Month: Jul 2020

5. The Hierophant: Those who came before us

It is likely that learning Tarot is the first time you've heard the word 'hierophant'. What even is that? My spellchecker doesn't even think it's a word. According to Wikipedia, hierophant is a word from Ancient Greece meaning a kind of chief priest or religious leader. It is most associated with the Eleusinian Mysteries, so … Continue reading 5. The Hierophant: Those who came before us →

4. The Emperor: Leaders and Tyrants

I, like many people, find The Emperor a little difficult to relate to. With his stern face and cold stone throne, he's a little intimidating. But if you have ever been in a leadership position, such as a manager, or if you have had to deal with someone in a position of authority, The Emperor … Continue reading 4. The Emperor: Leaders and Tyrants →

3. The Empress: Mother Earth

NSFW warning: female nudity in this post. On August 7th 1908, a workman found this figurine while excavating a Paleolithic site near the village of Willendorf in Austria: The figurine was about 11cm tall, carved from limestone, and coloured with red ochre. The limestone wasn't from the same area that the figurine was discovered. It … Continue reading 3. The Empress: Mother Earth →

2. The High Priestess: Thin Places

The Secret Commonwealth. If you have read Philip Pullman's Book of Dust series, you might recognise that name.  To see where Pullman got his inspiration from, we will have to go back in time to over 300 years ago. In 1691, minister of Aberfoyle, Rev. Robert Kirk wrote of a land of fairies, or sith … Continue reading 2. The High Priestess: Thin Places →

1. The Magician: Bending Lightning

Have you ever seen the TV shows Avatar: The Last Airbender or Legend of Korra? The first thing I think about when I see the typical Magician card is lightning bending. In the Avatar series, many of the characters can 'bend' or manipulate one or more of the four classical elements, earth, water, air and … Continue reading 1. The Magician: Bending Lightning →

0. The Fool: Beginner’s Mind

  Have you ever heard of the term Shoshin (初心) from Zen Buddhism? Shoshin means beginner's mind, and it means being open-minded, eager and not having any preconceptions. Even when you are an expert in your field, having this attitude can be really helpful. Many of us have had an experience of introducing someone to … Continue reading 0. The Fool: Beginner’s Mind →