Tetractys and the Suit of Swords

In a previous post (http://bonniecehovet.wordpress.com/2011/06/23/the-tetractys-and-the-four-suits/) I introduced the Pythagorean concept of the Tetractys – a triangle consisting of the numbers one through ten (ten being the most significant number). In this post I am going to look at the concept of the Tetractys as applied to the Pips (numbered cards) in the Tarot. We are going to look at each suit separately, starting with Wands.

Following is a schematic of the Tetractys. A good visual aid would be to take out your deck of choice, and place the cards from the suit of Swords in this format:

1
3      2
6      5      4
10      9      8      7

Following the pattern of the numbers will create a facsimile of the lightning bolt path that we see on the Tree of Life. Something else that we need to remember is that the number ten (1+2+3+4) is considered by Pythagoreans to be a pure number. The Tetractys triangle itself represents creation … form coming into being. Each of the four suits represents another world coming into creation.

With the suit of Swords, we are looking at the Qabalisticworld of  Yetzirah, the formative world. The first row, number One, represents the Monad. The second row, numbers Two and Three, represent the Dyad, or essential principles. The third row, numbers Four, Five and Six, represent the Triad, or spiritual forces. The bottom row, the Tetrad, represents the material world.

The suit of Swords represents the world of Yetzirah (formation), and the element of Air. Through Air, and its connection with intellect, the mental realm, and logical thinking, we enter the world of formation. Here the formation is specifically that of beliefs and values, expressed in our personal lives, and through our actions in the larger realm of society. Number One, the pure energy of Swords, and of formation, also represents the Seeker’s mental/intellectual life, and their ability to see things clearly and express themselves well.

Numbers Two and Three represent the Dyad, or opposing forces. For the suit of Swords, we are looking at the number Two as representing conflicting ideas that need to be brought into harmony. This duality needs to be seen before any action can be taken. The number Three in the suit of Swords indicates a breakup, or dissolution of some type of relationship. Looking at the point of conflict that precipitated the break-up will ease the process.

In the suit of Swords, the number Four represents the need for a time out away from worldly concerns. This is a time of contemplation, with a focus on roots, values and goals.

The Five’s are always a little chaotic. The Five of Swords is associated with the process of cleaning up after a battle. Modern battles are fought with words and actions, but seldom with active elements such as guns or knives. The process of cleaning up t he largely mental/emotional damage left after this type of battle has to do with looking back and determining where things went wrong. What could have been done differently, and how can a battle of this type be avoided in the future.

The Six’s are all about your own personal truth, and your own personal version (and vision) of success. Six’s are celebration and victory, with the Six of Swords carries a sense of objectivity and insight to it.

The final row – numbers Seven through Ten – represents the material world, and the four elements (from right to left – Fire, Air, Water and Earth). The Seven of Swords shares it’s place with the element of Fire. The nature of this Seven is that of mental preparedness, of being able to visualise success and goals reached. This is a stime of studying, of working smarter, not harder.

The number Eight share’s its place with the element of Air. The nature of the number Eight is all about change, and keeping up with change. In respect to the Tetractys, this change is evidenced in the world of Air (the mental realm). The Eight of Swords represents our experiences, and what we learn from them.

The number Nine shares its place with the element of Water. One cycle is coming to an end – in the case of Swords, we are looking at the consequences of our actions. It is a time of grief and sorrow, and facing our worst nightmares.

The number Ten shares its place with the element of Earth. Ten’s talk about endings and new beginnings, but they also talk about putting all of the energy, focus and will power that you have into your project.  The Ten of Swords represents an ending, where there is no turning back. We come to this time when we have exhausted all of our alternatives. It is time to find another path, as this one has brought us to burnout.

Summary:

This is not meant to be the final word on the Tetractys and the Pips. It is actually a mere whisper, as seen through my eyes. Place your cards in the pyramid shape of the Tetractys. Move your hand over the lightning path, and see what feelings/knowing come to you. Treat the numbers as rows, instead of a straight line. See how they work together, instead of focusing on individual meanings.

It’s all good!

Here are a couple of links that will allow you to use the Tetractys as an actual Tarot spread: Aeclectic Tarot Forum,http://www.experiencefestival.com/a/Tetractys/id/578326.

Next week we are on to the final suit in this series – Pentacles! See you all there!

© July 2011 Bonnie Cehovet

Leo New Moon

On Saturday, July 30th, we have a New Moon in Leo. Relationships and all creative endeavors move to the forefront now. Whether Leo is strong in your chart or not, this is the time to bring out and nurture the Leo traits of authority, caring, warmth, and being open to people and ideas. Ask yourself where in your life this energy is needed, and then ask yourself how you can best apply it. Me being me, I would say this is an excellent time to get out your favorite deck (or perhaps a deck that you have issues with, one that will expand your perception) and draw a few cards! The Tarot can be in your face, but it never lies!

New moon’s allow us to redefine our personal goals and start fresh. What creative projects have you been holding off on, and why? What is holding you back? Do they need to be better defined? Do action steps need to be determined? Or maybe, just maybe, these are projects that are really someone else’s idea, and you are coming to the realization that you need to opt for out. Opting for out is much better done before you begin a project, than after the seeds have been planted. Use that Leo energy to stand up for yourself!

Think about the following:

* Am I sure of my path? If not, why not?
* How can I best align my goals with my path?
* What seeds need to be sown at this time?
* In what ways am I creative? In what ways would I like to be creative?
* How can I deal with others in a more open, positive manner?
* Make a commitment with yourself to allowing time for creative play.
* Where is that inner child of yours? Is he or she now wearing a business suit? Would they appreciate a more relaxed dress code once in a while?

Remember … the goals that we activate during a new moon initiate far reaching changes in our lives. This is a time of letting go of old ways, and old patterns. Ask for the change that you want to see, take steps to initiate that change, and be willing to accept what comes your way!

© July 2011 Bonnie Cehovet

RIP Amy Winehouse

Despite the direction that her life was clearly headed in, I was among many people who were shocked by British singer Amy Winehouse’s death. Why did this have to happen? To get a bit of background, I calculated Amy’s Birth Cards, using the birth date of September 14th, 1983, as posted in Wikipedia. I know – Wiki is not the be all, end all of factual information, but the date was confirmed in other websites. Her Birth Cards are the Star and Strength. (I used the Birth Card Calculator on www.paranormality.com to calculate the cards.)

Birth Cards (using the system developed by Ruth Ann and Wald Amberstone of the Tarot School) work in pairs, and act as a gateway into a given lifetime, defining the theme for that lifetime. With Star/Strength, I would define this lifetime as the ability to control our passions, and our connection to Spirit, which brings us hope. The Star talks about hope, and about moving away from negative influences. It brings with it freedom and inner peace, along with public recognition. As all cards have 360 degrees of interpretation, we also need to remember that the Star, which we generally think of as being positive, also carries the energy of disillusionment, self-deception and scattered energies.

Strength talks about self-control, the will to succeed, reconciling opposites, and having courage, but it also carries the energy of fearing ones emotions, and feeling overwhelmed.

The energy of Birth Cards functions in several ways: (1) it can function well, (2) it can function poorly, (3) it can be blocked, or (4) it can be latent (as in not yet recognised by the Seeker). When we look at Amy Winehouse, it is fairly clear that in this lifetime the energy of her Birth Cards was trending towards functioning poorly. She had the public recognition, but was somewhat overwhelmed by it. She may have been disillusioned, and was definitely scattered. She had enormous talent, so I would not say that she ever deceived herself. She had courage, but no self-control. In the end, she was not able to overcome these things.

I asked a couple of questions of the ISIS Tarot de Marseille:

Who was Amy Winehouse? –  Reyne de Deniers (Queen of Disks)

The lady definitely was the Queen of Disks! I see this in myself, and yes, I see this in her. There is power in this person, and a sense of being able to take on the world around them. Amy was not afraid to take on the world, even when it overwhelmed her! Was she a well aspected Queen? No, she wasn’t. She was able to create financial and material security around herself, but she does not seem to have been comfortable with it. She could not keep herself healthy, and was very moody and self-indulgent. The potential was there, but never realised.
What does her death mean for us as individuals? – Six de Baton (Six of Wands)

Through her music, Amy had the ability to transform lives. We are being asked to look at ourselves, and see how we can best use our talents and abilities.

What can we learn from her death? – Ace de Coupe  (Ace of Cups)

we canlearn to love ourselves. To not be afraid of love, in all of its myriad forms.

(c) July 2011 Bonnie Cehovet

The Art of Choosing A Tarot Deck

Whether or not to add another deck to one’s collection is (or should be) a process. Questions that we might want to ask ourselves are:

Why do I want to own this deck?

The reasons here are as diverse as the number of decks out there. They include:

* The deck offers a different style than you currently own (styles here referring to the three basic styles: Rider-Waite-Smith, Thoth, and Marseilles).

* The artwork is appealing, and something that you want to work with.

* The theme of the deck is something that you want to explore (i.e. Goddess, Pagan, Celtic, Dragons, Harry Potter, Vampires etc.).

* You want to expand the types of decks that you are offering your clients as a choice for their reading.

* You are a collector of decks, and a card carrying member of the Tarot Deck 12 Step Program!

Am I just getting caught up in Internet hoopla concerning a deck in progress?

* It is very easy to get caught up in each new deck that comes along. We can admire decks without having to own them. They really need to fill some type of “niche” for us before we seriously consider purchasing something that we may regret.

Does this deck fit into my budget?

* I am a collector of decks, as well as a reviewer of same, so I need to look at where they fit into my budget. Being single, I only have myself to consider, and I love my decks! If I catch a deck in progress, I generally make the decision early as to whether I want to purchase it or not, and I start setting aside money. Things to watch for here are availability of purchasing the deck before it is on the market, and whether the deck is a limited edition. With the limited edition decks, you really do not have time to drag your feet.

* Be at peace with your decision. The cost of the deck is the cost of the deck – there are no negotiations. If you are willing to pay the price, do so gracefully. If for whatever reason you feel that the price is too much, then just don’t purchase the deck. Case closed! I really do not like the discussion that I have been seeing lately about whether a deck is worth the price being charged. The deck creator has every right to charge what they feel is a fair price.

What to look for from an Indie?

“Indies” are decks that are published by their creator(s), as opposed to coming from an established publishing house. Some decks start out as Indies, and are then picked up by major publishing houses (Kat Black’s “Touchstone Tarot”, and Joanna Powell Colbert’s “Gaian Tarot” come to mind here). I love the Indies! The only deck presentation that I have seen that comes even close to an Indie production is Stuart Kaplan’s “Smith-Waite Tarot Centennial Edition”.

Presentation is key with an Indie, and is only limited by the imagination of the creator! Lovely Tarot bags, colorful companion books, companion CD’s (often interactive), digital wallpaper, letterhead, small bags of herbs … the list goes on!

Do your research carefully!

If you are in the market for a new deck, look at everything that is out there, as well as decks that are about to come out. Look at what you are drawn to, what they cost, and what they offer. Some decks may seem expensive, but they offer a great deal more than less expensive decks. Remember to add in the shipping cost – and recognise that this cost is not up to the deck creator! They are charging you what they are being charged to ship their work. If you are ordering from overseas, be prepared to pay more than you would be paying if you ordered from somewhere closer to home. Read the reviews, look at the scans … and make an informed decision!

Grow your collection wisely, according to your own wants/needs. Make sure that it serves you well.

(c) July 2011 Bonnie Cehovet

Tetractys and the Suit of Cups

In a previous post (http://bonniecehovet.wordpress.com/2011/06/23/the-tetractys-and-the-four-suits/) I introduced the Pythagorean concept of the Tetractys – a triangle consisting of the numbers one through ten (ten being the most significant number). In this post I am going to look at the concept of the Tetractys as applied to the Pips (numbered cards) in the Tarot. We are going to look at each suit separately, starting with Wands.

Following is a schematic of the Tetractys. A good visual aid would be to take out your deck of choice, and place the cards from the suit of Wands in this format:

1
3      2
6      5      4
10      9      8      7

Following the pattern of the numbers will create a facsimile of the lightening bolt path that we see on the Tree of Life. Something else that we need to remember is that the number ten (1+2+3+4) is considered by Pythagoreans to be a pure number. The Tetractys triangle itself represents creation … form coming into being. Each of the four suits represents another world coming into creation.

With the suit of Cups, we are looking at the Qabalistic world of Briah, the creative world. The first row, number One, represents the Monad. The second row, numbers Two and Three, represent the Dyad, or essential principles. The third row, numbers Four, Five and Six, represent the Triad, or spiritual forces. The bottom row, the Tetrad, represents the material world.

The suit of Cups represents the world of Briah (creation), and the element of Water. Through Water, and its connection with the unconscious and intuition, we enter the world of creation. Number One, the pure energy of Cups, and creation, also represents the Seeker’s emotional life, connection with the mysteries and dreamtime. It is here that we create our emotional “safety net”.

Numbers Two and Three represent the Dyad, or opposing forces. For the suit of Cups, we are looking at the number Two as representing a union or partnership, especially a romantic union (or a union of opposites). This can also represent a karmic tie. The number Three relates to working with others, giving and receiving support and encouragement. In the suit of Cups, the number Four represents a time of restlessness, where the Seeker feels dissatisfied with life in general, and emotional entanglements in particular. Life feels stagnant, and everything is being questioned.

The Five’s are always a little chaotic. The Five of Cups can be associated with the emotional quagmire left after a tantrum, argument or literal fit of rage. There are consequences … and this is it! To restore balance, focus needs to be placed on the Cups that remain upright.

The Six’s are all about your own personal truth, and your own personal version (and vision) of success. Six’s are celebration and victory, and the Six of Cups carries a gentle sense of optimism with it. Remember that we do not ever succeed on our own – our victory celebration needs to include those that helped us get there. In this the suit of emotions, we need to be able to trust, and to allow life to flow freely.

The final row – numbers Seven through Ten – represents the material world, and the four elements (from right to left – Fire, Air, Water and Earth). The Seven of Cups shares it’s place with the element of Fire. The nature of this Seven is that of our dreams and desires – the world of our imagination. There is real magic in awakening the imagination, and the passion of Fire is an absolute plus! We need to release our fears and dream (and act on) the big dreams!

The number Eight share’s its place with the element of Air. The nature of the number Eight is all about change, and keeping up with change. In respect to the Tetractys, this change is evidenced in the world of Air (the mental realm). The Eight of Cups can be seen as walking away from emotional disappointment. The manner in which the Seeker is dealing with this is through stepping into the realm of logic. In very simple terms, the Seeker is being told to watch out for themselves, to not automatically trust all that they see,

The number Nine shares its place with the element of Water. One cycle is coming to an end – in the case of Cups, the Seeker is being advised to accept the fruits of their labors, to appreciate all that life has to offer and to find happiness within it. Emotional satisfaction and personal recognition are inherent in this card.

The number Ten shares its place with the element of Earth. Ten’s talk about endings and new beginnings, but they also talk about putting all of the energy, focus and will power that you have into your project.  The Ten of Cups takes the personal sense of happiness found in the Nine of Cups and expands it to a more global level.

Summary:

This is not meant to be the final word on the Tetractys and the Pips. It is actually a mere whisper, as seen through my eyes. Place your cards in the pyramid shape of the Tetractys. Move your hand over the lightening path, and see what feelings/knowing come to you. Treat the numbers as rows, instead of a straight line. See how they work together, instead of focusing on individual meanings.

It’s all good!

Here are a couple of links that will allow you to use the Tetractys as an actual Tarot spread: Aeclectic Tarot Forum, http://www.experiencefestival.com/a/Tetractys/id/578326.

Next week we are on to the suit of Swords! See you all there!

© July 2011 Bonnie Cehovet

Full Moon In Capricorn

Finally – a Full Moon that is easy for me to understand! I have a heavy earth chart, starting out with my Sun and Moon in Capricorn, so this Friday’s Full Moon in Capricorn is a blessing for me. I know what to do with this energy! This caps off a week that has been very good to me – many things accomplished, many things coming to me. Okay – Full Moon in Capricorn – what are we looking at here. Being Full Moon energy, it is all about bringing closure to what began on the previous New Moon.

With the Sun in Cancer, we are looking at a polarity – on the one hand we have highly emotional Cancer, on the other we have the oh so grounded Capricorn.  Cancer reflects home, relationship, and that which is private to us. Capricorn reflects the outer world, career, and how we are seen by others. This Full Moon requires that we find an acceptable balance between our private and public lives. We need to look at our priorities, and see if they reflect our goals and our life path. How comfortable are we with ourselves? Where do we feel off center? Are we nurturing the love in our life? Are we being recognised for our accomplishments? Where are we open to life, and where are we placing restrictions on ourself?

Our home is important to us, but so is our sense of responsibility. Where is the fine line here? Do we have a true sense of self, or are we defined by our responsibilities? Where is our sense of peace? Does it lie quietly within the home? Are we content within relationship? Do we have an inner need to be out there achieving something? Do we know what that something is? Can we be responsible individuals, out there int he world, and at the same time feel comfortable  connecting with our roots, and being in some small way dependent on others?

Thought for this Full Moon: How can I balance my need for accomplishment with the very real need for harmony within relationship? For me as a Capricorn, my comfort zone lies in work, in “getting things done”. I need to work on harmony within relationship, although this has never been all that difficult, as I have Cancer rising.

Embrace this Full Moon – my feeling is t hat it is going to make a huge difference for all of us!

 

(c) July 2011 Bonnie Cehovet

Athena’s Spear Spread

Athena’s Spear Spread

Elizabeth Hazel – The Whispering Tarot (2008)

3
5      4
7      2      6
9          1           8
10

From Elizabeth: This is a spread to use when a client is facing a challenging situation or needs to make a quick decision about a personal or business situation and is trying to avoid critical errors.

Card 1: Current position
Card 2: Emotional landscape, perceptions of situation
Card 3: Hopes for the future; what is being sent into the world

What is known or emerging:

Card 4: Sources of aid or conflict
Card 5: Possible strategies; things to consider; allies or adversaries

Tactics:

Card 6: Best offense (assertiveness, courage)
Card 7: Best defense (coping skills)

Future:

Card 8: Unexpected elements, incoming people, information, options that may change current viewpoint
Card 9: Unexpected gains or losses, material adjustments
Card 10: Outcome

For the purposes of this reading, the situation is not one in which an immediate decision needs to be made, but rather an ongoing process that has reached the point where they need to be absolutely certain that this is the path they want to follow, because it will change their life in a dramatic fashion.

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Card 1: Two of Wands
Card 2: Nine of Wands
Card 3: Ten of Swords
Card 4: Death
Card 5: Ten of Pentacles
Card 6: The Devil
Card 7: Nine of Pentacles
Card 8: The Chariot
Card 9: The Emperor
Card 10: The Hanged Man

Currently, the Seeker is in a place where seriously considering both short and long term goals, predicated on their current situation. The choices are within the Seeker’s control, but there is an indication of a dominant person being in the picture.

The lens of perception for the Seeker on this situation is that of ending one cycle in their life, and moving on (to a higher level). They are trying to think things through, and waiting for someone else involved in the situation to make a decision.

The Seeker is sending out thoughts of ending their life as they know it and literally “reinventing” themselves. There is relief in leaving some things behind.

That which aids (or hold back) the Seeker is their own ability to let go – to have faith in themselves, and in their own future.

What the Seeker needs to take into consideration (whether it works for or against them) is the life that they wish to create for themselves – how do they wish to live? Who do they wish to surround themselves with? What do t hey wish to surround themselves with? What will bring them joy? What will bring them peace?

The best offense for the Seeker is to not stand in their own way. They need to not bind themselves through their own shadows.

Their best defense, their best manner of coping is to allow themselves to accept the status due them.

What is unexpected, what might change the options of the Seeker is their need to balance their four worlds, and the need to give up control.

Any material adjustments that the Seeker may experience will be through their ability to allow someone else to make decisions in their life.

The outcome for the Seeker in this situation depends on their ability to see the big picture – to step back for a moment and be an observer in their own life. They need to look at what they will be sacrificing to make this situation work for them.

© July 2011 Bonnie Cehovet

If You Ever Need Me, I Won’t Be Far Away

If You Ever Need Me,
I Won’t Be Far Away

Author: Bruce Farrell Rosen
Alma Rose Publishing
2011
ISBN #978-0-615-49943-7

Bruce Farrell Rosen is an investment officer in a major financial firm by day, and an award winning writer. He has written about sports, politic, economics and music. “If You Ever Need Me” is in essence a reflection on his life – a reflection that mirrors each of our lives. The details will differ, but the essence is the same.

This book was written during a time when Rosen’s marriage was undergoing a very stressful time. It is a reflection on his life, from his very young years to present time. We learn about his mother, Alma Lorraine Rush … wife, mother, and seer. We learn about his father, a troubled, abusive man.

We follow the family from California, to Canada, and back. We follow forays into hockey, major league baseball games, politics, and all of the other things that make up life. Each memory from Rosen’s life comes alive in these pages. We smell the smells, walk the ground, experience the emotions. We follow the logic that lies behind each decision made, and feel the pain of the hard decisions.

As readers, we experience birth, life, and death. We laugh and we cry. We see bits of ourselves, and are reminded of snippets from our own lives. The basic story is over-laid with bits of Eastern and Western philosophy, spirituality, and down home common sense. Rosen goes deeply into the human connection – how ones decisions affect not only ourselves, but those around us. We cheer for a father who wants the best for his two highly creative sons – the same man who had an abusive father of his own.

The signs of the times are apparent all through this book, as expressed through sports, sports figures, music, philosophy, and politics. Those of us who lived through those times relive them in our own mind, through our own lens of perception.

This book is all about understanding ourselves, and our journey. About being will to take that fork in the road, not knowing where it is going to take us. It is about will, determination, and heart. Above all – heart.

This is not a book for the faint of heart. It is a book about life, how to live it well, and how at times we can expect to be thrown a few curve balls. How we deal with the cirve balls shows us who we really are.

© July 2011 Bonnie Cehovet

Tetractys and the Suit of Wands

In a previous post (http://bonniecehovet.wordpress.com/2011/06/23/the-tetractys-and-the-four-suits/) I introduced the Pythagorean concept of the Tetractys – a triangle consisting of the numbers one through ten (ten being the most significant number). In this post I am going to look at the concept of the Tetractys as applied to the Pips (numbered cards) in the Tarot. We are going to look at each suit separately, starting with Wands.

Following is a schematic of the Tetractys. A good visual aid would be to take out your deck of choice, and place the cards from the suit of Wands in this format:

1
3      2
6      5      4
10      9      8      7

Following the pattern of the numbers will create a facsimile of the lightening bolt path that we see on the Tree of Life. Something else that we need to remember is that the number ten (1+2+3+4) is considered by Pythagoreans to be a pure number, The Tetractys triangle itself represents creation … form coming into being. Each of the four suits represents another world coming into creation.

With the suit of Wands, we are looking at the Qabalistic world of Yetzirah, or formation. The first row, number One, represents the Monad. The second row, numbers Two and Three, represent the Dyad, or essential principles. The third row, numbers Four, Five and Six, represent the Triad, or spiritual forces. The bottom row, the Tetrad, represents the material world.

The suit of Wands aptly represents the world of Yetzirah (formation), and the element of Fire. Through Fire, and passion, we create form. Number One, the pure energy of Wands, and form, also represents will and desire. In creating this world, we are giving form to qualities such as boldness, ambition, competitiveness and ambition. It is here that we develop will, and are motivated to take action.

Numbers Two and Three represent the Dyad, or opposing forces. For the suit of Wands, we are looking at the number Two representing a situation that is deadlocked due to opposing energies that are involved, and the number Three, as representing an inner balance. As Two moves into Three, the situation in Two has been resolved, and balance restored. The number Three gifts us with the energy we need to take calculated risks and move forward with our ideas. Christine Payne-Towler, in her article on Wands – http://noreah.typepad.com/tarot_arkletters/2005/06/suit_of_wands_m.html – notes that sometimes in more esoteric decks a winged wand with two snakes twined around it appears. This is a caduceus, which is Mercury’s wand, and an ancient symbol of a healer or shaman.

Numbers Four, Five and Six represent a Triad, or spiritual forces. Four is a foundation number – it carries the energy of working with others to manifest a dream into physical reality. The stronger a four manifests, the more solid the literal foundation is for whatever is being built. Wands is a highly creative suit, indicating that the Four of Wands will set a foundation built on creativity and passion.

The Five’s are always a little chaotic. The Five of Wands takes the foundation of the number Four and let’s the ambition found there run rampant. Ambition … and the competitive spirit! The balance here is between personal success, and not taking away from someone else. The ideal here is to fit fair, to not make a mess in the sandbox of life. Ego finds its place in humility here.

The Six’s are all about your own personal truth, and your own personal version (and vision) of success. Six’s are celebration and victory. Remember that we do not ever succeed on our own – our victory celebration needs to include those that helped us get there.

The final row – numbers Seven through Ten, represent the material world, and the four elements (from right to left – Fire, Air, Water and Earth). The Seven of Wands shares it’s place with the element of Fire. The nature of this Seven is that the passion, will and determination of the individual places them at the head of the pack. The elemental nature of Fire adds strength and impetus to this.

The number Eight share’s its place wit the element of Air. The nature of the number Eight is all about change, and keeping up with change. In respect to the Tetractys, this change is evidenced in the world of Air (the mental realm). It is through the process of logic that the individual learns to accept change and work with it in the creative, competitive world of Wands.

The number Nine shares its place with the element of Water. One cycle is coming to an end – in the case of Wands, a high energy, very active, creative cycle. Time to take a break, time to sit back and listen to our intuition. Bring your projects together, and release that which will hold you back.

The number Ten shares its place with the element of Earth. Ten’s talk about endings and new beginnings, but they also talk about putting all of the energy, focus and will power that you have into your project. I think of this card as “Burden of Responsibility”. It is a burden, as the activity is taking place on the physical plane. The passin of the Wands is presented full force in this card.

Summary:

This is not meant to be the final word on the Tetractys and the Pips. It is actually a mere whisper, as seen through my eyes. Place your cards in the pyramid shape of the Tetractys. Move your hand over the lightening path, and see what feelings/knowing come to you. Treat the numbers as rows, instead of a straight line. See how they work together, instead of focusing on individual meanings.

It’s all good!

Here are a couple of links that will allow you to use the Tetractys as an actual Tarot spread: Aeclectic Tarot Forum, http://www.experiencefestival.com/a/Tetractys/id/578326.

Next week we are on to the suit of Cups! See you all there!

© July 2011 Bonnie Cehovet

Oracle of Visions

Oracle of Visions

Author: Ciro Marchetti

Artist: Ciro Marchetti

Independently Published

2010, 2011

 

If “art” serves any purpose other than

simple decoration, it’s to bring into

focus, if only for an instance, enabling

us to see that which might otherwise

pass unnoticed.

~ Ciro Marchetti

 

I have followed Ciro’s progress through several decks (“The Gilded Tarot”, “The Tarot of Dreams”, and “Legacy of the Divine Tarot”), and have been awestruck at the innovative manner in which he presents his material. His “Tarot of Dreams” was the was the very first time that I had seen an interactive CD used in such a manner – I was like a little kid in a candy storet! Ciro was also the first deck creator that I knew of to include such marvelous “extra’s”, such as wall paper, note paper, screen savers and more.

While his previous work has been in the area of traditional Tarot decks, his path has taken another turn here, to that of an Oracle deck. In stepping outside of the strictures of traditional Tarot, he was able to create a tool of empowerment for meditation and divination that was not dependent on text of any kind – the images do the talking. The images then act as visual starting points for intuitive reading. The images themselves were consciously kept neutral, so that the interpretation dependent upon the specifics of the reading. In essence, Ciro terms this a “reality check”.

In using an oracle of this type, we are able to get out of our own way – we move past our shadows and our fears, as well as our (at times) unrealistic expectations. We are better able to consider the ramifications of our decisions and actions, and to accept responsibility for the world that we have created/are creating around us.

Ciro has (loosely) broken down the images in this deck into four categories: Situations, Emotins, Actions and Behavior. He also does not see a need for reversals. Yay! I don’t read with reversals anyway, so this is a high spot in my day! His reasoning is that the potential presented by reversals is contained within the images themselves. This is also my thought, along with the caveat that surrounding cards will define the interpretation. This is also the reason for no keywords, and no titles on the cards. The numbers at the top of the card are simply used as a reference to their description in the companion book. There is no one common theme either. Ciro notes that he is sharing his passion for jesters, masks, mechanical devices and faux Victorian dress and characters. The masked figures in this deck can be a generalization, or representative of a specific individual.

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The deck is a 52 card deck, with the cards measuring 3.5” by 5.5”. They have a glossy finish, and that lovely gold edge that I adore! The card backs are red and gold, with a black outer border and a jester in the cener. They are not reversible. The card faces show a black outer border, with a thin gold inner border. The card number is centered on top of the card, and the initials “O V” (Oracle of Visions) centered on the bottom. The artwork in richly colored, along the lines of whimsical fantasy.

The book, deck and CD are packaged in a heavy duty cardboard box that will withstand both storage and handling. The 80 page book begins with an introduction by Ciro, followed by a presentation on each card that includes a full color image of the card, a short quote, Ciro’s personal description and meanings, with opposing suggestions in places.

For example, Card 1 grabbed me immediately, at a time when I was extremely stressed. I loved the card, even though I had no clue how Ciro envisioned it. Looking in the companion book, I saw “A New Beginning – A Release From the Past”. Yahoo! Spot on! The quote for this card is “Yoy may have a fresh start any moment you choose, for this thing we call “failure” is not the falling down, but the staying down. “ ~ Unknown.

Ciro’s notes for this card include the idea that in moving on from failure we make the choice to leave the past behind. On the floor, or bottom of this image are three discarded cards – each a Fool from his three previous Tarot decks. From the bix their spirits are released as three doves, representing new beginnings. There is also a note to be sure that the time is right to move on.

At the end of the book is a short section on interpreting this oracle. Probably the biggest suggestion is that this deck is intended to be as flexible as possible. As an example, he uses card number 1 and interprets it in two different ways. This is followed by an example of several cards read together.

The final chapter of the companion book discusses the background for the “Oracle of Visions”, and the journey (through three Tarot decks) taken to bring it about. It was a learning curve, and this is the end product. He talks about the changes that we see in Tarot from country to country, and from printer to printer, as well as the beliefs of the various decks creators. Then there is the inconsistency in symbolic meaning from deck to deck.

The CD that accompanies this deck/book set includes the extra’s, the “added value” that Ciro is famous for. In this instance, we are gifted with screensavers (Mac and Windows), wallpapers, avatars (Woo Hoo!), and a very engaging  puzzle. One more thing … A thoughts and notes booklet, in PDF format, is downloadable from Ciro’s site!

I found it very easy to relae to and read with this deck. It can be used to augment a Tarot reading, or as a stand alone oracle. No previous knowledge is necessary. Have fun with this!

© July 2011 Bonnie Cehovet