A Bit of the “Magic” of the Tarot
November 28, 2007
By Dove, www.TarotwithLove.com Just plain ole playing cards can be used just like the Tarot — the cards correspond in meaning, but regular cards are limited because they have no major arcana (22 major, most significant, cards/archetypes in the Tarot). One day at my last job I was “playing” with a regular deck of cards during a lull. A co-worker showed interest, seemed to know I wasn’t playing solitaire :) and so I couldn’t resist showing her a bit of the “magic” of the Tarot.
I had been asking the Tarot about a previous relationship I’d been in. While she watched, I asked another question on this topic, showed her the card and explained the answer. I then showed her the bottom card on the deck, the Ace of Cups (Ace of Hearts) – a card representing a love thing, or the potential for love. The bottom card represents the past energy of a situation. So the Ace of Cups represented the past energy of this relationship.
I never read this in any Tarot book (about the bottom card), I discovered it on my own one day. Let me explain. The Tarot has taught me that like energy attracts like energy. I’ve seen this truth again and again. When I shuffle the cards while holding a thought/question (energy) in my mind, and then cut the cards, the cards that are/were around the card I draw are related to that card’s current message.
I discovered this one day, after cutting the cards and noticing the card on the bottom of the deck — it showed the past energy of the situation. An epiphanic moment :) Of course, I thought, that card was to the left of or ”behind” the card I drew, representing the past. Ever since that moment, I refer to the card on the bottom of the deck as the “background card.” It always shows the past energy of the situation I’m asking about or focusing on.
So I shuffled, cut, and asked another question on this relationship while the co-worker watched. As I was again explaining the meaning of the card that came up, she excitedly pointed to the card on the bottom of the deck. The Ace of Cups, again. This definitely fascinated her. I had been mindlessly holding up the deck while speaking to her, without having even looked at the bottom card — but she zoomed in on it and was fascintated that yet again it showed this background card in asking about this relationship.
But it all makes so much sense to me. Like attracts like — and the cards are no different. Whatever is around a card will be related to THAT card’s energy. And the same with us. Whatever , whoever is around us, anytime, anywhere, in our lives is about us :)
This all came up for me just now in reading my email. I periodically get an email from a Tarot site that elaborates on a specific Tarot card. I take these cards just as if I had drawn them from my own deck. They’re in front of me, consequently they have something to do with me in this moment. At the top of my email this morning, there was one of these emails. The dreaded “Tower” card (major arcana card that usually represents troubled times) was in the subject line. Ugh, I thought. What now? *pitiful Pearl face* lol ;)
So I picked up my Tarot cards and said, “Give me clarity on this Tower card message.” I drew a couple of positive cards — cards representing the body, balance, healing… Ahhh, that’s right, the Tower can represent healing. Yeah, that makes sense. I’m going through a potent healing time. A lot of “letting go” going on with me right now, or needing to, and the resistance therein… True healing is invariably a rough ride, so it’s wonderful that I’ve been gifted with some private time to do some of it right now. But the “Tower” invariably shows up when we’re resisting that “letting go” thing.
After pulling the two Tarot cards above that convey this more positive message regarding the Tower message in my email, I glanced at the bottom card of the deck as I was placing it back on the table. The bottom card was the Tower card :) Showing the “past” of my having just seen the Tower message online as well as the resistance and healing I’ve been experiencing lately – some resistance I was experiencing even just yesterday.
Upon seeing that synchronous background card, I just smiled with a calm heart as I set the cards down. In the past, I would have been as excited as my co-worker that day, about seeing that kinda “magic” in the cards, and I am…but it’s different now. I would imagine it’s much like when a woman looks at her loving husband after 20 wonderful years with him, still excited by him, but it’s more of a peaceful kind of excitement — a peaceful, familiar, comfortable knowing that is incomparably wonderful :)
Peace,
Dove
6 Responses to “A Bit of the “Magic” of the Tarot”
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November 29, 2007 at 7:37 pm
HaHa “pitiful pearl face” –I’m just imagining that, dove. I like what you did with the bottom card! Haven’t read that anywhere else. I understand using a “regular” deck of cards, and have done that a little myself. In fact sometimes I’ll just use the minor arcana, anyway, for certain purposes. But, how do you deal with the lack of the Page card in the suits? I know some people use the Jokers, but there are only two of them…
Really enjoyed your creativity, here. So many view the Tarot as a static thing, with set interpretations. I think it evolves along with us. :)
November 29, 2007 at 11:31 pm
Ah, we “scientists” know nothing is static, don’t we, Muse, lol ;) Note to newbies reading my blog, I’m not big on traditional science :) Hey, I’m not saying that it’s not a good thing, it’s just not (at all) my area of interest.
Well, Muse, the way I do and see things is highly malleable, heh That word, “malleable,” was not a word in my vocabulary until lately — my “guides” pop words like that into my mind ever so often for some reason. One morning several years ago, I woke up and I heard “histrionics.” I had no idea what that meant, lol I looked it up and started laughing, it was clear my guides were kinda poking fun at me, with regard to how I’d reacted to something.
Anyway. What I do with the Jack is I tend to see it more as the Page, but also sometimes kinda blend it in my mind with the Knight, mix it all around, and then my intuition pops something out, lol And that’s the real deal anyway, one’s intuition. And if ya’ know that “all things are possible,” and ya’ know that things are always in motion, always changing, then that “malleable” thing is highyly on point :)
Some of the coolest things I’ve accurately intuited via the cards have in no way reflected the traditional meaning. And I invariably and accurately get multiple meanings from just one card. One reading comes to mind, interpreting the Wheel of Fortune card. After getting some traditional meaning from it, the image then drew me in and I saw a wheel chair in it, someone who was ill in this situation, enjoyed being out in the sun in his wheel chair. Apparently that was true…the woman said my reading was one of the most accurate and detailed that she’d ever received :)
Let me follow that with this. Not all readings are phenomenally good. But some are. I think it depends on the readers energy, as well as the person being read. I’ve seen over the years that there are certain people that, every single time, I invariably do a great reading for them. With others, good — but nothing spectacular…
Okay, back to the playing cards :) Not long ago I came upon a blog where this girl was referencing the suits differently than I. I see them like this,
Hearts = Cups
Spades = Swords
Clubs = Wands
Diamonds = Coins
She switched the Clubs and Diamonds around with Clubs as Coins and Diamonds as Wands. And I can see that. But I think of Clubs like a rod (wand), she saw them like a shamrock (earthy/material). I think of Diamonds like diamonds, money. She saw them as fire (wands). Yeah. Again, I can definitely see her view. And ever since then, I now also “combine” the two in my mind when I draw these suits. Diamonds = Fiery/passionate money/material/bod Clubs = Earthy, maybe more practical kinda money/material/bod
See? Malleable :) People who see the Tarot as static aren’t quite getting the whole energy of it, the “magic” of it all. The thing is, with the Tarot or whatever, the Universe will “bend” as to what we believe, as to what we establish as our “truth.” That is, if we decide a card means a certain thing, and we truly believe it, then when the Universe wishes to speak that meaning to us, it will use that card, or combination of cards, or whatever :) Cool, eh? lol ;)
I never use the Jokers, I just see the Fool card in them and that’s confusing without the rest of the majors :)
Hey, Muse, so try the bottom card sometime, see if you see it too or if it’s just in “my world.” lol ;)
It’s wonderful to chat about my love, the Tarot, with another who appreciates its wonderfulness :)
Dove
November 30, 2007 at 1:24 am
Dove,
I really enjoy reading ur Tarot posts as ur are so passionate about it…Btw, ur new layout is very nice.. Get this both of u..I have been wondering a lot about Muse’s gender lately even so that I went thru this werewolf’s blog to find some clues (Sorry werewolf! but I am being very honest about the whole thing..) A few days ago, I have had this very strong feeling that something would come out about the subject on blogs…And, one phrase was always in the back of my mind and this was said by you, Dove..I could hear u saying, ” Muse is an handsome and genuine man”…It sounds pretty much like what u have said on the post..How synchronize is that?? Am I really starting to have visions aside of my lucid dreams?? Is it that my intuition is getting very fine??..And/or may be I am completely off track and I am not conscious about it..lollll!!!! Am I going bananas?! loll!!
Anyway, I also said to Muse that I have had a few synchronicity events lately…A week ago or so, I have dreamt that I was going to a job interview and felt very good about it like I was getting the job…I had an interview today and how special is that to have an interview on my birthday?!..Gess, Wow!! I only hope this’s gonna turn out in my favor..
Finally, last week, I had a phone conversation with my friend psychic and while I was taking to him he asked a question to the Tarot about me..He said that what he had drawn for me was more than nice..Good, cannot ask for more …
See u both..
November 30, 2007 at 2:10 am
Thanks CV :) Yep, I think your psychic thing is movin’ on up there :) And that is very interesting that you heard me (intuitively) saying that about Muse and then, lo and behold, I did make a similar statement.
Okay, so did ya’ find out anything by lookin’ for clues? lol ;)
Well, after reading your comment here, I cheated and asked my cards, lol! And after doing so, I definitely think he’s a man, and probably a handsome one too. But we don’t care, we like him either way, hehe :)
Hey, and good luck with the job, CV!
December 1, 2007 at 6:16 am
THank you so much for this piece, DOve! I’m a newbie in the Tarot department - I got my first deck about 3 years ago…and I’m self taught, really.
I’ve always noticed the bottom cards - as they generally speak to me :) It’s really good to see that someone I would consider an’expert’ level user to mention the bottom card! (as well as the one I see when I randomly ‘cut’ while I’m meditating!
This is going to help me so much….
December 1, 2007 at 6:41 am
Wonderful, Grace, I’m so glad it’s of benefit to you.
I’m taking it that you mean you cut the cards without shuffling. Yeah, I do that too. I think I mentioned to ya’ that I have a deck within arm’s reach pretty much everywhere I sit in my apartment :) Often I’ll ask and then just reach out and cut.
To me, it’s all about our intuition, and learning to trust it. If I feel I need to shuffle first, then I do. The Universe has long been teaching me, strongly encouraging me, to simply trust my intuition above all else. That learning to trust ourselves, our own connection to our higher selves — it’s challenging, but very empowering.
I’ve also learned how amazing, how precious, how wise our bodies are. I’m slowly coming to adore my body, to treasure it. It’s so wise. No matter what shape or condition they’re in, our bodies are phenomenal — and we are so blessed to be experiencing them :) When I reach out to cut the cards, my hand knows exactly where to cut. Since we can’t see the images before we cut, the eyes/mind can’t interfere with the bodies wisdom. That fascinates me :)
Hugs,
Dove