anthropology of the tarot

Monthly Muses by Flavia – November 2019

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Rejoice for November! Well, sort of. Not exactly. But at least the Tower is behind us now, and so are all the fast moving upheavals of October. We have entered Scorpio season and all the big planets are charging ahead. Here we have three minor arcana cards to ease us through this transformative season. It wasn’t all bad. There was adventure, achievements, dreaming and passions. The self exploded in creativity. The turbulent emotions of September and October’s manifestations have given way to the weariness of battle. There is a sense of exhaustion. The summertime has wrapped up and we are within the depths of autumn holding onto the energy of change. The most contradictory set of expressions are emerging.

In the 5 of Swords we too are moving away to somewhere else. We are collecting what has been left behind, and only the basics that we can walk away with. Because while we are still looking back, whatever it was that was going on, has come to an end. So November is the beginning of a different state of being. We are certainly not thrilled but we have survived. Perhaps there was deception and perhaps there was just too much going on to cope with. And perhaps there was loss. A scattered energy that involved others has thrown us off course. This is the day after the day before.

The 4 of Pentacles certainly is an indication that we are left trying to hold on to something material to make up for either loss and sadness from the past, or a fearful projection of the future. There is stillness. Around us there is abundance but we are not interested. Looks like we have limited our identity to a material possession. We are holding on tight to representations of wealth while we are frozen in activity or motivation. And perhaps this is the time to be practical in our approach to remove stagnation or negativity that results in us becoming immobile and entrenched.

The 8 of pentacles shows us the way out. If we are tired from the fight and have become stuck in a situation that goes nowhere, we can fall back on our skills and talents. We can immerse ourselves in study, work, creativity. Away from the madding crowd we can find our truth. With repetition and care for detailed work we can transcend. This is about mastery in everyday life. The lesson is clear.

With Mercury going retrograde in Scorpio for three weeks the focus is about knowing ourselves and being clever with our hands, going over things and perfecting, slowly moving and repeating tasks. Whatever we engage with and put our energy into is for the long term. So act wisely, be methodical, humble, filter out the noise, you’ve got everything you need to excel.

This month will end very differently to how it’s starting! It will be transformative and our mastery will be impactful! There is light in the dark. We are enlightened. And the light spreads for others out in the world as we become one with nature!

Flavia

Weekly Wisdom by Mirasol – 27 October 2019

by  on  in anthropology of the tarot, bumblebee jasper, clearquartz, Iris Oracle Deck, mirasol, new moon, newmoon, scorpio, weekly wisdom

This week we will look at card number 54 from the Iris Oracle Deck by Mary Elizabeth Evans. The card has an open green hand with a blue keyhole in it, and there are two different keys below the hand. Seven stars form an arch above the hand and the all-seeing eye is looking out from above the stars. The background is a heart-felt pink.

This card signifies that you might have felt lost for a while and feeling like you can not find the solution to your issues. The card asks you to hold off any big decisions until you have found peace of mind, when this occurs you will be handed the keys and the answers you are seeking for your next move.

With the new moon in Scorpio, we may feel that secrets have been withheld from us, or alternatively, we may have been keeping secrets from others. Personal integrity, feeling safe and forging boundaries from people whose presence cause energy leakage are topics heightened during this new moon cycle. Scorpio is tenacious and will be rewarded richly after her patience has taken her far, but she also needs rest and nurture. Being the occult sign of the Zodiac, use this Scorpio new moon to quietly connect with your true self, meditate in a darkened room and cocoon yourself inside your soul to stabilise and recharge.

Meditation with the card

Try this meditation with the card and take note of the message for you.

Sit down in a quiet space. Take a few deep breaths and relax.

Focus on the image of the card. Feel the radiance of the seven stars comforting your aura. Let the all-seeing eye reveal your very own secrets to yourself. Observe the open hand and the keyhole. Which key will fit with your personal quest? Let the answers flood through you, but do not let anything stick for now.

Stay in meditation for 5 to 10 minutes.

After the meditation, journal about the below questions.

What would your two keys represent?

How can you unlock your potential – or is there a need to do so at the moment?

You might want to unlock a completely new potential which is personal and secretive and not make any decisions until you feel completely certain of the answer.

Additional practice – calling in strength with Bumblebee Jasper

Bumblebee Jasper is a beautiful yellow, black and white coloured stone, formed by volcanic matter, anhydrite and hematite, and also sulphur and arsenic. The patterns are reminiscent of that of a bee, giving the stone its’ name Bumblebee Jasper. Since it is volcanic, Bumblebee Jasper has powerful earth energy which vitalises our body, mind and soul when we feel depleted and tired. It can be used on the sacral and solar plexus chakras to stimulate and release stuck and old energy we no longer need.

Bumblebee Jasper increases self-esteem and helps to accept change and to find new opportunities. It will enable you to get answers and a clear vision of what to do next, it initiates and organises a practical plan for changing your life around. Bumblebee Jasper will help you to make decisions without relying too much on emotions. Physically, Bumblebee Jasper may help with allergies, issues of the abdomen and disorders of the nervous and circulatory system.

It is also known as Eclipse stone and Fumarolic or Fumarole Jasper. The yellow colour is due to the presence of sulphur and arsenic so it is not suitable for gem elixirs. Always wash your hands after using Bumblebee Jasper.

For the healing ceremony, lie down in a comfortable place. Place the Bumblebee Jasper on your solar plexus. Imagine how the beautiful yellow colour is strengthening your whole abdomen. Sense how the yellow colour is spreading all over your body, all the way down the feet and toes, and then all the way up to your crown chakra at the top of your head. Feel how the yellow energy is creating a powerful and awakening vibration in your whole being. Stay in the supportive energy of Bumblebee Jasper and feel how your body, mind and soul are united. Note any messages you receive at this point.

Take a deep breath and say thank you to Bumblebee Jasper and its’ healing gift.

Repeat this practice as often as you wish to strengthen yourself and to find encouragement in your daily life.

Mirasol

Monthly Muses by Flavia – October 2019

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The appearance of the Moon still refers to events that happened during the cosmic shake up in September. October continues to deliver dreams and imagination that have been so potent during the Pisces full moon of last month.

So the Moon which – lets not forget – moves quickly, governs events and our deepest need, is a strong indicator of mysterious happenings. Changing circumstances, seeing things under cover with all of our senses alerted, and an enhanced perception beyond the visual, are indicated with this card and its’ representation of the new moon in Libra.

It is also a caution, maybe not of mistrust, but of awareness. It is telling us not to take events, people and actions at face value. There will be misleading factors coming from our environment and from within. Things we’d like to believe, illusions and stories made up in our heads, people we idolize. Measured escapism can be inspiring, daydreaming is healing, and connecting with transcended beings is enriching. But a balance must be struck nonetheless, or we will fly away with ourselves. And we may be lost in others too.

A revelation or an insight will shake us and this could be something mental or spiritual that will bring a total collapse. What seemed solid, embedded, rooted, and secure, will be now be shaken by something akin to a lightning bolt from the universe. What is light and mobile will fly away. Something new is waiting to take its’ place. But it’s not clear what as yet. Change is inescapable. Illusions or false beliefs will not help. Truth will be destructive. A period of chaos, or a sense of chaos, is forewarned. This month is starting to look like a make or break time. What starts off as fear, anxiety or delusion, develops to an actual break-up.

The cards contain their own advice to see us through disturbing circumstances and that is to trust our inner self. Trust your intuition. Your eyes might deceive you but your core values will not let you down. But we need to go through it to come out of it. And that’s a big lesson. Ultimately, there will be a promise of opportunity. There will be growth and a potential to find ourselves in a much better place than where we were before.

The Ace of Wands is a card of achievement and passion. New projects will replace old structures. Creative energy will replace passive illusion. Belief in the cosmic plan and action to follow through our dreams will lead to triumph. But a lot of work is waiting ahead of us to materialize any of it. It’s looking to be a surprisingly intricate and eventful month full of initiations, passions and disruptions. Most of all be present, and make the best of it.

Flavia

Monthly Muses by Flavia – August 2019

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The aftershocks of July with its retrogrades and eclipses still reverberate as we enter August. We are still feeling the retrogrades creating confusion, and the eclipses sending dramatic messages uprooting us and tearing up old structures. Anything unforeseen is possible. So the month finds us suspended and motionless but in a halo of wisdom, not taking anything for granted, but instead seeing the world from another perspective. We maybe having had to deal with a sudden turn of events, and holding space for us and others. Mercury’s shadow period will last for a couple of weeks into the month and the eclipses could be sending a second wave of messages, urging us to follow new paths and finally conclude with situations that no longer serve us. While this is going on we can only surrender serenely to events using our restrictive circumstances, or necessary pause, to gain a new point of view and drill down to the absolute fundamentals of life. Reflect and meditate on what matters to us. What are the thing we most value? Change is inevitable and this voluntary, or involuntary, suspension will help our decision making when things pick up and energetically start moving again.

But before that happens we are reminded by the Devil that we still have some work to do. And it’s work that goes inside us. It’s personal, it’s about us facing our demons, our self imposed limitations, our fears and nightmares, anything that might be an addiction. An addiction which can be substances, inter-dependency to others, negative self-talk or simply bad habits. Anything and everything poisoning our existence that we fear is larger than us becomes pronounced. This darkness in the background that naggingly won’t allow us to enjoy a fulfilling and joyful life with others and in ourselves has to be dealt with now. The Devil card reminds us that if we want to move on and out we need to face up to it – whatever it might be. We can not hide, and it won’t be to our benefit anyway. Now is the right time to face darkness and resolve personal challenges. We have to go through to go out. So that the month promises to be very active with people and things, and in a way that would benefit us and those around us. There are going to be some tough moments in August only because we absolutely need to finish off projects, personal or professional, and move on. Once this is done, there’s no turning back.

Ultimately, this will give us the World. The World which contains all the elements – fire, earth, air and water as represented by the images depicted in the four corners of a lion, an ox, an eagle and an angel – our own contribution as we create our path in life. We are not passive in the happening of the World rather we rise and participate in creating it. The Universe is with us and Luck is on our side. Work is paying off. The time has come to celebrate our accomplishments. The end of August culminates with another new moon that will find us in a totally different place to that of when we started the month. We are now encircled in garlands of success and flying up in the air with emotion and joy.

All three cards this month are heralding change in its different forms, and demanding that we pay attention in specific areas of life. First, accepting and observing, taking our time and not reacting to events. Subsequently, dealing with honesty and integrity any negative influences or obstacles that bound us to an unhealthy situation. And finally, change is coming by reaching our goal. We have achieved what we set out to do. And quite deservedly we are ecstatic about it.

To sum up: The Hanged Man teaches us about the metamorphosis which is under way and the Devil what we have to do in order to achieve our highest purpose. There is vitality and evolution with great rewards. The recurring theme of August is bondage and liberation. Breaking old patterns too. We are all evolving.

Flavia

Weekly Wisdom by Mirasol – 31 July 2019

by  on  in anthropology of the tarot, carnelian, clearquartz, medicine woman tarot, mirasol, new moon, newmoon, quartz, weekly wisdom

The Exemplar of the Pipes from the Medicine Woman Tarot steps forward this week to guide us. Traditionally this card is the King of Wands, a fiery man with authority. In the Medicine Woman Tarot, the card shows us a powerful woman, wearing a pink dress with a cloak, and a feathered headdress, holding a staff and a smoking pipe. A white deer and the sun are depicted on the shield behind her. She sits on a boulder, and there is a flute with flowers below her.

The card represents a charismatic leader who is entrepreneurial, ambitious and creative. She can take on a big challenge and lead herself and her people through any blocks which present themselves along the way. The card reminds us to be an exemplary leader, in our own life and also in the lives of those around you. We know what we have to do and decision making comes easily to us now. This is not the time to hesitate or feel small since the possibility of success is now open and there are no substantial obstacles. You can take your desired course of action, it will harmonize with your wishes.

There is a performative aspect to this card which is aligned with the new moon in Leo on 1 August. Accessing our leadership qualities might necessitate a performance. However, this acting is coming from the heart as the leonine passion is heart-centred and bold, with a touch of the theatrical. The Exemplar of the Pipes indicates that there is an initiation of a new era, coupled with the Leo new moon energy, there is an awakening of our creativity. Take the opportunities which are presented within the next six months, and have no fear, because everything is waiting for you.

Meditation with the Exemplar of the Pipes

Try this meditation with the the Exemplar of the Pipes and tune into what the card wants to say to you.

Sit down in a quiet space. Take a few deep breaths and relax.

Focus on the image of the Exemplar sitting in an authoritative position, holding the staff and a smoking pipe. Notice how her posture simultaneously emits confidence and calmness. Sense how you can embody her self-confidence and trust your own power. The sacred white deer on the shield is giving you a message to stand tall and the sun reminds you to let your unique identity shine.

Stay in meditation for 5 to 10 minutes.

After the meditation, journal about the below questions.

How can you embody the sun in your own life to access leadership?

What opportunities can you take a clear decision on now?

Additional practice – connecting to your feminine fire with Carnelian

Carnelian is a warm and joyful crystal which is energising, empowering and awakening. It has a colour range from pink-orange to rusty brown. The internal structure of carnelian is trigonic, and it is a variety of chalcedony belonging to the quartz family. Carnelian is derived from a Latin word meaning flesh and it has a stimulating energy which ignites passion. Carnelian was worn by ancient warriors to enhance courage and physical power. In Egypt, carnelian was called the setting sun and its’ orange colour was identified with receptive or passive female energies and associated with the Goddess Isis fertile menstrual blood. Carnelian encourages action and helps us to overcome procrastination and/or indecision and it tells us to stop waiting for our dreams to appear and instead activates us to bring them into reality. It connects us to feminine power, sensuality, sexuality, abundance, prosperity and creativity. Carnelian is stimulating and motivating and it awakens our leadership qualities and courage.

For the healing ceremony, lie down in a comfortable place. Place the carnelian on your sacral chakra. Imagine how the beautiful orange colour of the carnelian comforts your sacral area. Sense how the colour is spreading down to your root chakra and down the legs to your feet, and then up from your sacral chakra though the solar plexus, heart, throat, third eye and crown chakras. Feel how the orange energy of the carnelian is aligning your chakras and making you feel balanced and vibrant. Stay in the shimmering warmth of the carnelian and feel how your feminine power is arising. Note any messages you receive at this point.

Take a deep breath and say thank you to carnelian and its’ healing gift.

Repeat this practice as often as you wish. It will help to awaken your leadership qualities, feminine fire, courage and ignites you to take action today.

Mirasol

Monthly Muses by Flavia – July 2019

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Much anticipated July is upon us. With fear and some weariness, we are told to expect nothing less than life transformative events. Astrologers, lightworkers, intuitives and everyone striving to uplift life’s frequencies is aware of the two new moons and the two eclipses that fall in July. A full solar eclipse at the new moon on the 2 July, falls in Cancer, and it’s visible mostly in south America, especially Chile. It heralds openings and opportunities. It’s a bringer of news, events, people, situations and opening of newness with enhanced energy. A partial lunar eclipse follows on the 16 July, falls in Capricorn, and it’s visible in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia. This is when things fall apart, get released, crumble, deteriorate, get expunged, go away for ever. It’s an emotional time for everyone.

But there is more: Pluto, God of power and poison, ruler of Scorpio, is waiting for us in Capricorn where the lunar eclipse action takes place. Expect this eclipse to have very strong Scorpionic vibes of merging and releasing. Pluto is stationed nearby Saturn, God of time and boundaries, and together they bring a very heavy structural energy that is consuming and overpowering. Moreover, they are retrograde. Jupiter in Sagittarius is retrograde. And so is Neptune in Pisces. These are big slow planets. Their impact is inescapable and profound. But fast moving Mercury is retrograde too, meeting Mars back and forth in his travels and taking his message with him, broadcasting it loud and clear. With Venus staying at home in Cancer, the energy feels further reactive.

So what does it all mean? This is the cosmic picture. But I think the cards will bring a bit of clarity in the visual realm: as depicted with the Nine of Wands, we find ourselves at the end of a battle. Indeed we are more than half way through the year. Things have concluded. It’s not all over yet but nearly. We are upright. We haven’t fallen, but the trauma of events, conflicts and challenges we had to overcome is visible. It’s not an open wound. It’s a carefully bundled trauma. We are looking around us, taking stock, and also looking to the past. The deep past and the immediate past is still fresh in our minds. It looms big. The wounds haven’t healed yet. Some are quite sweet, the pain reminding us of achievement in battle. The exhaustion is palpable. We still are not sure, however, what will come after the battle.

No worries. Here comes the Ace of Swords to tell us: go for it. You can do it. Opportunities and options are there for the taking. A noble cause will inspire and fortify your resolve almost immediately. From now on expect the pace to pick up. Once the debris has cleared out and the poisons have left us, there’s no looking back. Things will happen fast and unexpectedly. Anger and action that comes from the heart will dominate. Feelings, our sense of initiative, ideas, thoughts, concepts, our ability to deal with challenges comes to the forefront. Cosmic forces are within and without.

And finally, we are not going to be let down. The King of Swords brings in some objectivity to the whole situation. Not only that, but the card tells us that we have achieved mastery in at least one area of life. Where the battle was, where we fought and gave it all, that’s the area where we became masters. It’s a card denoting an intellectual significance to a situation, justice and knowledge. We are now confident that we have gained those hard fought gifts and our lives are imminently much richer and healthier, away from negativity, poisons and restrictions. Despite those outward heavy structures, ultimately all victory will have to come from us. And not only we will survive, but we will find ourselves in a much better place than we were before. The King of Swords is not just full of confidence and authority but he has mastered decision-making as well. By the end of July we should have taken important decisions to act upon.

Flavia