Category: Tarot

The Fool’s Journey through the Major Arcana: SunFest 2016: The Lovers

Posted C. LaVielleLeave a commentPosted in Major arcana, Tarot, The Hero's Journey

A Man and a Woman stand at two intersecting paths. Woman: (addressing the seekers) We’re trying to decide if we should get married. Man: She doesn’t think I really love her even though I tell her all the time. Woman: Yes, you keep telling me that, but it doesn’t feel like you love me as much as I love you. Man: So what can I do to convince you I love you? Woman: If I told you and you did it, then I still wouldn’t know if you really loved me or if you were just doing it because I told you to. Man: You see, it’s impossible! (Turns back to woman, who is now looking up) I love you, I love you, I love you! I give you roses, I take you out to nice restaurants. What else can I do? We are totally compatible. We, both like camping and hiking and murder mysteries and Thai food. We both have good jobs and can… Read More »

The Fool’s Journey through the Major Arcana: SunFest 2016: The Hierophant

Posted C. LaVielle2 CommentsPosted in Major arcana, Tarot, The Hero's Journey

Blessings, my children. We are well met, for I am the head of a religion of great spiritual power and have been carefully trained in its secrets. Because of this, I am able to hear and understand the intent of the divine and can guide you safely and surely toward the enlightenment you seek. Follow me and I will teach you what you need to do and say and believe to have peace of mind on earth and salvation after death. And you won’t have to walk your path alone and unsupported. My religion has stood the test of time and has many followers who will help you and teach you all that you need to know. You may also think of me as any advisor, a teacher, a guide. Anyone who has the information you need to improve and further your spiritual, family, social, or professional life. Take a moment and think of all the advisors, teachers, and guides you have trusted and allowed… Read More »

The Fool’s Journey Through the Major Arcana: SunFest: The Emperor

Posted C. LaVielle2 CommentsPosted in Major arcana, Tarot, The Hero's Journey

Emperor: Yeah, you got it. I am the Emperor, Big Daddy. I am big government, big business, the military, and science and industry. All the things you love to hate. But let’s think this through. Who keeps your streets safe? And who builds and maintains those streets? I do. Who runs your beloved internet and makes sure you can buy anything you want on it? I do. Who makes sure you have all water, electricity, and gas you want? I do. And when you’re sick and need all kinds of fancy medical equipment, who do you run to? Me. And when your life and liberty are threatened by invasion, crime, or lawlessness, who defends you? Me. Big Daddy. I am power personified. I am every Emperor, King, Prince, Father and man who has ever walked the Earth. When I’m good, I’m very very good, and when I’m bad I’m your worst nightmare. Does your daddy love you and treat you right? Your grandfather?  Your husband?… Read More »

The Fool’s Journey Through the Major Arcana: SunFest: The Empress

Posted C. LaVielleLeave a commentPosted in Major arcana, Tarot, The Hero's Journey

Empress: Hello, my children. And yes, you are the children of my body, for I am the Earth. The rivers, lakes, and oceans are my blood. The mountains are my bones and the rolling hills are my breasts, belly, and bottom. The wind is my breath. The fiery passion of the volcano and the raging storm reveal my awesome power. From me all things are born and unto me all things return. And I am all the goddesses, and all the queens, and all the mothers, and all the women who have ever walked the earth. I am fertility and abundance. And I am famine. I am love and comfort. And I am hunger and isolation. I challenge you to examine your relationships with your mother and grandmother, your sisters, your feminine lovers, and your wives; because they intimately affect how you attract and manifest abundance, and how you love, nurture, and find comfort in yourself and others. My divine love and blessings to you,… Read More »

The Fool’s Journey Through the Major Arcana: SunFest: The High Priestess

Posted C. LaVielleLeave a commentPosted in Major arcana, Tarot, The Hero's Journey

HPS: (Placing finger to lips) Shhhhhhh. There is a secret here. Do you wish to know what it is? Seekers answer “yes.” HPS: Very well, then. The Great Secret is this:  Your life—and the world you live it in—is a beautiful and terrifying…but instructive illusion. That which makes up your particular and personal illusion is behind that Veil. The purpose of your life—and yours, and yours—is to discover how to discover what is behind the Veil. And then to do it. Simple, isn’t it? (Shaking her head, ‘no.’) But take heart. The journey you are on right now will bring you at least a few steps closer to understanding. In the Place of Perfect Equilibrium, I stand watch over the Gateway of Knowing. Have you any questions? (When questioning comes to an end or no one speaks…) It is well. Now, pass on and continue your journey.

The Fool’s Journey Through the Major Arcana: SunFest 2016: The Magician

Posted C. LaVielleLeave a commentPosted in Major arcana, Tarot, The Hero's Journey, Uncategorized

The Magician: And just where do you think you’re going? The Fools probably answer that they are seeking enlightenment. The Magician: Ah. And where do you intend to find it? (word the question to fit their answer.) The Fools only answer will be that they don’t know but that they need to cross the bridge. The Magician: As I suspected. You haven’t a clue. Now listen up. You can’t just go wandering around expecting things to fall into place. The Multiverse doesn’t work that way. First you need to decide exactly what it is that you’re looking for. Enlightenment isn’t good enough. Each of you is looking for something different. It may be as specific as “How will I make next month’s rent.” or as general as “What do I need to do next in my life?” But it’s a waste of your time and the Multiverse’s to ask the Multiverse for next month’s rent. Deep down inside, each of you knows what you truly… Read More »

The Fool’s Journey Through the Tarot Major Arcana: SunFest 2016: The World

Posted C. LaVielle2 CommentsPosted in Major arcana, Tarot, The Hero's Journey

I’m here to give some advice to a bunch of Fools who are starting a journey to enlightenment. And I know I’m in the right place, because I don’t think I’ve ever seen a more perfect bunch of Fools. I’m here to tell you that you don’t need to go wandering around in the woods to find enlightenment. It’s right here. All the beauty and perfection of the Multiverse is right here and right now. All you have to do is be still… and reach for it. But because you’re a bunch of Fools, you won’t listen to me. You’ll go running around looking for something you already have. So here’s some advice. If you’re going to be Fools, at least be divine Fools. Let go of the cares and worries and responsibilities of your everyday world. Because you’re not there anymore. You’re here, between the worlds, searching for something that’s right under your nose. Only a madman would do that—so be divinely mad. Forget… Read More »

The Fool’s Journey Through the Tarot Major Arcana: SunFest 2016

Posted C. LaVielle4 CommentsPosted in Gifts from the Multiverse, Major arcana, Tarot, The Hero's Journey, Writing, Young Adult Fantasy

Last year I was honored to be asked to write a “Fool’s Journey Through the Tarot” ritual for SunFest 2016. My first response was to run away screaming “Nooooooooo!” I know from previous experience that there is nothing more time consuming and brain warping than writing, organizing, and directing a large scale ritual. And then it dawned on me that The Fool’s Journey was exactly what I’ve been writing about on this blog for the past several years and it is exactly what my first book, Forging the Blade (which will soon be available), is about. And after doing the blog, the book, and countless readings for clients, I was a firm believer in the transformative, life changing power of tarot. So how could I not share this amazing tool with my community? “OK,” I said. “I’ll do it.” Fortunately, my community is composed of many amazingly talented people who volunteered to be in or help with the ritual, who serve on Other Worlds Of… Read More »

Hijacked by Mamluks

Posted C. LaVielle9 CommentsPosted in Tarot, Writing

One of the greatest dangers a writer faces while doing research is getting sidetracked by an irresistible piece of trivia and wandering for hours through cyberspace and reference books. By the time he or she resurfaces, bleary eyed and sated with useless information, hours have passed—hours that could have been spent on something productive. This happened to me, for about the bajillionth time, as I was preparing a presentation about the history of tarot. I kept running across the statement that the first playing cards didn’t appear in Europe until the early 1300’s— and they were probably Mamluk. “What’s a Mamluk?” I thought. And that’s when the Mamluks grabbed me and dragged me through nearly eight centuries of fascinating history that had absolutely nothing to do with the tarot. It all began way back in 800 CE when the Abbasid caliphs of Baghdad began supplementing their military with slaves purchased from a place called Circassia in the northern Caucasus Mountains. Circassia doesn’t exist anymore, but… Read More »

All You Really Need to Know About the Tarot Major Arcana

Posted C. LaVielle7 CommentsPosted in Major arcana, Tarot, The Hero's Journey

In her definitive book, Seventy-eight Degrees of Wisdom, a Book of Tarot, Rachel Pollack begins the first chapter with this spread:   These are the four most basic tarot archetypes arranged in a perfect pattern of spiritual evolution. I call this the “everything you really need to know about the major arcana” layout.  The vertical axis is The Fool and The World. The beginning and the end. The Aleph and the Tav. The Alpha and the Omega. Most authors describe these figures as androgynous and both figures are dancing. In fact, they are the only dancers in the major arcana. Death dances in some of the decks, but Death will always dance, and who are we to say it can’t. All of the other figures are pictured in static positions, like they’re posing for a photographer—they each represent a distinct, fixed state of existence.  The Fool is dancing along a precipice high above the rest of the world and looks to be about to leap… Read More »