I attended the Women’s March in Melbourne this afternoon. The first of many being held around the world in support of the Women’s Marches in the U.S. tomorrow. Six thousand of us turned up. Not a shabby turnout for a sunny weekend day during summer.

I’m not a regular political activist. I don’t join marches at the drop of a hat. So I want to explore the Tarot of what I experienced…

Five of Wands: Competition

Wowser. There were a lot of competing agendas on the march. We had a full hour of speeches before we headed off, which covered a gamut of topics from Trump to racism to indigenous rights to climate change to feminism to unionism to sexism to planned parenthood.

A woman standing next to me had this tattoo on her arm.

She was also carrying a placard that referenced rape. I suspect she may have been there for this reason…

Three of Swords: Heartache

Some painful incident in her past. Some devastating personal experience of disrespect towards women.

I didn’t agree with everything that was said. Hell, I didn’t agree with half of what was said. Which made me think of this card…

The Devil: Being enslaved

There’s always a danger when you attend a political rally that you’ll get caught up in campaigns you don’t agree with. That you’ll be misrepresented. That your presence will be taken as agreement with every word spoken. That you’ll become connected, chained, to ideas you don’t agree with.

But as one of my friend’s commented, in the end you have to ignore all that, because it’s important at times to do this…

Seven of Wands: Take a stand

And I wanted to be there to show my support for women. It was a WOMEN’S march after all. I think a lot of women are this right now…

Nine of Swords: Worried

I know I am. It feels like we’re in danger of being thrown back to the 1950’s when a woman’s place was in the home and she had no control over her body. When it was okay for her to be discussed like she’s a piece of meat to be consumed (see tattoo above!)

For me, the placard at the top of this post represents what the march was really about. Respect existence or expect resistance. Many women in America don’t feel respected by their newly elected president. And where America leads the West tends to follow.

The march was about this…

Justice: Karma

If the scales dip too far one way, there’s push back.

Because Trump has not shown respect towards women, many are resisting his right to be president.

Respect existence or expect resistance.

Did you attend a Women’s March?