AUTHOR'S NOTE: The Qabalistic Tree of Life (which takes its inspiration from the orthodox Hebrew Kabbalah) presents an ontological model of four levels (olams or "worlds") of increasing density as one descends the Tree: the Archetypal or Spiritual World (Atziluth) at the top is entirely numinous; the Creative or Intellectual World (Briah or Beriah) immediately … Continue reading Four Worlds: Clothing the Abstract
“A Cynic, a Skeptic and a Mystic Walk into a Bar . . .”
Who walks out? Me, most likely! Seriously, though, setting aside cynicism (which helps nobody) is there a place for rational skepticism in mystical practice? I'm a living example of that questioning mindset, believing implicitly in the esoteric wisdom that rewards serious metaphysical inquiry while holding a less charitable opinion of some of its modern proponents. … Continue reading “A Cynic, a Skeptic and a Mystic Walk into a Bar . . .”
Walking the Talk
For the neophyte, learning to read the tarot cards is a charming diversion that, when diligently nurtured, can soon become a mesmerizing quest for the truth. It's a bit like rabbit-hunting; we're handed a dangerous weapon, a figurative "shotgun," and set off in pursuit of the quarry, which is elusive and can lead us, like … Continue reading Walking the Talk
“Low-Calorie” Tarot
AUTHOR'S NOTE: It is a well-established premise that the Minor Arcana of the tarot describe routine or mundane factors affecting the life of a querent, the court cards correspond to social matters (or in some cases personal attitudes and behaviors), and the Major Arcana reflect trans-personal, universal or spiritual "big-picture" implications. For a long time … Continue reading “Low-Calorie” Tarot
The Passion of the Pages
AUTHOR'S NOTE: In her book, Tarot and the Tree of Life, Isabel Kliegman mentions the "passion" of the Pages for the idealistic preoccupations of youth. The idea is that the Pages in general lack the wisdom and experience of age and thus react instinctively rather than in a rational way to the "spirit of the … Continue reading The Passion of the Pages
“A Powerful Group Effort”
AUTHOR'S NOTE: One of the problems with electronic reading devices is that they will run out of power if you forget to charge them. (I know, "Duh!") I like to read my tarot books on the Kindle while doing my morning treadmill jog, but yesterday the tablet died and I had to resort to the … Continue reading “A Powerful Group Effort”
Youngbloods in the Tarotscope
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Get Together, the utopian anthem of unconditional love and peace by the Youngbloods, is one of the most hopeful (and, in retrospect, most naive) songs to come out of the "hippie generation" (although I sense a little of the poignant introspection of Kahlil Gibran or Omar Khayyam in it). Here is my interpretation … Continue reading Youngbloods in the Tarotscope
An Expanding Universe
Recently I joined several more Facebook pages and subreddit feeds related to the tarot, divination in general, occult principles and practices, the Thoth deck, the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn and the Kabbalah/ Qabala/Cabala (both orthodox and esoteric). I'm still sorting out which ones are of value and which of them I will let … Continue reading An Expanding Universe
The Lazy Man’s Tree-of-Life “Reality Check” Spread
AUTHOR'S NOTE: I'm calling this a "lazy man's" spread (pardon my gender exclusiveness; you can rephrase it as "lazy person's" if you like, but I was going for the "lazy-man's-lobster" allusion) because it requires only a very general knowledge of the meaning of the sephiroth on the Tree and the flow of energy thereon. An … Continue reading The Lazy Man’s Tree-of-Life “Reality Check” Spread
Qabalistic Triplets: Adapting the Triangles of the Tree of Life to the Three-Card Tarot Reading
AUTHOR'S NOTE: The Qabalistic Tree of Life presents three triangles in its symbolic architecture, one with the apex pointing upward and two pointing down. Here I've adapted these triangles to the three-card tarot reading. In the cases of Fire and Air I introduced the "hidden knowledge" of Da'ath (to which I've assigned the nebulous planet … Continue reading Qabalistic Triplets: Adapting the Triangles of the Tree of Life to the Three-Card Tarot Reading
