2008 Midwest rush to publish on time!

The Social Issues Shelf: Choosing Honor
Mary T. Ficalora
Avail Press
26500 West Agoura Road, Suite 102-354, Calabasas, CA 91302
9780979935909, $22.95, http://www.availpress.com

To live with honor and to resist corruption is something most find harder to do day by day. “Choosing Honor: An American Woman’s Search for God, Family, and Country in an Age of Corruption” is author Mary Ficalora’s own personal quest to resist the temptations of the modern world. Stating that most people, while not being perfectly good, are not necessarily corrupted by the world, “Choosing Honor” proffers an optimistic view that the world is still moral. A healthy dose of philosophy from a Christian perspective is mixed in, making for a fine treatise on clarity, right makes might, war, politics, and many other topics. Highly recommended for community library social issues collections.

Ha!

In 2008 I rushed to publish Choosing Honor before the crash. I somehow thought so many people would read it. LOL If only. I believe Obama would have never gotten away with his Goldman Sachs deals. I like to believe. Sadly most people prefer to follow, safety is in numbers, they believe.

Blessed Day

Illustration from the Albano Waite Tarot deck reproduced by permission of Games Systems, Inc., Stamford, CT 06902. Copyright c 1990 by US Games Inc., Stamford, CT. Further reproduction prohibited.

The Path of the Fool – Aleph on the Tree of Life

The ALEPH path is represented by THE FOOL archetype. This is the leap of faith consciousness on the Tree of Life. ALEPH is shaded on the diagram to the left.

The Fool in Tarot is the zero path, the ALEPH path of unlimited potential. In many ways The Fool is all of us on every path on our journey on the Tree of Life. This Fool path is one on which all that we need manifests because we follow the Light, that from which all things come, without question. The Fool has no fear or anxiety; he’s a newborn soul about to step off a cliff into the material world. He has all the tools he needs in the bag on the staff, but he hasn’t opened the bag yet. He knows that he can trust in the long, straight and narrow path his staff represents: his will. The white rose in his left hand represents purity of thought. The little white dog nipping at his heels is his guardian. The dog will protect him, but he will also push him to learn the lessons that he came here to learn.. Life is wasted if no lessons are learned. The mountains behind the Fool represent the realms of Light that he has just left, and will spend his life trying to attain again. The valley he is about to step into represents our own physical, material world. The Fool willingly walks right off the cliff of the unknown in order to be who he/she was born to be and create what he/she was born to create. This path is also a path of understanding that even if you fall on your face or make a fool of yourself, everything will be all right, “just pick your self up, dust your self off, and start all over again.” Wholeness for the Fool is found in seeking and knowing what he/she does not know.

Today is an AWESOME day!

In numerology 3.14592653 is 39 is 12 is 3. 3rd Path

Binah – birthgiver

Bringing Your Reality Into Form – The 3rd^th Path

The 3rd path in the Yoga of the West tradition, Kabbalah using the Tarot, is the path known as Binah, the birth giver. This is the cosmic gate from which the Light brings being into form. The numbers 3 of each suit in the Tarot deck, 4 cards combined, reflect the energy at work here. On this path order of all comes into existence. This is the hub of paths that includes the Magician, the Empress, the Chariot and the Lovers, a hub of synthesis. This path is a fusion of opposites; the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. We achieve this whole by fulfilling the work we are born to create, rejoicing in the profound recognition of what is valuable, experiencing birth pain in our hearts and knowing objective truth.

The path of bringing into material form: creation

The first card is the 3 of Pentacles, which portrays three figures in conference in what can only be a cathedral. This card depicts sacred work, service. A workman is standing above a priest and a “judge,” in a clown cloak. The workman is the artist and he is raised above the others. The artist’s work, the work of creation is what is most important. This image makes me think of Michelangelo painting The Last Judgment in the Sistine chapel in the Vatican. The Pope’s master of ceremonies, Biagio de Cesena, insulted the painting and Michelangelo responded by portraying him as Minos, in the hell part of the picture with ass’ ears and a snake biting his penis. Funny but, in the workings of this path, dangerous, because if the three do not come to agreement the great work goes undone. Wholeness requires us to unify the three aspects of ourselves that these figures represent. Doing our true work in the world requires us to balance our creative perfectionist, with our spirituality and our practical worldly concerns (making a living).

 

The second card is the 3 of Cups. The name of this path, Binah, means understanding. The three figures in this card have come to full understanding. They have come together to rejoice in a spirit of equality to celebrate what is most valuable to them, their mutual understanding. Also, from the harvest fruit all around them, they are celebrating mutual success. These figures dance in a circle, not in a line, no one comes first, no one comes last. Wholeness requires us to put aside our individual ego and celebrate be part of a group without the need to be exceptional.

The third card on this third path is the Three of Swords. Three is a magic number and this three of Swords is THE card of creativity. The look of the three swords stabbing into a heart brings to mind heartbreak. But the pain in this Fire card is birth pain, the pain of creation, the pain of the right thing happening. No body gets out of this world alive. There is nothing to do with pain except take it into our hearts and in so doing transform it into creative energy. It is up to us to create the world we experience. To master the path of the Three of Swords is to master the understanding that the formation forces of life deliver what we need, not what we want.

The final card on this path of creative fulfillment is the Three of Wands, symbolizing intuition: knowing. The lone figure standing above all represents understanding what needs to be brought into being. The figure in this card stands centered in knowing, looking out over the sea of possibility. The figure’s right hand, the hand that symbolizes bringing the material world into form, rests securely on the right wand. This is the path of the prophets, the saints, the visionaries; the path of genius that changes the world as we know it. Wholeness on this path requires us to find centered knowing.

This reading is meant for the practice of Yoga of the West, a Tarot meditation designed to build a bridge of intuition between the reader’s unconscious and conscious mind. People also consult the cards as an oracle. Caution is advised. An oracle opens the door to spiritual deception as easily as spiritual truth. To read more about Yoga of the West go to https://choosinghonor.wordpress.com/2015/02/14/yoga-of-the-west-a-mindfulness-practice-that-uses-the-tarot-to-reflect-the-workings-of-the-light/

 

 

 

 

Yoga of the West – A Mindfulness Practice That Uses the Tarot to Reflect the Workings of the Light

Tarot is a book written to maintain an underground mystery school for free thinking believers in the power of the Light. These freethinkers are often called the Illuminati. The Illuminati are just one of many schools, cabals, of thought based on the workings of the Light. The school that uses Tarot cards is called Yoga of the West.

The secret doctrine of the Light, because of its heretical nature, has been reserved and shared with only those deemed worthy. Those who have the “eyes to see.” This teaching that reveals the Light is Gnostic (pre-Roman Christian), Pythagorean, and Pagan, but predominantly it’s Judaic. The root teaching focuses on our power as individuals to realize the power of creation, to become one with the Light, create miracles and attain eternal life. These are Messianic teachings.

Kabbalah has been subjected to centuries of hearsay. Evidenced by the many different spellings used by the different schools of interpretation: Cabala, Kabbala, Qabala, Qabalah, Practical Kabbalah, Christian Kabbalah, Hermetic Qabalah, English Qabalah. All these different cabals are working to interpret a diagram known as the Tree of Life. This diagram is a four dimensional diagram of paths. Paths that reflect the workings of the “Light.” The Light is the life force; it is the energy of creation. There are no words to define the Light. So scholars of this work assign symbols, numbers and archetype beings in different combinations to each path in their effort to define the power.

The creator of this diagram is shrouded in mystery. Many researchers say the diagram was created in the middle ages, others say it goes all the way back to the time of the Biblical Genesis, and still others say it was given to Moses along with the Ten Commandments. The mystery becomes even more intriguing with the work of modern Kabalist mathematicians who have created four dimensional computer generated diagrams of the Tree that reveal DNA.

Famed psychologist Carl Jung named the archetype paths on the Tree of Life our Collective Unconscious. The four dimensions of the Tree, reflected in the four suits of the Tarot deck, reveal the Jungian four personality types. Jung hypothesized that when and or if we are able to bring all of the workings of the paths into our conscious awareness then we become whole human beings. This is also when we balance all aspects of the four personality types within our self. A whole human being is a master of the paths, a Messiah. A Messiah is able to wield the full powers of creation. A master of the paths realizes eternal life.

Every Tarot card symbolizes an aspect of the Light at work on the paths on the Tree of Life. The symbolism on each card reflects how the Light works on the path it represents. The Tarot’s face cards represent personality types in relation to the entire Tree.

Studying and meditating on different Tarot cards everyday is practicing Yoga of the West. A practice designed to build fluency in the workings of the paths. The lowest paths reflect the lowest consciousness, and they transcend to the highest paths, which reflect the highest consciousness. Mastering awareness of all the paths is, in the Yoga of the West tradition, how you become a whole human being, a Magician, a Messiah, creator of miracles, master of your reality.

An interesting footnote to always keep in mind regarding Messianic consciousness and the power to create miracles is the fact that, in the Tarot, you find this highest consciousness is reflected in both the Magician and the Fool archetype cards. The Magician and the Fool are equals. The Magician sits at the “right hand of the father,” and the Fool sits at the “left hand of the father.” The Magician consciously works the Light to create miracles. The Fool trusts in the Light, “that from which all things come,” to create miracles. Both forms of consciousness create miracles. The power is in the Light, not in our consciousness. Our consciousness is only a reflector of the Light.

Mary T. Ficalora, is the author of the award winning book, Choosing Honor: a philosophical treatise that applies the symbolism found on the Tree of Life to reveal an unpredictable tonic for what ails America. http://www.availpress.com/

Induced Reflection for March 16, 2014

Illustrations from the Albano Waite Tarot@deck reproduced by permission of US Games Systems, Inc., Stamford, CT 06902. Copyright c 1990 by US Games Systems, Inc., Stamford, CT. Further reproduction prohibited.

I asked the question, “How do you tell a people that most everything they believe in is a lie?”

With this in mind, the cards I pulled to contemplate today bring me comfort and trust in the winds of joy that come with change.  The Tower is never easy but when matched with Temperance you can be assured of wings to transcend the crossroads of change. Creation requires creativity in the face of the only constant in creation, change. Temperance helps us rise to new heights when faced with change outside of our control.

The path of Temperance is one of holding balance in the face of overwhelming events outside of your control. This path is the Crossroads of music legend that has to be crossed in order to create with the muses. The angel depicted on this card is said to be a hermaphrodite (child of Aphrodite and Hermes). In India this dual being, two sexes united in one personality, is the primal force, the Light from which life emanates. This symbolism is repeated on the hermaphrodite’s forehead in the symbol for the center of infinity: emanation or first cause. Human creativity soars to rainbow heights at this crossroad. The figure has one foot rooted in the water, feelings, and one foot planted on green earth, living form. This path balances sexuality (creativity) and love (creation). Art, creation, brings feelings into living form. The water flowing between cups in the angel’s hands is actually flowing from the lower cup to the higher cup symbolizing rising to a higher consciousness. Higher conscious also symbolized by the golden road that leads out of the water and to the  “crowned” mountain peaks in the background, Temperance is a path of direct transcendence to whole consciousness.

The Tower, also known as the Lightening Struck Tower, is the path of sudden change of consciousness, completely out of our control. As the picture on this Tarot card depicts, the energy on this path can strike us with overwhelming devastation. This path balances mental will and victorious life mastery. Where there is a will, there is a way, but this Tower symbolizes the reality that the way is never what we expect it to be. There are two figures falling from the tower. A monarch is falling; he is resistant to change, without hope. While the other figure is diving with the flames, cloak flapping like a super hero’s. This figure is afraid, but going with the flow, diving into the change, surrounded by flames in the shape of the Hebrew letter Yod. Yod is the symbol for that from which everything is created. The energy on this path is painful to live with either way we fall. But how we deal with the fall dictates the power we have to master life when we land. Change is the only thing we know for certain will happen. Wholeness requires us to stay out of the way of right change happening; even dive into the flow of right change happening.

Please note

This reading is meant for the practice of Tarot meditation designed to build fluency in the symbolism to aid in personal transcendence. People also consult the cards as an oracle. Caution is advised. An oracle opens the door to spiritual deception as easily as spiritual truth. To read more about Tarot application to the Tree of Life go to http://bit.ly/9BiovO

Mary T. Ficalora, is the author of the award winning book, Choosing Honor: a philosophical treatise that applies the symbolism found on the Tree of Life to reveal an unpredictable tonic for what ails America.

You Have the Fully Integrated Power to Create Harmonic Existence for You and Yours this Year!

Illustrations from the Albano Waite Tarot@deck reproduced by permission of US Games Systems, Inc., Stamford, CT 06902. Copyright c 1990 by US Games Systems, Inc., Stamford, CT. Further reproduction prohibited.

A reading from the Book of Tarot for 2013. The intention is for you to hold these cards and the energy they symbolize in mind in visualizing the coming year. Each card corresponds to a path on the Tree of Life. These paths are highlighted in the additional pictures provided. Watch for the energy symbolized in the cards images to be reflected in the experiences and events of this day. The combination of what the cards symbolize and the placement of the paths they represent on the Tree will reveal the consciousness you need to see this year.

The first card is an archetype card chosen according to the numerology of this coming year 2013.   That’s 02, 01, )3, or the number 6: The Lovers.

The Lovers card symbolizes the realization that we are all both male and female.  Realizing our fully integrated male and female consciousness brings us the creative power of the creation.  Creating the existence that brings you the most ecstatic happiness is what this card is all about.  Creativity is sexuality on the vibration scale of emotions; hence the mixed up teachings about the meaning of this card.  In the card’s image the Angel Raphael, arms and wings open and accepting, hovers above male and female figures. Raphael is the angel that enables communication between our different levels of consciousness. Raphael’s hair colors are green for health and red for power. The yellow tips on the wings are for full knowing. The purple robe is for royalty. Royal purple emphasizes Raphael as the ruling power here. On the Tree behind the man we find 12 flames for the 12 zodiac signs. Behind the woman we have 5 apples for the 5 senses. The snake in the tree is the path on which the Light, that from which all things come, travels from the top of the tree to us. The mountain is a phallic symbol and the clouds are the feminine (water) – the union of the two leads to transcendence. This male female union is why so many misinterpret this card to be about marriage energy. Raphael is the key to understanding that the union this card represents is actually within our selves. Wholeness via the Lovers path is found when we unify the male and female aspects of our selves to become a balanced channel for creative energy or sexual energy if baby making is what drives you.  LOL.

The second card is a random draw, seeking the ideal card to contemplate in relation to the coming year. The 10 of Cups.!    Life doesn’t get any better than this on the material 10^th path.  J

The Ten of all suits fall on this 10th path, our material reality path. This is the path of all that we can touch, smell, taste, see, and hear. If there were “Chakras” in the Yoga of the West tradition, this path would be the sole of the feet. This path is the kingdom, the material plane of existence; our physical state of being.  Cups (water) refer to the feeling aspect of our personality. The Ten of Cups symbolizes the reality that All is good. Though it is important to note that in the image on this card there are boundaries of distance between the equal partners and their dancing children. There is also a rigid boundary line on the ground that separates the couple and the joyous children from the green earth and the river (feeling) that leads to a fine house in the distance. The 10 of Cups is about wholeness requiring more than knowing that all is good, it requires knowing that all are good too.

 

A GOOD AND HAPPY 2013 TO ALL!!!

 

Please note

This reading is meant for the practice of Tarot meditation designed to build fluency in the symbolism to aid in personal transcendence. People also consult the cards as an oracle. Caution is advised. An oracle opens the door to spiritual deception as easily as spiritual truth. To read more about Tarot application to the Tree of Life go to http://bit.ly/9BiovO

Mary T. Ficalora, is the author of the award winning book, Choosing Honor: a philosophical treatise that applies the symbolism found on the Tree of Life to reveal an unpredictable tonic for what ails America. Send comments and questions to www.availpress.com

The Feeling Personality – The Cup Face Cards in the Book of Tarot

Illustrations from the Albano Waite Tarot@deck reproduced by permission of US Games Systems, Inc., Stamford, CT 06902. Copyright c 1990 by US Games Systems, Inc., Stamford, CT. Further reproduction prohibited.

This post completes study of the personality types via the Tarot.  The Cup face cards are profiled. The Feeling personality. Psychologist Carl Jung defined the four personality types using the four suits of the Tarot. These types are, Feeling (cups), Thinking (swords), Intuitive (wands) and Sensate (pentacles). Each personality type has four levels of consciousness: page, knight, queen and king.

Kabbalah

The Yoga of the West tradition says that each level of personality travels each path on the Tree of Life simultaneously. The Tree of Life is said to be four-dimensional, each path has four levels of consciousness, levels of personality in each human all reflecting the Light to produce what Jung named our “collective unconscious.”  Every individual has a unique consciousness dominated by different aspects of personality type at any given time. Jungian theory is that we are mostly unconscious of the different aspects of our selves. Jung theorized that we are all born with one aspect as our conscious type. (determined by our birth sign)  A secondary type will also be within our conscious recognition but less than the first. A third is barely realized consciously and a forth largely unconscious may or may not be recognized in our lifetime. A person who does realize wholeness is fully conscious of his/her full personality strengths and weaknesses in every type.

My overall read on the Feeling personality is someone who can ride emotions, go with the flow, and find joy in what is. Feeling personalities unconditionally accept that life is imperfect. They perceive feelings outside of themselves and know how to stay grounded in centered consciousness.  The Feeling personality’s attributes are revealed in the Tarot’s face cards as follows.

The Knight of Cups is the Knight of ideal feelings. He rides a blue horse. Blue is the color of wisdom.  His helmet is winged; he sets the highest standard for his expectations and self in life. His armor is emblazoned with the fish we see repeated in this suit. The Knight has absorbed the unexpected wonders of life, the joy that this fish symbolizes into his armor! This Knight faces rugged cliffs and rivers to be crossed with his head high. His horse is prancing with an arched neck and the cup he holds is one in which ideals are the motivating force of action. This Knight is THE romantic Knight in shining armor. Wholeness for this romantic figure is to share joy filled perfection: perfection that can only be realized through unconditional acceptance of imperfection. 

The Page of Cups, is the child that lives in wonder at the unknown and unexpected. There is a fish in his cup, and there is no disgust or fear, instead, there is a sense of joy and intrigue. This card is anchored in pure joyous feeling. Wholeness for the Page of Wands is to be able to maintain an attitude of joy and intrigue regardless of circumstance.

The Queen of Feelings sits upon a throne perched on a golden shore, a sanctuary.  Water, a sea, (the symbol for feelings) swirls around her feet and it is impossible to tell where the water ends and her robe begins. The beautiful cup she holds is closed with handles shaped like angels. This indicates that the thoughts of the Queen originate from the unconscious, from the depths of her own soul. The throne upon which she sits is decorated with images of sea-nymphs, fish, and scallop shells. The sea and fish are additional symbols of the unconscious mind. This Queen is the master of divine inspiration. This Queen is a seer.  Note the look of intense concentration almost anger in her expression as she stares at the cup in her right hand. The wonder of the muses and creative work that comes from the place this cup represents can never be explained. This cup conceals the final secret, not to be grasped by the ordinary mind, never to be revealed to the everyday consciousness: the force that is that from which all things come.  Wholeness for the Queen of Cups requires the ability to see with eyes beyond her own and still return to everyday consciousness with the polished gold that forms the solid grounded reality her throne sits upon.

The King of Cups is a master of the waves of emotion. This Master, holds feelings, the cup in his right hand, the hand that brings life into form. This tells us he has control over his emotions at all times, he surfs the waves. This King does not repress his emotions and unconscious impulses but has learned to accept and deal with them in a balanced manner. He goes with the flow.  His left hand bears a light and rests on top of an armrest that reflects a pillar like the ones found on the High Priestess card. These pillars symbolize the polar opposites of severity and mercy. Here the pillar of severity is covered by the King’s robe. This King covers the worst of emotions with mastery; he sheds light on the rightness of riding out turbulent emotions. In the background, we see a ship in full sail and a leaping fish, both signs of abundance having the King’s back. The fish is also the symbol of spirit and creativity and around his neck there is another fish that represents the balance of the unconscious with the conscious. Wholeness for the King of Cups is to be a judgment free eye in the storm that is awareness of what is conscious vs. unconscious.

 

Watch for feeling aspects of personality today, in yourself and in others. All of us, male and female, have the capacity to realize all four aspects of personality. All of us have the capacity to realize wholeness. We are all both male and female and we all are capable of realizing every dimension of every personality.

 

Please note:

People also consult the Tarot as an oracle. Caution is advised. An oracle opens the door to spiritual deception as easily as spiritual truth. To read more about Yoga of the West go to http://bit.ly/9BiovO

The Sensate Personality – The Pentacle Face Cards in the Book of Tarot

Illustrations from the Albano Waite Tarot@deck reproduced by permission of US Games Systems, Inc., Stamford, CT 06902. Copyright c 1990 by US Games Systems, Inc., Stamford, CT. Further reproduction prohibited.

This post continues study of the personality types.  Four cards, the Pentacle face cards are profiled. The Sensate personality. Psychologist Carl Jung defined the four personality types using the four suits of the Tarot. These types are, Feeling (cups), Thinking (swords), Intuitive (wands) and Sensate (pentacles). Each personality type has four levels of consciousness: page, knight, queen and king.

Kabbalah

The Yoga of the West tradition says that each level of personality travels each path on the Tree of Life simultaneously. The Tree of Life is said to be four-dimensional, each path has four levels of consciousness, levels of personality in each human all reflecting the Light to produce what Jung named our “collective unconscious.”  Every individual has a unique consciousness dominated by different aspects of personality type at any given time. Jungian theory is that we are mostly unconscious of the different aspects of our selves. Jung theorized that we are all born with one aspect as our conscious type. (determined by our birth sign)  A secondary type will also be within our conscious recognition but less than the first. A third is barely realized consciously and a forth largely unconscious may or may not be recognized in our lifetime. A person who does realize wholeness is fully conscious of his/her full personality strengths and weaknesses in every type.

My overall read is that the Sensate  personality  has mastered  sensory details; how much and how fine. Sensate personalities revere the miracle of being. They nurture the power to create; to bring one’s whole self into being. Sensates understand the workings of might and right. The Sensate personality’s attributes are revealed in the Tarot’s face cards as follows.

Knights represent the mode of operation a personality moves forward with. The Knight of Pentacles stands high over his domain, a strong master surveying and preparing to move forward ready for any and all contingencies. This Knight, fully dressed in red, with his head waving masculine abundance, is powerful. The Sensate thinks before he acts. Once he does act his moves will be decisive and without mistake.

The Page of Pentacles is  forever young in the material world. He feet are rooted in the red flowers of desires, though there is one white daisy at his right foot, he operates from a place of pure thought centered on feelings. Note the delicate balance of the Pentacle in this figures hands, the fingers are almost not touching it.  The Page of Pentacles is the idealist who views the material world as untapped perfection: thrilling potential possibilities at his/her fingertips.  The Sensate is in a constant state of wonder and learning.

The Sensate is the queen of sensual enjoyment. The Queen of Pentacles sits upon a throne surrounded by fruit trees, angels and other symbols of material success and sensual pleasure. A rabbit the symbol for fertility darts out at her feet. On her lap, she cradles a Pentacle, a creation that she has brought to form. This creation could be a child, an artistic creation, or personal relationship. Jungian perspective would remind us that the most valuable life we form is our own. This Queen is contemplating the form she has brought into the world, her conscious self.  The roses above her head mirror the roses found above the Archetype Magician’s head. Roses symbolize desire. The Sensate brings desire into form. The white flowers at her feet tell us that her creation was formed with pure thought, pure intention. The Ram’s head on the left hand rest on her throne further underscores the fire wisdom at work in this Queen’s thinking. This Queen is the consummate Earth Mother, solid in the foundations of our true nature, secure in the abundance creation provides as needed.

The King of Pentacles is draped with abundant fruit of the vine. When Sensate personality rules life in a stable, ambitious, wise way that protects and methodically produces worldly existence for all. Note this figure’s left foot is encased in armor and it rests upon the skull of a ram.  This authority figure expects those he has authority over to do exactly as he does…take over the family business, for example. Wholeness when faced with this aspect of personality requires us to realize that might does not make right, that right makes might.  It is good to have your feet solidly grounded and be a balanced abundant producer and provider, but you also have to lighten up, unleash your imagination and free everyone to be who they are meant to be.

Watch for thinking aspects of personality today, in yourself and in others. All of us, male and female, have the capacity to realize all four aspects of personality. All of us have the capacity to realize wholeness. We are all both male and female and we all are capable of realizing every dimension of every personality.

 

Please note:

People also consult the Tarot as an oracle. Caution is advised. An oracle opens the door to spiritual deception as easily as spiritual truth. To read more about Yoga of the West go to http://bit.ly/9BiovO

The Intuitive Personality – The Wand Face Cards in the Book of Tarot

Illustrations from the Albano Waite Tarot@deck reproduced by permission of US Games Systems, Inc., Stamford, CT 06902. Copyright c 1990 by US Games Systems, Inc., Stamford, CT. Further reproduction prohibited.

This post continues study of the personality types.  Four cards, the Wand face cards are profiled today. The Intuitive personality. Psychologist Carl Jung defined the four personality types using the four suits of the Tarot. These types are, Feeling (cups), Thinking (swords), Intuitive (wands) and Sensate (pentacles). Each personality type has four levels of consciousness: page, knight, queen and king.

Tree of Life

The Yoga of the West tradition says that each level of personality travels each path on the Tree of Life simultaneously. The Tree of Life is said to be four-dimensional, each path has four levels of consciousness, levels of personality in each human all reflecting the Light to produce what Jung named our “collective unconscious.”  Every individual has a unique consciousness dominated by different aspects of personality type at any given time. Jungian theory is that we are mostly unconscious of the different aspects of our selves. Jung theorized that we are all born with one aspect as our conscious type. (determined by our birth sign)  A secondary type will also be within our conscious recognition but less than the first. A third is barely realized consciously and a forth largely unconscious may or may not be recognized in our lifetime. A person who does realize wholeness is fully conscious of his/her full personality strengths and weaknesses in every type.

My overall read on the Intuitive personality is that Intuitive types know that wholeness is found in the journey, not the destination. Imperfection is part of the journey, it just is.  Intuitives heed the unconscious and follow through on intuitive insights to create major change in life.  The Intuitive’s attributes are revealed in the Tarot’s face cards as follows.

The Knight of Wands is rearing and moving forward. He is on fire, his tunic is covered with salamanders, the fire sign, BUT notice this Knight is too big for his horse. This Knight’s legs are too long. This impetuous Knight jumped on and rode out without making sure he fit his mount. The Knight of Wands is the intuitive risk taker; mistakes are just part of his journey. This master of unthinking moves never equates failure as a poor reflection on self. Failure is just part of the journey. Thus when this Knight succeeds he succeeds big!  The pyramids in the background show us that this Knight’s actions are magical. The Knight of Wands shows us that success and failure are equal learning experiences. What matters is the experience, the doing, taking chances and trying.

The Page of Wands is the young mage. Note the figure is contemplating the tip of his wand. The Wand is libido, it is also our intuition: sexuality/creativity is being considered. This new mage is feeling out his power to “know.” The sky and background is clear and yet barren. This mage, we see by the salamanders on the tunic, has the fire that is the ability to transform reality. The wilderness is waiting for this page to unleash his/her magic. This figure’s Wand is raised straight up, and anchored with both hands. Change is in the air, and a new approach is at hand, this page can ‘see. This figure’s energy is new and untried, but the feather in his/her cap tells us that the neophyte power of a David over Goliath is at work. The Page of Wand’s personality aspect is the budding realization of the power to bring what’s seen into being.  

This Queen of Intuition sits upon a throne with lions flying above her head and sitting at her feet. Lions symbolize fire (thinking) and strength. Her right hand holds a wand bursting with life, she “knows” the power to bring into form the aspects of life that are most important to us. In her left hand and also behind her we see sunflowers. These flowers always turn to the sun in real life and here they symbolize being in tune with the Light (the force of creation). Sunflowers represent life, fertility, joy and satisfaction. This Queen of creative power is wise, her cloak is clasped together with the face of an owl. However, the black cat at this Queen’s feet alerts us to the reality that there are energies at work that we may not be aware of and we need to be on the look out for.

The King of Wands is a master of action based on intuition. This Master holds knowing in his right hand, that which brings life into form. His left hand in a fist symbolizes all that is possible by force of will. This fully realized ruler of his/her own is the master of innovation and rational right makes might power. Behind him we see lions, symbols of force. Force that can save and or destroy. We also see salamanders, symbols of fire. The salamanders are biting their own tails, which symbolizes eternity and the ever-present drive to move forward against all obstacles. There is also a salamander in the foreground of this card’s image representing big results from small conscious actions.  This King’s crown is adorned with wings of fire. His thoughts have the power to change the world.

Watch for intuitive aspects of personality today, in yourself and in others. All of us, male and female, have the capacity to realize all four aspects of personality. All of us have the capacity to realize wholeness. We are all both male and female and we all are capable of realizing every dimension of every personality.

 

Please note:

People also consult the Tarot as an oracle. Caution is advised. An oracle opens the door to spiritual deception as easily as spiritual truth. To read more about Yoga of the West go to http://bit.ly/9BiovO

The Thinking Personality – The Sword Face Cards in the Book of Tarot

Illustrations from the Albano Waite Tarot@deck reproduced by permission of US Games Systems, Inc., Stamford, CT 06902. Copyright c 1990 by US Games Systems, Inc., Stamford, CT. Further reproduction prohibited.

This post is a little change of pace; time out to study the personality types.  Four cards, the Sword face cards,  called to me today. The Thinking personality. Psychologist Carl Jung defined the four personality types using the four suits of the Tarot. These types are, Feeling (cups), Thinking (swords), Intuitive (wands) and Sensate (pentacles). Each personality type has four levels of consciousness: page, knight, queen and king.

Tree of Life

The Yoga of the West tradition says that each level of personality travels each path on the Tree of Life simultaneously. The Tree of Life is said to be four-dimensional, each path has four levels of consciousness, levels of personality. On each path each individual human, all of us combined are reflecting the Light to produce what Jung named our “Collective Unconscious.”  Every individual has a unique consciousness dominated by different aspects of personality type at any given time. Jungian theory is that we are mostly unconscious of the different aspects of our selves. Jung theorized that we are all born with one aspect as our conscious type. (determined by our birth sign)  A secondary type will also be within our conscious recognition but less than the first. A third is barely realized consciously and a forth largely unconscious may or may not be recognized in our lifetime. A person who does realize wholeness is fully conscious of his/her full personality strengths and weaknesses in every type.

My overall read on the Thinking personality is that Thinking types know that wholeness requires fighting for ideals. Thinkers rule with heads above the clouds. Wholeness requires Thinker’s to practice realistic tolerance. Tolerance that finds value in what is.  The Thinker’s attributes are revealed in the Tarot’s face cards as follows.

The Knight of Swords represents the thinking personality’s ability to know just what decisive action is needed to bring right creation and or events to correct form. This is the knight we all want to be around if we are in trouble, more important this is the knight we need inside ourselves making sure NO ONE takes advantage of us. This is the warrior energy at work, energy that every man, woman and child needs in order to be free. This is the aspect of our personality that refuses to be taken advantage of, refuses to be victimized, and refuses to allow injustice to go unchallenged. In the Tarot card image, this knight’s energy is in full thrust against the wind, and this knight is pushing his horse to its’ limit. Nothing gets in this knight’s way.

The Page of Swords is the thinking idealist. Note the wind is blowing and the ground he stands on looks turbulent, there is intense, joyous, readiness here.  This figure’s Sword is raised straight up, and anchored with both hands. Thinking is pure, but note the flowers at his feet are buds. We can see the white of pure thought peeking out, but the flowers are still hooded. This figure’s energy is for just cause and he is willing to fight to make the cause come into being, but his thinking is still unformed. His blade is a double edged one, and he is as likely to hurt him self as he is to accomplish his idealistic feat.  The Page of Sword’s personality aspect is the burning bright brilliance of passion for free thought.  The freethinking birds above his head seem to form a lemiscate like the one found crowning the Magician’s head. Realizing the ideals of this aspect in our personality requires us to overcome the endless self-induced cuts, or jaded realities that block what is right.  It is the Page aspect of the Thinking personality that needs to practice debate and intellectual challenge to maintain whole thinking.

The Queen of Swords is a single-minded freethinker as symbolized by the single bird in the sky. The butterflies on her crown and throne. Her head is above the clouds, she enjoys clarity and objectivity; she wants truth.  The Queen’s left hand is up and welcoming, she is willing to listen. Her sword is straight up; you will get a fair hearing.  But, note the frayed, or tasseled rope on her wrist. In the Sword number cards you see figures with their arms bound, powerless. This figure has been bound, she has been there, and done that, she has survived, do not mess with her, do not attempt to feed her any lies, she has the power of freedom. The cross to wholeness for this figure is seen in the child on her throne, it is just a head, pure intellect. This queen can be a harsh critic; she doesn’t give herself or anyone else any slack.

The King of Swords is the only king that looks straight at us.  He asks us, “Is your life a life of truth?”  This king has his sword in his right hand fully revealed but note it is angled.  This king’s justice is tempered by compassion. The ring of power that this king wears on his left hand further symbolizes his compassionate understanding. There are butterflies of transformation on his throne, joined by an angel whispering in the king’s ear, and a winged angel’s head decorates his crown. These winged beings tell us that this king’s humanity has elevated his thinking to celestial realms.  The two birds in the sky are the bird of justice flying in the company of the bird of expedience. This king is not quick to judge and condemn, he considers extenuating circumstances.

Watch for aspects of the Thinking personality today, in yourself and in others. All of us, male and female, have the capacity to realize all four aspects of personality. All of us have the capacity to realize wholeness. We are all both male and female and we all are capable of realizing every dimension of every personality.

 

Please note:

People also consult the Tarot as an oracle. Caution is advised. An oracle opens the door to spiritual deception as easily as spiritual truth. To read more about Yoga of the West go to http://bit.ly/9BiovO