Death - Some Things Really Are Unavoidable

The Death card (Major Arcana card 13) is arguably one of the scariest cards to pull from the tarot deck. It often appears depicting a skeleton or grim-reaper-looking character. In addition, it is not uncommon to find some sort of destruction in its wake. When that card comes up in a reading, querents understandably cringe. In order to ease their concerns, I quickly point out that in the vast majority of cases, this card does not mean physical death.

Morgan Greer Death Card

Phew! Right?

Wrong.

My explanation rarely soothes my client. The reason for this is because the person often already knows what ‘death’ is pending in their life, and they are quite averse to it.

Put simply, the Death card means change. It means transitions. It means endings.  Sometimes these are what we consider positive changes – for instance becoming parents for the first time. (A certain freedom and innocence ends.) Other times (more often than not) it is a challenging situation.

When Death shows up in a reading, the Universe is telling us to accept the fact that some aspect of our life – it could be work, love, your thinking, your plans, etc – is about to undergo a significant shift.

And people (including myself) don’t like that.

Without a doubt, I am a bonafide ‘Don’t-move-my-cheese’ kinda girl. I loathe change. I do. I fight it and fight it and fight it. And you know what? I always lose. Always.

However, I am noticing that as I gain more experience in life, the ‘fight’ is leaving my game. I am developing the ability to identify when my fight will bring me the results I seek, and conversely – when it will take my power.

And that is an important lesson to remember with the Death card because ultimately we don’t possess the power to prevent most of the major changes that occur in our lives.

What we can control though, is our response and outlook regarding it.

Upon closer examination of this card, you will see that this while this card does  shake things up, it almost always offers something in return. These prominent offerings include such things as a white rose, a sunrise, a light, and even an outstretched helping hand.

This is the area where we can have some control in the process. By choosing to acknowledge and accept this ‘gift’, we can shift our focus to a more positive aspect of the situation. This doesn’t mean we have to like what is happening in our lives. Rather, it means we are choosing to focus on the positive, and draw strength from the new beginning that is rising out of the unavoidable ending. 

The Hanged Man - It's All About Soul....

The twelfth card of the Major Arcana is The Hanged Man. In most decks, he is a simply-presented man hanging upside down by his ankle from a tree, archway or crossbeam.

This card is just past the mid-point of the Major Arcana. The Fool has traveled his journey through the physical and mental aspects of life. He has learned lessons about personal power, intuition, creativity, relationships, limitations, love, reflection, solitude and balance.

The Hanged Man - Anna K Tarot

There have been trials and tribulations in all these areas and he is ready to step it up a notch.

As the Fool approaches the lessons of The Hanged Man, he has a lot of experiences with life under his belt. He has been through a variety of earthly struggles, and has developed some effective strategies with which he addresses these issues.

However, at this point the Fool is coming to the realization that control of his outer world is not the true way to achieve the contentment for which he strives. Rather, the Fool is looking for a greater peace – one that comes from the inside.

While there are many historic and mythological figures to whom you could compare The Hanged Man, I find this card reminds me of the Apostle Peter and his death from a reverse crucifixion. Peter was one of the disciples of Jesus Christ. He was actually one of the most trusted of the disciples; Jesus’s right-hand man you could say.

When Jesus was arrested, Peter – for fear of his own life – denied knowing Jesus. He did this three times. This created great anguish in Peter for a couple reasons. One obvious reason was that he turned his back on a beloved friend during a time of great need. A second, more subtle reason was that it created a crisis of faith within Peter. His decision to deny “knowing Jesus” was in his mind a complete denial of his faith. He chose a life of earthly existence, governed by fear and conformity, rather than a spiritual existence, governed by personal beliefs and internal freedom.

After Jesus’s death, Peter’s crisis of faith led him to an epiphany about his purpose in life. He accepted his position as the “rock” on which Jesus would build his church, and laid the foundation for what would eventually become the Catholic Church. Unfortunately, he was martyred in 64 AD by Roman Soldiers for propagating his religious beliefs. Reports indicated that he requested to be crucified upside down because he felt he was not worthy of dying in the same manner Jesus did. 

I think it is safe to say, that at the time of his death, Peter had resolved his internal spiritual tumult.

To me, that story really underscores the message of The Hanged Man. Like Peter’s experience, The Hanged Man speaks of our need to connect with the deeper truths of life. The Hanged Man heralds the beginning of the soul’s connection with the realm of true happiness and inner peace.

When The Hanged Man appears in a reading, it is suggesting the individual is at a point of transformation. This usually occurs in tandem with more challenging situations that can only be resolved through control of one’s inner, not outer, landscape. The lessons of The Hanged Man are some of the most challenging ones among the Major Arcana. However, once mastered, these lessons open the gate to the garden of internal mastery and a paradise unlike any you can ever hope to physically experience on the earth plane. 

Gaining Clarity With Justice

Justice (Major Arcana 11) appears, by and large, to be a very welcoming Tarot Card - regardless of the deck from which you view it. In almost every deck, Justice presents itself as a calm, balanced and trust-worthy figure bringing reason and fairness to all interactions.

One common image of the card includes the scales of balance. These suggest a sense of even distribution, almost a reap-what-you-sow mentality.

Justice - Radiant Rider Waite

Sometimes our figure is blindfolded, suggesting impartiality in decisions. Other times, she possesses a knowing look – as if she has the uncanny ability to see the truth in all situations.

Often, Justice is presented in long, flowing robes of various colors, representing wisdom and commitment to the process of clearly resolving an issue. On rare occasions, she appears as a lightly dressed or partially naked woman, representing the purity and simplicity of truth.

Always Justice appears with a sword. Its double-edged quality promises to mete out the truth and deliver a fair response impartially and without malice.

Regardless of how she appears, lady Justice primarily represents one thing – an understanding of right and wrong, and the consequences that come from one’s actions.

When Justice appears in a spread, it suggests all parties will get what they deserve – for better or worse.

Another aspect of Justice deals with the idea that the card is synonymous with the word balance.

Besides the even-looking appearance, Justice is marked by the number 11. In Numerology, 11 is considered a Master Number. The focus of this particular number is spiritual enlightenment through the use of intuition, insight and experience.

(Note, in some decks Justice is identified as Major Arcana Card 8. There is no definitive right or wrong number for Justice. My choice to identify with the 11 was the result of my personal connection to the energy of the card.)

The combination of 11 with the Justice card can add a deeper interpretation to the card’s meaning.

For instance, when Justice appears in the spread, it can suggest the querent is developing an inner-knowing about what is right and wrong. By following this moral compass, the individual is living a life more aligned with their deeper personal beliefs. As a result, an inner harmony blossoms and this balance begins to manifest itself in the person’s external world creating greater calm in all facets of life.

This experience parallels the philosophy of: As is above so is below, except it may be better explained: As is within, so is without.

The truth is that Justice represents attempts to create both an inner and outer balance in the life of the individual. These two situations are not exclusive of each other. Rather, they actually co-exist beautifully.

When Justice appears in the spread it tells us the Universe is providing a learning opportunity for this particular individual. The card foretells the fair resolution of a situation – according to the parameters of Universal justice, not human justice or the ideas of the individual.

Justice tells us that the querent will reap what has been sown. Ideally this will be considered a positive outcome by the individual – particularly if his/her actions come from a place of genuine alignment with their higher purpose.

However, if the person has not been making decisions that are in the best interest of all parties involved, then it suggests he/she is out of balance with their higher self. As a result, Justice will step in and provide an external experience designed to assist them in their transformation as they work to become a more highly evolved individual. 

Wheeling and Dealing with Some of Life’s Biggest Lessons

What goes up, must come down … and so explains one of the biggest themes associate with the Wheel of Fortune (Major Arcana card 10).

Actually, the concept applies to life as a whole. Let’s face it, things run in cycles:  Day gives way to night, only to give way to day again; Winter gives way to spring, which gives way summer, fall and winter again; Life gives way to death and then to rebirth. These examples are just some of the ones with which we are more commonly familiar.

Anna K Wheel of Fortune

However, what about the more subtle shifts that occur in life? These are the shifts that cause great

internal growth due to a perceived outer hardship.

For instance, there is the beauty and innocence of a first love. It is uplifting and hopeful – that is until it experiences destruction when faced with the challenging realities of the external world. What seems like a crushing blow to one’s heart can give way to a healthy cultivation of a later more mature love.

Another example might be the gift of youthful strength, which eventually gives way to the infirmities often associated with age. This in turn gives way to a greater appreciation for one’s body and a return to self-care.

The Wheel of Fortune is rife with imagery and symbolism to support these ideas. Depicted in the center is a large turning wheel surrounded by images of glory and adversity. It is a reminder of the precarious nature of life and the necessity to make the most of all the situations in which we find ourselves – regardless of whether we consider them to be “good” or “bad”.

In some decks a single hand or a mysterious elder is turning the wheel showing little concern or emotion for the outcome of this shift.

The card’s number – 10- is also highly symbolic. Ten is the number of Karmic completion and resolution. It is where the individual (represented by the number 1) possesses a “clean” slate (symbolized by the number 0).

When the Wheel of Fortune shows up in a reading, it is heralding news of a change of fortune. When the card appears upright, it suggests good fortune is continuing or returning. When shows up reversed, it suggests a streak of difficulty might be headed your way. What is important to remember, regardless of the card’s prediction is the temporary message of the card.

The Wheel of Fortune is not about the events themselves. The situations you experience will either be a test of your resolve or a restoration of your faith. What is important to remember is that this card is about the lesson these events bring to you.

Overall, it is safe to say The Wheel of Fortune is a card of Fate. It is telling of destinies and lessons yet-to-be experienced that -in the long run - are expected to connect you with a greater, richer and more evolved version of your own self and your life. 

The Hermit: A Cocoon of Spiritual Enlightenment

The Hermit is a card of deep thinking. His presence in a reading marks a period of inner reflection and quiet solitude.  This often follows an incident or period of time when an individual has encountered some serious challenges.

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines the term Hermit as: A person who lives in a simple way apart from others especially for religious (or philosophical) reasons.

The Hermit - Anna K Tarot

We have all had periods in our life where we have embraced the energy of this card. In fact, at some point I am certain you used the term Hermit to refer to either yourself or another.

One look at the Hermit card, and you immediately get the feel of isolation. Granted, this is a self-imposed isolation, but nonetheless, isolation. When this card comes up in a reading, it is often met with mixed reactions. The card itself, tends to be shrouded in darkness or a background of grey. A light – often in the image of a candle, lantern or star - is the sole source of illumination. An aged man, sometimes dressed as monk or in very simple garb, sits quietly in contemplation.

To put it simply, the Hermit card makes most people nervous. They often point to is cautiously and ask in an apprehensive voice, “What does that mean?” When I explain that it is a time of reflection, contemplation and evaluation – sort of like a personal time out – I am often met with a simple, “Oh.”

At that point, one of two things will happen. The person asks what I mean by this and waits for detail or they will completely ignore me and move on to another idea pretending not to have heard what I said. More often than not, it is the latter that happens.

Interestingly, it is this lack of inner perception – or down-time – that has resulted in the very situation with which they find themselves vexed. I have to be honest, a lot of people don’t like to think deeply. Actually, they hate it and avoid it like the plaque. It is not until they receive a powerful smack-down from the Universe that they become willing to contemplate alternative methods of living. (By the way, as hard as it may be to believe this “smack-down” is not arbitrary or vicious. It is in your life plan and may even follow several previous, more-gentle attempts at redirecting you because the course you have taken in life is not the one aligned with your higher self.)

When the Hermit comes into a spread it is a message that the answers you seek can only be found within yourself. It is a turn away from the materialistic and societal pursuits for a deeper truth. Only through intense soul-searching will you find these answers.

The Hermit is also a sign of spiritual enlightenment. You are on the verge of very important break-through. Once you have come out the other end, you will be changed for the better. No longer will you be able to blindly follow your previous path. In addition, you will serve as a beacon of light to others when you share this hard-earned knowledge with the world – whether on a small or large scale.

When the Hermit card shows up, your best approach is to accept there are lessons to be learned and work earnestly to comprehend them. Take time to see things as they truly are, but don’t get lost in the isolation or pursuit of the lesson. Be an active observer and learning while being present in the circumstances that brought you to this period of great reflection.

Strength is about Calming Your Inner Beast

In my personal opinion, The Strength card (Major Arcana number 8) is one of the most beautiful cards in the entire Tarot deck. When I look at it, I can’t help but feel a message of peace, hope and true balance.

Anna K Tarot - Strength Card

The Strength card is almost always depicted as a young woman controlling a powerful lion through gentle domination. She is not forcing her will on the animal through brute strength. Rather, the lion is bowing down to her because he recognizes a power much greater than his own– even though he has the ability to destroy her if he wanted to.

That seemingly intangible power is what makes the Strength card so beautiful.

Looking at this card, you can see how mesmerized the lion is when he looks into the eyes of the fair maiden. He may offer a growl, but the ferocity is more hot air than true anger.

What is equally impressive is the depth of the expression in the eyes of the young woman. She seems to understand the source of the lion’s frustration. Her look is one of patience, love and understanding. Rather than show anger in the face of anger, she shows love. She is like a mother soothing a frightened child who is lashing out.

And that is what the lion in the Strength card represents – our ego-based fears. He is the externalization of our weaker self. His focus is completely on earthly experiences. He contains great power, but struggles to use it correctly. He represents the earthly human who forgot about his divine origin.

The young woman represents our higher self. She is our inner guide – the one who reminds us that no outer circumstance can destroy who we truly are. She works to calm the savage beast we call our ego. Her goal is to remind us of our real essence.

What I love most about this card is the message it offers. This card tells us that we are both the maiden and the lion. At our strongest we operate from the point of view of the young woman. She is the ‘queen’ of our inner world. When we connect with this energy, we are in touch with ourselves and don’t feel the need to control our outer world to bring inner peace. At our weaker moments we are the lion. We may growl and threaten because we feel our outer world is under attack. This, in turn, disrupts our inner world.

The trick here is to live in the space between these two extremes. We need to experience the earthly domain with all its pleasures and pains in order to grow as spiritual beings. After all, that is why we came here. We can’t forget this

However, the real message of the Strength card mimics the age-old message of good versus evil; darkness versus light; Cain versus Abel. The Strength card hints at the idea of our power being directly connected to our ability to find a balance in our opposites.

We were born with a mind for a reason. It is our mind and our physical body that allows us to enjoy all the beautiful sensations we came to earth to experience. We must be careful though not to mistakenly believe that this visible dimension – the things we process with our mind - is all there is to experience on earth. When that happens, our ego takes over and causes us to seek a greater connection with the creations of the earth. 

This causes an imbalance that skews our spiritual focus.

The Strength card reminds us that the only power strong enough to conquer the ego and silence the inner beast is love – love of self and others. This love is the only way we can uncover the spiritual courage and wisdom needed   to differential between our ego-driven desires (the lion energy) and our higher-level desires (the maiden energy).  In addition, the card is not asking us to “fight fire with fire” per se. Rather, it is asking us to show kindness and gentleness when acknowledging our weaknesses – much like a mother would when interacting with a small child - because we must realize this is the true intellectual capacity of the ego.

The card actually warns us that by using aggression to conquer aggression we pretty much guarantee the escalation of hostility.

To grow spiritually, we must embrace this mother energy when dealing with our own shortcomings and those of others. It does not mean we accept poor behavior or erroneous thinking. Rather, we calmly acknowledge the issues and behavior. We offer our understanding of the behavior without condoning it. We accept that such happenings are the in the nature of a physical human being, but offer the reminder that we are not here to simply exist as the average lower-energy animal does. With that, we focus on the Light that exists within each person, and we attempt to turn ourselves and others in the direction of this higher, more genuine source of existence. 

The Chariot: Passion and Perseverance Always Trump Adversity

The Chariot (Major Arcana card 7) is a card about triumph over adversity. It is the last frontier the young Fool must conquer in order to ascend to the higher levels of mental, emotional and spiritual growth. The Chariot is all about success on the earthly – or physical - plane.

The Chariot - Anna K Tarot

Up until he hit the Lovers card, the Fool has had the protection and guidance of spiritual and earthly teachers as he began his journey through this life. He first met the Magician, and learned about personal power. He then met the High Priestess and Empress, where he worked on developing his intuition and creative skills. With the Emperor and Hierophant, he learned about structure and order, and how to use his talents to affect positive changes in his life and the world around him. It is safe to say, that the Fool was pretty protected as he gained familiarity about the workings of the earth.

That all changed when he encountered the experiences identified through the Lovers card. It is at this juncture that he came in contact with others who were at similar points in their journeys. He experienced love, choices, challenges and disappointments. This is where he began to internalize the far-reaching consequences of the decisions he has made.

To equate this to a “real-life” situation, this section of the Fool’s journey would be similar to a very young adult, getting ready to assert his or her independence in the world. The choices they have made in their interactions with others and themselves have consequences – both good and bad. Up until the Lovers card, they have had the structured guidance of the preceding four major arcana. If they followed that advice – or if they didn’t follow that advice – they are feeling the effects of this now.

This leads us to the Chariot. The Chariot represents the efforts of that same young adult to make his or her way in this world. The individual is using all his or her experiences and talents in order to move toward a goal. There will be obstacles for sure. Some are self-imposed from previous choices. Additional obstacles will come into play because of choices yet-to-be-made by themselves and others.

The Chariot represents the determination of the spirit to overcome these challenges and reach one’s goals. Depending on where the Chariot shows up in a spread, its presence could herald a successful outcome. However, regardless of where you find it, the Chariot does indicate successful forward motion despite hardship.

The images on the card usually depict a lone charioteer attempting to control two animals that are pulling in opposite directions. He maintains a look of steely determination and does not remove his eyes from his goal. This image symbolizes the constant pull of opposites within the spirit of man. It can represent simpler concepts like youthful desires versus age-related responsibilities. It can be more complex and suggest an inner struggle between virtue and vice. Or it can represent deeper desires of dreams versus the harshness of reality.

Regardless of the specific struggle the Chariot represents, the true beauty of this card can be found in the underlying message about the strength of the human spirit. When this card shows up in a spread, it is a reminder about the importance of fighting the “Good Fight,” even in the face of overwhelming adversity. Sometimes the lesson of the Chariot is really about the triumph of the spirit to survive and thrive when enmeshed in an environment that appears on the surface to only want to destroy it.