Two Of Cups: When Muslims and Jews Are Friends

Posted on December 18, 2012 by tanlee3

After a few days of sad stories, a happy one:

Muslims in the United States have launched a public education campaign in the hope of reclaiming the word ‘jihad’ from extremists. At it’s heart jihad is not about terrorism at all apparently (I’m as surprised as you are!) It’s a personal spiritual quest. A struggle for justice, compassion, tolerance. All the good stuff. And it requires faith, courage and perseverance. Not bombs.

The campaign features Muslims describing their personal struggles on Twitter, Facebook, bus advertisements and a website: myjihad.org. Organizers are also working to spread the message to Sydney, Melbourne, Toronto, London and Manchester. (I’m doing my bit right here and I’m not even Muslim. Just a believer that there is good in every religion and every person. Like Tarot suggests.)

One ad pictures an African-American man with a Jewish friend and the slogan: ‘My jihad is to build relationships across the aisle.’ It’s so exciting to see a public declaration that Muslims and Jews can be friends. This whole campaign hopefully signals a new partnership between the Muslim community and the Western world. FYI: New partnerships are represented in Tarot by the Two of Cups above.

I for one am glad to see the Muslim community speaking up in a positive way. More of it I say. What do you think?

Ten Of Pentacles: Graduation

Posted on December 17, 2012 by tanlee3

I know. I know. I just mentioned the Ten of Pentacles the other day and here I am talking about it again. But once I start thinking about a card it seems to pop up everywhere. You’ll find the same thing happening to you as you get to know the cards.

I chose this card for tonight’s post because I’ve just come back from Grade Six Graduation at my school. Every year we hold a formal ceremony to acknowledge the achievements of the grade six students before they move onto high school. The students are given a key chain and photo to acknowledge their time at our school and some extra special kids are awarded prizes.

We talk a lot during the ceremony about what it is we value as a school and how the children have come to embody those values. And that’s why graduation is a classic Ten of Pentacles experience. It recognises an achievement that is valued by the community. The Hierophant card which represents tradition also comes into play. Especially when it’s graduation from a school. (Um, now I’m wondering if there’s any other kind. But there must be. You can graduate from riding a scooter to a bike right?)

Hopefully by going back to Tarot cards again and again you will gradually build up an understanding of the core meaning of each card. That’s the idea behind this blog. I’m learning too. As I write the post each night I’m forced to crystallize my thoughts about the cards. Just like as a teacher at school I’m constantly learning from my students. It’s the circle of life, lol!

The Ace Of Cups: A Teacher’s Gift Of Love To Her Terrified Students

Posted on December 16, 2012 by tanlee3

As I said in another post, the Ace of Cups represents a gift of love. There were many such gifts given during the horror that unfolded in the U.S. yesterday when a gunman opened fire in a primary school in Connecticut.

First grade teacher Kaitlin Roig protected her class from the gunman by barricading them in a bathroom. She said to them, ‘I need you to know that I love you all very much and that it’s going to be OK.’ She thought they were all going to die and that was the last thing her students were ever going to hear. Afterwards she told reporters, ‘I wanted them to know someone loved them. I wanted that to be the last thing they heard, not the gunfire in the hallway.’

What a great gift to give to the children in her care. Not only did she save their lives she had the piece of mind to let them know what was truly important in that moment. That they are loved. Bless her and the other heroes of this terrible tragedy. Some gave their lives for their students and there is no greater gift of love than that. I salute them all!

Three Of Swords: The Shared Grief Of Children Lost

Posted on December 15, 2012 by tanlee3

I don’t know much about the tragedy that took place at a primary school in the United States this morning. I’ve been offline today. Living in the real world for a change. But what I do know is this: Nothing fills the soul with greater sadness than the death of a child. And the death of many children, the murder of children, is just horror piled upon horror.

There are many Tarot cards that would represent an event such as this one. Cards we have come across before: Death. The Devil. The Tower. The Star. Judgement. But the one I want to focus on is the Three of Swords.

The Three of Swords represents old pain, deep pain, childhood pain. The loss of these children resonates on a deep level because it touches on the vulnerable child within us all. On our fears for our own loved ones. Our trust as a community has been betrayed. Our trust that others will do no harm especially to the innocent. It’s like we’ve all been stabbed in the heart.

How are you coping with this terrible event?

Ten Of Pentacles: Celebrating Sweet Family Traditions

Posted on December 14, 2012 by tanlee3

It’s Friday night here in Australia which puts me in mind of fish and chips. When I was growing up it was de rigueur to have them for dinner at the end of the working week. Lots of families did. None of this ringing up to order over the phone either. It was like this ritual where you’d go to the fish and chips shop, place your order over the counter, then sit down on a bench with your back against the wall to wait for your ticket number to be called along with about 20 other people. You couldn’t see much. Fish and chip shops in Melbourne have a high serving counter so all the action is hidden. But you’d hear the sizzle of chips hitting the oil, smell the vinegar as it was poured liberally over your order afterwards and hear the paper crinkle as it was wrapped up like a present for you to take home. It was the only take away my family ever had which made it super special.

The Ten of Pentacles is the Tarot card which represents sweet family traditions such as this one. Pentacles are our values and a ten card is the ultimate expression of any suit. The things that we value the most as families are the things that become traditions.

My children and I don’t have fish and chips on a Friday night. It’s more likely to be McDonalds these days. But we do enjoy a good snuggle on the couch while watching rom coms and chick flicks. Or at least we did, until they got old enough to want to go out and party. These days our Friday night tradition is more likely to be me getting a phone call to go pick them up in the wee hours, lol!

What are some of your family traditions?

Two Of Pentacles: Accepting The Chalk Along With The Cheese

Posted on December 13, 2012 by tanlee3

Today in the car my eighteen year old daughter informed me quite matter-of-factly that she’s going to have plastic surgery when she’s older. Botox as well. For her looking good is the most important thing. And I’m like yeeew! Yuuuuuk! Because (a) I think people who have plastic surgery on their faces look weird. Like shop window mannequins. Kind of not human. And (b) wrinkles can be beautiful. Especially on a kind face. They’re like a badge of honour in a way. A reminder that you truly have lived!

So there you go. Like many mothers before me have discovered I have a daughter who is chalk to my cheese. Always has been. From birth. And let me tell you, it’s a challenge. Because if I reject her values too much she feels like I’m rejecting her. And surely more than anything else my job is to make her feel loved.

The only thing to do is accept her for who she is. You know, not agree with what she says but acknowledge her right to have those beliefs and desires. Because otherwise I would be a judgemental bitch of a mother and I don’t want to be that.

I think the Two of Pentacles is the Tarot card that best sums up this situation. There are times in a family when you have to juggle opposing belief systems in order to maintain harmony. And boy, it can be a bumpy ride (a la the boats in the background.) But it’s what you do. Because family is the most important thing. And with Christmas just around the corner you have to keep this in mind more than ever.

What would you say or do in this situation?

Nine Of Wands: Self Defense (You Won’t Believe This Invention!)

Posted on December 12, 2012 by tanlee3

Nine Of Wands: A man stands holding onto a wand looking ready to defend his territory. The bandage around his head suggests he has experienced heavy fighting. The line of wands at his rear are the skills he has drawn on during these battles. Now he has chosen one in particular to lean on. He may be beaten and bloodied but he’s not bowed. This is a card of strength and determination. It suggests that even though you may feel like you’ve come to the end of your fighting powers there is strength in reserve. You can attain victory through courage and endurance.

I thought of this card when reading a story doing the rounds on Facebook this week about a remarkable new invention. The story goes like this…

A medical technician in South Africa named Sonette Ehlers never forgot a rape victim saying, ‘If only I had teeth down there.’ Rape is a pandemic in South Africa. Some time afterward a man came into the hospital in excruciating pain because his penis was stuck in his zipper and Ehlers had a lightbulb moment. She developed a product named the RAPEX. It’s a hard plastic tube with barbs on the inside. A woman inserts the tube like a tampon. Any man who rapes her impales himself on the barbs and must go to hospital to have the RAPEX removed. When critics complained that it was a medieval punishment Ehlers replied, ‘A medieval punishment for a medieval deed.’

The RAPEX is like the wand the man is holding in the card above. It is the last line of defense against rape for the women of South Africa. Im(humble) opinion someone should give Ehlers a Nobel Prize. Think of the pain and suffering she is going to prevent.

What do you think of the RAPEX?

P.S. I tried to post a picture of the device in this post but it didn’t work. Will leave a link on my Facebook page if I can or you can just google it if you’re curious.

Four Of Pentacles: A Christmas Carol And Ghosts Of Girlfriends Past

Posted on December 11, 2012 by tanlee3

I sat down last Saturday night to watch ‘The Muppet’s Christmas Carol’ movie with my youngest daughter. For old time’s sake. We watched it together a lot around this time of year when she was younger. Tweenies love it. The story is based on Charles Dicken’s classic tale ‘A Christmas Carol’ about Ebenezer Scrooge, a rich old bugger famous for being tight with his money. One Christmas Eve he’s visited by the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future who show him visions of his life. When Scrooge wakes the next day he is a changed man. Kind and generous.

Another movie based on Dicken’s tale is the romantic comedy ‘Ghosts Of Girlfriends Past’ starring Matthew McConaughey and Jennifer Garner. Matthew’s character, Connor, is famous for his womanising ways. For dumping girls the minute they get tooooo serious. The night before his brother’s wedding he’s visited by three ghosts who take him through his romantic past, present and future. After which he comes to his senses and gets back together with the girl-next-door of his dreams.

Both Scrooge and Connor are classic Four of Pentacles figures. One is tight with his wallet, the other with his feelings. I recommend watching either movie if you want to get to know the Four of Pentacles card better.

Can you think of any other films starring a Scrooge type character?

The Tarot Of The Kate Middleton Radio DJ Phone Prank Tragedy

Posted on December 10, 2012 by tanlee3

The big news in Australia at the moment is about the Radio DJ prank that went horribly wrong. The story goes like this…

The Empress: Prince William’s wife Kate Middleton falls pregnant.

The Star: Unfortunately she suffers from a little known pregnancy condition called Hyperemesis Gravidarum – otherwise known as ‘living hell’ to sufferers – that causes severe vomiting forcing her to be hospitalised for bed rest and rehydration.

The Magician: An Australian radio production team comes up with the bright idea to ring up the hospital where Kate is staying for a lark. The two DJs pretend (badly) to be Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles.

The Wheel Of Fortune: In an unexpected development the radio DJs are put through to Kate’s room by a nurse who was filling in on reception where they hear personal details about Kate’s condition. The radio station broadcasts the phone call.

The World: The prank captures the attention of the world. British paparazzi are miffed that two obscure antipodean DJs got the scoop ahead of them. One of the DJs boasts on Twitter that he will never ever top this success in his future career.

Five Of Swords: We are far away in Australia and not as obsessed with the royal family as the British but it seems that the two nurses who spoke on the phone must have been put under enormous pressure either by their superiors or by the press. This is the only thing that can explain what occurred next.

Death: Unfortunately, tragically, one of the nurses who spoke on the phone is believed to have committed suicide. (Note: If you’re feeling emotionally fragile while reading this post please contact a health professional.)

Judgement: As a result the two DJs who performed this prank are themselves now under enormous pressure to explain themselves. Yet there are many people who contributed to this tragedy: The station manager/lawyers/owners. The press who whipped up the story. Those who passed it on.

What we all really need is…

Four Of Swords: Time out to reflect on the situation. The radio station that the DJs work for has released a statement saying that prank calls will cease immediately across all its networks while a comprehensive review takes place. It’s the least they can do in the circumstances.

Six Of Wands Reversed: There are no winners here. Kate’s privacy was invaded. Two nurses were humiliated in front of the world. Two young DJs are now being persecuted. And absolutely worst of all: A woman has died. My thoughts are with her husband and children at this time.

What are your thoughts on this terrible tragedy?

Temperance Again: Losing My Bah Humbug!

Posted on December 9, 2012 by tanlee3

I hadn’t written a word about Temperance until yesterday and now here I am doing another post about it the very next day. That’s because once you start focusing on a Tarot card all these thoughts begin to rise to the surface. There’s so much to discover. As I’ve said before: Fifty shades in every card.

The Temperance card comes at the end of what I call the ‘adulthood’ section of Life Lessons Tarot (aka Major Arcana.) Straight after the Death card. Death represents major change like giving birth to a child, moving house, changing careers, getting old and, um, dying of course. After any life change there is a period of readjustment. This is the realm of the Temperance card.

For example, as I get older I find my feelings towards things changing. Like Christmas. As a young adult I was callous towards this significant event on the yearly calendar. Despite (or maybe because?) being raised Catholic. There was one year when I spent the day huddled beneath a rock in the Scottish Highlands eating tuna out of a can feeling very smug about the fact that unlike 99.9% of the Western World I didn’t feel the need to make a big deal out of the occasion. (Although smugness was the only warmth I felt that day. It was pretty lonely out on that mountain track.)

Over the years I’ve held onto my bah humbug attitude like a badge of pride. Not feeling the need to care about what happens come December 25. Proud of not being caught up in the madness. And then I gave birth to a child who cared like mad about Christmas. Still does. Who loves Santa even at 16. Who’s prepared to argue to the death re the finer details as to where she will sleep on Christmas Eve and dine Christmas day. And I learnt to bite my tongue so I wouldn’t spoil the occasion for her.

And now something strange has happened. I find myself indulging her wildest Christmas fantasies. Letting her loose to wrap the whole lounge room up in tinsel. Getting a real tree even though I’ll have to chop it up in the New Year to fit it in the bin (which always makes me feel like I’m killing Christmas.) Buying CDs and DVDs so we can soak up the atmosphere via song and screen. Without her even asking me to.

This then is Temperance. Your feelings and attitude and behavior shifting as you age. Often in unexpected ways. Some people become more difficult. But others soften.

Has the way you feel about Christmas changed over the years?

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