Higher Self Influences: Sunday Tarot ~ 23 Sep 2018

With Higher Self influences appearing throughout this tarot reading, I really had no choice but to share it with everyone. I’ve always viewed the cards from the Major Arcana as the Higher Self reminding us of who we are. And it’s interesting that the reading ends with the Ace of Swords, the beginnings of thought, reason, and our intellectual presence in form. Given the beginning nature of the Aces, it’s clear that the Major cards are influencing our consciousness as we manifest new thinking and new ideas.

The numerology of the reading is 4, 6, 10, 0, 15, and 1. To discover the overall numerology for the reading, we first add the numbers together arriving at 36. From there, we add 3 and 6 together to arrive at the overall numerology of 9 or completion suggesting that our new ideas are ready to manifest.

But we begin with The Emperor in the top left corner of the six-card spread I’m using. Typically, the upper row reflects general influences with the second row representing receptive and projective (feminine/masculine) influences followed by the outcome, but I’ll see how that works this time. As the fourth card of the Major Arcana, The Emperor represents structure and foundation along with authority and leadership skills. We see a king with a long white beard sitting resolutely on a golden throne adorned by four rams heads. He holds a scepter in one hand and looks directly at the reader. He signifies boundaries and order, stability and masculine power. When The Emperor is a positive influence, he provides the structure to achieve success by fostering discipline and ambition.

The Lovers appears as the sixth card from the Major Arcana representing inner and outer polarity and balance. The couple, their nudity signifying the purity of their union, are blessed by the angel rising out of the clouds beneath the Sun’s shining brilliance. Two trees stand behind the couple, an oak behind the man and what appears to be a serpent-coiled Tree of Knowledge behind the woman. Although a Biblical good versus evil and the accompanying patriarchal interpretation is possible here, I’d rather interpret the serpent as rebirth and transformation, not as someone who tempted Eve in the garden. The Lovers remind us of our essential unity of polarity, of the masculine and feminine energies that influence our relationship with self and others. But more than that, it allows us to experience our self in others and others as our other-self. It teaches surrender and allowing for the present moment to inform all decisions.

Completion, abundance, and success are the primary influences of the Wheel of Fortune. Four winged creatures appear in the clouds as Hermanubus, a Sphinx, and Typhon representing mercury, sulfur, and salt, surround the wheel itself. The tenth card from the Major Arcana, the Wheel of Fortune describes cycles of beginnings and endings and the ebb and flow of life. It suggests prosperity and movement, luck and change.

Next, we come to the Fool, the beginning of the Major Arcana. The Fool is complete when he begins his journey through physical existence. However, he also experiences the veil of forgetting whereby all things are made new again. He stands uninhibited on the precipice of his new life, his dog as his side, his knapsack over his right shoulder, a white rose of purity in his left hand. A sun shines down illuminating his way. A card of new beginnings, it’s a perfect card to follow the Wheel. With The Fool, we experience self-genesis along with the development of potential. We see this idea again with the Page or Princess cards, where we again invoke manifestation of even greater potential as we grow into adulthood.

The Devil completes our Higher Self influences represented by Pan or Baphomet, wings fully extended with an inverted pentagram above his head while the couple from The Lovers, this time appearing horned and sporting tails, appears chained together below. Representing self-imposed imprisonment and desire, The Devil represents the ego, our primal urges along with control of others. It demonstrates existence without awareness of Spirit.

Finally, we arrive at the Ace of Swords, representing the powers of Elemental Air. A hand holding an upright sword emerges through darkened clouds, piercing a crown and garlands. Consciousness is expressing itself into manifested thought. This is controlled reason and intellect, cutting through illusion so that truth shines forth. The Ace of Swords projects clarity and vision in its purest sense and exacts balance from that which is chaotic.

Okay. So I began with one spread and then saw a pattern and moved the cards around to create something a little more meaningful, at least from my own perspective. Below is the final spread.

 

Note that I didn’t change the order, only moved the Majors together. I think it more aptly illustrates how Higher Self influences the conscious expression or manifestation of new ideas. When I did that, I immediately saw that the Higher Self influences change a bit with the Wheel now in the center, bringing in a feeling of endings and beginnings and the influence of cycles on a new idea or process. Prior to that, we’ve established a firm foundation with The Emperor, supporting a disciplined approach followed by balanced integration from The Lovers. The Fool follows with potential yet unexpressed with a final caution regarding the expression of ego so that our ideas are beneficial to both self and others.

The notion of cycles is intriguing along with the presence of balanced polarity. We’re experiencing a greater polarity that is chaotic and unnatural. Instead of seeing the other side of self in others, all we see is the other and we’re finding it difficult to resolve that conflict. What this reading is telling us is that for new ideas expressed to find manifestation, we need to resolve this conflict both within and without and to allow Higher Self to inform that process.

It’s difficult to see the beauty and opportunity of the greater experience in which we all share when we see only enemies. New ideas suffer a push back because no one can let go of their own beliefs and look to the greater good for both inspiration and direction. Intelligent authority has given way to authoritarianism with endless lies replacing truth and common decency. So it’s no wonder we find ourselves in conflict, whether we want to participate or not. We feel it just the same.

If we look at the Major cards in progression, we can see how we began in patriarchy, affecting completely our energetic balance with others. Women have been subjugated to the point that when allegations came out about the current nominee for the Supreme Court, the committee responsible for advancing his nomination to the Senate decided to discount her allegations. She’ll be heard, but at what cost?

But then the Wheel of Fortune appears signaling success and endings and beginnings. Followed by The Fool, there’s a chance now for new beginnings without the burden of the past casting a shadow on the future with a final reminder by The Devil of the price we pay when ego informs over Spirit.

What’s happening right now is despicable. Today’s cards suggest we have the chance to change that and be better than this.

Blessed Be