21 Ways to Read a Tarot Card - Step 20 - Deck Comparison

21 Ways to Read a Tarot Card
Mary K. Greer

In step twenty of our journey, we explore the tarot through deck comparison.

There are no "correct" meanings for a card or even a one "true" deck, but rather infinite variations.

Activity 20:1 - Take your chosen card and find its equivalent in several other decks - recommendation of at least three different versions.

• Describe each card.
• Line the cards up. Note similarities and differences.
• What new meanings and perspectives can you find in the alternate cards?
• List at least three keywords or phrases for your card. Are they different than the ones you started with?
• Which version best expresses advice needed for you situation? What does it suggest?
• Consider your own possible design for this card.

Rather than searching through my own decks, I turned to the Internet for my comparison cards.

The first is my chosen card, from the Crystal Visions Tarot. I found the second card on the Paul O'Mara Blog. The third is the Rider-Waite Version. And the fourth card is from The Artist's Inner Vision Tarot.

Paul O'Mara card description - The raging storm and river signify the high emotions of the situation. Swords cross one another signifying the hard decision. A blindfold signifies denial, while the Justice scales signifies the need to evaluate choices.

Rider-Waite card description - A woman sits on a stone bench, a blindfold upon her eyes, and her arms crossed, a sword within each hand. The river rages behind her. She almost appears to be meditating over her choices, not allowing the outside influences to guide her decision.

The Artist's Inner Vision Tarot card description - The woman looks forward with one eye covered. One arm up and one arm down give her balance as she looks to the future. The background scene of the card pulls my attention the most. The woman steps toward two doorways each leading to different locations. Notice the hand entering from above. It seems to be suggesting the left entryway and the woman's steps are veering in that direction. Could the card suggest listening to your higher voice for directions? What also strikes me is how the left entryway is somewhat darker than the right, not as appealing, yet it is where the woman looks to be going. Of course, every choice in life can't be sunny. The sunny side may reveal the easy choice, while the darker suggests the destined path, and perhaps the one less traveled.

As you can see, the first three all include the two crossed swords and the blindfold. The fourth symbolizes the choices of the crossed swords with the two doorways. The fourth contains an eye patch, signifying that even with blocked sight, your mind always sees. The absence of water in the fourth makes me thing it suggest the need to step away from emotions during the decision process.

Keywords - A decision, a choice, an alternate path

The Artist's Inner Vision Tarot offers advice much needed in my situation. The advice: Set emotion aside, listen to your inner voice, and choose your next step in the journey of life.

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Mary K. Greer goes into further details in The Way of the Adept section.

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If you haven’t already, grab a copy of the book for a deeper understanding of 21 Ways to Read the Tarot. Available in Print and Kindle.

21 Ways to Read a Tarot Card - Step 19 - Myth & Archetypes

21 Ways to Read a Tarot Card
Mary K. Greer

In step nineteen of our journey, we explore the tarot through myth and archetypes.

The way you see and describe tarot cards is a reflection of your personal mythology.

Jung explained archetypes as patterns of instinctual behavior and figures from the collective unconscious that contain mythological motifs.

Activity 19:1 - Based on what you've discovered about your chosen card, find a story, fairy tale, movie, or even a song that fits the card.

• At what stage in the story does your particular situation come in? 
• What happens in the story before and after this point?
• What might these suggest about possible motivations and future choices?
• How might you rewrite the end of the myth or story to allow other options?

Artwork © Jennifer Galasso, 2011

I feel the Two of Swords would represent the Refusal to Call of the Hero's Journey.

The character has been presented with a challenge/a choice and has chosen to refuse the call of adventure. But as in all stories sooner or later she'll have to take the challenge, even if it's against her will. The adventure/story begins with the Crossing the Threshold.

I see the next step after this card being the step forward, the Crossing of the Threshold - the first sights of what the real challenges are and choosing to overcome the fear of moving forward into unknown territory.

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Mary K. Greer goes into further details in The Way of the Adept section.

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If you haven’t already, grab a copy of the book for a deeper understanding of 21 Ways to Read the Tarot. Available in Print and Kindle.

21 Ways to Read a Tarot Card - Step 18 - Imagination

21 Ways to Read a Tarot Card
Mary K. Greer

In step eighteen of our journey, we explore the tarot through our imagination.

Imaginative practices, also known as guided visualizations or active imagination, involve beginning with a particular image and then letting it unfold spontaneously.

Paracelsus, in his alchemical writings, presented 'magia' and 'imaginatio' as related concepts. According to him, it is through use of imagination, "the inner sense of the soul," that things inaccessible to the physical senses can be perceived.

Activity 18:1 - Take your chosen card and imagine yourself as one of the figures in the card. Explore your surroundings, your actions, your wants, your needs. After some time, separate from the figure and return to your sense of self.

Activity 18:2 - Take notes on your experience. Thank the figure in the card for sharing with you. How was this different than the embodying the card in the previous step?

Most will find this activity very similar to step seventeen, but push to take it a little further. In the previous step, you basically did a position pose, here you will explore beyond that.

In the case of the Two of Swords, my chosen card, I felt the figure's emotions - her fears, her desires, and her extreme need to let go of the armor. I soared from the ground, joining the birds in flight.

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Mary K. Greer goes into further details in The Way of the Adept section.

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If you haven’t already, grab a copy of the book for a deeper understanding of 21 Ways to Read the Tarot. Available in Print and Kindle.

2013 - The Tarot Year of The Lovers

Gilded Tarot by Ciro Marchetti

According to the wonderful world of numerology, this year, 2013, is a number 6 year. Reflecting this with the tarot, we enter the year of The Lovers.

What does this mean on the world as a whole?

In my opinion, we'll find many qualities of this card running through the events in the year to come.

What are the qualities of The Lovers?

The first focus of this card is relationships. As you move deeper, it becomes more about the decisions and choices we make with our relationships. In a broad picture, you would find relationships extend much further than your family, your lover, and your neighbors.

If someone's decision affects you, in a way you are in a relationship with that person to some extent.

I feel the government will play a major role in the year to come. There will be much talk, agreements, and disagreements. It will affect us as a whole. But, really, this goes without saying. We are already seeing this from our leaders. The thrashing and bashing, but hopefully the effects of The Lovers will bring them all together for the better good of humanity.

I also feel our connections with a higher source will come to play a major role this year. As we reach for closeness as a unit, the people of this world will become stronger and more compassionate. We are already experiencing a coming together through the spiritual realm. This year will bring more connection as our energies extend and others begin to feel the love from the spiritual world.

This is not to make light of personal relationships. The way you react to your close relations will affect your coming days. Every decision will set you toward a course for the days throughout the year. Be compassionate in your relationships and never forget the other person's story may go much deeper than you are even aware of. Don't judge on face value, learn to love and respect each and every one of the Higher Power's children.

This is a year to take pause and think before reacting. Choose the best decision or direction for you and for the ones you love. May grace follow each of us throughout the year and help us to choose wisely.