The Cosmic Tarot Read online

  The Chariot indicates the need to alternate the energies of body and mind, as well as the need to vary activities. Solitude should coexist with friendship. A bout of hard work should be followed by fun; after a long vacation or period of unemployment, work can be welcome.

  Meanings - Adversity, possibly already overcome. Mental and physical balances. Conflicting influences. Hard work. Secure home. Resourcefulness. Obstacles. Turmoil. Vengeance. Hasty decision. Emotions nearly out of control. Failure. Last-minute losses. Sudden collapse of plans.

  VIII Justice

  The cloak of Justice spreads over the starry sky, in which are the yin-yang sign and a scale. On either side are day and night. A tower rises behind.

  The Cosmos - Libra, the sign of the zodiac whose sigil is at the base of the scale, begins at the autumn equinox, when day and night are of equal length. It is the time of year when the abundance of the living earth is celebrated in harvest; it is the time when many animals and plants bank down their life forces in preparation for winter.

  The pictures of day and night symbolize the equilibrium of nature. Following the Lovers (Union) and the Chariot (Change), Justice shows the animate and inanimate forces of nature in equilibrium.

  The Human Community - The crucial factor in any justice system is the protection of individual rights without sacrifice of the society. Impartiality demands that the justice system see through bigotry, favoritism by class, the rigid status quo, legal loopholes, and security demands made by the state. The figure of Justice in the Cosmic Tarot is without the traditional blindfold. Her eyes are radiant with the ability to pierce darkness and reveal the truth.

  Justice in the Cosmic Tarot lacks the traditional sword as well. True Justice is neither a cruel weapon used by the state to destroy opposition, nor a door to crime and anarchy. The tool of Justice is a scale that rises from the divine rose of compassion, reflecting care for the defendant as well as for the prosecutor, and the balance of individual rights and social stability. The tower that illuminates her crown is a prison for evil-doers and a bulwark against human rights abuses.

  Another facet of Justice, deriving from the rule of Libra, is diplomacy. Negotiations, peace talks, arbitration, ambassadors and embassies, and the United Nations are all in her care.

  The Individual - The pans of the scale of Justice weigh two red triangles. The upward-pointing triangle symbolizes intangible spirit; the downward-pointing triangle symbolizes the body and all matter that keeps us (as incarnate beings) attached to earthly existence. Each red triangle is invested with a black triangle, as each half of the yin-yang circle is invested with its opposite.

  The image describes our individuality, which is generated by a dualistic outlook of "me" and "you," and our unity with what is all around us. Selfishness and compassion are implicit. The pans are in perfect equilibrium. A rose, symbol of physical passion and divine love, supports the scale. The dualism and unity of Justice illustrates the inner person and also the individual relating to others.

  Libra, the sign of the scales, is ruled by the planet of love, Venus, and so is considered one of the more sociable signs of the zodiac. Charm, good looks, diplomacy, and affability are considered Libran qualities; romance, courtship, and romantic intrigue are favored activities.

  The wish for equilibrium is foremost. Libras judge, weigh, and evaluate. Indecision or vacillation may result from the wish to consider all sides of a story. Justice can indicate a decision—or more procrastination. When the verdict is finally delivered, it will be fair. The process may be unfathomable, especially to the party who feels cheated of a favorable outcome.

  Meanings - Reasonableness. Justice through knowledge of a higher order. Balance. Harmony. Equity. Diplomacy. Arbitration. Union of opposites. Righteousness. Virtue. Honor. Kindness. Charm. Attractive person. Just reward. Dignity. Equilibrium. Poise. Impartiality. Bias. False accusations. Prejudice. Severity. Intolerance. Unfairness.

  IX The Hermit

  A man with flowing hair and beard is in yoga posture under a flowering tree. On his scarf is the symbol of Jupiter, the planet ruling philosophy, the symbol of the sun, light of knowledge, and the symbol of the astrological sign Virgo. The moon rises and a star drops light to where another star lies hidden by the mountains. A lamp sheds starry light at the Hermit's feet. A pink flower glows and a night bird looks on.

  The Cosmos - The Sanskrit letter on the headband of the Hermit spells OM, the most powerful and mysterious mantra of Hindus and Buddhists. OM has no semantic meaning. It is the pure sound that vibrates between the material world and the spirit. It is nothing and everything. The person who chants the mantra imbues it with significance through meditation, study, and devotion. OM expresses in sound the oneness of the universe.

  The Human Community - The reclusive Hermit is not part of the world at large. He is the individual teachers encountered in life. His influence on society is made indirectly, through his students.

  Inevitably, the Hermit's teachings will be institutionalized by his followers as a church, an academic institution, or a government. At that point, they are something altogether different from the teachings received directly from the Hermit, as different as the Hermit is from the Hierophant. The Hermit himself stays the same, whatever riches or prestige come his way. He is real—not a charlatan or an ego-tripper.

  The lamp shines with the teachings that the Hermit has received in his turn. Without teachers—gurus, ministers, parents, siblings, school teachers, elder or younger friends—humans have no means to follow the way of truth. The Hermit represents the flow of ethics, wisdom, and knowledge from one person to another, and from generation to generation. He is both student and teacher.

  The Individual - The Hermit is a solitary, studious, disciplined person. He is reserved and has a somber demeanor, possibly serene or possibly severe. He may live alone, though his integrity does not hinge on solitude. The Hermit can be eclectic to the point of eccentricity, or he can be fanatically single-minded. His nature is firm, though not rigid. He remains true to his path, unswayed by the fortunes of life, unimpressed by his own accomplishments. He considers everything a gift from his teachers.

  The scarf over the Hermit's left arm has on it the sigil of Virgo. The Virgin, who rules the sign of Virgo with the planet Mercury, symbolizes chastity, and conservation together with abundance. Libra follows Virgo in the zodiac and weighs the gathered harvest; in Virgo, the corn is still on the stalk, the wheat in the ear. All is ripe and yet unexploited.

  The solitary Hermit conserves the energies of his body as fuel for his spiritual journey. He teaches us prudence with material resources and with our bodies and minds.

  The Hermit can indicate a fruitful period of study, meditation, and contemplation, or a change to a more quiet lifestyle. In a negative sense, the Hermit may warn of alienation, withdrawal from other people, depression, emotional numbness, even paranoia.

  Meanings - Seclusion. Wisdom. Discernment. Cleverness. Self-control. Awareness. Autonomy. Reliability. Discipline. Knowledge. Solitude. Prudence. Discretion. Withdrawal. Regression. Annulment. Chastity. Conservation. Alienation. Loneliness. Imprudence. Prematurity. Dullness. Impotence.

  X Wheel of Fortune

  A network of circles, squares, and triangles turns in the cosmos. The symbolic design resembles clockworks. The Wheel of Fortune is one of three cards in the Major Arcana that does not show a human figure. (The other two are Death and The Moon.) Hence, the Wheel does not generally point to a person or type of person.

  The Cosmos - The magical mechanism of our solar system is diagrammed in the Wheel of Fortune. The center holds the sun, from which radiate like petals of a flower the cosmic bodies known to the ancients: (from top clockwise) Saturn, Jupiter, Venus, Moon, Mercury, and Mars. (Neptune, Uranus, and Pluto are not included, as they were not discovered until modern times.)

  Next comes the zodiac: (from left counterclockwise) Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and
Pisces. At the top immediately outside the zodiac are Neptune and Uranus, and above these, in the center, is Pluto.

  The four corners hold the four elements: (from left top, clockwise) water, air, earth, and fire. The bottom central orb is a symbol of the unity of the four elements, and also of the planet Earth.

  Together, the yellow orbs of the planets form the diagram of the Cabalistic Tree of Life. The Hebrew word near Pluto, at the top, reads Kether, which is the head of the Tree of Life. Kether is the Crown of Creation, which can be considered as the inspiration of an unknowable, unnameable godhead. The Hebrew word at the bottom is Malkuth, the Kingdom of Earth, by which is meant not the element of earth or the planet, but the terrestrial experience, the physical universe, generally from the point of view of humankind.

  The Cabala, a system of esoteric teachings rooted in Judaism, is a beautiful and glorious study, whether one is Jewish, Muslim, or Christian, or even if one follows an Eastern path. It illuminates any religion or philosophy, as well as exalting our intellect, emotions, and senses.

  In a sense, the Cabala is like the tantric systems of Hinduism and Buddhism, and a trustworthy teacher is the first thing a would-be student should seek. Common wisdom has it that the immature or solitary student can go mad from studying the Cabala without guidance. Like tantra, the study does have a safeguard: its real secrets can be passed on only by direct transmission—living teacher to living student. The name "Cabala," after all, is from Hebrew word qabal, "to receive."

  The Tree of Life pictured on the Wheel of Fortune expresses symbolically the inspiration of the ineffable "One Mind" or "God's thought" moving through different modes of potential (emanations) and finally manifesting in the diversity of material being.

  This operation is both pollution and exaltation. Flesh binds the spirit, the spirit inspires the flesh. It is through movement on the Tree, not through stasis, that we express our divine humanity. The Tree is a scheme, a ladder, as it were, that can help human faculties connect with God.

  The Human Community - For centuries, the Wheel of Fortune was illustrated with a medieval image. A wheel to which are bound four kings is turned by the blindfolded goddess of fortune. The king at the top of the wheel blithely says, "I reign." The king at the bottom bears the wheel on his back and says, "I am without reign." One king ascends hopefully: "I will reign." Another king descends: "I have reigned."

  The Age of Reason took a less fatalistic view of government. Humanity would evolve over time a society of justice, love, and material abundance. The United States was formed partly on such an ideal. This utopia is a variation on the medieval Christian City of God, with trust moved from God to the (God-given) human qualities of reason and compassion.

  The medieval Wheel of Fortune seems to deny that humankind has any control over its destiny. It dictates that the rise and fall of nations is an inexorable cycle to which all are helplessly bound.

  We are indeed bound by circumstances of history and nature, but men and women possess the means to better society. Utopian visions can nurture the quest, even if lack of insight of ourselves and the world around us provides a sense that the blind goddess rules our fortunes. Social evolution is a trial and error process; we must learn from our triumphs and from our errors.

  The Individual - The Wheel of Fortune can indicate an ecstatic experience of oneness with the universe, and a breakthrough in understanding natural law. Spiritual life is integrated with worldly activities.

  Realization of the impermanent nature of things can bring comfort, or it can cause great sadness. As well, the Wheel can indicate a healing of body and mind. One can feel that one is again "behind the wheel," in control. Conversely, the Wheel may show stagnation, which can take the form of "bad luck" or a sense of being manipulated by circumstances.

  Meanings - Realization of the cosmic order. Application of higher laws. Dance of energies. Healing. Constant changes. Fortune. Turning point. "As above, so below." Good or bad luck, depending on other influences. Inevitability. Lack of control.

  XI Strength

  A woman holds a magic cloth that mirrors a lion. The sun is at her crown. The lush, brilliant landscape is threatened by a smoldering volcano.

  The Cosmos - The trident and the white stripes on the lion's head indicate devotion to Shiva. The Hindu god Shiva personifies destruction and reproduction, part of the trinity of Brahma the creator and Vishnu the preserver. The object commonly worshiped as embodying Shiva is the lingam, which represents Shiva's energy as well as his ultimate formlessness.

  Strength is energy that is available, without discrimination or judgment, to creative as well as annihilating forces. The woman's forehead is marked with lines that denote devotion to Vishnu the Preserver. Maintaining is another form of strength.

  The Human Community - The image of a naked woman whose only "defense" is a cloth on which a lion is pictured reveals one of the basic paradoxes maintained by governments: the idea that a show of strength—a standing army and large arsenals—is necessary to maintain peace. Complete disarmament is to most people the international equivalent of no police. Few are willing to place such trust in our world.

  The extreme show of strength is armed-to-the-teeth nationalism and an iron police force. Fascism in pre-World War II Europe presented a seductive sense of security amidst the economic woes following World War I and the chaotic transition from monarchy to democracy or communism.

  Economic and historic/cultural pressures repeatedly draw people all over the world to fascism. Inevitably, the strength extolled by fascists is revealed as brutality: the dictator's boot which was to crush the "enemy" crushes the citizens, the invigorating rhetoric of nationalism turns out to be a balloon filled with poison gas.

  Armies and police must be flexible and fully accountable to the people. The infallible test of a strong government is its ability to maintain human rights for all citizens when difficult conditions arise. The woman and the lion represent intelligent compassion clothed with power.

  The card Strength directs attention to the armed forces and the police, and their degree of strength or weakness.

  The Individual - Shiva embraces the energy of the body, or shakti, represented as a coiled snake, kundalini. The science of kundalini yoga is complex, but on one level it involves awakening the natural energy of the body in order to exalt the mind.

  Like Cabalistic studies, kundalini yoga should not be undertaken casually. The smoldering volcano on the Strength card is a hint of the destructive power that can be let loose in the body and psyche of a careless or unprepared student. It is a serious mistake to try to teach oneself kundalini yoga, or to place oneself in the hands of an unqualified or unethical teacher.

  The lily at the left of the woman, and her nudity, indicate that inner purity—unselfishness—is a way of preparing for the rising of the snake of kundalini. The bright light of the sun behind the woman's head and the rearing snake of her headdress indicate that the woman's energy is flowing freely.

  Strength allows feats of physical strength, and it fosters will and charisma. One might be getting in touch with deeper powers, including one's own femininity or masculinity, and this can be a source of great joy and of sudden, unexpected popularity. A meeting with a person who is both mysterious and magnetic can take place.

  Taken too far, the energy can lead to over-indulgence or a hunger for power over others. If the energy hints of going out of control, the best thing to do is withdraw and rest until equilibrium is fully regained.

  Strength brings determination to recover from mental illness (especially phobias, anxiety, or obsessiveness) or physical illness (especially lingering or chronic conditions and cardiovascular disease). It is the ability and the sincere desire to free oneself of addiction: the opportunity is always here. A support group is a form of Strength, in itself and in the courage of the person who admits that he or she needs help.

  Strength is, of course, the companion to athletes and exercisers on all levels. The marathon runner and the
wheelchair roller, the "minnow" child who just joined the swim team and the elder who swims to strengthen an arthritic body can enjoy this card. Strength calls on everyone of all abilities to participate in the joy of physical activity.

  Strength also reflects the joy we take in sharing the world with animals, domestic and wild.

  Meanings - Energy. Enjoying the dance of life. Creative energy. Wildness. Determination to live. Strength. Courage. Conviction. Resolution. Recovery. Confidence. Zeal. Mind over matter. Vice. Weakness. Lack of faith. Powerlessness.

  XII The Hanged Man

  In most tarot decks, the Hanged Man is suspended by a noose. The Cosmic Tarot depicts a youth who hangs as if by magic, or great strength, from the branch of a leafy tree. His hands are folded in prayer, and the moon forms a halo around his head. The perspective of the picture gives the impression that he is floating in the sky; his hair reaches toward earth, but doesn't quite touch. Look at the card upside down, and the sky resembles an ocean with whitecaps receding into the distance.

  The Cosmos - If the Fool is "spirit on the edge of manifestation, the formless who precedes or succeeds the dualism of heaven and earth," as said in the description of that card, the Hanged Man is Spirit amidst manifestation, and he dwells between heaven and earth. He is the Fool after the leap from the precipice—long after the leap, after whole universes have come into being.