ticket, passport and tarot cards - global spiritual · pdf filemajor arcana cards.then,get out...

Ticket, Passport and

Tarot Cards

Linda Marson

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Contents

Preface ..........................................................................................ix

1. Preparing for the Journey ................................................1

The Tarot Journey ....................................................................1

Reading Reversed Cards ..........................................................2

Using the Self-reflection Spread ................................................3

2. Introducing the Major Arcana ........................................8

3. The Court Cards ..............................................................13

Wands ....................................................................................13

Swords ....................................................................................15

Pentacles ................................................................................17

Cups ......................................................................................19

4. The Minor Arcana Cards ................................................22

Wands ....................................................................................22

Swords ....................................................................................27

Pentacles ................................................................................32

Cups ......................................................................................37

Travelling through the Major Arcana ................................45

5. Leaving the Nest ..............................................................47

The Fool: Leap of Faith ..........................................................47

The Magician: Creating Your Own Reality ............................53

6. Marriage and Motherhood ............................................59

The Hierophant: Culture Shock in Britain ..............................59

The Lovers:The Many Faces of Love ......................................65

The Moon: Meeting the Moon in Mexico..............................71

The Chariot:Willpower in Egypt ............................................76

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7. Self-awareness ....................................................................82

Strength: Ghosts Run Free in Rome ......................................82

The Wheel of Fortune:The Rhythm of Life ..........................87

Justice:The Justice Trail in Prague ..........................................92

The Hanged Man:A Different Perspective in the New World ............................................................................98

8. Change and Healing ......................................................105

Death: Heading for the Light in Vienna ................................105

The Tower:The Wake-up Call ..............................................111

The Sun: On Top of the World in Peru ................................117

The Star:A Time of Gentle Healing......................................122

Temperance: Peace and Harmony in Sweden ........................127

The Empress:Allowing Time for Growth ..............................132

The Devil: Lucifer’s Volcano in Guatemala ............................137

9. True Purpose....................................................................144

The Emperor: China Lifts the Lid on Authority ....................144

The High Priestess: Intuition vs Illusion ................................149

The Hermit: Mountains and Hermits ....................................154

Judgement:Transformation in Berlin ....................................160

The World: Destination Destiny ............................................166

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Preface

Within days, even hours, of arriving somewhere friends askwhether I have my Tarot cards with me. And I always do. After all,over the years I’ve seen how laying the cards can help people seebeyond immediate concerns to the bigger issues in their lives. I’malways struck by how the cards people select reflect whatever’s ontheir minds.There are 78 cards in the deck, so, in theory, they couldpick totally irrelevant cards, but they never do.

“Can I read the cards for myself?” is a common question.Theanswer is definitely “yes”, but you absolutely must resist the tempta-tion of laying the cards until you get the ones you want.You have togo with the cards you first select, because they reflect what you needto know about a situation - which may not, of course, equate withhow you want the situation to be!

And do the cards predict the future? I prefer to say they providesignposts to the future, based on what’s in your life right now. Butnever forget that you have freewill - it’s up to you whether you fol-low the directions on the signposts or not. The cards can also shedlight on the past, can help you come to terms with past issues or helpyou understand why something did or didn’t work out as you hadhoped.

A feature of this book is a self-reflection spread designed to helpyou project into the future, or shine a light on the past, if you haveunresolved issues that are blocking your future. My approach to illus-trating the meaning of the cards is quite novel, and one I hope youenjoy. Because the 22 major cards in the Tarot deck tell the story ofthe universal human journey, of our quest for the Holy Grail, if youlike, I’ve used travel stories as a way of explaining the meaning of the

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Ticket, Passport and Tarot Cards

major cards. Stories from my personal travels show how my outerjourneys ran parallel to stages in my inner journey. Each story is pre-ceded by a self-reflection spread done sometime before the events inthe story - usually six months or more. My interpretation of the cardsand the account of subsequent events are designed to show how theself-reflection spread works, and to demystify the process of readingthe cards.

To get the most out of the stories, read the first two chapters sothat you understand how the spread works and the significance of theMajor Arcana cards.Then, get out your ticket, passport and Tarot cardsand join me as I travel the world!

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CHAPTER 1 Preparing for the Journey

I always get a buzz out of planning a trip. I love leafing throughtravel magazines and surfing the web in search of cheap airfares andnovel ideas about where to go and what to do. Because I know thateach trip is likely to help me develop at a personal level, I also con-sult my Tarot cards.

If you’re new to the Tarot, you’re likely to be confused by themany Tarot decks that are now available. In this book, I have used theRider-Waite deck, which was first published in 1910 by Rider &Company in the UK. Arthur Edward Waite, a member of an occultsociety of the time called the Golden Dawn, designed the deck, alongwith an American artist, Pamela Colman Smith. I like using this deckbecause the symbolism in the images says so much about the humanexperience.The Rider-Waite deck has endured the test of time and,over the years, has become the model for many other decks.

Before explaining how to use the self-reflection spread, let megive you a few general tips about interpreting Tarot cards.

The Tarot JourneyThe symbols in the Tarot cards tell a universal story. As you

journey from the Fool to the World in the Major Arcana, from Ace toTen in the Minor Arcana and from Page to King in the court cardsyou become aware of different stages in the development of an issueor situation. If you draw Nines and Tens in the Minor Arcana, thegeneral message is that you are nearing the end of something. If youdraw Aces and Twos, you are at the beginning of something. If youdraw Pages, your attitude or approach at the moment may be imma-ture or unrealistic; you possibly lack the maturity and self-awarenessof the Queens and Kings.

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Because the cards follow a natural sequence, I find it useful toreflect on the card that precedes the one I drew, as well as the cardthat follows it. In this way, I get a sense of where I am at the momenton my journey with a particular issue. For example, if I draw theSeven of Cups, I have come from the Six and am heading towards theEight. While the Seven is the most important card for me to consider, looking at the Six and the Eight gives me a fuller picture.

Reading Reversed CardsMuch has been written about the significance of reversed cards

and many readers consciously keep all cards in their deck in anupright position. Over the years I have swung between allowingreversed cards and excluding them. Now, however, I like to use thembecause I believe they add a useful dimension to a reading. I simplyapply a few general principles:

• The energy and meaning of the upright position is still valid, butthe reversed position indicates you could be reluctant to dowhatever the card is suggesting. There may be barriers (self-imposed or imposed by others) or the timing may not be right.

• It is likely that you have not yet fully addressed issues that arecontained in the preceding card. For example, if you draw theEmpress reversed, you should look carefully at the HighPriestess to see what High Priestess issues you have not yet tack-led in relation to your question.

Therefore, when you draw a reversed card, reflect upon the pre-ceding card, as it could well provide answers to why you may be find-ing it difficult to reflect clearly and honestly on the question.The cardthat precedes the Fool is the World, and the cards that precede Acesare the Tens of the respective suits. Pages are the only cards that don’thave an obvious preceding card. If a Page comes out reversed in yourreading, the message is that you are being immature about something.

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Pick a card from the Minor Arcana to help you identify the aspect ofyour life the reversed Page is referring to. Some of the spreads in thisbook provide examples of interpreting reversed Pages.

Once you have considered what the reversed card is telling you,turn the card upright, because that is the energy you need to attractand apply. By consciously turning the card around into anupright position you start the process of overcoming barriers.

Using the Self-reflection SpreadThis spread is designed to help you reflect upon a particular

aspect of your life. It will help you find answers to questions such as:

• What can I do to advance my career?

• What can I do to improve my relationship with (name a person,e.g. wife, husband, partner, friend, work colleague, boss, child,parent)?

• What factors should I consider in relation to (name a specificoption that is open to you)?

• How can I build on, or what is the significance of (name some-thing that has happened to you)?

Whenever you consult the Tarot cards, it is best to avoid ques-tions that simply invite the answer ‘yes’ or ‘no’. It is also a good ideato write your question down - the process of formulating questionshelps you focus on what you need to know. The Tarot cards reflectyour state of mind at the time - if you’re confused about what youwant to know, the answers from the cards will reflect that confusion.

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Preparing for the Journey


Laying the CardsDivide your Tarot deck into three piles:

• Major Arcana cards (the 22 cards that start at the Fool and endwith the World)

• Court cards (Kings, Queens, Knights and Pages)

• Minor Arcana cards (Wands, Swords, Pentacles and Cups - 10from each suit).

Place the Major Arcana cards face down on the table andmove them around to ensure a random mix of upright and reversed

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cards. Pick up the cards, shuffle them a little more if you wish, thenspread them in a fan face down on the table. Concentrate on thequestion you are asking, choose a card and place it face down in thefirst position of the spread.

Repeat the shuffling process for the court cards. As you drawcard 2, ask for guidance on an aspect of your personality that couldhelp you in relation to your question. As you draw card 3, ask forguidance on an aspect of your personality that could be a hindrancein relation to your question. Only draw cards 2a and 3a if you are ask-ing about a relationship between yourself and another person.As youdraw 2a, ask yourself “what aspect of his/her personality is helpful atthe moment?” For 3a ask “what aspect of his/her personality is a hin-drance at the moment?”

Repeat the shuffling process for the Minor Arcana cards. Asyou draw the final three cards project your thoughts into the futureand focus on how the situation might unfold.

Interpreting your CardsWhen all the cards are drawn, turn them face up and go to the

chapter for the Major Arcana card you drew as the key.There you willfind my interpretation of a self-reflection spread with that MajorArcana card in the key position, along with a story that shows howevents played out in reality. Finally, in the centre colour section, thereare questions to ask yourself if you draw that Major Arcana card in thekey position.

Next, go to the chapter on the Court Cards to help you inter-pret cards 2 and 3.The chapter on the Minor Arcana will help youinterpret cards 4-6.

Card 1The first card holds the key to finding the answer to your ques-

tion. It indicates the stage you have reached with your question and

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Preparing for the Journey


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CHAPTER 2Introducing the Major Arcana

The Tarot deck consists of 78 cards, 22 of which are called theMajor Arcana. These cards represent the major secrets or archetypalbehaviour patterns that motivate people.They illustrate stages in thepersonal journeys we make in all aspects of our lives - from relation-ships to career to leisure pursuits. Symbolically, we start all journeys asthe Fool, the Tarot card that represents new beginnings, where weleave the baggage of the past behind, start out afresh and trust that theuniverse will provide.As the journey proceeds, we use the tools at ourdisposal (the Magician), listen to our intuition (the High Priestess), letopportunities grow and blossom (the Empress), face challenges, taketime out for reflection, overcome personal doubts and inhibitions,make changes, discard what we do not need, and achieve our goals inthe final card of the World.

The first card of the Fool (with its number zero) stands aloneand represents the moment of creation, the moment you decide tostep into the archetypal patterns represented by the other 21 cards,which can be divided into three groups of seven.The cards from 1 to7, that is, from the Magician to the Chariot, deal with the outer worldor society. These cards concentrate on issues around relationships,education, the power of institutions, decision-making and succeedingin the outer world.

The next seven cards, Strength to Temperance, take you on aninner journey into the sub-conscious. Who am I? What patterns ofbehaviour drive me? Do I need to release some of them to pursue mytrue purpose in life? These are the questions you ask yourself as youmove towards the equilibrium of Temperance.


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Introducing the Major Arcana

The final seven cards from the Devil to the World send you outinto the cosmos.You have glimpsed your true purpose in life, but nowyou must develop spiritually and understand how you interact withthe forces of the universe. This is the realm of the super-conscious,where you connect with universal energies and transcend the every-day world. You emerge into the sunlight - rejoicing in the transformation you have undergone and the state of enlightenmentyou have reached.You are now ready to make another leap of faithwith the Fool.

It’s an exhilarating journey that we all take in different areas ofour lives all the time.We experience the energy of the Major Arcanacards at both a macro and a micro level.When you decide to marry,have children, move house, start a new job, leave an old job, leave arelationship, get a divorce - these are macro-level experiences or majorturning points in your life. Leaving a job could be represented by theDeath card, deciding to marry by the Lovers. However, the same cardscould refer to micro-level experiences, for example, having to choosebetween two holiday destinations could be represented by the Lovers.The cards cannot be read in isolation - you must always look at othercards in the spread to see the full story.

The stories I have written to illustrate the meaning of eachMajor Arcana card span more than 30 years and cover five themes thateveryone can identify with. The stories are drawn from my own personal journeys, and those of close relatives. They weave togetherimpressions of countries and places we have visited with stages in ourcontinuing journey towards enlightenment. Each story is preceded bya self-reflection spread done sometime before the events in the story- usually six months or more. My interpretation of the cards and theaccount of subsequent events are designed to show how the self-reflection spread works.

If, like me, you decide to trace your personal development with


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The Court Cards

tions. Spontaneity and the desire for action are positive attributes, butthey can sometimes lead you down the wrong path, and you mayunwittingly hurt yourself or other people along the way.

Page of SwordsThe Page of Swords suggests that new ideasand projects are forming in your mind.However, you are likely to be feeling inse-cure about them - “Nice idea, but can I real-ly do it?” is a simple way of describing theattitude of this Page. Because you are inse-cure, you could be defensive and reluctant tolook realistically at the idea. However, takeheart, the clouds you need to cut throughare soft and fluffy, so relax and open yourmind to all the possibilities, for they are

many and you have the capacity to make your dreams a reality.

PentaclesAstrologically, the Pentacles court cards may refer to people

from the Earth signs of Virgo, Capricorn and Taurus.

King of PentaclesThe King of Pentacles knows how to suc-ceed and works hard to achieve his goals.This King is the one with the Midas touch.The financial rewards that come from hissuccessful endeavours allow him to acquireall the material comforts anyone could wishfor. He is reliable, enterprising, well-informed and supportive. He is a naturalmanager and business person and provides astabilizing influence wherever he goes. In alove relationship you may find him a little


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too materialistic - he’s not as romantic and exciting as the Kings fromthe Cups and Wands suits, but you’ll live a comfortable lifestyle withhim.

Queen of PentaclesSitting contentedly in her garden, theQueen of Pentacles looks thoughtfully atwhat she has achieved. She knows that intime will she will achieve even more, sym-bolized by the roses in bloom above herhead.This queen is an earthy, grounded per-son who enjoys being surrounded by nature.She loves routine, knows her limits and iswilling to work steadily towards her goals. Ina relationship she expresses emotions in apractical, down-to-earth way and knows that

true friendships outlive the passions that overwhelm us in the ‘hon-eymoon’ phase of romantic relationships.

Knight of PentaclesThe Knight Pentacles is solid and hard-working, the type of person who examinesan issue from every angle and likes to haveall bases covered.This can lead to procrasti-nation, so he may need to be prodded nowand again to get his horse moving. He lovesstability, he is loyal and can be relied on in allsituations.This ‘salt of the earth’ character cansometimes appear boring and inflexible, par-ticularly to those who get their kicks out ofseeing things done quickly and dramatically.


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The Court Cards

Page of PentaclesThe seed of new ideas with real potential isthe message of the Page of Pentacles.However, beware of taking too narrow aperspective - you are at the beginning of theprocess, you are the Page who has much tolearn yet. Remain open to other approaches,think laterally about your idea because youmay well find ways to improve it.You mayneed to study or undertake research to bringyour idea to fruition.

CupsAstrologically, the Cups court cards may refer to people from

the Water signs of Pisces, Scorpio and Cancer.

King of CupsEmotional control is a key feature of the Kingof Cups. Gone is the openness and emotion-al vulnerability of the Knight of Cups. ThisKing’s emotions and feelings run deep, but hemakes sure they are firmly under control. Forthis reason, he often appears secretive and dis-tant - you never quite know what he reallyfeels.

A negative, disturbing aspect of thiscontrol is his tendency to use emotionalblackmail. Those who seek a relationship

with the King of Cups should be aware that he is quite adept at con-trolling other people by manipulating their emotions, particularly ifthey are trying to get to the bottom of his emotions. However, this is


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Chapter 4The Minor Arcana Cards

The Minor Arcana normally includes all cards except the 22Major Arcana cards. However, because of the special role the courtcards play in the self-reflection spread, they have been considered sep-arately.The remaining 40 cards - from Ace to Ten across four suits -deal with everyday events. I also work with a blank card, so that makesa total of 41 cards in the Minor Arcana.They depict the activities andemotions we encounter on a daily basis.

WandsThe suit of Wands is about the way we think and act - our

energy, creativity and enthusiasm.

Ace of WandsEverything stems from a new idea or a newapproach to an old situation. This card ischarged with the positive energy of a new,creative venture. In the distance is the castleof dreams - your goal, and right now youhave the spark, energy, enthusiasm and driveto achieve that goal. It is an exciting time.Grasp the wand and have faith in your abil-ity to make it happen.


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The Minor Arcana Cards

Two of WandsNow is the time to decide how you are goingto make the new idea you had with the Aceof Wands a reality.You are restless, you knowit is time to move forward, to be daring, toseize the initiative and move into unchartedwaters. The wand behind you is fastenedfirmly to the wall. It is the idea or venturerepresented by the Ace.But now you have setyour sights on the rest of the world (theglobe) and your second wand is poised tomove anywhere you decide to take it.

Three of Wands

The person in the Three of Wands is lookingout to sea and watching his ships come in.He is beginning to see results after makingthe bold decisions of the Two of Wands. Hisfocus is now visionary, he is planning wellinto the future and sees his enterpriseexpanding far beyond the shore where hecurrently stands. If the Three of Wandscomes up in a relationship reading, it repre-sents a time when the relationship is movingto a deeper level of commitment or involve-

ment.Travel is also associated with this card - you may be travellingfor work or you may meet your partner while travelling.


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Chapter 6Marriage and Motherhood

Falling in love, marrying and having kids is a major part of life.Maybe we don’t all marry and have kids, and maybe our marriagesdon’t always work out as we thought they would, but we all havemothers. So there’s something in these stories for everyone!

The Hierophant: Culture Shock in BritainThe story about the Hierophant takes place in 1974, a decade

before I started to use the Tarot cards.To come up with a self-reflectionspread, I had to cast my mind back to the person I was then and posea question that would have made sense at the time. I found this a valu-able experience since it cast light on forces that were at work in mylife then. Examining the cards that came out helped me to clear awaythe fog that still surrounded aspects of events that ended up having aprofound influence on my life.

At the end of 1973, I left Australia for the first time. I accompaniedmy husband to the UK on a 12-month sabbatical leave from anAustralian university.

Question:What can I do to make the most of this year abroad?

Short answer: Question all forms of institutional power.

My self-reflection spreadThe Hierophant is often associated with learning institutions,

with the doctrines espoused by any kind of institution or organisedgroup in society. He can also represent a teacher, a learned person, areligious leader or a guru who has the knowledge and insights to helpyou find your spiritual path.The Hierophant as the key encapsulatedso much of what I was to experience in that year abroad.


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My husband was an academic,who was spending a year asVisiting Professor at a univer-sity in the UK, so learninginstitutions were a big part ofmy life at the time. TheHierophant was asking me tofocus on institutional values,onthe belief systems and values ofthe society in which I lived. Iwas being asked to questionthem as part of the process oftaking responsibility for myown spiritual development.

Helping me would be theenergy of the Page of Pentacles,my ability to grasp new ideasand concepts. However, the

Page was reversed so I was in danger of resisting new ideas, of takingtoo narrow a perspective - probably because I felt unsure about myown opinions. Because there is no card that logically precedes a Page, Idrew a card from the Minor Arcana to help clarify what the reversedPage of Pentacles could mean. It was the Three of Wands,which imme-diately suggested that the new ideas would come as a result of travel-ling overseas! And the ideas would be visionary, in the sense that theywould help me see where my life was heading and what I had alreadyachieved.

The combination of the Hierophant, reversed Page of Pentaclesand Three of Wands also suggested that taking a fresh approach to theway my marriage was developing could be helpful, that it could beuseful to question the institution of marriage and the basis on whichI had entered into it. Scary stuff!


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Two completely different interpretations sprang to mind for theKing of Swords as an aspect of my personality that could be a hin-drance.The King of Swords is a clear, analytical thinker who is moti-vated by a sense of fair play and justice. Because he is driven by logicrather than emotions, he can sometimes appear stubborn and set inhis ways. Did his appearance as a negative influence suggest that Imight be slowed down by a tendency to analyse issues from all angles?Or, did he say something about my relationship with my husband, aman who not only fitted the description of the King of Swords, butalso that of the Hierophant? Would my belief in the views and doc-trines he expounded hinder my spiritual development? As we allknow, it’s easier to follow the leader than to question the leader.

The blank card sat fairly and squarely in the middle of the lastthree cards. The year would be full of surprises, events beyond mycontrol would influence my life in ways I could not have predicted.The Two of Swords indicated that I would shy away from hard deci-sions because I was afraid of being hurt. I would resist taking off myself-imposed blindfold, fearful of seeing situations for what they real-ly were. The Ace of Wands at the end was extremely positive - thebeginning of something new that would fire my enthusiasm andenergy.

I drew these cards 30 years after that first trip abroad and wasfascinated by how accurately they described the events of 1974. Asyou read the story you’ll see the year was indeed full of surprises, sur-prises that involved a lot of learning. I did put off the hard decisionsabout the institution of marriage, but I returned to Australia ready togive birth to my first child, my Ace of Wands.

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The Hierophant’s messageClad in red, white and yellow the Hierophant sitshigh above the disciples who kneel before him.Thered cloak suggests the High Priest is filled withinner warmth.Yellow symbolizes the power of hisintellect, white shows the purity of his motives,while the blue collar indicates he has achieved astate of spiritual balance.The two crossed keys at hisfeet suggest he can open the door to the secrets ofthe universe. However, the grey pillars on eitherside of him represent the boundaries of society,

the boundaries set by the doctrine he espouses and which he impartsthrough his staff to the disciples at his feet, waiting to absorb his wordsof wisdom.

The Hierophant can represent a teacher, priest or guru in yourlife whose view of the world you accept without question. However,if he is truly a teacher, he will allow you to challenge his doctrine, toquestion whether conforming to what society expects of you is theright spiritual path for you.The answer may be ‘yes’ or ‘no’, but unlessyou question the doctrines you have grown up with, you run the riskof allowing the views and beliefs of others to fashion your behaviour.

When the Hierophant appears in your cards, you know thatyou have reached a point in your journey where you need to takeresponsibility for your own spiritual development. From your parentsand environment you have inherited a set of beliefs that shape yourbehaviour.They could be religious beliefs or they could simply reflectthe way people behave in the culture to which you belong.

My journeyIn 1974, the second year of my marriage, I travelled outside

Australia for the first time. I arrived in England eager to see the mothercountry. At school I had learned English history and read English


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literature - from Enid Blyton to Shakespeare, Jane Austen and theBrontë sisters. No wonder I expected to feel perfectly at home. Boywas I in for a surprise!

“I’m afraid to say the behaviour of your wife last night was mostunacceptable. It’s quite regrettable, really, but I must ask you to makeother accommodation arrangements for the remainder of your termas Visiting Professor.And I must ask you to do this immediately.”

To which my husband replied:

“At Easter we’re off for three months to the continent, so themost convenient arrangement for us would be to stay in the Hall ofResidence until then - that’s about six weeks.When we return for theAutumn semester we’ll organise our own accommodation. OK?”

“Oh, I see. Well, Professor, I suppose we can agree to that.However, I’m afraid it will not be acceptable for you to take dinnerat High Table.”

Giggling like naughty schoolchildren ticked off by the grimheadmaster, we returned to our rooms.Yippee! No more stuffy talkaround High Table each evening. That suited us right down to theground.

If you’re in a country where people speak another language, youexpect to feel like a foreigner.When they speak the same language butlive by a different set of rules, the walls that contained your comfort-able view of society crumble. You’re left to take responsibility fordeveloping your own code of behaviour, your own view of the world.You enter the world of the Hierophant.

“Do you want to conform to the rules here? Are you being trueto yourself if you do so? Do you belong to this culture?” theHierophant whispered in my ear as I struggled to make polite con-versation with people who spoke in condescending tones, in ever-so-proper English, to the upstart visitors from the colonies.

Marriage and Motherhood


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“No,” I said emphatically and overnight became an Australian. Irejected the notion that somehow I was a citizen of the mother coun-try, simply because the English had established a penal colony in a dis-tant land 200 hundred years earlier.

In 1974 the Hierophant was also hard at work back in Australia.His agent was the Whitlam Labor Government. Their program ofreform since being elected in 1972 had been challenging the princi-ples and values Australians had accepted as gospel over the preceding23 years of conservative rule.As I cast my vote from afar in the 1974snap election, I couldn’t help but see a similarity between my personalhead-on clash with the mother country and the challenge the LaborGovernment had issued on the political front in Australia. By livingin Britain I was challenging assumptions I had taken for granted allmy life. Back in my real mother country, people were being asked toquestion their beliefs and declare where they stood.

Looking back on the person I was at that time, I can see that Isuccessfully challenged the Hierophant on the question of my culturalidentity. But he was also asking me to question my beliefs aboutanother institution, the institution of marriage. I had grown up in anera where a woman’s life was not complete until she married and hada man to care for her.As I happily followed in my husband’s footstepsthrough the UK and Europe, I lived my life according to that doc-trine. It was to be some years before I heeded the Hierophant’s les-sons about the institution of marriage, some years before I confront-ed the choices posed by the next card in the Tarot deck - the Lovers.

In 2004 I wandered through the Student Union building of thatsame UK university. My mind went back to that turbulent, but excit-ing, time in the college, and to the latter half of 1974 when we livedin our own flat, free of High Table constraints.

“Phew, I’m glad we sorted out our allegiances,” I thought.ThenI smiled as I remembered the culture shock I experienced on arrivingback in Australia after 12 months!


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It was fascinating to see Tarot emerge as a major focus.What hadstarted as a hobby 20 years earlier was now centre-stage.The conceptfor this book emerged during those 15 months and back in AustraliaI found a publisher. Maybe ‘true north’ had been staring me in theface all the time. I just didn’t know which way was up!

Judgement:Transformation in BerlinI’m sure you’ve all been in situations where you’ve had to make

a judgement about when to move forward, when to say “I’ve donewhat I set out to do, it’s time to move on”. After finding new workopportunities by living in Berlin for almost a year, I reached that sortof crossroad in mid-2004. I believed the foundations I had laid for anew career focus were solid enough to allow me to return toAustralia.

Question: What can I do to make the most of my decision toreturn to Australia?

Short answer: Rejoice in the changes I have made, for they areleading me to my true vocation.

My self-reflection spreadWow! Judgement, the final calling to account. How appropriate

since I had spent the past 18 months re-assessing everything, takingan audit of my life, making judgements about what I could andcouldn’t do, as well as what I’d like to do. I had been open to changeand change had come along in the form of new creative work oppor-tunities in Berlin.

I had also allowed myself time to focus on Tarot and to arrive atthe concept for this book. I certainly felt liberated, on the verge ofbeing reborn. And, if the cards were to be believed, it was going tohappen back in the country of my birth, not somewhere else as I hadoften contemplated.


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Judgement was also asking mewhether I was ready to acceptand release attitudes, situationsand people that were holdingme back. If I didn’t, I’d bestuck in a groove, thinkingalways about what might havebeen, if only I’d…a timelywarning, indeed.

The cards depictingaspects of my personalityindicated a level of immaturi-ty or perhaps naïveté. It wasencouraging to have theenergy of the Knight of Cupshelping me, for he knowswhat he needs at an emotion-al level and rides steadily

towards his goal. However, the Knight was reversed which suggestedI still had a lesson to learn from the dreamy Page of Cups.This Pageis intuitive and psychic (useful attributes in the context of writing thisbook!), but he needs to be more flexible, more able to see his dreamswithin the cut and thrust of everyday life.

The Page of Swords was a negative influence, alerting me towatch out for a drift in my resolve, a tendency to say “Oh well, goodidea, but can I really do it? Should I even bother to pursue it?”Thiswas an old enemy, but with Judgement on my side, I figured I had himcovered!

The battle of wills between the Knight of Cups and the Page ofSwords led logically to the three outcome cards. Upon returning toAustralia, I could expect to withdraw a little in the face of the challenge

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I had set myself. I might even find myself doggedly defending posi-tions or convictions for no good reason. The Nine of Wands wastelling me to reject that attitude, to put the ninth wand behind mewith the other eight and get ready to complete the cycle I was nowin.

A similar message came through from the Four of Cups reversed- don’t lose momentum, don’t let myself get into a state of mindwhere I think the high point has passed and the only way left is down.Because it’s not, I only have to look up to see that there are opportu-nities around me. It was also telling me to lighten up, to enjoy myself(the lesson from the preceding card, the Three of Cups).

The message from the Two of Wands reversed was to keep myeye on the ball, not to lose sight of what I had achieved in the pre-ceding card, the Ace of Wands, that is, the new directions I had creat-ed for myself in the time away from Australia. If I did that, I couldturn the card into its upright position and the world would be myoyster. I could make decisions to head off into uncharted waters, con-fident that the wand firmly anchored on land would sustain the newdirection.

I’m writing this chapter three months after returning toAustralia. I continue to get work from Berlin and I have a publisherfor this book. I can now see why I was drawn to Berlin as the placeto re-assess my life. Read on!


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Judgement’s messageAn angel sounds the trumpet and the dead risenaked from their coffins.They rejoice in their res-urrection, whether they are young, old, male orfemale.The past is behind them, they are ready tomeet their Maker, ready to pursue their spiritualpath, having learned the lessons of the physicalworld.

Judgement is the final call to change. It chal-lenges you to confirm absolutely that you didreally embrace change back there with the Death

card. Or did you just sweep a few hard truths under the carpet andnever move beyond the Devil? Or perhaps change was forced uponyou and you’re still sifting through the rubble of your collapsedTower. Or maybe your path was easy and you skipped straight fromDeath to the Sun - after all, journeys are not always difficult!

As the penultimate card in the Major Arcana, Judgement is thefinal call to assess the jigsaw pieces that make up your life so far.Youare being asked to accept and release aspects of your past that areholding you back. These could be attitudes, habits, relationships orjobs. By doing so you will be transformed, you will be able to moveforward and wholeheartedly embrace the next phase of your life.

You are no longer the carefree, innocent Fool starting out onyour journey.You have experienced the highs and lows of life andarrived at Judgement Day.You are being asked if you have the courageto blow the trumpet, to summon up the memories of your journeyso far - your loves, your losses, your successes and your failures.Youare being asked to acknowledge them for what they are, to say “yes, Iaccept the consequences - good and bad - of everything that I havedone so far”.Through this act of acceptance, the memories slip backinto the past where they belong - they fade to black and white.

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If you do not accept the challenge, you’re likely to remain in astate of suspended animation, full of self-doubt and regrets, doomedto think about all the things that might have been.The choice is yoursto make.

My journey “For 28 years you couldn’t cross this street. Down the middle of

Bernauer Strasse was the wall - on this side you were in West Berlin,on the other side you were in East Berlin.That brown line on yourcity map shows where West Berlin was walled off from East Berlin.”As the tour guide leaves them to wander up and down the street, thetourists flick through their guide books, talking among themselvesabout the before and after pictures of the city they’re in.

There are shades of the Tarot card of Judgement in the image ofBerliners celebrating on top of the wall on that famous night in 1989.Hallelujah! Let’s blow our trumpets and celebrate the end of a worn-out political system.We have nothing to fear from the past, nothingto fear from border guards rendered powerless by a statement fromEast Germany that people can pass freely between East and West Berlin.Let’s do it and see what happens! Nothing! Look we’re walking backand forth, we’re climbing the wall, we’re taking sledge-hammers to it.Watch the wall come down! Watch the past crumble! We’re free! We’reready for a new world. Hallelujah!

Of course, coming to terms with the past and moving on doesn’thappen overnight. But the image of Berliners beginning to tear downthe wall is a powerful symbol of change, of a turning point where thepast is left behind forever. In Germany people speak of life “vor” and“nach der Wende” - before and after the turning point.

During a year in Berlin I looked with fascination at photos thattraced the history of the wall and a divided city. I spoke to peopleabout what it was like to live in either East or West Berlin duringthose 28 years. Many older people still carry the entrenched attitudes


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of the past, and from former residents of East Germany there’s a waveof nostalgia about the good old days. In contrast, in many parts of theformer East Berlin young people have moved in and there’s a buzz ofa new Berlin where the divisions and attitudes of the past are no morethan a distant memory.

Parts of the wall still stand as a reminder to the past, but, true tothe theme of Judgement, they have been transformed. The longeststretch is the East Side Gallery where artists in the early 1990s wereinvited to paint images on the former eastern side of the wall. Thewest side of the wall had long been painted. Near Bernauer Streetfragments of the wall run along the top of a hill and blend in with thewall of a large sporting complex.The barren stretch of land that usedto be Potsdamer Platz has been transformed into a modern shoppingcomplex and entertainment centre. Behind the Brandenburg Gateand to one side of the Parliament there is nothing but a line of bricksin the pavement to show where the wall used to stand.

In this city of transformation I found myself changing. I wentthrough the Judgement process as I reviewed my working life andlifestyle. How could I best use the skills I had developed over theyears? How could I avoid the mistakes of the past?

I had come to Berlin looking for a change.And, lo and behold,what should I see rolling down the street? The Wheel of Fortuneoffering work in a field I would never have imagined myself in! Iseized the opportunity to find, with great delight, that I could use oldskills in new and creative ways.

Back in Australia the challenge is to stay focused on that newdirection. But, hey, if that was Judgement, I had a good time and itmust mean I have only the World to look forward to!

True Purpose


The Fool: Leap of Faith1. Am I ready to make a completely new start in some area of my life?

2. Have I said goodbye to things in my past that are of no use to me inthe future?

3. Am I taking useful lessons from the past into the future?

4. Do I have faith in my ability to make the right decisions and actaccordingly?

5. Do I have faith in my ability to overcome any hurdles I mightencounter on this new journey?

Chapter 5: Leaving the Nest, pp. 47-53

Above: It was not all red dust, flat landscapes and hardwork.As Marion relaxed into her new life, she enjoyed thebeauty of places like the Katherine Gorge south of Darwinin the Northern Territory.

Right:When my daughter Marion was 25, she left her lifein the city to travel through outback Australia. She and herpartner found work as sign-writers in NSW, Queenslandand the Northern Territory.

Photo: Jenny Birch

Ticket PP COLOR CENTRE SECTION 7/7/05 11:36 AM Page 2

The Hierophant: Culture Shock in Britain1. Is there an institution whose values I accept without question?

2. Is conforming to the prevailing views in society a major motivatingforce in my life?

3. Am I prepared to question the values and belief system I grew up with?

4. Do I act according to the views or doctrines of another person in mylife?

5. Am I prepared to take responsibility for my own spiritual development?

6. Is there someone, or an institution, that will truly help me develop myown spirituality?

7. Am I in a position to help others develop their spirituality?

Chapter 6: Marriage and Motherhood, pp. 59-64

The 'must-see' sights for tourists tell you something aboutthe culture and history of the country you're visiting.Cologne Cathedral in Germany towers over the surround-ing streets - a reminder of the power of religious institu-tions in our lives.

In 1974, I spent a year in England - thecountry whose institutions and valueshave shaped Australia. I was fascinated byeveryone's fascination with the pomp andceremony of royalty. Every day, crowdswait outside Buckingham Palace to watchthe changing of the Guard.


Judgement:Transformation in Berlin1. Am I ready to accept and release aspects of my life that are holding me

back?

2. Am I ready to move on and wholeheartedly embrace the next phaseof my life?

3. Am I prepared to take responsibility for all that I have done so far?

4. Am I ready to answer the call, to do what I feel drawn to?

5. Do I appreciate how liberating it will be to answer the call, to bereborn?

6. Is an event in my life 20 years ago, relevant to something that's happen-ing at the moment?

Chapter 9:True Purpose, pp. 160-165

On a momentous night in 1989, theworld watched as the wall that haddivided Berlin for 28 years began tocrumble. In 1996, the sign read 'Stop!Building site. 1961 The wall was built.1994-1998 - one of the most attrac-tive business addresses in Europe istaking shape'.

Parts of the wall still stand, but they'vebeen transformed.The longest stretchis the East Side Gallery which featuresa friendly political kiss in the frontseat of a Trabi, the national car of theformer East Germany.


ticket, passport and tarot cards - global spiritual · pdf filemajor arcana cards.then,get out...

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