith
commemorative set will be cherished by all
Tarot collectors and art lovers. The deluxe set
includes the Smith-Waite centennial Tarot
deck and two books:
 a journey into a card
 The Artwork and Times of Pamela Colman
Smith, by Stuart R. Kaplan, with over 100
examples of her non-Tarot art, and
 the forgotten use of Tarot: fun and
amusement.
 The Pictorial Key to the Tarot by Arthur
Edward Waite, in a new format.
Price: £50.00, including refreshments and
sandwich lunch.
The Smith-Waite centennial edition Tarot deck
is reproduced from the original 1909 deck and
comes with a 78-card deck with drawstring
organza bag. The set also includes
 the astrology of the pip cards
Venue: Regency House Hotel, Bury St
Edmunds, Suffolk.
 two prints of Pamela Colman Smith
For details please contact Julie T on
Julie@tarotscript.co.uk
 one photo and self portrait, both 5” X 7”
suitable for framing
London: UK Tarot conference
16th-17th October 2009 Columbia Hotel,
Lancaster Gate
 six colour postcards of artwork by Pamela
Colman Smith
The sixth UK Tarot conference brings together
some of the most highly respected Tarot
authors, artists and teachers from around the
world. Presenters this year include Caitlin
Matthews, Corrine Kenner, Liz Dean and
Emily Carding
 spread sheet guide. Everything is
attractively packaged in a deluxe keepsake
case.
Available: May 2009 from U.S. Games
Systems Inc.
Http://www.usgamesinc.com/
Professional membership
A Tarot card a day
Review by Tania Yorgey © 2009
F
or the past six months or so I have been
receiving the Tarot card a day from
Karen Seinor’s website
www.tarot.net.au. Receiving a Tarot card a
day breaks me out of my structure for the day
and allows me to turn inward to have a look at
what I could possibly create for my day, or if I
open it at the end of the day, what I may have
created with this card in mind. When a card
appears that I think is relevant for a friend, I
forward it to them so they can let their mind
explore the possibilities relevant to them.
Karen’s images are from the Rider Waite Tarot
deck and her descriptions are insightful, fun
and with a positive twist to even the most
challenging of cards.
Premium listing on TGA website
…exclusively for professional
members
Premium listings head the Tarot readers
and teachers pages.
 descriptive text of 60-70 words
 photo or logo included
 ongoing text amendments.
Great value at $30 for the first year,
followed by an annual fee of just $15!
TGA website ranks high on Google, so get
with the strength!
For further info contact the TGA
secretary – secretary@tarotguild.org.au.
Receiving your Tarot Card a Day creates a
more conscious daily experience. It offers
emotional support during times of change
and a positive focus for whatever is going
on in your life. Each Daily Tarot Card
email includes a picture of the card, my
interpretation of its meaning, together with
a specially written affirmation to help you
draw the abundance of that card to you.
Annual subscription is $12.00.
You can also give the Daily Tarot Card
As a gift.
"Tarot in the Context of the Universe" - 10 week Course
Cost $50 per week
Tuesday Evenings
6.30 - 9.30 pm
Next Intake May 19 until July 21
Autumn Course
Schedule 2009
"In the Palm of Your Hands" - 10 week Course in Palmistry
Cost $50 per week
Wednesday Evenings
7.00 - 9.00 pm
Next Intake May 13 until July 15
"Know Your Numbers" - 12 week Course in Numerology
Cost $50 per week
Thursday Evenings
7.00 - 9.30 pm
Next Intake July 9 until September 24
"Paint Your Own Tree of Life" - 1 Day Creative Workshop
Cost $150
Paints provided
BYO Canvas
Saturday May 23
Limited Places:
Contact Sara Gilbert
0412 235 935
sara@lifespiritconnections.com.au
"Introduction to Astrology" - 3 Day Workshop
Cost $350
Friday evening, Saturday & Sunday May 29 -31
"Meet Your Chinese Astrology Animal" - 1 Day
Cost $150
Sunday June 21
Website affiliates – exclusive to Guild members
The TGA website has attained the pinnacle of success in the Google search engine. If you
enter the words 'Tarot' and 'Australia', our site is at the very top of the list! If you simply enter
'Tarot' we're on the first page.
Both interest and professional members of the Guild can take advantage of the high ranking
of the TGA website on Google by becoming a TGA affiliate - a membership benefit which is
really worth something!
Affiliate option one
For $200 Guild members can have a site of up to six individual pages designed to their
specifications. Your web site address starts with tarotguild.org.au/..... followed by whatever
you want to call your site and the file extension '.htm'. After the initial design and set-up
phase, you pay the first annual hosting fee of $50. Up to six text changes per year are
permitted within this fee structure.
Affiliate option two
For $60, followed by an annual fee of $50 after the first 12 months, Guild members can have
a description of their business on the Affiliates page with a link to their own external website.
For further info contact the TGA secretary – secretary@tarotguild.org.au.
Reach an audience of Tarot enthusiasts
Advertise in The Magician
TGA
Members
$90
$50
$30
Others
$150
$100
$60
New advertiser incentive - 5%
discount on first single ad or 10%
off the rate for three ads.
Three Ads
TGA
(A full year of advertising) Members
Full page
$255
Half page
$140
Quarter page
$85
Others
$300
$200
$120
Inserts
Send out your flyers or brochures
with The Magician for $35 plus
your own printing costs.
Single Ads
Full page
Half page
Quarter page
Recordings of Tarot Guild workshops on CD
The Guild has a comprehensive catalogue of workshops on CD. Most
recordings cost only $6, with half and full-day sessions costing a little
more.
The catalogue is available for download from the shop on the Guild's
website at www.tarotguild.org.au where you can purchase CDs online
using PayPal. To receive a copy of the catalogue in the mail, leave a
message on the Guild's message bank on 03 9859 7355.
Founding President of the Guild, Anne Shotter (right), has presented many workshops over
the years. The first recorded workshop was entitled A bridge between two worlds, presented
at the Guild’s International Tarot Conference in 1997. The most recent is Adapting Tarot to a
changing world, a workshop in Melbourne in February 2009.
In addition to articles on Tarot practice,
the Spring 2009 issue of The Magician
will feature Death.
Deadline for copy is
3rd July 2009
Email copy to:
magician@tarotguild.org.au
or send hard copy by post to:
The Magician
Tarot Guild of Australia
GPO Box 3117
Melbourne 3001
Death from the Rider Waite Tarot published
by US Games Systems Inc.
Next issue
... continued from back page.
guide you through love’s maze, and help with
the choices that our emotions provoke.
Venue: Australian School of Meditation and
Yoga, 23 Kurilpa Street, West End, Brisbane;
www.asm.org.au
Cost: TGA member and non-member rates
range from $45 to $65. See workshop leaflet
for details.
Transport: bus, rail to South Brisbane station
and half hour walk, or car. A lift from the
station on one or both days can be arranged –
tel. Megan Williams in advance on 0411 510
676.
Melbourne
Saturday 9 May (2pm – 3.30pm) The
Tarot reading as an experience… as a
spiritual healing
Karen Seinor
Karen will present an interactive workshop
which is “different, it’s outside the square and
I’m excited….but be assured that I won’t get
too spooky!”
We are all familiar with the Tarot as a panacea
to emotional and mental turbulence, so why
not Tarot as a vibrational healing tool? Let’s
explore the Tarot in this manner along with our
role as ‘the healer’. Bring your Tarot deck and
your adventurous spirit!
Karen is an Interest member of the Guild
based in Wodonga. For information on her
business, Wild Woman Consulting, visit
Karen’s website at www.tarot.net.au
Venue: Box Hill Community Art Centre, corner
Station and Combarton Streets, Box Hill
Cost: $8 TGA members: $14 visitors;
Afternoon tea provided.
Saturday 13 June (2pm – 3.30pm)
Tarot and the wheel of the year
Jeni Bethell
The wheel of the year is a way in which early
cultures such as the Celts honoured, through
ritual, the cycle of the seasons. For them spirit
and matter were one; and they were
respectfully aware their survival depended on
working in harmony with Mother Nature.
The cycle of the wheel of the year is one of
birth or beginning, growing and blossoming,
coming to fruition, fading, dying and being
once again reborn. Many people still deem it
to be relevant for us today – be it as an
immanent, earth-based form of spirituality, or
as a way to better understand our physical
and psychological cycles.
Each of the eight festivals is a time to consider
how best to work in harmony with that
particular period in the annual cycle of nature be it a time to plan, to initiate, to create, to
celebrate, to reflect, or to let go. The Tarot can
be a valuable aid in this process.
This presentation will include an explanation
of the cycle with its eight festivals. As it falls
only nine days before the festival of Yule –
which marks the end of one year and the start
of a new one – participants will also be
introduced to a spread to explore as they
contemplate what they might like to achieve in
the year ahead.
Jeni Bethell is a founding and professional
member of the TGA. She has a successful
business as teacher and reader of the Tarot.
You can find out more about her at
www.tarotguild.org.au/jenibeth.htm.
Venue: Cora Graves Community Centre, 38
Blessington Street, St Kilda 3182
Friday 10 July 2009 (9.30am – 12.30pm)
Up close and personal – love and desire in
the Tarot
Fern Mercier
See description under Brisbane on 19 July.
Venue: Balwyn Community Centre, 412
Whitehorse Rd., Surrey Hills 3127
for details.
Saturday 11 July 2009 (10am – 5pm)
The High Priestess and her big brother, the
Hierophant
Fern Mercier
The relationship between the Papess and the
Pope - past and present - has been troubled
and polarized. The first Papess was stoned to
death and her would-be successor burned at
the stake in 1300. Our present-day High
Priestess with her romantic title conjures an
optimistic vision of female spiritual authority
with Jungian overtones of equality with her
Brother High Priest – at least within the
confines of the internal world of psyche. In the
outside world however, it’s a different story.
The Hierophant however, has it all his own
way within conventional society. He fixes the
rules, the protocols and is situated firmly as
his name suggests, within a hierarchy. He is
indeed Big Brother to his marginalised,
individualised sister.
If we want our practice of Tarot reader to
come in out of the cold, we need to work on
reconciling the tensions between Pope and
Papess. I suggest we look to our fellow priests
- the traditional yet sibling professions of
therapists, counsellors, mental health workers
and healers - who all operate within
conventional systems. If we learn how to
integrate the best of their methodologies
around for example, supervision and codes of
practice, we could provide more support and
protection for our profession as well as
become more accountable to self, our clients
and our calling.
However, do we, the High Priestesses, want
to regulate our profession? Can we live with
Big Brother breathing down our necks, laying
down the law and interpreting our visions? Is
the reconciliation of Papess and Pope
possible?
Venue: Balwyn Community Centre, 412
Whitehorse Road, Surrey Hills 3127
for details.
Saturday 8 August 2009 (2pm – 3.30pm)
Saturday 25 July (9.30am – 4.30pm)
Snow White, the Wicked Witch and the
High Priestess
Fern Mercier
Using mythology, fairy tale, the bible and
popular culture, we explore the underpinnings
of the mysterious Tarot Arcana of the High
Priestess.
The ancient idea of the three stages of
Woman as Virgin, Mother and Crone, is
contained within the Tarot’s Empress as
Mother, whilst the High Priestess holds both
Virgin and Crone. It is she who encompasses
youth and age, naiveté and experience, new
and old, future and past, potential and
memory.
Card number two, the High Priestess denotes
the idea of both relationship and polarity. We
will discover the tension between the Virgin
and the Crone beautifully told in the fairy tale
of Snow White. Delving deep into the
symbology of Snow White, we unfurl the
story’s links into the fabulous High Priestess
archetype.
We use both the Grimm Brothers’ 19th century
version and Walt Disney’s 1936 animated
movie to extract the layers of meaning that lie
hidden within this old fairy’s story.
Numerology: explore four of your major
core numbers
Kerry Gummersall
In this workshop which gives you taste of
numerology, we take a brief look at the
numbers that influence your life. These
numbers provide an insight into your destiny,
your life path and your personality. Learn how
to do these calculations for yourself and
others. Beware! Numerology can be addictive!
Kerry, a professional member of the Tarot
Guild, teaches both Tarot and numerology.
Venue: NSW Writers’ Centre, in the grounds
of Rozelle Hospital, off Balmain Rd.
for details.
Tarot reading service
Venue: Cora Graves Community Centre, 38
Blessington Street, St Kilda 3182
Office parties, Melbourne Cup lunches,
hen’s nights, dinner functions…you name
it! Any event can be made special by
having a few Tarot readers on hand to
entertain guests.
Sydney
Friday 24 July (2pm – 5pm)
the Tarot
Fern Mercier
The Tarot Guild of Australia offers a Tarot
reading service to businesses, clubs or
individuals. Whatever the occasion we’ll
find the right combination of readers from
among our pool of Professional members.
See description under Brisbane on 19 July.
Spread the word about this service so that
we can increase work opportunities for our
Professional members.
Venue: Beyond the Ordinary Teahouse and
Healing Centre: Level 1/314 Darling St,
Balmain, NSW 2041
www.beyondtheordinary.com.au
for details.
For more information telephone Linda
Henery on 03 9877 2917 or
email events@tarotguild.org.au.
Calendar of events: May to August 2009
Brisbane
Saturdays - 10am – 12.30pm (second
Saturday of each month)
Brisbane northside - Tarot Talk
9 May: Mythology and the Tarot – Lilly, Donna,
Tara and Kathleen will each look at a myth
and how it is depicted in various Tarot decks.
13 June: Palmistry – presented by Linda
Henery from Melbourne, who is Treasurer of
the Tarot Guild of Australia.
11 July: Hidden symbols of the Major Arcana,
presented by Mavis.
8 August: Symbology of colours in the Tarot,
presented by Maria
For more information contact Megan Williams
0411 510 676.
Venue: Chermside Library, Meeting Room 2,
Cnr Hamilton Rd and Kittyhawk Drive,
Chermside
Cost: Gold coin donation (tea and coffee
supplied)
Saturdays - 10am – 12noon (last
Saturday of each month)
Brisbane southside - Time out for Tarot
30 May: 'Bring a spread' month. Everyone is
invited to bring along their favourite spread to
share with the group.
Cost: Gold coin donation (tea and coffee
supplied)
Saturday 18 July (10am – 5pm)
The earth, air, fire and water of the Tarot
Fern Mercier
Unlocking the secrets of a great Tarot reading
is simple and fun when you find the basic
codes and keys that lie within the Tarot's old
wisdom.
The four suits of the Minor Arcana can be
seen to represent the four ancient elements of
Earth, Air, Fire and Water. Exploring the
elemental meanings and cross-referencing
them with the Tarot suits helps uncover the
deeper esoteric meanings that lie behind the
familiar Tarot images. We shall also spend
time with the number cycles in each suit so we
can bring together numbers and elements,
e.g. the Four of Wands - 4 working through
fire. The Fifth Element - our Major Arcana - will
not be neglected! Bring your own cards to
play.
Venue: Australian School of Meditation and
Yoga, 23 Kurilpa Street, West End, Brisbane
(www.asm.org.au)
for details.
Sunday 19 July (10am – 1pm)
27 June: 'Stuck on' cards. We discuss the
cards that members feel they are 'stuck' on;
the ones they have trouble interpreting.
the Tarot
25 July: Court cards. This month we explore
the court cards, how they interact and how the
qualities of their rank and suit combine to
create meaning.
Tarot for two: the quest for love is the oldest
story as every Tarot reader knows. Tarot
wisdom has much to tell about our yearnings
for romance and intimacy. In fact, every card
has something to say about our personal
relationships, but some speak louder than
others. Discover some easy Tarot directions to
Venue: Thornlands Dance Palais Hall, Cnr
Cleveland-Redland Bay Road and Island
Outlook Ave., Thornlands
Fern Mercier
... continued on page 22.
Tarot Guild products at cost price!
Refillable pens printed both sides (choice
of blue or black ink) - only $4!
Postage and handling in Australia for 1-3
pens $1.50.
Mugs, printed both sides only $5!
Postage and handling for two
mugs: $8 in Victoria, $10
elsewhere in Australia.
$50 and $30 gift
vouchers which can be
redeemed as entry fees
to workshops and
bookshop purchases.
24 … Journal of The Tarot Guild of Australia Autumn/Winter 2009 ... The Magician
Send your order to:
The Tarot Guild of Australia,
GPO Box 3117, Melbourne
3001.

Issue 30.cdr - Tarot Guild of Australia

Transcription

Similar documents

April 10 Ezine - Amber Jayanti

VIVA 418 - Abrahadabra Oasis

Lesson 2: The guises of the tarot Fool

The Complete Golden Dawn System of Magic

The different types of tarot

The History of The Miracle Tree

Heaps of Images`: Tarot Cards in Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Language and Memory in Italo Calvino: The Tarot and

Ten Reasons Why People Find it Hard to Learn Tarot 1

by Christine Payne-Towler