Four Pillars Society Tarot: Justice

 

Notes on Justice

(It Comes and Goes)

 
Artist’s Notes on the Card:
The wheel is in motion and we chose to either spin it or spin on it. The question is this. Are we willing to take the consequences of our actions? For me, the concepts of Justice and Personal Responsibility tend to be entwined. Everything we do has consequences and none of our actions takes place in a vacuum. That being said, we all have the freedom to do anything we want. As long as we are willing to take responsibility for it. In the end, everything becomes part of the balance.
Yes, there is humour in this card. The Goddess of Justice is shown to be a chameleon, still blind and if you want to know her name, pay attention to the colours of the card. Those are the colours of this particular dream.
The ancient Egyptians believed that after they died, the jackal-headed god Anubis would weigh their hearts (representing their sin) against the weight of a feather. If the heart was too heavy, the afterlife would be rougher. Interesting how the only sins that count are the ones that weigh heavily on our hearts. Here, in place of the heart is a pregnancy test showing positive. Given how messed up, the average person in today’s age is around topics of sex and pregnancy, it seemed an appropriate representation of those sins.
 
 
About the Archetype:
 
When we find ourselves on our own in this world we are faced with a number of choices. Even the smallest decisions can have lasting ramifications on our life. Occasionally we will make ones that seem to damage us in some way. We choose the wrong job or partner or develop habit-forming indulgences. We end up having to face the consequences of these decisions either circumstantially, emotionally, or mentally. Do we learn from our past missteps and take more responsibility for our choices armed with that knowledge? Do we overcompensate by choosing the exact opposite only to suffer a different set of consequences? How do we find a balance between the two and take full charge of our lives? This is the lesson of the Justice card.
 
In the long run the decisions we make really don’t matter as much as our willingness to claim them. Life will work with whatever we give it to teach us the lessons we need and growth is unavoidable. The greater our ability to take on the responsibility for our own spiritual and emotional growth, the faster it will happen. By accepting what life has taught us so far and using that to govern our further actions we find that balance within ourselves.
 
There are certain things that will happen to us such as natural disasters, injury, or sickness that we aren’t responsible for yet still have to deal with. Part of learning responsibility is realizing what is and isn’t our fault. While we might not be able to control these events, we can still control our response to them instead of falling into pits of self-pity or remorse. It is both in the act of response and how we respond to everything that we face in life that determines our growth. How fast can we adjust to the changes and regain our equilibrium?
 
 
Astrological Correspondent:
 
Libra (♎︎)-Libra, symbolized by the scales, is the sign of harmony and balance. The Libra energy wants things to stay in balance and on an even keel and will do anything possible to reestablish things that have gone awry. Libra works best when it is in tandem with another. The Libra energy is intensely curious, especially about others and can be extremely charming. At times tho there is a tendency towards gossip, perhaps causing a bit of disharmony that can later balance out. Libra’s planetary ruler is Venus and love and beauty are strong motivators. The sign is the diplomat of the zodiac and works hard to find the best compromise between disputing factors. As an air sign communication is one of Libra’s gifts and it will talk its way out of difficulty.
 
 
In a Reading:
 
When Justice turns up in a reading it can often mean that things are working out in a fair and balanced way. The querent is facing the natural consequences both positive and negative of his actions. It would benefit them to realize exactly how their past choices have brought them to this point. It can also mean that the querent is facing a decision that will have both major and minor consequences for them and they need to be very conscious of the direction that they choose. Justice means that it is time to be honest with oneself and others and encourages the querent to be fair in their dealings. It is a great opportunity for self-knowledge. It can also mean that there are legal issues at hand for the querent and that the outcome will be a fair one.
 
Inversed or badly aspected, the Justice card may indicate that there are ways in which the querent is being dishonest with himself and others. It may mean that they are refusing to take responsibility for what is happening and seeking to place the blame elsewhere. It may mean tho that the querent is facing dishonesty or unfairness from an outside source and is trying to deal with it as best as possible. Reversed Justice can mean that they need to take the high ground and act honourably even if others around them aren’t. It may also mean a legal decision that is not in the querent’s favour.
 
Fate’s Whisper:
 
Karma originated as a force to assist the agents of death in judging souls after they died. This being would later be adopted in many cultures as many reincarnated souls would tell their recount in their encounters with this being. Born as one of the many tools the Spider of Fate used to enact change in its wake. While controversial among the higher brass nothing could be done since it was used within the confines of Energy’s Will.
 
If you will notice a pregnancy test took the place of the heart on the Scales of Judgement. In modern times this became the object of determining a time-chosen responsibility. Regardless of how it was made, just like Karma’s position to its creator, it is time whoever is involved it faced with a choice. To take responsibility for your actions and take the current state of consequences, or run and potentially make the end result better or worse based on your actions. Look at your options before you act after all justice is watching you carefully.
 

Four Pillars Society Tarot: Wheel of Fortune

Notes on The Wheel of Fortune

(Wheels Within Wheels)

Artist’s Notes on the Card:
 
To exist in space and time is to be caught up in cycles. There is the cycle of the seasons that is a reflection of the zodiacal cycles. There are the cycles of Morning, Noon and Night and cycles of the Moon. Each of these cycles comes with high points and low points and where we are in our own personal cycle can often feel like it is a random chance. Yet, if we can follow the signs and keep our wits and our humour about us, we can more easily navigate through the hard times and even enjoy their lessons. We can also deal with the easier times without expecting them to last or allowing them to make us soft for that is also a challenge. The more we can keep our inner selves in balance, the less we become slaves to circumstance.
For ultimately we embody the cycles as much as we are prey to them. This is as true in the greater game of life as it is in the games of chance that we play. Ultimately we make and generate our own luck as long as we realize that no matter how high a peak we reach, the nadir is just as low.
 
 
About the Archetype:
 
There are many cliches about the cyclic nature of life. How season follows season and how what goes around comes around. One day we are on top of the world with a great job and relationship and the next this has all disappeared. These expressions like all cliches have a good deal of truth to them. Action follows consequence (and sometimes vice versa). Shiva continues his dance and the cycles continue. This is the lesson of Fortune’s Wheel.
 
Life is always in motion. Everywhere we look things move in a cyclic way. Whether it be our own biorhythmic cycles, seasonal changes, political changes (the rise and fall of countries and kingdoms) nothing stops. We need to accept that our lives work in a similarly cyclic way and try to gain perspective from outside the wheels that we find ourselves on. Otherwise too often it may feel like we are hamsters forever on the wheel subject to blind instinct and blind fate.
 
It is difficult at times to perceive our own responsibility in the constant spinning. It is our hands that often keep the wheel in motion and our actions or lack thereof may determine the consequences.
 
 
Astrological Correspondent:
 
Astrological Correspondence-Jupiter (♃)– Jupiter guides our fortune and the areas in which we can be the most successful. Its energies point to the areas of interest that make our hearts sing. Jupiter’s location in our charts can be a strong indicator of where we wish to expand and our interests of exploration and study.
 
Jupiter encourages us to think deeply about our lives and to see where our strengths are. It helps us to determine our personal philosophy and spirituality. Jupiter is the force that encourages us to question deeply and to search for answers. It is an optimistic force that encourages our growth, expansion, and sense of adventure and play. Jupiter encourages us to experiment with ways of expanding our consciousness either chemically or with techniques such as yoga, tantra, or other forms of ritual. At its worst Jupiter can lead us to over-indulgence. It is at times associated with weight gain.
 
 
In a Reading:
 
When the Wheel of Fortune occurs in a reading, it normally means that things are cycling around for the querent and that their circumstances are changing. Perhaps they have found themselves busy with little time for fun and now their schedule is opening up. Perhaps a relationship or a job is ending. How do they accept the changes that life brings them? This idea of acceptance is a major lesson of this card. For people who like to feel in control, the Wheel can be a bit uncomfortable as it means that the changes are unlikely to come from anything that they are doing but rather from forces outside of their control. Yet it is when the querent can roll with whatever has come around for them and they can keep their equilibrium no matter what happens that they can find themselves the happiest. Most often tho when this card is upright, it means that the changes are beneficial ones. Even when they do not seem so based on other cards in the reading or position, patience is always advised for the wheel never stops spinning.
 
 
 
Inversed or badly aspected, the Wheel can mean that the querent is struggling against the changes in their life. There seems to be a run of bad luck that can be due to either past choices that the bill is coming due for or outside interference. Either way, it is best to accept the change in circumstances and deal with how things are rather than try to recreate the past. This does not mean ignoring the examination of the sources of the change as much as it does dealing with the present. Reversed the Wheel can also mean that the querent needs to take responsibility for their lives as opposed to letting circumstances happen as they will. This can mean an examination of how the querent may be causing their own fortune or misfortune and seeing how any action may have far-reaching implications.
 
 
Fate’s Whisper:
 
Every civilization and race or being is given the same cycle to redeem itself. When it is in the paradise phase, a time when prosperity is at its peak for everyone, the Dragon of Reality will send an emissary to gently warn of the danger ahead if a troublesome action keeps occurring. The Descent Phase, a time when the rift between beings isn’t as obvious but is more apparent in comparison to the previous phase, is when the Fish of Time sends prophets to instil fear so the event can be possibly be prevented words alone won’t solve anything. The Usurper Phase, a time when emotions are present about the rift between beings is noticeable but not at a problematic peak, is when the Tiger of Chance will awaken the insecurities of those who are struggling to bring a change for the better due to their circumstances. The Judgement Phase, a time when change is needed no matter the cost due to extreme stagnation being present, is when the Spider of Fate indiscriminately starts purging all living beings using anything and everything till the needed change happens.
Regardless of how big or small, we are all given a personal cycle. Some need harder measures to break out of these cycles while others learn quicker. Identifying what you cycle is key to your growth. After all the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. When change is needed this card can show you are working in the same cycle you have been running in. While this is neither good nor bad stagnation will eventually bring about problems regardless of how sweet the circumstances are. Change and grow into your personal “Infinity” there you will find the greatest source of fulfilment.
 

 

FOUR PILLARS SOCIETY TAROT: THE HERMIT (PEAKS OF SOLITUDE)

Notes on The Hermit

(Peaks of Solitude)

 

Four Pillars Society Tarot by Gary Rosenberg (GAR) and Nyxsaurius Fallsong

 

Artist’s Notes:
 
The Spider weaves his web in solitary. It is both a product of everything that he contains within himself and a tool by which he can learn more. The Dragon may be affected by the web, he may even learn something from the placement of the strands and yet he cannot alter what the spider has wrought without destroying it completely. Who wants to bring that down upon their heads?
From time to time, we all feel the desire to get away from our present reality and sit and spin (or whatever our equivalent of that maybe). Doing so may yield the answers we seek. At the very least we have created something of beauty that we may leave behind but that others may enjoy.
 
When it is time to re-enter our lives, we come to it with a refreshed perspective. There is an old adage that contains a grain of truth as most do: “You cannot step in the same river twice.” Once we take our hiatus, what we return to is not the same reality we left.
 
GAR
 
About the Archetype:
 
There are times when the outside world and its demands on us start to feel overwhelming. Perhaps we have become disgusted with the superficial aspects of our day-to-day existence and want to take a break from it and focus on ourselves. We know that we are capable of far more than what we have shown so far and are looking for ways of developing these aspects of ourselves. This is the energy of the Hermit trump.
 
In many myths and legends (especially ones that follow Joseph Campbell’s hero cycles), there is a wise ancient who appears and guides the hero to the next step of his journey. Often this guide will take the hero to the start of his next challenge and leave him to undergo it on his own. No one can take the journey of another tho many of us need either internal or external guidance to get there. The Hermit represents that guidance. He has withdrawn from worldly pursuits to gain wisdom and knowledge. He spends his time in study and meditation to learn what he needs to in order to guide others along the way. He is the initiator of consciousness in others and has undergone many internal challenges of his own.
 
His lantern contains a star with six points. This indicates his dual purpose of withdrawal for his own development and his willingness to show the way to others. For what good is knowledge or wisdom if they remain unshared?
 
 
Astrological Correspondent:
 
Virgo (♍︎) – The Virgo energy is exacting and detail-oriented. Its strongest desire is to be helpful and has very definite ideas on the best way to do this. Virgo’s behaviour may seem unemotional and controlling to others but only with the best intentions in mind. Virgo lives mainly in its own head and can be very withdrawn. It is a restless mercurial (its planetary ruler is Mercury) energy that wants to get things done in the most efficient way possible. Virgo has a very strong sense of what is right and wrong and can be fairly inflexible and somewhat narrow-minded. It has put a lot of thought and energy into maintaining its viewpoint and hates the idea that all of that work has been wasted. Virgo is as critical of itself as it can be of others and may need help getting past this.
 
 
In a Reading:
 
When the Hermit comes up in a reading, it may mean that it is time for the querent to withdraw from his normal day-to-day activities for a period of reflection and/or meditation. This withdrawal may be a physical one but it can also be an emotional one. It may be a period where while things feel stagnant or in a holding pattern for the querent, there is a lot happening below the surface. By shifting their concerns to what is going on inside, it may hasten clarity of purpose. The Hermit can also represent a teacher, guide or mentor showing up in the querent’s life who will help them come to the next stage in their development. This guide may be internal rather than external. It may be a time of initiation for the querent who has been inwardly preparing to go to the next level in whatever arena the reading pertains.
 
 
The Reversed or badly-aspected Hermit may also mean withdrawal from the day to day but the motives are more in question. Is the querent using the time away to work on themselves or are they avoiding something they don’t want to deal with in the outside world? It may mean that too much focus has been on the study and internal work and now it is time to take a break, relax and integrate what they have learned into their lives. It may mean that the querent has become a bit too self-absorbed and/or self-indulgent. The Hermit Reversed can also mean immaturity and a refusal to grow up.
 
Fate’s Whisper:
Among all the Major Arcana this one holds a special place in my heart. Growing up with nothing gives lots of walls to overcome but what one lacks in abundance becomes wisdom of immense depths. All legends aside at first every trial will seem like a mountain. Only through countless times of us falling do we learn the value of failure. Every failure molds us a little stronger when we get back up till those mountains become foothills.
 
When things get hard take a step back. This act alone is the essence of hermit the ability to push one’s limit by looking inward and facing that which you struggle with and fear. Failure is bound to happen what matters is that you stand back and become stronger. Tied to the sign Virgo it shows the importance of perfecting oneself till one day we not only overcome but become the peaks that others seek
to surpass. Till then keep growing after all time heals all wounds so what is there to fear?
NF

FOUR PILLARS SOCIETY TAROT: STRENGTH (SOOTHING THE BEAST WITHIN)

Notes on Strength

(Soothing the Beast Within)

 

Four Pillars Society Tarot by Gary Rosenberg (GAR) and Nyxsaurius Fallsong

Artist’s Notes:
 
Many, if not all of us have a pit of snakes somewhere in our psyche Buried within our recesses is a snakepit of passion and desire. It does no good to suppress it because one way or another the crazy will come out. If we don’t exhibit it ourselves, we will draw others into our lives who will exhibit and act it out for us or find ourselves in moments of unreality where we do or say things that we would typically never say or do. 
This passionate, insane part of ourselves is a necessary part of our makeup, Indeed it is the generative force of life itself and life will out. It is also the whisper of the shadowed self that we must one day learn to incorporate and utilize in healthy ways.
 
 
About the Archetype:
 
What does it mean to master the inner self? Does it mean that we clamp down on our every wayward thought, habit, and desire? I have met many people like that and they tend to resemble time bombs or pressure valves that will one day lead to a disastrous explosion. We cannot find that kind of inner control by repression. For one thing, it becomes way too easy to lose sight of that which we are suppressing in the first place and to realize what it is our will and/or desire to do
 
True Strength comes from the shadow work of examining our feelings and hunger in a loving and compassionate way. It means finding places and situations where we may do this safely. By giving reign to these passions, we learn to name them and work with them and use them. Our wants, desires, and wounds that need to be healed are seldom the problem. It is the way we treat them that tends to make them into uncontrollable demons that terrify us. It takes strength and courage to face our demons and find that they may become our greatest allies.
 
In his Thoth deck, Aleister Crowley calls this card Lust. Many people are afraid of the strengths of their lusts. They want or need things that they feel they have to keep secret and lose sight of why and how they lust. The satisfaction of our desires can lead to an ecstatic union with our inner selves if we allow them to. There are always ways to do this that do not involve harming others or ourselves. In this way, we come to wisdom and greater self-confidence and mastery than any we have known before.
 
 
Astrological Correspondent:
 
Leo(♌︎)-The Leo energy has an immense self of itself and its power. It is as enthusiastic and courageous as its symbol the Lion. It is ruled by the sun and takes its pride of place in leadership and holds it through its sense of dignity and honor. The Leo energy is great for friendship but needs to know it has control. It likes to have the spotlight and can be very dramatic. Leo has an immense capacity for enjoyment of life in all of its forms but wants to both make it fun for everyone and wants everyone to know that it comes from its largesse. Leo is amazing at group dynamics especially when it is at the head of the pack. Leo has an innovative energy and dislikes few things as much as routine.
 
 
In a Reading:
 
When the Strength card turns up in a reading, it may indicate that it is at a time when we feel that the querent has things under control. Things that have been stressful have been mastered and the querent has confidence in their ability to deal with anything that may come up. The card may also indicate that there have been inner struggles that have been resolved not through brute force or repression but with compassion towards themselves and others. Perhaps the querent is undergoing some form of inner test where they are attempting to master either addiction or some perceived weakness. The Strength card could be leading them towards the hunger that the weakness is feeding and show that they have it within themselves to satiate the hunger without the addictive behaviour. This leads to true mastery of the situation rather than repression. If this is a present struggle then the querent can be assured that this mastery will come in time and that they will find the inner strength they need. The Strength card can also indicate that the querent needs to present a stronger more self-assured face to the world.
 
Inversed or badly aspected, the Strength card may show that the querent feels weak and that they can no longer continue the struggle. They may feel like they are the victims of their inner demons and lack confidence. It may indicate addictive behaviour that has been triggered in some way or it may represent a long-term struggle. The Strength card reversed may indicate that they are in a relationship that is destructive and where the passion is out of control in a negative sense. The querent may need to be reminded of struggles they have overcome in the past and mastered and need to be more compassionate towards themselves.
 
Fate’s Whisper:
Where there is light an equal shadow must exist. This edict was made after an event called the first grief. What caused this event was the loss of an existential anchor for the Spider of Fate. This cast a great shadow over half of that existence till the Tiger of Chance quelled it through extensive measures.
 
We all face our inner demons at some point. The Tiger of Chance taught that, not only forgiving but making peace with this shadow grants one even greater strength. It isn’t always easy but that is the point, if one does not know the struggle they will never know the value of the strength they have. So when those hard times come,  embrace it as you would a wave, let it overcome you. This is because like any tide it cant last forever and will eventually recede and take the part you no longer need with it.
 
 

Four Pillars Society Tarot: The Chariot (Energy’s Will)

Notes on The Chariot (Energy’s Will)

 

Four Pillars Society Tarot by Gary Rosenberg (GAR) and Nyxsaurius Fallsong

Artist’s Notes on the Card:
 
Over an empty arena, a skeletal figure drives a chariot pulled by two dragons facing different ways. Now, one may wonder what connection this has with the Chariot’s usual meaning of outer control of the circumstances of one’s life. This can be explained quite simply. Full control of one’s life is a momentary illusion that is often shattered in the next moment.
 
Don’t get me wrong. We become more and more adept at handling the various areas of our day-to-day existence. It’s just that existence is ever-changing and what we actually develop are the skills to adapt to the changes that come our way and the ability to function within the shifting chaos. Those who cannot learn to adapt may easily fall prey to psychological disorders while those who are the most adaptable and able to seize the reins of change will lead happier and more successful lives.
 
About the Archetype:
 
When we are ready to leave home and make our own way in the world we feel triumphant. We have made it through the trials of adolescence and feel unstoppable. In the best cases, we are armoured in the love and support of our family (or family of choice) and community and feel more than up to any challenges that life may throw us on a material level. This is an example of the Chariot force in action. The Chariot represents that feeling of taking charge in life through the use of will. The Driver does not need reigns to direct the two horses pulling his chariot. Even tho they may be drawn in two different directions, he controls his movement forward through the use of his will. He has confidence that he will succeed in his endeavours and that the world is his to make of it what he will. The victories that he has gained in developing this control give him the knowledge that he can conquer anything in his path.
 
The Chariot also represents the vehicle in which we move. This could be considered on many levels whether it be our bodies, our cars, or our spirit. Our vehicles serve as both protection and propulsion. They are how we move through the world and how we handle them can be a symbol for how we handle the externals in our life. We may be pulled in different directions as we experience the seeming contradictions of life (shown by the two horses facing different directions) but it is our will that directs our vehicle the way we wish it to go.
 
 
Astrological Correspondence:
 
Cancer(♋︎)-The Cancer energy feels safest in its home environment. It is a nurturing and emotional energy tho prone to moodiness. Cancer’s planetary ruler is the Moon and its moods can be almost tidal in their nature. Cancer has a great drive to see things through but can withdraw into its own shell much like its symbol the crab. Also like the crab, Cancer can make a home for itself anywhere it goes without having to rely on others. It also has the ability to project that feeling of home to those around them to make a loving caring space for them. At its best (i.e. when it is feeling most secure) there is little that Cancer cannot accomplish.
 
In a reading:
 
When the Chariot turns up in a reading it often indicates success in the matter at hand. A victory has been one and the querent has control of the situation. In matters of dispute, it does not necessarily mean that all sides have reached a full agreement as much as they have due to the querent’s efforts agreed to work together towards a common goal. Since so much of the victory depends on the querent’s own confidence and personality, he must continue to remain focused on the situation until it has reached its conclusion. The card may also refer to a current struggle for control that the querent finds themselves in. It may be one where there is a pull in several different directions and it is up to the querent to determine which solution is optimal and to sell it using their own confidence and personality. The Chariot may also refer to a need for the querent to reign in or learn to use their natural aggressiveness to better effect. It may also indicate an upcoming journey.
 
 
Reversed or Badly Aspected, the Chariot can often mean that a situation has gotten out of the querent’s control. It may feel like they are being pulled by several different opposing forces and they cannot get it together to decide which way they want to go. It may be that their natural charisma and force of personality is not working for them the way it has in the past and they need to learn a new way of pulling things together. It can often be a time where discipline and focus are being called for. The reversed chariot can also mean that the querent has to let go of the need to be in control of every situation. It may be a time when they have to learn to let go and let someone else make the decisions for a while.
 
Fate’s Whisper:
 
Two dragons pull a chariot encouraged only by death urges. In dragonic practice, death becomes a tool to transform and become better.
 
It was only after the second existence the force of death was created. It was born from a singular word that nearly drove the dragons to extinction. The Word of Power Death started the process of life and death. In many ways, you could say this became the ultimate control mechanism, as before this the dragons had nothing to fear so nothing held value.
 
Without a potential risk, nothing truly has value. Seeing the aspect as strong as dragons driving death forward to bring change in their wake. Wild by nature but wise enough to use this absolute force to grow even further. So what will you do as death chases you? Evolve or Rot?

Four Pillars Society Tarot: The Lovers (Angelic Folly)

Notes on The Lovers (Angelic Folly)

Four Pillars Society Tarot by Gary Rosenberg (GAR) and Nyxsaurius Fallsong

Artist’s Notes:
 
Yang and Yin, Positive Space and Negative Space. The traits we exhibit and the Traits that we keep hidden within. What is the key to achieving the full manifestation of our potential? Can we indeed confront that shadowy being that is our compliment, our other self, the player on the other side?
 
Some of the oldest versions of this card show a man torn between two women. An older woman, representing the mother and the bubble of existence many of us find ourselves in our early years where we become formed and defined and a younger woman representing that attractive being who represents everything outside of the world we have known.  It has been theorized that the end goal of the rest of the Fool’s Journey is a reconciliation of these two opposites, introduced here.
 
As decks have evolved and changed, the cards are likely now to show some kind of union of these two opposites under the watchful gaze of an angel. The Rider-Waite-Smith deck shows Adam and Eve in the garden under the watchful eyes of the angel. Why not? Many of us who have married have found out that we have not begun to meet the stranger whom we have chosen until after the ceremony.
At any rate, growth continues and is accelerated through relationships particularly if they are healthy ones with both parties developing and evolving.  Thus in the picture, I show a wedding of a kind, with both participants only partially formed and the angel presiding it a bit more literal in shape. This is the key to the alchemical joining and only through time will both evolve.
–GAR
 
About the Archetype:
 
As children, we are governed mainly by those around us whether it be our parents or the society in which we are raised. These are represented in the tarot by The Empress, The Emperor, and the Hierophant. These influences act on us and give us a particular lens on the world. They tell us what is expected of us and almost everything we do is either in concordance or rebellion with these influences. Then one day we meet each other. We feel an intense attraction towards them. It may be either a sexual attraction towards someone of the opposite (or same) sex or just an intense interest. They were raised under a different lens than us with different influences. They are built differently and have different expectations of life. That can make everything we have believed up to this point come into question. Do we continue to endorse the viewpoints of our family and the society that raised us or do we embrace these new points of view? How can we continue to live in the manner that we are used to when we know that there is another, maybe a better way? We start to see the flaws in our parents’ outlooks and methods and challenge those whose authority we have never challenged before. We have come to a point where we recognize the need to make our own choices. Ultimately this may mean leaving home and going out to the other. It may mean finding a way to encompass both.
 
This time of choice is represented by The Lovers card. In older versions of the tarot, the card showed a young man choosing between an older darker-haired woman and a fair-haired younger woman. This represented the choice between his family and his lover. In Waite’s deck, as well as the picture here, this card was shown to represent a mature man and woman standing together (suggesting Eden). Aleister Crowley’s Thoth deck depicts an alchemical wedding which is also at its simplest, a joining together with the other.
 
Astrological Correspondence:
 
Astrological Attribution – Gemini (♊︎) – The Gemini influence is that of intellect and analysis. It loves to take things apart and discover what makes them work. Part of this is distinguishing one thing from another and Gemini is a very analytical sign. Gemini’s symbol is the twins and it can easily see both sides of a question and can vacillate between the two sides. Gemini’s Mercurial nature is shown by how quickly it moves from one subject to another, ever probing and learning more before it moves on to another. This may make it appear superficial tho with time Gemini’s understanding deepens. Gemini is quick to act and quick to react but no reaction no matter how infuriating is ever the last one.
 
In a Reading:
 
When the Lovers card shows up in a reading it can definitely indicate a strong romance that is either ongoing or on the horizon. This relationship goes well beyond the physical and can mean the type of lessons in understanding and harmonizing with one another that only such a relationship can give. It can also indicate a time of choice between two paths that are both compelling. This may be due to the prospect of such a relationship and can often mean choosing between the life that the querent is living now and a path totally new to them. The Lovers can indicate how important and essential your current relationship is to your life. The Lovers card may also represent any major choice that involves several layers of the querent’s life. Upright this often means they can choose confidently knowing that their decision will be the correct one. The card may indicate that the question is one of trust in one’s partner.
 
 
Reversed or badly aspected, the Lovers can mean that the querent is doubting the choices that they have made or is being tempted to make a choice that will ultimately prove challenging if not damaging. It may mean disharmony and temptations to split up. This may be due to trust issues. It may mean that a partnership is splitting up because the people involved have lost sight of the things that have brought them together in the first place. In a position in the reading indicating the past, the Lovers may refer to bitterness over past relationships that are hurting the querent now.
 
Fate’s Whisper:
The first thing one can see is a key. Is this one of the keys to the greater future or is it to an inevitable demise. Above it is easy to see the eyes of angels shrouded by lighting.
 
Loyal the the Dragon of Reality, their pride is only matched by their need to guard what they define as order. Originally they served the dragons used to carry out important messages, they served dragons till they would vanish from existence. With nothing to suppress them their ego became an insurmountable wall of virtue and pride. Thus becoming a true representation of choice.
 
Growing up we all hold that same key but we are suppressed by those above us, whether they mean to or not. Only when we stand for ourselves is when can use that key to form that future. So how will you use your key? Will you stay suppressed or will you let your colors out for all to see.

FOUR PILLARS TAROT: THE HIEROPHANT (WISDOM PASSED)

Notes on The Hierophant (Wisdom Passed)

Four Pillars Society Tarot by Gary Rosenberg (GAR) and Nyxsaurius Fallsong

Artist’s Note:
 
The Hierophant, in many tarot decks and for many tarot readers gets a bad rap. As the Empress can often represent the mother or the maternal and the Emperor represents the father, the Hierophant represents our teachers, the ones who lead us into knowledge. This knowledge may be secular or spiritual, but in theory, the knowledge we will need to undergo initiation and advancement into adulthood and the society in which one finds oneself.
 
It is essential to learn the rules of any system that we get involved in, if only so that later we can understand the ways around the rules, as we stretch the boundaries of our ignorance further. This is true whether it be the hierarchical laws of our society or work environment or more esoteric rules of spiritual development in whatever path that we choose or that chooses us.  The keys that the older spider is handing out to his younger acolytes are the keys of knowledge and wisdom. After all, you really can’t teach anyone anything. All you can do is hand them the keys and hope that they learn as they go, if not from you, then from each initiation that life brings them. No matter how painful it may be.
 
About the Archetype:
 
In Ancient Greece, the Hierophant presided over the Eleusinian Mysteries, the rites that initiated one into the cult of Demeter. In the Tarot, he represents that ritualistic initiation into the outer order of both religion and society. This can typically be seen today in ceremonies such as First Communions, Bar Mitzvahs, or graduation ceremonies. Less typically but perhaps more powerfully it can be found in the initiation ceremonies of groups such as the Masons, Golden Dawn, O.T.O. In any of these initiations, there must first come a time of training and education into the spiritual tradition that one is seeking to enter. The Hierophant can also be seen as the religious leader of the community. Where the Emperor rules the temporal concern of his subjects, the Priest or Pope is the spiritual leader. He (traditionally) can be seen as the conduit of a higher level of vibration that can be attained. In more recent times many have seen less of a need to have an outer intermediary and many have chosen either method of direct contact with a spiritual source or making contact with an internal ‘guru’.
 
Whether external or internal, the Hierophant is a connector of our outer selves with our higher spiritual nature.
 
This is represented by the silver and gold keys which usually are shown crossing somewhere on the card. The initiations themselves help break us out of the lives we have lived up to this point and open us up to a deeper experience. Many times this is not felt when the initiation takes place but afterwards as that higher vibration makes itself known in our lives.
 
Astrological Correspondent:
 
Taurus(♉︎) – The Taurus influence is one of enjoyment of that attained. The bull will plod along workmanlike in pursuit of his goals but afterwards will revel in the food and comfort that comes as a reward. The energy is a stubborn fixed one that can easily become dogmatic. Taurus is a sign of harmony (its planetary ruler Venus) and this extends to all areas be it romance, spirit, or environment. It is eminently practical and will follow all the steps necessary to get them to their goal.
 
In a Reading:
 
When the Hierophant shows up in a reading it may be time to ask what authority the querent is accepting rather than their own inner guidance.? Are they looking to a spiritual leader for answers and are they questioning the answers they receive? It may also indicate that they are following a traditional path in their lives rather than trying to think outside the box. This is not necessarily a negative thing because there is much wisdom to be found there as long as one does not become dogmatic, accepting without question someone else’s interpretation of truth. There are many times when it is necessary to challenge the status quo and this is probably not one of them. The Hierophant coming up may also mean that there is someone in the querent’s environment who is very fixed on how things have always been done and is intolerant of finding new ways to do it. The card may also show that some form of traditional transition is coming up such as a graduation, promotion, or wedding. The Hierophant may also represent a teacher or course of study that the querent is following.
 
The Hierophant reversed or badly aspected, may mean that it is becoming increasingly difficult and restrictive to stay within the confines of accepted society. Perhaps there are too many rules either in the career, project, or course of study that the querent is following. It may also represent someone who is abusing their position of authority to tyrannize the people who are following it into doing things their way. The reversed Hierophant may also mean that the querent takes an unorthodox approach to life and finds it difficult to follow a more conventional way. Depending on the other cards in the reading, it may behoove them to at least learn their stuff before taking it in new directions.
 
Fate’s Whisper:
 
Reality was formed and life was given, but what brought purpose? The fabric meticulously woven to connect all being would be used to comprise the Web of Fate. The Spider of Fate made the original essence of language and magick alike, Not many had the chance to witness this subtle process. Silently it would be stitched in the fabric of every being. So they could connect and initiate what the Spider of Fate would call his tapestry Fate’s Tapestry is an ever-changing body of energy that can pinpoint where he was needed to keep energy growing and break stagnation.
 
As you can see the Spider of Fate hands the keys to the future so that they can grow and make their own tapestry. What these keys are depends on what part you play. Are you an artist or an engineer? Do you make dreams or make their blueprints so that they can be passed to the next generation? So many questions can be asked as these young spiders ask their seniors about the future that is in their hands. We all hold different keys to the future. What will your key open? –

Four Pillars Tarot The Magician (Energy Working)

Notes on TheMagician (Energy Working)

Four Pillars Society Tarot by Gary Rosenberg (GAR) and Nyxsaurius Fallsong

Artist’s Notes  :
 
In the oldest tarot decks such as the Tarot de Marseille, the Magus (or Magician) was called the juggler and our magus does with energy what an old-fashioned juggler does with balls, knives, cards or anything else he might be driven to use. He throws the items around, ever seeking new challenges and new patterns in which to arrange them. He ever seeks to add more and a larger variety of items to the mix until he reaches whatever he perceives  as his limits. After all, aren’t all limits self-perceived and self-created? He is the embodiment of willed kinetic energy. Energy taken from one’s potential store and used for purpose?
 
You may ask, what this has to do with magic or mages? Science tells us that nothing is truly solid and that all matter is composed of energy. The magician, like our juggler, seeks to make active-willed changes to his environment, challenging himself to use ever more of that which is in all but endless supply. True that, for the most part, the energies the Magus uses exist in more rarified and virtual form, yet that only makes the show and the working that much more powerful. 
 
It should be noted that the Magus’s working is not merely metaphysical The props that were the raison d’etre of the Juggler’s trade now become the elemental symbols by which the Magus can alter both his external and internal reality.
 
About the Archetype:
 
The Fool falls and lands. Where before the Fool was whole with the potential to become everything, now polarization has happened. The Magician is male to the Priestess’ female and active to the Priestess’ passivity. One way of looking at the Major Arcana is the quest to reunify these two into a realized World / Universe at the end.
The Magician utilizes his will and channels spiritual energy into accomplishment. He uses all four elemental tools (The Wand, The Chalice, The Sword and The Disk) to aid in this.
 
Another way of saying this is that through his will uses the power of his spirit (wand, fire, spirit) his emotions (cup) and intellect and knowledge (Sword, remember that the Magician’s astrological attribute is Mercury which is connected to the mind) and his sexuality (pentacle) to effect changes in his environment.
 
Regarding the last, given that we manifest in the physical it could be said that the Magician’s most powerful tool is his staff (between his legs). This is also true of the Priestess also but until the Magician opens the way with his staff, it remains secret, then she becomes the Empress as her Nature becomes manifest.
 
For those who may be inclined to take the above statement too literally, remember that we each contain all the archetypes within us. This means that we all have our own Magician, Priestess and Empress and all the others as well.
 
The Magician also represents the trickster archetype and teaches usually by tricking the student into learning what he or she needs to know. (Consider Merlin, Carlos Castaneda’s Don Juan or Socrates in the Peaceful Warrior Books by Dan Millman.) In tricking others, tho it is quite possible that he will surprise himself with a lesson or two as well. One of his lessons is learning to discern whether his results are objective and tangible as opposed to subjective. Another is to use his powers in a way that is true to his authentic self as opposed to wasting his energies on a whim.
 
 
Astrological Correspondent:
 
Mercury’s energy is all about fast transmission and communication. It also relates to intellect and logic. In Greek mythology, Mercury was the messenger of the gods, always in motion. Thus those who have a strong Mercury are likely to move swiftly from thing to thing to thing, going in, doing what they can and then moving on to the next thing. Mercury also is related to sensory impressions and the moment-to-moment intake of information.
 
In a Reading:
 
When the Magician turns up in a reading it can mean that a time of great creativity and communication is at hand. We feel energized and can accomplish anything and the things and people we need to help us will show up. Indeed quite often they will be caught up in our enthusiasm and be swept along. It is a time of inspiration and manifestation where we are able to impose our will on the world around us. The Magician tends to utilize and channel all in this process so when the reading refers to a relationship, it may be one where manipulation is present. A question that may come up when the Magician shows up in a reading is, “Who’s agenda is being followed? Who does the Magician represent in this situation?”
The Magician can also refer to a situation where we need greater focus and concentration.
 
When the Magician comes out reversed or badly aspected in a reading, it often means that we are blocked in some way. It is possible that we either don’t believe in what we are doing or that we don’t feel like we deserve the outcome that we are trying to manifest. The other cards in the reading may give an idea of what is blocking us. It may mean that we are repressing something that we need to take into account. This blockage may come from external sources as well. It may also mean that we are misusing our energies and imposing our will on others irrespective of what they may wish.
 
 
Fate’s Whisper:
 
The Magus usually depicts a magician at work. However, it is easily overlooked that the greatest form of the Magus is the energy he works with. The primordial forces we all use in our manifestations empower us to achieve great heights. Like the forces of yin and yang, energy intermingles with little to no resistance. Thus giving birth to the first dragonic tenet.
 
Become one with the true nature of energy’s will by embodying the path of least resistance.
 
Mastery of this tenet leads one to the pinnacle of what it means to be the Magus in all forms. Just like energy working, we should demonstrate this mastery of balancing the forces around us so we can live on the path of least res