Templar Tarot Study Group: The Birth Cards

Penthasilia

The journey begins with the 7 birth/re-birth cards, numbered 22-28. This group of cards picks up the journey at a spiritual beginning- that point in life where one has started on a path toward becoming, a spiritual path of growth, where life has become more than living and is now transformed to a sacred journey.

22: Obligation: the choice between intellect/obligation versus desire and instant gratification. Unlike the Lovers, the temptation does not invade the psyche, but rather becomes the constant pull of inertia, and the desire to work less, rest, and indulge in merriment rather than the work it takes to continue on the path and continue your work.

23: Beatitude: the brilliant flash of insight/light/explosive arousal that is won against all obstacles and odds. A vision of Odin, on Yggdrasil, gathering the runes- screaming as he grabs them, comes to me with this card. This is that point immediately after initiation, the sacrifice of The Hanged Man.

24: Semblance: illusion in a realm where what is apparent is not what is real. The figure of the sleeping girl reminds me greatly of faring forth, her astral body moving forward while her body is left behind. You see the body, but the soul has flown. You see the soul, but how does it appear? Has she shape shifted? Or, is the land that she finds herself in veiled by glamoury? All is not for certain during those beginning times when moving outside the body.

25: The True Cross: instinctual knowledge, intuition or insight. The inner voice/divinity that guides you on your path.

26: Discipline: focus, conviction and strength are used to hone skills and build ourselves up to something more.

27: Fecundity: the results of the building and skills are manifested into personal growth and abundance.

28: Grand Master: attaining a place of power and leadership, as well as the associated responsibility.