Ever found yourself right inside a Tarot card, but for real?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 21 Sep 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Alissa	21 Sep 2003
Last night I had the most amazing experience. Like most amazing experiences, it started out mundanely. My husband, 2 year old son and I went camping this weekend. We had a great time -- busy as all get out, an exhausting day. At night, our son went down for bed. A few hours by the campfire (and an empty bottle or two later), and we were ready for bed too. But ... I'm a lousy sleeper. I have insomnia ... of every type. Can't sleep, slow-sleep, etc etc. After sleeping for maybe 3-4 hours, I awoke. The cold night air had the boy up coughing for a long time, and although he slept through it, I didn't. After laying in my sleeping bag inside the tent for a goodly hour or so, hoping sleep would return when it wouldn't, I decided to just give up and get up. I crept back into my overalls, pulled my poncho over my head, and crawled as quietly as I could into the night. For a while, I was bored. I sat in the camp chairs, and scavanged nearby sticks to stoke up the fire, but couldn't find much kindling. The air was cool but not cold, about 62 degrees fahr. I'd guess. The moon had risen but was low on the sky, just a fingernail hovering. I tipped my head back to look at the stars ... there are a lot of stars out there. Orion's bow and belt was filled in, not the measly three starts you see in the city. The Big Dipper was half hidden, having nearly set for the night. The coyotes were up and howling everywhere out on the mountains ... a pack with cubs off to the north, another pack without cubs, baying to the southwest of where I sat. They had the dogs, way off in the distance, barking in response. You could see the earth-shine on the moon's unlit surface. The rising waning moon looked like ....! Suddenly ... suddenly, I realized several somethings. My card that day had been the High Priestess. And when looking at her, I had been drawn to the crescent moon at Her feet and on Her brow. And the moon in the sky at that moment ... it looked so much the same as Hers! What fabulous jewelry She wears. And secondly, ... I realized I was sitting there, right *inside* the Moon Card. Coyotes howling all around, the crystal stars twinkling. The Moon, low in the sky, watching. (Holy shi!t, thought I ... this is what it would be like to be inside the Moon card! The temperature of the air, the sounds of the coyotes baying to each other. The only thing I was missing were the pillars....) The pillars ..... The same pillars as the High Priestess' (?). The connection felt so real, so alive. All around me were these 2 energies. The High Priestess seated in her lunar crescent throne. I sat for a long long time, using the opportunity to talk to both the High Priestess herself, as well as the Moon. I laughed and I cried. I gave Them messages to send. I smoked in between. Several planets hung low on the eastern horizon. The sun began to rise. It was without a doubt one of the *most* beautiful sunrises I have ever (in all my insomniac nights) seen. The most beautiful September morn there ever ever was. I went for a walk, then sank to my knees in the dirt, in the middle of no where, just watching it all. The moon's path up the sky was directly in line with the planets, and the rising sun. The sky turned pink as the stars hid. Eventually, the High Priestess and the Moon card were gone. It was amazing, so moving I wanted to share it here and ask if anyone else has ever found themselves so completely inside the atmosphere/energy of a Tarot card in real life like that? If so, which card? What did you do? Was it as alive with energy as the moment my words here only give a pale indication of? What did you feel like? Did you give thanks afterwards? I did.

Chronata	21 Sep 2003
Wow Alissa! What an amazingly profound and beautiful experience! No doubt you felt inspired to give thanks! I once felt I was inside a tarot card...but it was not nearly such a moving experience...but it was kinda cool. A number of years ago... I had just finished a lot of art work for a large arts and crafts fair, where I had made a good deal of money. I also was feeling like some of the things I had made were my best work to date. I was at my friends wedding a few days later, and I happened to look up and notice that there were these large poles that were decorated with flower garlands as a sort of canopy for photos. I was there celebrating my friend happiness, as well as celebrating my own perfected work...and I realized I was suddenly living in the four of wands! I regret that I never got a picture of the scene...but it will always live in my head as one of the neatest memories I have!

Ruby Red Slippers	21 Sep 2003
Alissa...........Sh-h-h I had chills reading your post! Felt like I could "feel" your experience/meditation. Thank you so much for sharing! Ruby Red Slippers

Marion	22 Sep 2003
Alissa. Thank you so much for posting that. The closest I have ever come is to occasionally realize that someone near me, or myself, is acting just like one of the court cards. Sometimes reversed. :D

sagitarian	22 Sep 2003
Wow sis, that's an amazing experience! I'm so glad that you had such a beautiful experience. I personally hate camping...lol. But regardless, we're going camping (with all three kids) this next weekend with some friends of ours. I love you bunches honey...take care!

firemaiden	22 Sep 2003
LOL Alissa, an amazing experience. I've never found myself right inside a tarot card for real, but I have been stuck in an opera :D

HudsonGray	22 Sep 2003
I've been stuck for 2 hours on a date at a tractor pull..that probably qualifies as a joint Devil/Tower experience. I'd love to get one of the good cards, but it hasn't happened yet.

krysia322	23 Sep 2003
Alissa! What an exquisite post! Thank you... I feel soothed now, for some reason... More relaxed than how I felt before reading it. :) I've never stepped into a tarot card, so to speak. The closest I can think of is that feeling of deja-vu when you suddenly look around and think, Wait a minute. I dreamed this!. :)

MeeWah	23 Sep 2003
Alissa: Wow!!! Thanks for sharing a profoundly moving spirit journey. Did ye record it in your journal? The last several family weddings have all been outdoors, in a gazebo or canopy & reminded me of the traditional 4 of Wands because 4 corners or poles were decorated. Each time, I was struck anew at the universality of such a representation. The experience years ago when I was debating if I should devote myself to the use of Tarot. I was sitting in a public place & suddenly saw The High Priestess (RSW version) advancing, enlarging as she drew nearer. I noted that she looked very much as the card, but instead of sitting she was standing upright & gliding towards me. The colours were more vibrant--her gown of shifting blues, black & white. The moon headpiece was irridescent & glowed. She had an enigmatic smile on her face. I was transfixed & could not move or blink but was aware of physical sensations that oft accompany some experiences. She loomed so large, about 6 feet tall by the time she was at my knees that I had to look up at her, fully expecting her to speak. I blinked. Then felt as if I blacked out. It must have been a second, but when I looked she was gone. That did it for me: I turned to Tarot exclusively.

Alissa	23 Sep 2003
Thank you all for your kind words ... I have to admit that after posting that, I felt embarrased. I didn't even want to talk about it. It seemed such a private experience, I was sure it would sound silly when attempting to express it. I'm glad it didn't sound silly. I still think that what captured me most were the senses of the moment. The sounds of the 2 packs howling on either side of me. The sight of the stars and the crescent moon above me, and distant tree line apparent in the early dawn. The smells (and even the taste) of the cool air scented with forest (pine, and cedar evergreen), mixed with the smell of the cold dirt I knelt in. The feel of the cold ground beneath my knees, my body shivering, and the cold air -- as the sun rises it grows coldest of all, it's true. The Moon is that moment when it's coldest, just before the coming light. Before leaving, I clutched my poncho around me as tight as I could. The Moon makes you shiver. MeeWah and Chronata, how wonderful you both experienced the 4 of wands. I think both experiences communicated the atmosphere of the card itself perfectly! And MeeWah, ayup I did record this in my journal. :D (and I hope my response doesn't kill the thread, like it sometimes seems to when I reply to a thread I started! or maybe i'm just superstitious, i dunno.)

The Ever found yourself right inside a Tarot card, but for real? thread was originally posted on 21 Sep 2003 in the Talking Tarot board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Talking Tarot, or read more archived threads.