adept level 7
I really enjoyed reading the story of climbing the mountain from the 4 perspectives of the suits. I thought of several scenarios to use for my own story - a trip to visit family in Florida, planting a garden, setting up a new web site (then I remembered I already did that one), and trip to the Reader's Studio. I settled on the Reader's Studio trip!
The storyline in all 4 suits. Trip to New Jersey/New York for Reader's Studio:
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Swords
receive notice about the conference
decide who will cover for me at work
worry about being away from home
meditate on benefits/troubles of the trip
backup person cannot cover for me after all, choose another
get to the airport on time
a flight delay; fret over that
stuck in the airplane seat on the runway
arrive in Newark but the hotel shuttle isn't running, MP3 battery goes dead
waiting around the airport for a ride
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Wands
Great excitement over news of the studio
Check the dates, air fares, work schedule, hotel room
All reservations made okay
Do readings and read books and go to tarot meetups
Competing with all other activities to squeeze tarot study in to the week
All packed and ready to go in plenty of time
Flight delay; read while waiting, plan activities during vacation
Flying fast, looking out window, and finally arriving
Gather up luggage and all carry-on items
Have to carry all of own luggage and tote it to the shuttle, and on subway
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Cups
Joy over the upcoming conference and opportunity to meet people
Joining the NING group to connect with others who are attending
Discussions on the NING and study on Aeclectic Tarot
Feeling overwhelmed with all there is to do to prepare
Cannot do it all, what to omit? what to pursue?
Say goodbye to dh and head for the airport, all ready to leave
Flight delay; talk to the person next to me
Arrive and leave the plane behind as I embark on my journey to conference
All connections are perfect, the hotel reservation is upgraded
Enjoying the company of all the tarot people
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Pentacles
News of the Reader's Studio and happy for an opportunity to perfect skills
Should I study tarot or plan New York City visit? Find time for both.
Start practicing by doing readings for people
Join groups to talk about tarot, gather tools and set up my study space
Wonder if I will have enough money for the trip?
Sort through items to find things to bring for the Share Table
Flight delay; breathe deeply and focus on relaxation and good outcome
Use time on the plane to review plans for both parts of trip
Deplane and get to hotel, look around and get comfortable there
Have a wonderful time with everyone and learning everything!
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My version of the Fool's Journey
The FOOL, Everyman, begins his journey as an innocent, child-like person. He is open to all experiences, eager to try whatever life has to offer. He sets off without thought of tomorrow with only a sack, a smile, and a companion animal (who seems to have more sense than the Fool!) by his side.
The first person he meets is a MAGICIAN. Wow, what tricks he can perform! All the tools of life are at the Magician's fingertips and he can manipulate them at will to create the desired outcome. After this display of outward magic, the Fool meets a mysterious woman, the HIGH PRIESTESS. She sits on a throne in front of a veil, hiding the self's secrets from us until we are ready to accept them. The Fool stays a while with her and reads from her book. When he leaves the austere High Priestess, he comes to a lovely glade where sits the EMPRESS amid blooming flowers and golden crops and abundant wildlife. She smiles at him and invites him to sit down to rest. She is the loving and caring mother. After resting, he takes leave of the Empress and next finds the EMPEROR, who asks him, "What are you doing, wandering around like a fool? You had better get a notion in your head of what to do with your life and get on with it!" This shakes our hero up a bit, but he takes the dictum to heart and decides to seek spiritual counsel and then maybe find a partner to share his life.
The HEIROPHANT teaches him about society and the traditions that form a culture, and then sends the Fool on his way. Soon he meets a lovely young woman who shares his excitement for life and he chooses to leave off his wanderings and marry. They are LOVERS and very happy. At this point, the Fool feels triumphant, in charge of his own fate and master of his CHARIOT. He can easily guide the course of his life, or so he thinks.
Since he has mastered the firm control necessary for the Chariot driver, the Fool turns his efforts to maintaining an inner control over his emotions and desires. STRENGTH is able to exert this inner control by the force of love, compassion, and confidence. The Fool finds that he lacks the self-knowledge he desires and needs to go off and be alone for a while. He seeks the light of understanding and clarity of thought offered by the HERMIT. After his time of introspection, he returns to his home. Now the WHEEL OF FORTUNE turns and foists new circumstances upon the Fool. Just when you get used to the way things are...
Wheel of Fortune
JUSTICE is served by this change, and a Karmic debt or opportunity arrives for the Fool. He is a bit put out, and feels that he has been "thrown for a loop;" his life turned upside down and put on hold. As the HANGED MAN, he is suspended in the air, swaying in the breeze. He doesn't worry, though, for he willingly sacrifices for the greater good. The Fool must think of other people now (his family, perhaps) and quit being so focused on himself.
DEATH follows. Not physical death, but the ending of a cycle/way of being/part of life and giving way of old habits to make room for the new things to come. "A new day is dawning."
The Fool now seeks balance, an easy flow of life between physical, mental, and spiritual factors. Balance between himself and others. Balance between his goals/desires and the reality of his life. TEMPERANCE shows him how to accomplish this.
Whoops, it wasn't as easy as he thought! The Fool has become unbalanced. He is obsessive, chained to his desires for material goods and/or physical pleasures. It seemed like fun at first, but now he cannot see how to free himself and get away. The DEVIL is at play here.
Boom! A bolt from the blue brings the Fool back to his senses and he is released from his self-imposed imprisonment in a flash. The fall humbles him and collapses the false life he had built for himself. The TOWER is destroyed. As he lies on the ground, exhausted and worried about what will happen next, he looks up and sees the STAR shining in the heavens. This gives him renewed hope and he seeks balance once again. He vows to nourish both the physical and the spiritual aspects of his life. But is that all there is? He waits a while in the night and soon notices the MOON glowing softly in the eastern sky. He is reminded that there is an unseen side to all of us. A place of imagination and intuition and creativity. This part of him must be acknowledged too. He sees a path and begins to follow it. When he stops to rest, he falls asleep and dreams of his future.
Awakening him the next morning, the SUN warms him and brightens the landscape. He feels rejuvenated, happy again like a child. But before he could start on his way, he heard a loud trumpet blast and felt a need to stop and reckon over his life. Had he learned from his experiences? Was he a wiser person? Had he atoned for past actions? Was he ready to move on with the best intentions and see life on a new level? This was his day of JUDGEMENT. After some soul-searching, our hero, no longer a fool, has integrated all lessons from his life and now realizes that the WORLD is his oyster and he can open and enjoy it to the fullest. The Universe will aid him in his quest for a fulfilling life.
The World
And then he starts off on a new adventure, once again the Fool.
-----copyright Chela Reader
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7:4 The Wheel of Fortune
The Fool has traveled long enough to need help and advice from the solitary Hermit and then he goes on to "seek his fortune" and see what the turn of the wheel brings him. Things always change. Justice is what comes, based on his prior actions and thoughts. The Wheel doles out circumstances by which the Fool can test his mettle and find his focus. Or it might be a reward for work well done.
In my life right now, the Wheel has brought me opportunities to follow my interests and passions. Circumstances have aligned to allow me to have a job that I love and a chance to travel as I like. I have acted responsibly and now have the reward of a time in my life to enjoy my life. My life cards are Moon/Hermit, and 2009 is a Wheel of Fortune year for me! Just realized that.
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