Mythic Tarot Article Series-
Learn
about the Mythic Tarot Major Arcana cards from the Fool to the World
New Article every month in Donna's
Newsletter, Iris Insights
All the Articles to Date are archived
on this page
© 2010 Donna Fisher-Jackson- All rights reserved.
The Death card - A Time
for Endings ~ June/July 2010
Sometimes for many months, I don’t see
the Death card in any readings where I begin to wonder if it’s still in my deck
of cards, but when I fan all 78 cards out, there it is. It is a card that I
don’t see often in people’s readings, but when I do see it, I often sense fear
in the recipient of the reading, but I always explain how it rarely means an
actual physical death, but more of an ending to a chapter in their life. It
could be the ending of a relationship, a job, a home, or a lifestyle.
Afterall, endings
are a necessary phase of life.
The Death card is the 14th
card in the Major Arcana of the Mythic Tarot, and shows the next phase of this
archetypal journey. The card of Death in the Mythic Tarot portrays Hades, the
god of the underworld, dressed in his black robes with his face hidden behind a
helmet. His hands are open to receive the gifts from the small humans at his
feet. They give him a golden crown, a pile of coins, and a flower. Behind him,
the River Styx, winds its way across a barren landscape leading to a far shore
where the sun is rising on the green hills.
In Greek mythology, Hades was the son of
the Titans, Cronos and Rhea, and was rescued by his brother, Zeus, who gave him
the kingdom of the underworld as his share of the inheritance. Hades also known
as Pluto was the absolute master of the dark underworld. Although, Hades
received less stature than his heavenly brother, Zeus, he possessed the greater
power because his law was irrevocable. When a soul entered the dark domain of
Hades, no god, including Zeus could rescue them. At times, people did their
best to enter by way of trickery or magic to bring back someone from the dead,
but those rescues were rare.
On an inner level, Hades, the god of
Death, symbolizes the permanent and final end of a cycle of life. When change
shows up on our doorstep, we are often asked to relinquish an old dream,
attitude, or way of being in the world to be replaced by a new beginning, but
first, we must go through the ending. Hades in his dark robes symbolizes the
experience of sadness and mourning that we go through before we are able to
embrace the new cycle in our lives. In the card of the Hanged Man, we learned
about the experience of a voluntary sacrifice where we make a decision to let go
of something in the hope that a new phase of life can emerge. Hades represents
that in-between stage where we are brought face to face with our loss before the
sense of new growth has begun.
The card of Death does not always
symbolize a challenging ending, but can be more of an ending of an old way of
life like when someone is married, or gives birth to a child. They are also
letting go of an old way of being in the world, and learning how to embrace
their new status as a spouse, or a parent. And such is life with its many
endings and new beginnings from childhood to adolescence, from youth to middle
age, and from one relationship to another. Thus, Hades, the lord of Death, is
our invisible companion throughout life.
In a reading, the card of Death usually
implies that something must come to an end whether or not the person is fully
aware of the impending ending; it is a necessary stage for their soul’s growth.
It signifies an opportunity for a new life, if they can let go of the old one.
For the Fool in the Mythic Tarot, it is a time when he enters the underworld,
and has to leave behind his previous life to step into the unknown.
If you are faced with an ending, it can
be the perfect time to have a Mythic Tarot reading to receive insight into the
darkness, and to help you prepare for the new beginning that awaits you.
By Donna M. Fisher-Jackson, MA © 2010
(Thanks to Juliet Sharman-Burke, and Liz Greene, the creators of the Mythic
Tarot for their insightful comments.)
The Hanged Man -
A Time of Waiting ~ May, 2010
The Hanged Man card has been showing up a
lot lately in the readings that I have been doing. Considering what is
happening on the planet, I am not surprised. The Hanged Man is the 13th
card in the Major Arcana, and the next step on the Fool’s journey. As the Fool
responds to the turning of the Wheel of Fortune, he has to put his trust in the
unknown, and the unconscious as he enters a time of waiting for a new and better
life.
The card of the Hanged Man in the Mythic
Tarot deck portrays Prometheus as a mature man with brown hair, and a beard. He
is shackled in an upside down position to the bare face of a cliff. His upside
down posture implies that his head – the rational mind – no longer controls
him. Like the setting sun on the card, this image symbolizes the descent of the
spirit into the darkness of the unconscious. Behind him there are the craggy
rocks, and the large wings of an eagle as it approaches.
Many people are familiar with the story
of Prometheus. He was the Titan who defied Zeus, the father of the gods, and
stole the fire from the gods to give to man, knowing that he would be punished
for his deed. The name Prometheus means ‘foresight’, and he also possessed the
gift of prophecy. He had a deep sympathy for humankind, and wanted them to have
some of the holy fire so that they could discover progress and illumination, but
this didn’t go over well with Zeus. Zeus seized Prometheus, and had him chained
to a high cliff in the mountains. An eagle flew down each day to devour
Prometheus’s liver; and each night, his liver was renewed, and the torture
continued. After 3o years of this torture, Zeus relented, and allowed him to be
rescued by Heracles thus making Prometheus immortal.
On an inner level, the Hanged Man, is an
image of a voluntary sacrifice for a greater good. The sacrifice can be of a
material object, or an inner attitude, but it is made with willingness, and an
acceptance of the suffering that might be required. The image of Prometheus is
a symbol of the part of us which has the foresight to understand that such
changes might be needed for the unfoldment of an inner plan which is not yet
clear. He implies an acceptance of waiting in the darkness which many mystics
have called the ‘Dark Night of the Soul’ where one can only wait without a
vision of how everything will turn out. The card of the Hanged Man is the
natural next step after the turning of the Wheel of Fortune, for it implies a
willingness to trust in the Self which knows better than the ego what might be
right and necessary for one’s personal development.
In a reading, the Hanged Man can signify
the need for a voluntary sacrifice for the purpose of acquiring something of
greater value. It may be an external object, or a cherished attitude which
needs to be released. In any case, it often involves a time of waiting where
we are not able to see clearly in the darkness, and must wait for a time of
clarity.
If this sounds familiar, you may want
some more insight into this time of waiting. Have a Mythic Tarot reading today
to shed some light on what is hidden.
By Donna M. Fisher-Jackson, MA © 2010
(Thanks to Juliet Sharman-Burke, and Liz Greene, the creators of the Mythic
Tarot for their insightful comments.)
The Wheel of Fortune ~ April, 2010
The Wheel of Fortune is more than a game
show. It is the 12th card of the Major Arcana cards in the Tarot
deck, and the next step on the Fool’s journey when he has to come to terms with
his own destiny. Destiny and fate are two words that many people have debated
in the game of life. We all wonder how many of our life choices are just that
our own choices, or if we are being guided by some unseen destiny, or living at
the hands of Fate.
The Wheel of Fortune card in the Mythic
Tarot deck pictures the three goddesses of Fate, whom the Greeks have called the
Moirai. The three women are seated in a dark cave symbolizing both the womb
from which life is given, and the tomb to which it returns, and so is the
beginning and end of Fate. Clotho, a young woman, spins thread from a golden
spindle while Lachesis, a mature woman, measures the thread between her hands;
and lastly, Atropos, an old woman, holds a pair of shears to cut the thread.
The thread which the Moirai spin, measure and cut is likened to the weaving of
the tissues of the body suggesting that Fate is connected with heredity and with
the physical body itself.
In Greek mythology, the three Fates wove
the thread of human life in the secret darkness of their cave, and their work
could not be undone by any god including Zeus. Once the destiny of an
individual was woven, it could not be altered, and the length of life and time
of death were set by the Moirai. If a human tried to challenge Fate, as heroes
were known to do, then they were afflicted with what was called hubris, which
means arrogance in the face of the gods, and they would be punished for their
actions.
On an inner level, the three Moirai who
encircle the Wheel of Fortune reveal an image of a deep and mysterious law at
work within the individual, which is unknown and unseen, but seems to
precipitate sudden changes of fortune that upset the pattern of their lives. On
the card’s Wheel, there are four human figures that depict the different
experiences of fortune from success to down on his luck, and from moving forward
with support to descending against his will.
The Wheel of
Fortune card is not really about sudden turns of luck, chance, or accident, but
more about the idea that there could be an intelligent and orderly plan behind
the seemingly random changes in life. The image of the Wheel is a powerful
picture in that the rim of the Wheel suggests a moving panorama of life while
the hub of the Wheel remains still at the center, a constant
and unchanging essence. The hub could be the Self which
chooses without the conscious knowledge of the ego, but turns toward various
situations, events, paths and people. Perhaps, Fate does not come to meet us,
but rather, we turn to meet our Fate.
In a reading, the Wheel of Fortune card
can be an indicator of a sudden change of fortune which will bring growth, and a
new phase of life. And so the Fool’s journey continues as he encounters the
unseen hands of the weavers of his destiny.
Has your personal Wheel of Fortune been turning in new directions? Have a
Mythic Tarot reading to receive the deeper insights of this new cycle in your
life.
By Donna M. Fisher-Jackson, MA © 2010
(Thanks to Juliet Sharman-Burke, and Liz Greene, the creators of the Mythic
Tarot for their insightful comments.)
The Hermit – An
Inner Journey ~ March, 2010
The Hermit card is the final moral lesson
for the Fool on his archetypal journey in the Mythic Tarot. It’s time for him
to learn the lessons of time, and face his own mortality. The Hermit is the
eleventh card in the Major Arcana, and stands at the midpoint of the journey to
the wholeness of Self as depicted in the final World card.
In the Mythic Tarot deck, the Hermit card
features Cronos, as an old man with a grey beard, shrouded in grey robes with
his face half-hidden. In his right hand, he carries a lamp which glows with a
golden light symbolizing the insight and guidance that can come from being
patient, and in his left hand, he holds a scythe which looks like the crescent
of the moon symbolizing the eternal cycles of time. A crow perches on his
shoulder as a symbol of the spirit of the old king who has died to make way for
the new cycle. Behind him, there is a cold, misty mountain range with a bleak,
grey sky.
In Greek mythology, the god, Cronos whose
name means time was the last-born of the Greek gods, Uranus and Gaea. Because
Uranus was ashamed of his progeny, he had locked them all in the underworld
against the protests of Gaea. Gaea plotted with her last-born son, Cronos, to
use his scythe to castrate his father, and then liberate his brothers, and
become sovereign of the earth. Under his long reign, the work of creation was
completed. As god of time, he ruled over the orderly passage of the seasons,
birth and growth followed by death, gestation and rebirth. But like his father,
Uranus, Cronos was also fearful of being overthrown by his own son which did
happen with Zeus, the youngest of Cronos’ children, who in mythology overthrew
his father, and ushered in the reign of the Olympian gods.
On an inner level, Cronos, the Hermit, is
an image of the last of the moral lessons which the Fool must learn: the lesson
of time and the limitations of the mortal life. Nothing is allowed to live
beyond its span, and nothing remains unchanged. Cronos is a god who embodies
the meaning of time, and also rebels against it which results in his being
overthrown, and having to learn the wisdom in solitude and silence. The
challenge of solitude and the discovery that one is ultimately alone and mortal
are dilemmas that all human beings must face in time. Youth moves into
maturity, and can never be regained in a concrete way, but memory and wisdom can
be distilled from the passage of time, along with patience. The negative face
of Cronos is calcification, a stubborn resistance to change and the passage of
time. The positive path would be to change what we can, to accept what we
cannot change, and to wait in silence until we can see the difference.
In a reading, the
Hermit card can be an indicator that there is a need for a time of solitude or
withdrawal from the extraverted activities of life to go inward to gain the
deeper wisdom. There is an opportunity to build a stronger foundation if one
can be patient. Thus, the Fool learns to have a deep respect for his own
limitations in the great passage of time.
When it’s time for your own inner journey, have a Mythic Tarot reading to
receive the deeper insights of this cycle of time.
By Donna M. Fisher-Jackson, MA © 2010
(Thanks to Juliet Sharman-Burke, and Liz Greene, the creators of the Mythic
Tarot for their insightful comments.)
Strength – Facing the Lion ~ February, 2010
The Strength card is the next step on the
Fool’s journey in the Mythic Tarot. It is the tenth card in the Major Arcana,
and the third moral lesson that the Fool faces.
The Fool having passed through the two great challenges of youth – erotic desire
and aggression – now faces a time of building his character to be able to deal
with a wide range of life’s experiences.
In the Mythic Tarot deck, the card of Strength pictures the great warrior,
Heracles, as a muscular man with chestnut hair, and only adorned in a red loin
cloth. He is engaged in a struggle of life and death with a lion in a dark cave
which opens onto a barren landscape. Heracles wears the color of Ares, whom we
met in the Chariot card, because he has learned the vital lesson of harnessing
aggression, and directing it towards a creative end.
In the Greek myths, Heracles is committed to twelve years of arduous labors in
the service of King Eurystheus, for the crimes that he has committed, and the
first of these famous twelve labors was the conquest of the Nemean Lion, an
enormous beast with a pelt that couldn’t be penetrated by iron, bronze or
stone. Since the lion had depopulated the neighborhood, he couldn’t find anyone
to direct him to his lair. Heracles hunted down this famous lion on his own,
and after numerous tries, he was able to capture it and kill it with his bare
hands. Then Heracles wore the skin as armor with the head as a helmet, and
became as invincible as the beast.
On an inner level, Heracles’ struggle with the lion is an image of the challenge
of containing those primitive instincts within us, while still preserving those
animal qualities which are creative and vital to life. The lion can symbolize
the creative and unique Self within all of us. The feeling of invincibility can
come when we have a solid sense of Self. When we wear the skin of the lion,
the opinions and criticisms of others can not affect us for we are armored in
our own indestructible sense of identity.
In a reading, the card of Strength can reveal a situation where we are faced
with our own lion within, and where a creative handling of one’s own anger and
senseless pride is desirable. Courage, strength, and self-discipline are
necessary to battle with the situation. Through such an experience, we can face
the beast within, but also we can be Heracles, the hero who can subdue the beast
as well.
Thus, the Fool, having dealt with the faculties of mind and feeling, now learns
how to deal with his own egotism, emerging from the contest with trust in
himself and integrity towards others.
When it’s time to face your own lion, have a Tarot reading to gain more insight
into the challenges ahead.
By Donna M. Fisher-Jackson, MA © 2010
(Thanks to Juliet Sharman-Burke, and Liz Greene, the creators of the Mythic
Tarot for their insightful comments.)
Temperance – a Time for Balance ~ January, 2010
In the past year, I began a series of articles about the Mythic Tarot which is a
set of cards that follow a Jungian archetypal journey as told through the Major
Arcana cards from the Fool to the World. I will continue that journey this
year, and pick up the story with the next card being Temperance.
Though before we continue with Temperance, I will refresh your memory that the
card featured in December was Justice. In the Justice card, the Fool meets the
first moral lesson on his Mythic journey of the Tarot. The card of Justice is
the first of four cards in the Major Arcana which were known as the four moral
lessons. These cards – Justice, Temperance, Strength, and the Hermit – are all
concerned with the development of these skills in order to function effectively
in life. They could be seen as the formation of the ego, which allows us to
have a sense of worth and value in life, and to cope with life’s challenges.
The Fool having passed through the two great challenges of youth – erotic desire
and aggression – now faces a time of building his character to be able to deal
with a wide range of life’s experiences.
The next card, Temperance is the ninth card in the tarot, and can be seen at the
top of this webpage on the left hand side. In this particular deck, the
Temperance card is graced with the beauty of Iris, the goddess of the rainbow,
who is the namesake of my counseling business. With her long, black hair, Iris
is garbed in rainbow-colored robes adorned with a pair of wings of many colors.
She stands with one foot in a flowing stream, and the other foot on dry land
reflecting her ability to unite opposites within. Along the sides of the
stream, there are fields of purple irises. Behind her, there is a rainbow
across the sky symbolizing hope as revealed in this colorful bridge between
heaven and earth. Iris holds two cups, one gold, and one silver, and pours
water from one to the other. The gold and silver cups represent the sun and
the moon, the masculine and the feminine, and the unconscious and the conscious,
joined by the flow of feeling.
Iris, the Greek goddess of the rainbow, was also known as the messenger goddess
because like Hermes, she carried messages from Hera and Zeus down to earth, and
sometimes even further, down into the underworld. In some of the Greek myths,
she also was known for giving birth to Eros, the god of love.
On an inner level, Iris is an image of the next set of
lessons that the Fool needs to learn to form a stable Self which is to have a
balanced heart. Where Athena, who embodied justice is fair and objective, Iris,
who embodies temperance, is kind and merciful. Iris is also connected with the
function of feeling as symbolized in her ceaseless pouring of water from one cup
to the other. In this act, she is showing how feelings must constantly flow and
renew themselves from moment to moment. Iris’s goal is harmony which requires a
balancing of the positive and the negative in feelings. She serves the feminine
realm with her goal always being cooperation, and better relationship.
The Fool’s goal is to learn to integrate the rational thinking of Justice with
the balance of feelings as expressed in the card, Temperance. We all need a
balance of both, and one or the other dominating can result in disharmony.
In a reading, the card Temperance reveals the need for a flow of feeling in
relationship. Iris, the guardian of the rainbow, suggests the potential for
harmony and cooperation resulting in a positive relationship and/or marriage.
To learn if Iris has a message for you, have your own Mythic Tarot reading. The
New Year is always a good time to check in, and see how your personal journey is
unfolding.
By Donna M. Fisher-Jackson, MA © 2010
(Thanks to Juliet Sharman-Burke, and Liz Greene, the creators of the Mythic
Tarot for their insightful comments.)
A
Time for Justice ~ December, 2009
In the Justice card, the Fool meets the first moral lesson on his Mythic journey
of the Tarot. The card of Justice is the first of four cards in the Major
Arcana which were known as the four moral lessons. These cards – Justice,
Temperance, Strength, and the Hermit – are all concerned with the development of
these skills in order to function effectively in life. They could be seen as
the formation of the ego, which allows us to have a sense of worth and value in
life, and to cope with life’s challenges. The Fool having passed through the
two great challenges of youth – erotic desire and aggression – now faces a time
of building his character to be able to deal with a wide range of life’s
experiences.
In the Mythic Tarot deck, the Justice card is graced with the presence of
Athena, the Greek goddess of justice, who is seated on a silver throne adorned
in her silver helmet and battle armor. In her right hand, she holds a sword,
and in her left, she holds a pair of scales symbolizing the ability to weigh
both sides of a situation to arrive at an impartial judgment. An owl is perched
on her shoulder reflecting Athena’s clarity of vision.
Justice is the eighth card in the tarot, and tells the story of Athena, the
favored daughter of Zeus. Athena was a natural warrior from birth, but unlike
Ares, the god of war; she was more of a strategist, and her need for war was
based on high principles, and the cool recognition that a battle was sometimes
necessary to preserve the truth. She balanced Ares’ aggression and force with
logic and diplomacy. She was also known for her service to mankind, and
fostered skills and crafts such as weaving. She was known as a civilized
goddess, although, she could become a warrior when she needed to protect her
peaceful civilization.
On an inner level,
Athena is symbolic of the capacity for reflective judgment and rational
thought. Athena’s judgments are not based on personal feeling, but upon an
impartial objective assessment built upon ethical principles. Athena’s chastity
can be seen as a symbol of the intactness and purity of this reflective skill
which is not influenced by any personal desires. Her willingness to battle for
principles rather passions stems from the mind’s capacity to make choices based
upon reflection while holding the instincts in control.
In a reading, the Justice card can reveal
the need for balanced thought, and impartial decision-making. But like Athena’s
sword, this card can be double-edged because there are some areas of life where
Athena’s cool reflection is too chilly and idealistic like in the area of love
relationships. Her sword can cut the heart with its general truths, and not
take into consideration the particular situation. Though, justice does serve a
purpose in life encouraging all of us to be aware of fairness and truth as
important ethical principles.
The Justice card can often show up when a
person is faced with a major decision, or in a court battle of their own. For
more personal insight, have your own Mythic Tarot reading.
By Donna M. Fisher-Jackson, MA © 2009
(Thanks to Juliet Sharman-Burke, and Liz Greene, the creators of the Mythic
Tarot for their insightful comments.)
The Chariot, on the
Move ~ November, 2009
The Chariot is a fitting card for these
times as there is a lot of movement going on right now as we move from the old
reality to the new paradigm. It is not an easy transition, and can feel like a
battle in the inner and the outer world. In the Chariot card, Ares, the God of
War, is on the move as he struggles to hold onto his black and white horses as
they pull in opposite directions. The card portrays Ares as a handsome, virile
man with auburn hair, blue eyes, and a ruddy complexion, driving his bronze
war-chariot. He is adorned in bronze amour, and a blood-red tunic. At his hip,
he wears a bronze shield, and at his side, a large spear, a traditional symbol
for the masculine. Ares travels on a dusty, road leading through a reddish,
desert-like place while the sky is filled with an impending storm. The barren
desert lacks water, an image of the lack of feeling and relatedness where the
aggressive impulses thrive. The black and white horses reflect the potential
for both good and evil contained in the aggressive instinct.
The Chariot is the seventh card in this
archetypal Mythic journey. On an inner level, Ares, the driver of the Chariot,
is an image of the aggressive instincts guided and directed by the will of
consciousness. The horses which pull the Chariot in opposite directions are
symbolic of the conflicting animal instincts which can battle it out for control
within each one of us. The instincts are meant to be handled with strength and
firmness, but not broken, or repressed, because they also give us a great deal
of power and potency to survive in this world. Ares’ iron will and courage are
a necessary dimension of the human character allowing us to survive in a
sometimes, challenging and competitive world where spiritual vision alone may
not be enough.
Having invoked a conflict as a result of
his choices in love in last month’s card, The Lovers card, the Fool must now
confront one of life’s great lessons – the creative harnessing of the
instinctual urges. In the card of the Lovers, the Fool is still an adolescent
who seeks to possess a beautiful object, but through the figure of Ares in the
Chariot card, he arrives at maturity by learning to deal with the consequences
of his actions. Like the Fool, we must also learn how to deal with the warring
opposites, and urges within ourselves. If we can meet the challenge of Ares,
then we can be more honest about this vital life force within, and the struggle
of learning how to contain and direct it fosters development of the whole
personality.
In a reading, the Chariot card can signal
some kind of conflict or struggle which can result in a stronger personality. It
can be an internal struggle with our shadow sides, or come to us from the
outside, as a conflict with another. But in any case, the conflict cannot be
avoided, but needs to be faced with strength and containment.
And thus the Fool’s journey continues as
he learns to handle contradictions, and moves on from adolescence to the next
stage of his life.
The Chariot card often shows up at
mid-life as we struggle with these conflicting sides of ourselves. For more
personal insight, have your own Mythic Tarot reading.
By Donna M. Fisher-Jackson, MA © 2009
(Thanks to Juliet Sharman-Burke, and Liz Greene, the creators of the Mythic
Tarot for their insightful comments.)
The Lovers, a Time
of Choice ~ October, 2009
The Lovers card is a fitting card for the
month of Libra where relationships of all kinds are a big focus especially the
romantic kind. The Lovers card is the sixth card in the Major Arcana of the
Mythic Tarot. In this deck, the Lovers card portrays a beauty contest where
Paris, a Trojan prince, has to choose which of the three lovely goddesses- Hera,
Athena, and Aphrodite is the loveliest of all. Hera, the wife of Zeus, is regal
and mature dressed in her purple robes holding a globe of the world. Athena,
goddess of wisdom, is cool and chaste, dressed in her full battle armor holding
a sword. Aphrodite, goddess of love, is young, seductive and scantily clad in
a robe that reveals more than it conceals holding only a golden cup.
The decision in the beauty contest seems
to be a foregone conclusion. Paris is a young man, and focused on what most
young men are- physical beauty. He’s not able to appreciate the gifts of Hera
as she offers him the rulership of the world, or of Athena, who would grant him
the designation as the mightiest of warriors. Paris chooses Aphrodite when she
opens her robe, and offers him the cup of love, and the most beautiful mortal
woman in the world as his bride.
Destiny is then set, and Paris is given
Helen, queen of Sparta, and inconveniently someone else’s wife. At their
meeting, they fall in love, and Helen’s husband angered by the infidelity begins
the Trojan War which lasts ten years, and results in the destruction of the City
of Troy.
On an inner level, the judgment of Paris
is an image of the first of life’s great challenges to the developing individual
– the problem of choice in love. The choice is not just about trying to decide
between one person and another, but it reflects our values, because our choices
mirror back to us the kind of person we wish to become. Because of his youth
and the driving force of his sexual needs, Paris cannot choose from a mature
perspective. He makes his choice based on desire, and has to deal with the
consequences. Desire for another person forces the development of individual
values and self-knowledge through the drama and conflicts which arise from one’s
choices. Paris is an image of that side of us which governed by the compulsive
desires cannot yet see that all choices have consequences for which we are
ultimately responsible. Without passing through this initiation by fire, we
cannot understand how we create our own futures, but instead blame the results
on fate, chance or someone else’s fault, rather than our own lack of
reflection.
In a reading, the Lovers card can signify
a choice of some kind, usually in love. Sometimes this means a love triangle,
or having to choose between love, and a career, or some creative activity. In
any case, the Lovers card reminds us to look carefully at the consequences of
our choices, rather than being driven blindly by our own desires.
In the Lovers card, the Fool faces his
first adolescent challenge, and hopefully, is wiser from the story of Paris.
The Tarot is often consulted in the
matters of the heart. If you have a question about a love relationship, have a
Mythic Tarot reading to receive added insight. For more details, call or e-mail
Donna.
By Donna M. Fisher-Jackson, M.A.
(Thanks to Juliet Sharman-Burke, and Liz Greene, the creators of the Mythic
Tarot for their insightful comments.)
The Hierophant, the
Wise Sage - September, 2009
The Hierophant is the fifth card of the
Major Arcana, and this card is graced by the mythic figure of a Centaur, with a
head and torso of a man, and the body of a horse. His long, brown hair suggests
a priest, or teacher. In his left hand, he holds a scroll containing wisdom,
and his right hand is held up in an ancient sign of blessing. Around him, there
are twin stone pillars leading to a cave which is both his home and temple.
In the Mythic Tarot, Chiron is the
Centaur on this card. He is known as a healer, priest, and wise teacher. He
was educated by Apollo, the sun god, and Artemis, the goddess of the moon, and
because of his great wisdom, and spirituality, he was made the king of the
Centaurs. As the king of the Centaurs, he shared his wisdom with the young
Greek princes, and was also known as a great healer because he knew the secret
healing qualities of herbs and plants though he was unable to heal himself when
he was struck by one of the arrows dipped in the blood of the monster, Hydra.
Because, he was immortal, he had to live with this wound, sacrificing all
worldly happiness, and devoting his time to teaching spiritual wisdom.
On an inner level, Chiron, the
Hierophant, is an image of the inner spiritual teacher, the priest who
establishes the connection between worldly consciousness and the intuitive
knowledge of God’s law. The Emperor’s laws embodying the father principle on
earth are concerned with right behavior in the world, but the laws of the
Hierophant are concerned with right behavior in the eyes of God. But Chiron
does not symbolize any orthodox religion because it is more about finding your
own personal relationship with God, and what that means to you.
Chiron’s injury made him the Wounded
Healer, the one who through his own pain, can understand and appreciate the pain
of others. The Wounded Healer part of ourselves teaches us compassion for
ourselves, and others. The Centaur also teaches us how to accept the human,
and the divine part of ourselves.
In a reading, Chiron, the Hierophant,
shows a time when the individual may embark on a spiritual or philosophical
quest. Through the study of a particular system of belief, they are looking
for the deeper meaning of life. The Hierophant may also show up as a
counselor, priest, or spiritual mentor who can become a guide to the seeker.
The Fool thus emerges from his discovery
of the underworld seeking answers to the personal meaning of his life, as he
leaves his childhood behind, and ventures out into life’s challenges.
To receive the spiritual wisdom of the
Hierophant, have a personal Mythic Tarot reading with Donna. For more details,
call or e-mail Donna.
By Donna M. Fisher-Jackson, MA
(Thanks to Juliet Sharman-Burke, and Liz Greene, the creators of the Mythic
Tarot for their insightful comments.)
The High Priestess, the Intuitive Guide - August, 2009
The High Priestess
is the fourth card of the major arcana of the Mythic Tarot. Persephone, the
Goddess of the underworld, and the daughter of Demeter, the Earth Mother of the
Empress card, graces this mystical card. In the Mythic Tarot, the High
Priestess is depicted as a slender, ethereal young woman with her pale skin,
long dark hair and dark eyes, who embodies Persephone’s otherworldly role.
Persephone holds the pomegranate, known as the symbol of the dead, in one hand,
and the narcissus in the other hand, the flower that led to her abduction by
Hades, the Lord of the underworld. She also stands between two pillars – one
white, and one black – symbolizing the creative potentials, and destructive
impulses – that can be hidden in the darkness of the unconscious.
In the Empress card,
we first met, Persephone in the story of her Mother, Demeter. According to
that myth, Persephone was abducted by Hades when she was out gathering flowers,
and taken to his underworld. There, she ate the pomegranate, the fruit of the
dead, which bound her to her dark lord forever. Thus, leaving behind her
innocent girlhood, she became the guardian of the secrets of the dead. Demeter
was able to strike a deal with Zeus that insured that Persephone could spend
nine months of the year with her Mother, but the other three months would have
to be spent with Hades. As described in the Empress card, Demeter never fully
accepted this arrangement, and for the three months that she was parted from her
daughter, she went into mourning, and everything on the Earth grew lifeless and
cold which became our winter.
On an inner level,
Persephone, the High Priestess, is an image of the connection with that
mysterious inner world which depth psychology has described as the unconscious.
In this hidden world, there are many riches and potentials. There are our
undeveloped
potentials as well
as the darker, more primitive facets of the personality. It also holds the
secret of the destiny of the individual which gestates in darkness until the
time is ripe for manifestation. Persephone symbolizes the part of us which
knows the secrets of the inner world. Through our intuition, dreams, and
synchronicities, we can get glimpses of these hidden jewels within. In a
reading, the High Priestess can reveal a time when your intuition is becoming
stronger, and there could be an encounter of some kind with this hidden inner
world of secrets.
And so the journey
of the Fool continues, having learned something of his physical nature, and his
place in the world from his earthly parents, the Empress and the Emperor, he now
enters a more shadowy realm where the secret of his real purpose, and the
pattern of his destiny can be revealed.
To receive insights
from the world of intuition, have a personal Mythic Tarot reading with Donna.
For more details, call or e-mail Donna.
By Donna M.
Fisher-Jackson, MA
(Thanks to Juliet
Sharman-Burke, and Liz Greene, the creators of the Mythic Tarot for their
insightful comments.)
The Emperor, the Inner Father- July, 2009
The Emperor is the third card in this archetypal journey of the Mythic Tarot.
The Empress of last month represents the Mother, and the feminine, and now we
meet her counterpart, the Emperor, the Father who embodies the masculine.
In the Mythic Tarot, the Greek god of Zeus, king of the gods, was chosen to
represent the Emperor on this card. In his purple and gold robe, Zeus sits on
his golden throne at the top of a mountain because he is a god of mental and
spiritual heights. In his right hand, he holds three lightning bolts chosen to
represent his power as a god of inspiration and sudden creative vision. The
lightening symbolizes the revelation of truth that can come in a flash. In his
left, he holds the globe of the world, and has an eagle perched on his shoulder
to symbolize the eagle eye view that he has of the world as well as the
aggressive and conquering instinct that he possesses.
Zeus lived at the top of Mount Olympus, and ruled over his hierarchy of gods.
His volatile and fiery spirit expressed itself not only in thunderstorms, but
also in the many lovers, whom he pursued, and the many children whom he
fathered. His loyal wife was Hera, goddess of marriage and childbirth, but she
didn’t approve of his philandering. Hera usually found out about his escapades,
and then there was literally hell to pay for him, and his paramours.
On an inner level, Zeus, the Emperor, is
an image of the experience of fathering. It is the father who embodies our
spiritual ideals, our ethical codes, and our survival skills out in the world.
He also represents the authority and ambition which drive us to succeed, and the
discipline and foresight to accomplish our goals. This masculine energy is
within both men and women, and emphasizes more the intellectual mind rather than
the intuitive nature of the physical body which is the feminine. To have a
relationship with the inner father is to possess a sense of one’s strength,
one’s capacity to initiate ideas, and the ability to manifest them in the world.
In a reading, the Emperor card can reveal this masculine principle at work.
Perhaps, the person is manifesting a creative idea, building a new business, or
establishing the structure of home and family. In any case, they are embodying
the masculine energy in their life.
When the Fool meets the Emperor after his
journey in the instinctual world, he is learning how to deal with worldly life
with his own resources, and according to the rules of society. He is also
discovering his own ethical principles to live by which is one of the gifts of
the Emperor. Like the Zodiac sign of Capricorn, the high road is integrity,
discipline, and the betterment of all concerned – something we are all learning
at this time in history.
To see how you are doing with manifesting
your masculine energy, have a personal Mythic Tarot reading. For more details,
call or e-mail Donna.
By Donna M. Fisher-Jackson, MA
(Thanks to Juliet Sharman-Burke, and Liz Greene, the creators of the Mythic
Tarot for their insightful comments.)
The Empress, the quintessential Earth Mother-
June, 2009
The
Empress is the second card in this archetypal journey of the Mythic Tarot. Last
month’s Magician left us holding all our creative gifts, and now, we’re ready to
take the next step. Out of the 22 Major Arcana cards, the Empress is one of the
most visually beautiful cards of this particular deck. The Empress, a striking
woman with long, flowing brown hair is obviously pregnant, and stands in a field
of ripening barley.
In the Mythic Tarot deck, Demeter, the
great Greek goddess of Mother Earth, symbolizes the Empress in all her earthy
abundance. Demeter is known as the ruler of all nature, and the protector of
the young. She embodies the essence of the Great Mother. In Greek mythology,
Demeter ripened the golden grain each year, and in late summer, people offered
thanks to her for the bounty of the Earth. She presided over the birth of new
life, and blessed the rites of marriage. Demeter is a matriarchal goddess, an
image of the power within the Earth itself which needs no validation from
Heaven.
Demeter lived with her daughter,
Persephone, and they shared a happy union on the Earth until the day, Persephone
disappeared. Demeter searched far and wide for her daughter, but did not find
her. Eventually, after many years of searching, word came of her daughter’s
fate. It seems that Hades, the lord of the underworld, had been overcome with
desire for the maiden, and had abducted her, and taken her to his underground
lair. Upon this discovery of her daughter’s whereabouts, Demeter became
enraged, and allowed the Earth to fall barren, and refused to restore it to its
former abundance. Eventually, the gods, Zeus and Hermes, interceded, and came
up with a plan where Persephone would live with her mother for nine months of
the year, and then spend three months with her dark lord because she had
willingly eaten the pomegranate, the fruit of the underworld. Demeter never
fully accepted this arrangement, and for the three months that she was parted
from her daughter, she went into mourning, and everything on the Earth grew
lifeless and cold which became our winter. But every year, Persephone would
return to her Mother, and spring would come again.
On an inner level, the image of Demeter,
the Empress, reflects the experience of mothering. This does not just mean the
physical experience of being a mother, but also the inner experience of the
Great Mother, where, we realize the importance of the physical body, and
discover an appreciation of the senses, and the simple pleasures of life. In a
reading, the Empress card could reveal the onset of an earthier phase of life
that could include marriage, and the birth of a child as well as the birth of a
creative child such as a book that also needs patience and nurturing. And so
the Jungian journey continues…the Fool, the child of heaven, realizes that he
lives in a physical body, and is a creature of both Heaven and Earth.
If you are considering marriage, or the
birth of a child, have a Mythic Tarot reading to see if the Empress card is in
your future. For a personal reading, call or e-mail me for more details.
By Donna M. Fisher-Jackson, MA
(Thanks to Juliet Sharman-Burke, and Liz Greene, the creators of the Mythic
Tarot for their insightful comments.)
The Magician’s Magic is within- May, 2009
The Magician is the second step on this Jungian journey as told through the
Mythic Tarot. We have taken that leap of faith into something new, and now
it’s time to tap into that magic within. The Magician is the second card of
the 22 Major Arcana cards which depicts the archetypal journey of life ending
with the card of the World. The Mythic Tarot combines the wisdom of Greek
mythology, western astrology, and the traditional tarot.
In the Mythic Tarot, Hermes, that mercurial God of Greek mythology, depicts the
Magician. Hermes is known as the guide of travelers, patron of thieves and
liars, ruler of magic and divination, and the bringer of sudden good luck and
changes in fortune. Dressed in his white robe and red cape, Hermes is the swift
messenger of the gods, and a guide of souls into the underworld. In Greek
mythology, Hermes is the son of Zeus, king of the gods, and Maia, who is also
known as Mother Night. Thus, Hermes is the child of both spiritual light, and
primordial darkness, and his colors – red and white – reflect the blending of
earthly passions and spiritual clarity which are part of his nature.
Hermes also has the gift of divination which is shown on the card by the symbols
of the Four elements of Water, Fire, Air and Earth - the Cup, Wand, Sword and
Pentacle. He offers us opportunities in the realm of feelings (the Cups),
creative imagination (the Wands), intellect (the Swords), and of the material
world (the Pentacles).
On an inner level, Hermes, the Magician, is the guide. This means that
somewhere within ourselves, we have the inner wisdom to help us make choices in
our lives. But since Hermes is also a Trickster, the directions are not always
clearly given. We may receive them through a dream, or in meeting a stranger
who has a clue for us, or even in a book that we “randomly” chose to read.
Hermes is that unconscious wisdom within us which looks after us, and which can
appear to us as though by magic at the most critical moments in our lives to
offer guidance and wisdom. To follow this guidance is crucial, but it’s not
always the secure and safe path. We have to be willing to take the risk, and
then the Magician will reveal itself to us.
The Magician may be calling to you. Are you ready to look for the signs?
During the month of May, 2009 I am offering 30 minute Mythic Tarot readings for
only $25. For your own personal Mythic Tarot reading, call or e-mail me to set
up your reading Today.
By Donna M. Fisher-Jackson, MA
(Thanks to Juliet Sharman-Burke, and Liz Greene, the creators of the Mythic
Tarot for their insightful comments.)
April’s Fool, the
first step on the Journey of the Tarot- April, 2009
April seems to be a fitting month to write about the Fool since we
just celebrated All Fools’ Day, a day when many people like to play practical
jokes on their loved ones. It seems that many of us enjoy catching
another person being a Fool, but don’t always like to play the Fool ourselves.
In spite of our wishes, life gives us many opportunities to be the Fool. Every
time, we begin something new, or take on a new role, we have the chance to
embody the archetype of the Fool. In Carl Jung’s path to individuation, the
Fool is the first step on the journey. Think back in your life how you felt
when you began a new job, went on your first date, or showed up at the first day
of school. We often can feel the energy of the Fool such as feeling stupid
because we don’t know everything yet, or feeling vulnerable because we are
unsure of ourselves, but it in these moments, that we take a risk to learn
something new, and move us further along life’s path.
The Fool is the beginning of the 22 Major Arcana cards which depicts the
archetypal journey of life, and it’s number is actually 0 – the Zero point, the
beginning of all journeys. The final card of the Major Arcana is the World, and
so the journey begins with the Fool.
In the Mythic Tarot, the Fool is portrayed as the god, Dionysus, the child of
Zeus, the king of the gods, and Semele, a mortal woman and a princess of Thebes.
Dionysus had a rough childhood even as a god, and was almost killed by Hera, the
jealous wife of Zeus. Zeus rescued his still-beating heart, and through the
power of transformation in the underworld, he was re-born. After that, he was
known as Dionysus-Iacchos, the Twice-Born, god of light and ecstasy. After he
was re-born, he still had to face challenges when Zeus had him live among men,
and share in their suffering, and a still angry, Hera, cursed him with madness
causing him to wander the world. Dionysus did give mankind the gift of wine,
and brought drunken ecstasy and spiritual redemption to those who were willing
to relinquish their attachment to worldly power and wealth. Eventually, his
heavenly Father had him rise to Olympus, the home of the gods, where he took his
place at the right hand of the king of the gods.
On an inner level, Dionysus, the Fool, is an image of that impulse within us to
leap into the unknown which is why it is an ideal symbol for springtime as
well. In the spring, it is the perfect time to begin something new, and with
the energy of the Sun in Aries, we can feel more inspired to take risks in our
lives. The Fool captures that desire for change that can sometimes surprise us,
and have us looking like the Fool. The Fool is not a logical impulse, but more
of a gut instinct that can take over, and have us following a path that makes no
sense to our left brain, but perfect sense to our more intuitive and creative
right brain. It is these leaps of faith that can lead to a more creative, and
more fulfilling life. Of course, there is no guarantee how the leap will go, or
where you will end up at the end of the journey, but if you don’t take a few
leaps of faith in your life, you may end up wondering what you missed in life,
and why you played it so safe.
The Fool may be speaking to you this spring, and it does seem to be influencing
the energy on the planet right now as we all embrace a new way of living in this
huge shift of consciousness that is taking place right now. For your own
personal Mythic Tarot consultation, have a reading with Donna, and discover if
it’s time for you to take that leap of faith in your own life.
By Donna M. Fisher-Jackson, MA
(Thanks to Juliet Sharman-Burke, and Liz Greene, the creators of the Mythic
Tarot for their insightful comments on the Fool’s journey.)
Jung and
the Mythic Tarot- March, 2009
Almost
15 years ago, I was given a gift of the Mythic Tarot deck of cards. I had taken
a couple of tarot classes at the time. I was just beginning to explore the
metaphysical world in more depth, and the gift became an important tool in my
path of self-discovery. The Mythic Tarot was created by Juliet Sharman-Burke,
a psychotherapist, and Liz Greene, an astrologer. The deck interweaves Greek
mythology with Jungian concepts along with western astrology, and the
traditional suits of the tarot. In hindsight, it was a perfect deck for me,
leading to my reading the tarot professionally, and then studying western
astrology which led me to getting my Masters in Counseling Psychology. In
graduate school, my favorite classes were the study of Jungian psychology. Now,
that I re-visit the Mythic Tarot in this article, I can see once again how the
tarot depicts the archetypal life journey. In the cards especially the Major Arcana, you can see the different stages of this journey from The Fool, who is
perched on a cliff in the Mythic Tarot deck, taking that leap of faith into life
which is what every birth is about, all the way, to The World, where you see the
wholeness of the Self, the ultimate goal of a life well-lived.
Jung’s
lifework was about this journey to Self which he called the path of
individuation where we become fully aware of our conscious mind along with our
unconscious, and integrate the masculine and the feminine within each of us.
Many of us have had fleeting glimpses of this wholeness of Self, and balance
within. The current thinkers of today speak of this time that we are in now as
a time where we are waking up and becoming more conscious. Jungian psychology
is about this journey of becoming more conscious in our lives, and making
conscious choices.
The
Mythic Tarot depicts this journey that we have all been on, and shows the steps
along the way. Through studying the tarot, we can become more aware of our own
unique life journey, and how we are all connected through this archetypal
journey. This cycle of the Fool to the World can be seen as a chronological
journey as well as a cycle that occurs many times within one life, for
everything has a beginning, a middle, and an end, from jobs to relationships,
and from becoming parents to launching our children into their own life
journey.
In
coming newsletter issues, I will explore this archetypal journey depicted in the
Major Arcana, beginning with The Fool, which is the perfect card for the Spring,
and the new beginning that happens every year for all of us I invite you to
begin your own exploration of the tarot. Pick out a deck that you resonate
with. Some of the traditional decks that are good to begin with are the
Rider-Waite, and the Universal Waite. The archetypal journey will begin in the
next issue.
By Donna
Fisher-Jackson, MA
(Thanks to the
creators of the Mythic Tarot, Juliet Sharman-Burke, and Liz Greene.)
