Wow. I feel like I’ve bitten off a big topic today. But as The Fool would say, ‘Feel the fear and do it anyway.’ I usually try to steer clear of controversy but the Judgement card always brings out the heaviest subjects to deal with. And if this blog is to fulfill its mission to discuss all aspects of Tarot then occasionally I’m gonna have to stick my neck out. Gulp.

The idea for this post began when a rap song came on my car radio this afternoon. I maintain a strict diet of crap FM so usually the music just washes over me unregistered but this one grabbed my attention. It’s so beautiful. I’ve heard it a few times now and on each occasion been blown away a bit more by the sound and the sentiment.

The song is called ‘Same Love’ and is sung by Macklemore and Mary Lambert. I’m going to print the lyrics in full here because I think you need to read them to understand my strong reaction. The words are powerful. A man sings the verses and a woman the chorus.

Him: When I was in the third grade I thought that I was gay. ‘Cause I could draw, my uncle was, and I kept my room straight. I told my mom tears rushing down my face. She’s like “Ben you’ve loved girls since before pre-k tripping,” Yeah, I guess she had a point, didn’t she? Bunch of stereotypes all in my head. I remember doing the math like, “Yeah, I’m good at little league” A preconceived idea of what it all meant. For those that liked the same sex. Had the characteristics. The right wing conservatives think it’s a decision. And you can be cured with some treatment and religion. Man made rewiring of a predisposition. Playing god, aw nah here we go. America the brave still fears what we don’t know. And god loves all his children, is somehow forgotten. But we paraphrase a book written thirty-five-hundred years ago. I don’t know.

Her: (Chorus) And I can’t change. Even if I tried. Even if I wanted to. I can’t change. Even if I try. Even if I wanted to. My love my love my love. She keeps me warm. She keeps me warm. She keeps me warm. She keeps me warm

Him: If I was gay, I would think hip-hop hates me. Have you read the YouTube comments lately. “Man, that’s gay” gets dropped on the daily. We become so numb to what we’re saying. A culture founded from oppression. Yet we don’t have acceptance for ‘em. Call each other faggots behind the keys of a message board. A word rooted in hate, yet our genre still ignores it. Gay is synonymous with the lesser. It’s the same hate that’s caused wars from religion. Gender to skin color, the complexion of your pigment. The same fight that led people to walk outs and sit ins. It’s human rights for everybody, there is no difference! Live on and be yourself. When I was at church they taught me something else. If you preach hate at the service those words aren’t anointed. That holy water that you soak in has been poisoned. When everyone else is more comfortable remaining voiceless. Rather than fighting for humans that have had their rights stolen. I might not be the same, but that’s not important. No freedom till we’re equal, damn right I support it.

Her: Chorus

Him: We press play, don’t press pause. Progress, march on. With the veil over our eyes. We turn our back on the cause. Till the day that my uncles can be united by law. When kids are walking ‘round the hallway plagued by pain in their heart. A world so hateful some would rather die than be who they are. And a certificate on paper isn’t gonna solve it all. But it’s a damn good place to start. No law is gonna change us. We have to change us. Whatever god you believe in. We come from the same one. Strip away the fear. Underneath it’s all the same love. About time that we raised up.

Her: Chorus.

So here are my thoughts on the Tarot of Homosexuality…

*Relationship cards such as the Two Of Cups and The Lovers feature images of a man and a woman.

So you’d reckon Tarot could be homophobic. However…

*The Judgement card is the penultimate card of Life Lessons Tarot (aka the Major Arcana). You have to experience this energy in full before you can reach nirvana otherwise known in Tarot as The World card. The ultimate expression of the Judgement card is compassion. Love. Thus Tarot teaches us that loving one another, no matter who we are or what we’ve done or what inclinations we may have, is the highest form of judgement. That you can’t be a truly awesome human being without accepting this lesson.

But it ain’t easy to let go of prejudice.

*Tarot acknowledges how hard it is to change our pre-conceived ideas by putting Judgement at the end of the Life Lessons journey. Beliefs are formed right back at card number 2 ‘The High Priestess’ which represents the pre-consciousness stage of human development. You have to journey through 18 other cards to get to Judgement. Have to did deep to let go of pet hates and ideas. It’s really really hard to let go of homophobia if you’ve been raised in an environment that’s anti-gay. Although that should never ever be an excuse for bullying and intimidation.

So whilst Tarot doesn’t feature images of homosexuality ultimately it argues we should love rather than judge those who are gay. As Jesus said, ‘Love one another as I have loved you.’ He didn’t put an ‘except for’ on the end of that sentence.

I’m thinking the times are right for a queer Tarot deck. Who’s up for the challenge? Or maybe there’s one out there already. If so, let us know.