A funny thing happened in the card altar room today. Our deck is one of the alternative Tarot options, so there is the possibility of Reversed messages. What we got this time was a kind of sideways draw. Not unheard of but not all that common either. It’s like when cards throw themselves at me in a reading. It’s something that needs paying attention to.
Before we go any further though, I should mention (or re-mention, since I know we’ve talked about this, but maybe not for years) that Contrary cards are sort of a controversial topic. Some readers never acknowledge them, and others see them as the exact opposite of their Direct definitions.
I’m somewhere in-between, I read them with a tweak. Usually the message is about cycling in or out of that right-side-up phase. They arrive facing one way or another for a reason, it’s up to us to discern that reason. (Or listen for it.)
We’ll look at these with two pictures, one from each angle. (I tried to make this a slideshow, but WordPress changed shit around since the last time I posted one so now I can’t figure it out.)
From one direction.
Both of these are Major Arcana, so that’s meaningful, as are their numbers, and the order in which they fall within the story of the cards (yes, there’s a story, a journey really).
From the other direction.
“Aloneness ~ IX
Breakthrough ~ XI
One of Gautam Buddha’s most significant contributions to the spiritual life of humankind was to insist to his disciples, ‘be a light unto yourself.’ Ultimately, each of us must develop within ourselves the capacity to make our way through the darkness ……
If you are now feeling that ‘enough is enough’ allow yourself to take the risk of shattering the old patterns and limitations that have kept your energy from flowing……”
These two have many points in common, so I’m thinking that’s more of why we got them together, with their up/down wobble. We need to look within, and see ourselves as both of the characters, the one who is learning self-sufficiency and the one who is bursting with energy.
We can BE both, and yet feel somewhat unstable in our footing. Our soul knows shit, it just does. And it carries a certain amount of ancient joy into every endeavor, dragging us along sometimes when we just don’t feel like having fun. Often, we’ll remember that feeling and look like the Breakthrough image. In our serene quiet moments we resemble the Aloneness image, lighting up the world with our inner glow.
Our lessons give us pause, and sometimes cause us to question ourselves. When we doubt and waver and allow fear to enter into our lives, we fall away from those strong, empowered beings we see in today’s illustrations. When we stand tall, jump with both feet, and guide others with our inner light, we are validating how far we’ve come and how much we’ve leaned. As well as honoring that infinite core of who/where we came from and who/what we are capable of being.
We can do all of this, with humility and with honesty. If we keep that Divine spark, the one we all have right here, in mind, we’ll be better able to manage the down-times, the rough patches, and any uncertainty that might creep up on us. The Universe is telling us that we’ve got the right idea, that our progress is measurable and profound. We simply need to lead with our truth, and be our very best selves possible.
Today’s Deck:
Osho Zen Tarot
Yesterday’s Baking:
minor fail. No picture. I’m giving up on cookies for now, again. Back to muffins and cupcakes (and biscuits).
FLP Report:
Alaska, and South Carolina (who Dan had to practically piggy-back onto their bumper before we could see WHICH of the Carolinas it was).
Wow, very powerful card combo! I read an article one time that there are 13 different ways to interpret a reversal… definitely controversial, and sometimes they are so confusing! I like your take that the energy is either fading in or out. Much better than the exact opposite route… I mean, I don’t buy that The Universe wouldn’t just give us a different card, if that were the case! The other interpretation of reversals that has resonated & fit just perfectly in some of the draws I’ve done was resistance… that the energies are being resisted by one of the parties involved. Not that I feel that is the case here, just rambling about reversals, LOL!
Ooh, and then the roman numeral numbers being reversed of one another, also! Cool! AND the numbers themselves!
I recently discovered a new favorite astrology blogger/writer, Sarah Varcas, and the post she just put up for this week is VERY synchronistic… http://astro-awakenings.co.uk/14th-to-20th-jan-2013 . The reason I originally wanted Aloneness to be THE reversed card of the two was that she talks about All being One… but, really, the whole article meshes beautifully with the concept of both neither and both cards being reversed, neither being totally upright, per se, and neither being totally reversed, but the two of them being reversed from each other. Wow!
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Holy crap, that IS synchronistic! And phew, so glad you could make sense of this one. As we discussed last night, it took me a bit to process it too.
J
10:51 p.m.
1-14-13
Thanks for your help with that! That message was one that felt very important to me, especially after seeing that the corresponding “regular” Tarot cards were Justice and The Hermit, both of which have come up for me repeatedly in the last few months. And, of course I identify quite strongly with Justice, because of the double-Libra thing (actually triple, if you count Pluto, which I recently found out is my “chart ruler,” so I think it does have a bit more significance for me than for some people. Plus it’s quite tightly conjunct my Mercury, so that intensifies it, too. Well, intensifies both, really. The “chart ruler” is the ruling planet of your Ascendant sign.)
I want to know more about this “chart ruler” topic. Also, yeah, Justice is a really big deal, with many of us. You, in particular right now.
I think that anyone who ignores the contrary/reversed cards can’t be hearing all the message. There is a reason why the cards pop up as they do, and what they tell us reflects that. I like your use of contrary or challenger myself. I am also intrigued that you describe yourself as the radio, and listen for what the cards are saying. It really ressonates with me, being an auditory learner.
I am trundling back to Mayberry today; first time this year, and first time in almost a month. At least I remembered to go get the patrol car yesterday.
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Good luck with those needy Creswellians! Your partner is taking a mini-break. Not that he’ll be getting much rest, I have his schedule pretty jam-packed (or ya know, as busy as WE ever get).
J
11:54 p.m.
1-14-13
I, too, like how you read the reversed card as a challenger or moving into or out of a phase or situation. It makes a lot of sense.
Interesting card combination today. Be a light unto ourselves, plus break on through to the other side!
I’m tired of bandaging my surgical wounds and taking care of them. The tape doesn’t stick very well and by the next day is practically hanging off of me. But I keep reminding myself it is temporary. just temporary.
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I’m having the same issues with my thumb bandaging. Almost lost it in the pool tonight, good think I was already on the deck (instructing new folks) and could scoot right over to a near-by trash can.
J
11:56 p.m.
1-14-13
I agree, this is an interesting card combo. A nice lesson in balance. : )
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It’s so fun when new and different things happen with the cards, or just in general. THIS is why Magick never gets old or stale.
J
11:58 p.m.
1-14-13
I can actually see both sides of the argument on reversed cards. I mean, it’s the same card no matter which way it’s pointed. But then also there are times when I need the reverse/challenger message. I try to decide whether or not I’m going to pay attention to reversals before the reading starts–sometimes the decision is very clear, other times it seems like it doesn’t really matter. and love the cards and message today, of course.
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Oh, good point about making that declaration before you flip any over. I think I must be “set” on accepting both directions (or ANY directions) as my default.
(You always have such great insights!)
J
11:03 p.m.
1-14-13
Very interesting card combination. And the images weren’t bad either.
I find it interesting all the different ways people work with Tarot. One person said they would prefer the cards themselves be square so they could come up in four different ways. But despite the differences, people seem to be able to find a way that works for them. I think the flexibility of Tarot makes it a good medium for reaching many different people.
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Exactly, it IS the flexibility! And that’s probably precisely why it’s held its own for so VERY long!
J
11:05 p.m.
1-14-13