Sunday Spotlight: Eight of Wands – Making Things Happen!

Posted on June 27, 2021 by tanlee3

Eight wands head towards the ground, with new shoots sprouting.

I don’t get this Tarot card in a spread as often as I’d like. It’s…

Making your move

Putting plans into action

Making progress

Fast paced change

Digging a lot deeper

Facing up to challenges

Experiencing positive growth

Gaining momentum

Making a strong commitment

Feeling excited

Enthusiasm

Going on a big adventure

Air travel

Reversed, it’s…

Hold ups

A kick up the backside

Failure to launch

Being told to move on

How often do you get the Eight of Wands in a spread?

Happy Solstice!

Posted on June 21, 2021 by tanlee3

June 21st marks a turning point in the year.

It’s when the Earth takes a pause in its tilt towards or away from the Sun. It appears to take stock of its progress, before moving in a new direction.

We can do the same!

If it’s the Winter Solstice where you are, it’s a good time to do this…

Two of Pentacles: Weigh up what you care about most

Then you can…

The Magician: Set goals for the year ahead

The Winter Solstice is Nature’s New Year!

If it’s the Summer Solstice where you are, stop and do this…

Seven of Pentacles: Reflect on your progress

The Summer Solstice is a good time to celebrate your achievements, and fine-tune your goals for the second half of the year.

But what does the word solstice mean?

Page of Swords: Learning about words

The word solstice comes from Latin. Sol meaning Sun and sistere meaning to stand still. Originally, we thought the Sun leaned towards us, instead of us towards it.

In celebration of the solstice, I’ve just submitted the latest chapter of The Tarot Teaclub to Amazon for publication. I’ll let you know when it’s available to read.

Happy Solstice everyone!

Saturday Night Fight Club: Page of Swords Vs Knight of Swords

Posted on June 19, 2021 by tanlee3

You learn a lot about the cards when you compare one with another.

Especially those that are similar.

Let’s compare the Page of Swords to the Knight of Swords, shall we?

Both represent people.

Often a male.

Both represent mental energy.

Page of Swords: Having thoughts

Knight of Swords: Promoting ideas

So it’s…

Learning to talk vs Developing opinions

Playing with words vs Using words to make a point

Discussing vs Debating

Being cheeky vs Being idealistic

Thinking before you speak vs Being quick thinking

The student vs The teacher, journalist, lawyer, politician, salesperson and spy

Researching, planning & drafting vs Published texts

Suggesting a new theory vs Promoting a cause

Rudeness vs Abuse

Incessant questions vs Incessant answers

Playing games vs Asserting a position

Being impractical vs Being hurtful

Being all talk vs Following ideas through

Studying vs Being knowledgeable

Waffling on vs Getting to the point

What else would you suggest?

The Tarot of the Wuhan Lab Leak Theory

Posted on June 15, 2021 by tanlee3

World leaders at the G7 summit in England this week added fuel to the flames of the most pressing conspiracy theory of our times: Did Covid-19 escape from a Chinese lab?

Let’s explore the Tarot of this a little, shall we?

The origins of the current world-wide coronavirus epidemic are currently unknown…

The Moon: Hidden depths

But from the start, various media commentators have speculated that the virus escaped from the Wuhan Institute of Virology…

Page of Swords: Developing A Theory

The most compelling evidence for this is probably…

Death: The fact that Wuhan was the epicentre for the first large-scale outbreak

Meanwhile, scientists around the world have continued to insist this virus spread from animals…

Eight of Pentacles Reversed: It’s not man-made

Although that doesn’t rule out the lab completely, as the Wuhan Institute stores samples of the closest-known relative to Covid-19…

Seven of Swords Reversed: Acting suspicious

These samples were collected in 2012 when some miners fell sick with a mysterious illness…

Temperance Reversed: Feeling unwell

The Chinese virologist whose work is at the centre of these allegations insisted in a recent interview that the claims are baseless…

Knight of Swords Reversed: Feeling slandered

However, China’s ongoing refusal to allow an independent investigation into the lab makes this hard to believe…

The Moon Reversed: Muddying the waters

The High Priestess Reversed: Feeling unsure

If certain leaders didn’t seem hell-bent on blaming the Chinese for this epidemic, they might be more willing to co-operate.

Judgement Reversed: Wanting to blame

The Devil Reversed: Making someone the bad guy

What are your thoughts about this?

The Tarot of Prince Phillip’s Passing

Posted on April 11, 2021 by tanlee3

The death of Prince Phillip, consort to Queen Elizabeth, has made news around the world this week. Let’s dive into the Tarot of this a little bit, shall we?

With his passing, Britain has been plunged into this…

The British press has been united in lauding him…

Knight of Cups: The knight in shining armour

Even though they spent years doing this…

Prince Phillip was definitely…

The Emperor Reversed: A fallible man (aren’t we all?)

However, he was also…

King of Wands: A man of great achievements

I currently run a Duke of Edinburgh club at the school where I teach. Prince Phillip created this award scheme to encourage personal growth in young people. It has been incredibly successful in this endeavour for many decades, and I am proud to be a part of it.

But perhaps his greatest achievement was this…

The Lovers + Queen of Pentacles: Supporting his wife and queen

It wasn’t easy for him to always walk two steps behind the queen, but he did.

He had to give up this completely…

The Fool: Freedom to do what he wanted when he wanted

His experience must have felt a lot like this at times…

Vale Prince Phillip!

May he rest now in peace!

The Tarot of Easter

Posted on April 4, 2021 by tanlee3

Happy Easter 2021!

On Easter Sunday we remember the resurrection of Jesus Christ. According to Christian lore, his emergence from the tomb 2000 years ago proved he was the son of God. For Christians, this event signifies the new life we can experience when we embrace the Word of God.

But before Easter was a Christian celebration, it was a pagan one.

Three of Pentacles: Building on strong foundations

According to St. Bede The Venerable, the word ‘Easter’ was derived from ‘Eostre’, the Anglo-Saxon goddess of spring and fertility. This is also where we get the word ‘oestrogen’ from (Makes sense that a female hormone would be named after a female being). Many of the traditions and symbols that play a key role in Easter observations have their roots in Her celebrations.

The Empress: Fertility & growth
In Tarot, first comes The Empress, THEN The Emperor

The very date of Easter betrays its pagan origins. It is always celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the spring equinox. Nothing related to the date of Jesus’s death at all. However, full moons and equinoxes were highly significant for our European ancestors.

The period of fasting that precedes Easter is a reminder of the dire food reserves our ancestors were left with at the end of winter. Rations needed to be used sparingly. Much of the good stuff was gone. We suffer as they did.

The eggs that birds produce as daylight starts to increase would have been one of the first fresh foods our ancestors could lay their hands on. Same same for rabbits. Their breeding season begins mid-February. These were the first signs of new life. Thus their significance to the ancient Vernal Equinox celebrations: A festival of gratitude that the darkness was receding and the natural world was springing back to life.

Seven of Pentacles: Reflecting on the new shoots sprouting

Egg rolling and egg decorating customs were created to acknowledge the life-saving role of eggs at this critical time of year.

At its core, the Easter story has always been a reminder that no matter how bleak the world may seem, things can get better.

The Wheel of Fortune: The ups and downs of life

Whichever version of the story you prefer, Easter is a time of hope.

Enjoy your celebrations today!

The Tarot of Good Friday

Posted on April 2, 2021 by tanlee3

On Good Friday, we remember the story of Jesus’ death. He was crucified on a cross. Nailed by his hands and feet to the wood. Struggled to draw breath for hours on end. Until eventually he passed away.

It is said that he suffered on that cross so all of us may live. That God loved us so much, he sent his only son to suffer public humiliation and death. This belief is at the very heart of Christianity.

Which seems like a strange notion, when you think about it! Why did Jesus have to die to heal our broken relationship with the divine? Wouldn’t a lifetime of preaching and miracles have been equally as affective?

Traditionally, Good Friday is celebrated by Christians as this…

The death on the cross always reminds me of this Tarot card…

The Hanged Man: Waiting for something to shift

Which doesn’t seem a really good fit for the story of Good Friday on the surface. Although it does proceed this card…

And Jesus’ death did precipitate a major change in world history: It spawned a whole new religion!

But for me, this event feels more like this card…

The Son of Man himself did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many (Matthew 20:28).

Sacrifice was an important notion in the ancient world. A central creed. By the prehistorical era, it had been twisted into acts of animal, and even, human sacrifice. Jesus’ death was the ultimate example of this. But before we lost our memory of the origins of human civilisation, back when we lived in the forest and worshipped in the cave, it wasn’t an obligation imposed by our gods. It was an act of appreciation. A nod of recognition to the plants and animals that gave their lives in our food, so that we may live.

This was the original meaning of reconciliation.

Our ancestors wrestled with the knowledge that our lives came at the cost of others. To resolve that conflict they maintained an attitude of gratitude towards every creature that provided support and nourishment for humanity. Created customs to formalise that acknowledgement. Life is a great gift. And when we lived in nature, we were much more cognisant of that fact.

Which puts me in mind of this card…

When we appreciate the magic of our very existence in this universe, when we treat every being on this planet, beit animal, plant or mineral, with respect, we will find ourselves on a richer and more fulfilling path.

That’s what Tarot teaches us!

The Tarot of The Ship Stuck in Suez

Posted on March 26, 2021 by tanlee3

I love this David and Goliath image. Two men and a tractor turn up to dislodge the massive cargo ship currently stuck fast in the Suez Canal. It feels like a metaphor for these crazy times. There’s us with our little arsenal of tricks trying to deal with the overwhelming corruption and stupidity of the world.

The stuck ship is this…

Wheel of Fortune Reversed: Putting a hold on everyone’s plans

Those two men are this…

Seven of Pentacles: Wondering what the bleep they signed up for

The tractor is this…

Seven of Wands Reversed: Battling against overwhelming odds

The rest of us are this…

The Fool: Enjoying a bit of light-hearted relief on the internet for once

Of course, the blockage of one of the world’s largest shipping channels is no laughing matter. It is a very big, very expensive problem for companies which ship goods around the world. It will impose a cost that will eventually be passed down to us consumers.

But maybe, like Covid, it’s another sign from the universe that we all need to slow down and reflect on just where society is at in this moment.

Thoughts?

The Tarot of Bridgerton

Posted on January 3, 2021 by tanlee3

Like many others, I spent the Christmas-New Year period glued to Bridgerton on Netflix. An 8 part series produced by the wonderful Shonda Rhimes. Based on a series of Regency romances written by Julia Quinn in the noughties.

Let’s investigate the Tarot of Bridgerton, shall we?

Obviously, it falls under this category…

The Lovers: Romance

As is typical of this literary genre, the female protagonist Daphne is…

The Fool: A naive ingenue

And the male protagonist, the Duke of Hastings, is…

Knight of Wands + The Devil: Dashing and damaged

They both come from…

Ten of Wands: Wealthy families

The plot is centred around Daphne’s attempt to…

Four of Cups: Get married to another member of the ton – a word used to reflect a member of English high society during this period of history

In order to improve her chances of appearing desirable, and, so he can avoid appearing available, she and the Duke make a pact to…

The Lovers Reversed: Pretend to fall in love

And we all know what happens when characters pretend to be in love…

The Magician: They create that reality!

But before there is any chance of a happily ever after…

Seven of Wands: They must battle many obstacles…

Not least of which is…

The Moon: Their own personal faults

One of the things I love about this series is the rich array of supporting characters, whose own stories are explored in some depth.

There’s the eldest Bridgerton son, Anthony, head of Daphne’s family…

The Emperor Reversed: A dysfunctional autocrat

Daphne’s mother, who sometimes provides…

The High Priestess Reversed: Terrible counsel

My personal favourite is Eloise, Daphne’s slightly younger sister…

Seven of Wands + The Empress: A raging feminist

Also notable is Eloise’s best friend, Penelope Featherington…

Three of Cups Reversed: The wallflower at every ball

There’s also the mysterious Lady Whistledown, who provides biting commentary on the London season, without ever revealing her true identity…

Knight of Swords Reversed + Seven of Swords: A sneaky barbed wit

Bridgerton has been brilliantly created by Shonda’s protege, Chris Van Duesen, who is an absolute…

King of Wands: Master of his craft

The tone is…

Six of Cups: Hyper-reality

The books and the era have been…

Wheel of Fortune: Given a modern spin.

This allows the series to have interesting conversations about…

The Empress + The World: The role of women in society

There is even more to Bridgerton that that.

Watch it for yourself and see!!!

The Tarot of Christmas 2020

Posted on December 25, 2020 by tanlee3

It’s been a hard year.

The hardest ever for many.

You may be feeling like this…

Five of Pentacles: Without hope

Or like this…

Ten of Wands: Overburdened with cares

Or like this…

Ten of Swords: Mentally drained

If you’re young, you may be feeling like this…

Seven of Swords: Cheated of a normal childhood/young adulthood

If you’re middle-aged, you might be feeling like this…

Two of Pentacles + Seven of Wands: Juggling never-ending battles

If you’re old or have serious health conditions, you might be feeling like this…

The Devil + Death: Terrified of dying

Wherever you’re at, Christmas is a time to stop and remember…

The Christmas Star: There is ALWAYS hope…

Life CAN get better. We could be just around the corner from a turning point in our fight against the virus currently plaguing our planet. You could be one interview away from a much-needed job. One phone call away from loving support.

As Tarot reminds us, nothing lasts forever…

Wheel of Fortune: Life goes up AND down (not just down)

Wishing you and your loved ones a healthy and happy Christmas together!

Ten of Cups: Happy families (in whatever form they come for you!)

As a Christmas gift, you can read the first chapter of my Tarot Teaclub series now published on Amazon for free on Christmas Day. Just click on the link below…

The Tarot Teaclub

The Tarot Guide To Popular Culture And Everyday Life

Category Archives: Everyday Tarot (Minor Arcana)