posted May 24, 2003 03:27 PM         

As a corollary to the favored Tarot card question, I'd like to ask what your least favored Tarot cards are and why.

As with anything, our least favorite cards can tell us as much or more about ourselves and where we create our own traps as knowing what our favs tell us!

For example... when I was new at Tarot, I always sort of got a cold feeling from The Hierophant.

As I matured in years and Wisdom, he has become a great Teacher in the use of Intuition.

Though I tend not to like orthodox intitutions or churches (which he also represents) I see the good they can do for those that are not interested in seeking their answers "outside the box". We all need to establish our own connections with God, and for many, Church, or Temple or what have you, are the places that they go in order to begin to establish that contact.

So now I have established a new relationship with The Hierophant.

Your turn!

Bright Blessings...
A

posted May 26, 2003 05:32 PM         

Interesting question, I like this much more than "what's your favourite card". I'd have to examine them all to remember which one I liked the least, but the one that comes to mind right now is "The Hanged Man", I always detested it very much, but I don't exactly know why, it's just a very unpleasant feeling I get. Maybe because I hate being tied down and not being able to fight
But that's the meaning of the card, right? Is it signified by Saturn? If not, it should be, haha.

posted May 26, 2003 06:37 PM         

Yes all is well, thanks. Glad to see you're still around, I miss our chats.

The Hanged Man is actually related to the element of Water, and the planet Neptune.

Saturn, actually, is associated with The World.

If you look at a good depiction of The Hanged Man, he does not seem to be too distressed by his inverted position. Reversal is his keynote. This refers to the reversal of thought that separates the seeker of truth from the "unenlightened masses" if you will. The central figure in the card knows that his existence is dependent upon Cosmic Law, which is another way of saying God.

In most decks his hair is white or blonde, and he has a halo about his head, again hinting at his unity with the Creator.

He is a hint to the seeker that there is more to us than meets the eye... we are creators with God/dess; isn't that, in fact, the reversal of commonly held thought?

In a reading we can look at The Hanged Man as a piece of advice offering us the opportunity to re-think our current situation; by re-versing our thoughts about the matter, we may see more clearly our way through that which has seemingly been delayed or suspended.

Hope that helps a bit.

Bright Blessings...

A

posted May 27, 2003 05:03 AM         

From what I have learned, The Lovers is associated with the sign Gemini in the zodiac, and its keynote is discrimination.

There is a clue in this card of the occult truth that all pairs of opposites are but different aspects of One Thing, and they also complement or complete each other.

They represent Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, or the differentiation of the Life Force into male and female gender.

So, we can see both of the themes that you mention, that of making a choice by the correct use of discrimination, as well as an aspect of Love. The Lovers are also symbolic of achieving a balance between the yin and the yang, the male and the female.

In terms of Love, if you mean a relationship I generally use the lower arcana cards to show that, such as: Ace of Cups, 2 of Cups, 10 of Cups for weddings/marriages, 10 of Pentacles for home lie and family etc. But I tend to reserve the Higher Arcana for "the movers and shakers"... but if the Lovers were to come up next to any of the above cards, or The Sun card in a reading, I might tend to go with that whole "soul mate/twin soul" connection.. but I use those terms guardedly and with great hesitation, as I'm not really sure I buy into those concepts, at least not as most people understand them.

Hope that helps a wee bit...

Blessings...
A

posted May 27, 2003 06:46 AM         

I've also missed your calm, peaceful and wise narrative "voice" coming down from somewhere in the ethers

I'm actually a bit surprised at this interpretation of The Hanged Man. It's not really what I thought it is. I must confess I didn't look up its meaning. But this is about what we feel with the cards, right?

So this would mean that I still don't want to "go with the flow", in spite of the fact that I fully (hmmm, do I?) understand that we're all co-creators of this world? The reversal in this card is something that I completely put aside I guess. The Hanged Man just gives me the feeling that he's helpless or that he's given up. But in fact, what you're saying is that he's given in.
Now that I think of it, it maybe represents the part of myself that wants to be "the seeker of truth" but is incapable to truly make that separation from the "unenlightened masses". Which is really difficult for me to admit. But this part still bothers me: "he knows that his existence is dependent upon Cosmic Law". What I don't like in this sentence is "dependent". I have issues with dependence, I'm struggling very hard to overcome any kind of dependence. Hmmm...
Hey this has been an enlightening self-examination, thanks, Aselzion! You always trigger these kinda fragmental meditations in me

SunShyne,
it's really interesting that you chose The Lovers card. To me it always signified a union of equals/opposites, but not much else. It doesn't seem very "deep" to me, by no means does it mean love to me, just a strong attraction. But that's just me, and I'm sure I've got a lot to learn. In general I regard it as positive, but not very significant.

, morgana

posted May 27, 2003 07:18 AM         

Well if you look at the picture of The Hanged Man, he is dependent... he's hanging from the T (or Tav) shaped gallows.

This card represents the fact that things are not always as they seem to outward appearances. He is not unhappy about his situation. We become the Hanged Man when we learn to look at things from a different angle. When we "suspend" our lower mind and commune with the Higher Self, we are manifesting the consciousness of the central figure in this card.

Make any sense?

In the Light...
A

posted May 27, 2003 01:13 PM         

Hi Morgana
Hope you're doing well. I didn't choose it for my least favourite card, I just didn't get a comfortable feeling from it because I didn't understand what it represented.

SunShyne

posted May 27, 2003 10:50 PM         

The Moon = Pisces in the zodiac. In Qabalah it's related to what is called the Corporeal Intelligence, which basically means Body Consciousness. It indicates the fact that until our body, cellular and organic structures are evolved to the extent that higher forms of consciouness can function through them, it is impossible to experience such conscious states. It also governs the sleep state, as it is while we sleep that our aspirations and efforts are built into organic structure. Every thought we think and every action has some modifying influence on the physical body... thus the attainment of physical immortality.

In a reading the Moon can show psychic unfoldment as well as secrets. Depending on what it's near it can be gossip and slander. It also represents the dream state and information that comes through on that level. It also has something to do with facing our fears, walking the straight and narrow Path of Return.

Star: The 10 of Swords. Well that is indeed an interesting choice.

In the zodiac it is associated with The Sun in Gemini. It has a lot to do with the illusion of separation from the Creator/God/dess, and the fear of death.

It is interesting to note that the swords pierce all but the Crown Chakra and the Third Eye. Here is a clue that we must use the clear vision of the Third Eye to see through the illusion of separation, to the truth of unity; and that it is through connecting again with the Source (Crown chakra)that our fears are truly laid to rest. It has been said in occult circles that death, or the Fear of death, is the last enemy to be overcome. It is my belief that we are the ones that put the Swords in our own back by giving away our power to "another".

In a reading it can mean quite literally being stabbed in the back.. but we must remember that WE are the one that gave the Swords to that "other" in the first place. It could be through a misplaced confidence, or through petty gossip and idle chatter... all related to the fact that Swords in the Tarot relate to the element of Air.

When it is reversed, it represents wisdom gained through experience, but it's still not pretty.

Hope this helps a wee bit.

Blessings...
A

posted May 28, 2003 06:31 AM         

Thank you again, maybe I won't look at the Hanged Man with so much discomfort now that you've explained its meaning from another perspective (you being a Hanged Man yourself, right ). I always thought it was something bad, but I should've known that even if you think something is bad, it can be reversed (! ) and looked at from different angles - and maybe that's what I personally learned from this card; that it actually isn't bad in itself - for me, I mean.
I think I know now why I don't (didn't) like this card. Because I'm not prepared yet to give in, to suspend my lower mind (which I still think makes me Me - mistakenly, I know - and I don't want to lose this because I don't know what lies ahead), to really test my faith which I think I have but I do not trust myself fully that I have it. Heavy philosophy, I know, I'm talking to myself now, so I'll shut up for now. Thanks again, A

Hi SunShyne,
yes I know, I just thought it was interesting that you picked this card since our choices tell something about us, but I'm not suggesting what that tells about you because only you yourself know this

Hi all!

posted May 28, 2003 11:11 AM         

Yours is a new interpretation I thoroughly appreciate. I like this perspective of Corporeal co-existence and development synchronized with thought.

posted June 04, 2003 05:12 PM         

I have to agree, in general readings I tend to like the 5's of all the suits pretty much the least. Did you notice that my old least favorite card was the Hierophant, also numbered 5?

Hmm.. I just did!

At any rate, in Qabalah the number 5 is allocated to the planet Mars as Mars is associated with the 5th Sphere on the Tree of Life called Geburah, which is translated as Severity. Hmm... that kind of makes sense in an interesting way.

That being said, the 5 of Pentacles is related to Mercury in Taurus. So it can represent changes (5) in security (Pentacles). This can be in a financial way, in terms of family, home, career or anything that represents security and stability to the individual. We can also see here that the interpretation of the 5th Sphere of "Severity", as being applied to/read in regard to the above issues.

The up side of this combination has to do with the flow of communications (Mercury) through the subconscious mind (i.e. from the Higher Self) into waking consciousness, or "inner hearing", aslo called Intuition, as pictured by The Hierophant (Taurus in the zodiac).

These attributions that I use are Qabalistic and come from the use of the Chaldean Decanates, or what has come to be called Faces in traditional astrology. These are based on the ancient order of the planets: Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Sun, Venus, Mercury and the Moon.

I know that looks like a lot of words, but I'm coming to realize in my own learning process, that the Lower Arcana are not as "lowly" as might first be thought at a quick glance. There are relationships and correspondences hinted at in the Tarot that I'm only just beginning to realize after about 20 plus years of study!

Hope this helps some, and if I've only added to the confusion, please let me know if there's anything I can clarify!

Peace and Light...
A

posted June 05, 2003 05:29 AM         

Yes, that would be card 16, The Tower.

In astrology that would be connected with the planet Mars.

On an exoteric level it's meanings can be catastrophe and ruin, accidents and other things associated with building on faulty foundations,including the termination of relationships built on shaky ground.

Esoterically it is concerned with the Truth that sets us free from the bondage illustrated in the previous card in the pack, The Devil. Hence its keynote of Awakening.

The illusion of separation from God is shattered by the light of Truth. In fact, the solution to almost every problem that we face in our lives, begins as a flash of inspiration (note the flash of lightning striking the tower) from the Higher Self. If we meditate (Key 17, The Star), and listen for that "wee, small voice within" our Truth often comes in a flash of "en-light-enment". And thus begins what occultists and Qabalists have come to call the Path of Return; the sudden realization that we are never truly "alone".

Truly a very interesting card, I believe.

Any thoughts?

Fiat L.V.X.
A

posted June 08, 2003 11:21 AM         

Glad to help, Randall.

Tink, I'll be happy to talk about those cards... just popping in during a brief period of lucidity...

I work nights, and have been on two, off one for a week or so now, so I'm sleeping alot!

Hang in there, and I'll post my thoughts ASAP.

Peace and Light...
Aselzion, the tired!

posted June 08, 2003 02:49 PM         

I always (well, when I'm waiting for something ) STAND in the position of the Hanged Man, on one leg, and with the other one crossed in front of it, with my arms crossed on my chest. When I first realized this, I was horrified, I thought it meant something really bad for me, and tried to shake off this habit (rather unsuccessfully, it is my favourite position for standing), but after A's interpretation I feel much better

I guess it is all a matter of interpretation

posted June 08, 2003 08:16 PM         

When I first noticed the connection between the Hanged Man and my admittedly odd sleeping position, I sure did think it was morbid. But hey, I'm a Scorpio, I got over it.

And thank you Aselzion. Take your time and get some sleep.