synescanta
This was originally from the German-language guidebook published on Symbolon's official website. You can find a PDF of the original, untranslated document here: http://www.symbolon.de/books2005/Kartenbuch.pdf
Mind you, this is not the entirety of that guidebook. This is my edited, reformatted, cleaned-up edit of Cindy Figueroa's English translation she has uploaded to Scribd. You can only view a preview of the whole document there unless you have a premium Scribd membership (which, I happen to have, and that's how I was able to access it), though here is a link to the page regardless: https://www.scribd.com/doc/119004851/Symbolon-Deck#scribd
In Cindy's own translation, there were numerous missing portions, which, I have tried my best to find in the original German version, and translate myself.
Note that I have not thoroughly checked this all over to make sure every bit of grammar and the like is perfect. I have, however, made sure that this was more neatly organized and accessible than Cindy's version, that it is fully comprehensible, and that missing chunks were added in to make this more complete. There will more than likely still be some errors in my edit, though, I am certain that this is still very usable.
Credit for the authorship of the guide goes to Peter Orban, Ingrid Zinnel, and Thea Weller, who wrote the guide in the first place. Credit for 90% of the English translation goes to Cindy Figueroa.
I hope someone (besides myself) will find this helpful whilst studying the meanings of the Symbolon deck.
Please, please: if you spot any mistakes or issues within my translation, let me know! I would gladly revise it, and post the new, updated version(s) after I finish doing so.
1. The Warrior (Aries/Mars)
Aggression; Capacity to Achieve; Conquest; Instigator; Phallic Power; Energy of a New Beginning
PROBLEM: Underlying the problem is the anger and aggression you have not yet perceived and acknowledged. What has happened to this persona? Why do you hide its feelings? Perhaps you think they are inappropriate, that you are too refined and everything must be governed by reason. Or perhaps you don't want to confront your own cowardice.
WAY: The task ahead of you involved becoming more instigative. You are being asked to act in order to unravel the Gordian knot holding you captive. You won't progress any further without acquiring the resolve to act.
OUTCOME: You regain your ability to act. You have the strength to regenerate (now). The conclusion of the process heralds an absolute new beginning in which you gather strength and the warrior in you can embark upon a new round in the game of life. Underlying the problem is the anger and aggression you have not yet perceived and acknowledged. What has happened to this persona? Why do you hide its feelings? Perhaps you think they are inappropriate, that you are too refined and everything must be governed by reason. Or perhaps you don't want to confront your own cowardice. The task ahead of you involved becoming more instigative. You are being asked to act in order to unravel the Gordian knot holding you captive. You won't progress any further without acquiring the resolve to act. You regain your ability to act. You have the strength to regenerate (now). The conclusion of the process heralds an absolute new beginning in which you gather strength and the warrior in you can embark upon a new round in the game of life.
2. The Lover (Taurus/Venus)
Worth; Attraction; Possession; Sociability; Physical Attraction
PROBLEM: You are a prisoner of your own feelings of worthlessness deep down inside. This under-estimation of your self (the words "I don't like myself") must be allowed to come to the surface. It's no longer enough to use other people's labels or seek their attention in regard to whether they still like you or can be won over (will go to bed with you.)
WAY: As much as esoteric circles propagate "letting go" of body and matter, your path ahead involves thinking about Venus. That means becoming her friend. Learn to see life as a sensual experience and to respect the value your body as the residence of the soul without exaggerating its importance or wasting your energy.
OUTCOME: Your path has led you to gather self-esteem. You have learned to judge things realistically and to see them for what they are: material things. You are a prisoner of your own feelings of worthlessness deep down inside. This underestimation of your self (the words "I don't like myself") must be allowed to come to the surface. It's no longer enough to use other people's labels or seek their attention in regard to whether they still like you or can be won over (will go to bed with you.) As much as esoteric circles propagate "letting go" of body and matter, your path ahead involves thinking about Venus. That means becoming her friend. Learn to see life as a sensual experience and to respect the value your body as the residence of the soul without exaggerating its importance or wasting your energy. Your path has led you to gather self-esteem. You have learned to judge things realistically and to see them for what they are: material things.
3. The Mediator (Gemini/Mercury)
The Messenger (of the Gods); Intellect; Contact; The Onlooker; Ease
PROBLEM: You are unhappy with your position in life at the moment. You find it too boring, banal, superficial. You don't want to identify with the meaning and demands of Mercury; you have blocked and dispelled the messenger. You have lost his wings -- his lightness.
WAY: Mercury offers his help in leading you to a solution. His message reads: "Give yourself some distance and take a quiet look at your present situation, speak your true feelings and face matters with a detached and objective attitude."
OUTCOME: Regardless of how difficult the road may be, you will be able to use "Hermes wings" to unite the unconscious with the conscious and then observe yourself from a neutral position -- in hindsight, maybe even with mischievous smile. You are unhappy with your position in life at the moment. You find it too boring, banal, superficial. You don't want to identify with the meaning and demands of Mercury; you have blocked and dispelled the messenger. You have lost his wings -- his lightness. Mercury offers his help in leading you to a solution. His message reads: "Give yourself some distance and take a quiet look at your present situation, speak your true feelings and face matters with a detached and objective attitude." Regardless of how difficult the road may be, you will be able to use "Hermes wings" to unite the unconscious with the conscious and then observe yourself from a neutral position -- in hindsight, maybe even with mischievous smile.
4. The Mother (Cancer/Moon)
Femininity; The Family; The Infant; Feelings; Devotion; Acceptance; The Spiritual Past
PROBLEM: Your feelings -- the waters of your soul -- are being dried up by the inner child which says "NO" and the "NO" which closes off your inner being. You are frightened of feeling your own self, scared of your feminine aspect and the powerlessness it might generate.
WAY: This card clearly advises you to follow the path of your feelings. Discard reason for a moment and act intuitively. Look for the child within and let this child live and express itself.
OUTCOME: Your journey will lead you to embrace the inner child and live in harmony. You reach a homeland of your own, return home to your feelings and your feminine aspect. You find security in yourself. Your feelings -- the waters of your soul -- are being dried up by the inner child which says "NO" and the "NO" which closes off your inner being. You are frightened of feeling your own self, scared of your feminine aspect and the powerlessness it might generate. This card clearly advises you to follow the path of your feelings. Discard reason for a moment and act intuitively. Look for the child within and let this child live and express itself. Your journey will lead you to embrace the inner child and live in harmony. You reach a homeland of your own, return home to your feelings and your feminine aspect. You find security in yourself.
5. The Ego (Leo/Sun)
Power; Desire; Uniqueness; Glory; Fertility; Creativity; Sexuality In you for the moment a lack of aliveness exists. You lost the entrance to your Kraft. Where did the life remain? You must begin, your identity, yours be, to express. At the end of this enterprise you live. Kraft, which to aliveness, those you miss for the moment, return a little more to you. The sun goes, a new day begins. You are then also again with the heart with the thing.
PROBLEM: You lack vitality, joy, and a necessary form of hard-heartedness deep down. This means you cannot put your energies to use. You might be trying to compensate for your impotence and lack of power through dominant behaviour. You need to ask yourself where you can still find life.
WAY: The path ahead involves learning to express yourself, your identity and your being. You need to live the way YOU are, even if this hurts others. All this may not be as easy as it sounds: just live your life!
OUTCOME: Your path leads you back to life. Strength and vitality -- perhaps lacking at the moment -- return to you. You put your heart and soul back into things. You lack vitality, joy, and a necessary form of hard-heartedness deep down. This means you cannot put your energies to use. You might be trying to compensate for your impotence and lack of power through dominant behaviour. You need to ask yourself where you can still find life. The path ahead involves learning to express yourself, your identity and your being. You need to live the way YOU are, even if this hurts others. All this may not be as easy as it sounds: just live your life! Your path leads you back to life. Strength and vitality -perhaps lacking at the moment -- return to you. You put your heart and soul back into things.
6. The Servant (Virgo/Mercury)
Reason; Accepting Reality; Rationality; Sobriety; Spiritual Balance
PROBLEM: This card says you refuse to accept your current position in life. You like to keep a clean image by blaming others, leading you to become caught up in your own projections. But the finger ultimately points back at you.
WAY: It's no use now: although it's a bitter pill to swallow, you have to accept yourself; set your sights lower and adjust to the conditions of life.
OUTCOME: The result of your learning process is not the gold at the end of the rainbow, but quiet, unprepossessing order and a knowledge through which your soul finds composure and resumes its rightful place. This card says you refuse to accept your current position in life. You like to keep a clean image by blaming others, leading you to become caught up in your own projections. But the finger ultimately points back at you. It's no use now: although it's a bitter pill to swallow, you have to accept yourself; set your sights lower and adjust to the conditions of life. The result of your learning process is not the gold at the end of the rainbow, but quiet, unprepossessing order and a knowledge through which your soul finds composure and resumes its rightful place.
7. The Partner (Libra/Venus)
The Other; The Relationship; Balance; The Symbolon; The Mirror; Supplementation; "The Better Half"
PROBLEM: You are not yet prepared to look into the mirror of the other and recognize what you see there as part of yourself. You refuse to understand that the other is only expressing your own otherness.
WAY: The path involves learning to understand yourself in others. This means mutual exchange and offering your hand to the other in reconciliation (or understanding). It is vital to meet someone along the way who opens your eyes.
OUTCOME: You have rediscovered yourself in the other, found balance and harmony between the inner and external partners. Now the symbolon has been reunited. The pieces have been put together. You are not yet prepared to look into the mirror of the other and recognize what you see there as part of yourself. You refuse to understand that the other is only expressing your own otherness. The path involves learning to understand yourself in others. This means mutual exchange and offering your hand to the other in reconciliation (or understanding). It is vital to meet someone along the way who opens your eyes. You have rediscovered yourself in the other, found balance and harmony between the inner and external partners. Now the symbolon has been reunited. The pieces have been put together.
8. The Seducer (Scorpio/Pluto)
The Devil, The Imagination; The Idea; Suicide; Obligation; Fixation; Fanaticism; The Underworld
PROBLEM: You have become obsessed with an idea; now you are stuck. You therefore give away part of your soul in the hope of receiving something better. You are ruled by underworld forces; you are gambling with the Devil. Find out what idea it is you're obsessed with at the moment. Do nothing more and nothing less than you need to.
WAY: You can only reach the light at the end of the tunnel by tackling the landscape of the underworld and crossing it. Nothing more can be done; nor can it be "bettered" (avoid looking for improvements -- that's one of his favorite ideas). Only Virgil's words can help you now: "Look closely and go on!"
OUTCOME: A metamorphosis will take place. Old images must be shattered, just as Moses destroyed the Golden Calf long ago. These images will ultimately dissolve like a morning fog in sunlight (because they never really existed!). You have become obsessed with an idea; now you are stuck. You therefore give away part of your soul in the hope of receiving something better. You are ruled by underworld forces; you are gambling with the Devil. Find out what idea it is you're obsessed with at the moment. Do nothing more and nothing less than you need to. You can only reach the light at the end of the tunnel by tackling the landscape of the underworld and crossing it. Nothing more can be done; nor can it be "bettered" (avoid looking for improvements -- that's one of his favorite ideas). Only Virgil's words can help you now: "Look closely and go on!" A metamorphosis will take place. Old images must be shattered, just as Moses destroyed the Golden Calf long ago. These images will ultimately dissolve like a morning fog in sunlight (because they never really existed!).
9. The Preacher (Sagittarius/Jupiter)
The Priest; The Missionary; The Inner Therapist; Belief; Insight; Philosophical View of the World
PROBLEM: Where is your sympathy, the memory of your own spiritual past? You presume to impose your opinions and knowledge upon others while your own soul remains infertile.
WAY: Remember! That's what this card tells you to do. Look for an inner therapist (a person, if need be, who acts as a mirror). And above all, retrace your steps. Solutions can only be found in your past.
OUTCOME: You will continue to grow, to become more open-minded and tolerant. Mnemosyne, the Goddess of memory, has a treasure waiting for you at the end of the journey: insight is the wealth of the soul. Where is your sympathy, the memory of your own spiritual past? You presume to impose your opinions and knowledge upon others while your own soul remains infertile. Remember! That's what this card tells you to do. Look for an inner therapist (a person, if need be, who acts as a mirror). And above all, retrace your steps. Solutions can only be found in your past. You will continue to grow, to become more open-minded and tolerant. Mnemosyne, the Goddess of memory, has a treasure waiting for you at the end of the journey: insight is the wealth of the soul.
10. The Master (Capricorn/Saturn)
Legitimacy; Responsibility; Fate; The Old Man; Death; The Merciless Taskmaster
PROBLEM: You have become hard, retreated into a shell where no one can communicate with you or reach your soul. It is as if you have withdrawn to a fortress of loneliness high in the mountains. The fortress is part of you. Take a close look and try to accept responsibility for having built it.
WAY: The way through the problem is to learn to take life's gravity into account. The game's over -- now you have to confront your problems honestly. It's all about becoming an "adult".
OUTCOME: The outcome is that you now realize an objective destiny prevails over you, a power (the power of fate) no one can influence, one you accept and acknowledge. Now you are responsible for yourself. That means responding and accepting responsibility with a firm "yes". You have become hard, retreated into a shell where no one can communicate with you or reach your soul. It is as if you have withdrawn to a fortress of loneliness high in the mountains. The fortress is part of you. Take a close look and try to accept responsibility for having built it. The way through the problem is to learn to take life's gravity into account. The game's over -- now you have to confront your problems honestly. It's all about becoming an "adult". The outcome is that you now realize an objective destiny prevails over you, a power (the power of fate) no one can influence, one you accept and acknowledge. Now you are responsible for yourself. That means responding and accepting responsibility with a firm "yes".
11. The Jester (Aquarius/Uranus)
Deliverer; Freedom; The Outsider; The "True" Hero; Steppenwolf
PROBLEM: You have forgotten the original meaning of the world "freedom". You might believe you need to escape the prison of your situation in life, but you shake helplessly, in vain, at the bars of external conditions. You don't understand the real message of The Jester: human beings have to work on every opportunity, every spiritual path, in order to grow from a situation.
WAY: Try to find spiritual space beyond your present complications. The path to freedom involves nothing more than release, letting go of your current problem -- even if this now seems paradoxical. Try to come in contact with your own Jester and learn to laugh at yourself.
OUTCOME: Conditions have catapulted you out of outdated and superseded ways of approaching things. Your path of development has given you wings -- and you didn't even notice it. So fly! You have forgotten the original meaning of the world "freedom". You might believe you need to escape the prison of your situation in life, but you shake helplessly, in vain, at the bars of external conditions. You don't understand the real message of The Jester: human beings have to work on every opportunity, every spiritual path, in order to grow from a situation. Try to find spiritual space beyond your present complications. The path to freedom involves nothing more than release, letting go of your current problem -- even if this now seems paradoxical. Try to come in contact with your own Jester and learn to laugh at yourself. Conditions have catapulted you out of outdated and superseded ways of approaching things. Your path of development has given you wings -- and you didn't even notice it. So fly!
12. The Angel (Pisces/Neptune)
The Truth; The Divine Spark; Wisdom; Intuition; The Dream; The Illusion
PROBLEM: You have lost your way. Your view of truth has become clouded by illusions. You hide from yourself and fall for your own tricks. You try to repress and avoid problems, you shy away from facing reality. You are nowhere near solving the problem and there is still a long way to go before you being to deal with it. WAY: You need to take the word "release" quite literally. Release yourself from the outer world, be more contemplative and look within yourself. Your problem has no bearing in the world outside. You can only look more closely at yourself.
OUTCOME: At first you don't recognize the end of your journey as it is invisible in the outer world. But the star of a learned truth will illuminate within your soul. You have lost your way. Your view of truth has become clouded by illusions. You hide from yourself and fall for your own tricks. You try to repress and avoid problems, you shy away from facing reality. You are nowhere near solving the problem and there is still a long way to go before you being to deal with it. You need to take the word "release" quite literally. Release yourself from the outer world, be more contemplative and look within yourself. Your problem has no bearing in the world outside. You can only look more closely at yourself. At first you don't recognize the end of your journey as it is invisible in the outer world. But the star of a learned truth will illuminate within your soul.
13. Defiance (Cancer/Aries, Moon/Mars)
The Destructive Child; Rage; "Runaway Johnny"; Seething Anger; Hatred for the Mother; Rejection of Femininity
PROBLEM: Your belly aches because a little child within you is throwing a tantrum, beating its fists angrily against the depths of your soul and crying to get out. The whole world is "evil", it plots against you. Accept that you are a small child at the moment and still a long way from being a sensible adult.
WAY: Years and years of anger want to be let out. First of all, you will have to go through a painful labor which brings the deepest part of yourself into the world. Your energies will not begin to flow again unless the pent-up anger can be released and experienced. Find your own (perhaps therapeutic) terms by which it becomes possible to freely express your rage without hurting other people.
OUTCOME: It is only possible to be at peace with the "little tyrant" once we have lived out our childhood, those feelings of defiance, anger and annoyance. One day you will have to embrace the child. Your belly aches because a little child within you is throwing a tantrum, beating its fists angrily against the depths of your soul and crying to get out. The whole world is "evil", it plots against you. Accept that you are a small child at the moment and still a long way from being a sensible adult. Years and years of anger want to be let out. First of all, you will have to go through a painful labor which brings the deepest part of yourself into the world. Your energies will not begin to flow again unless the pent-up anger can be released and experienced. Find your own (perhaps therapeutic) terms by which it becomes possible to freely express your rage without hurting other people. It is only possible to be at peace with the "little tyrant" once we have lived out our childhood, those feelings of defiance, anger and annoyance. One day you will have to embrace the child.
[CONTINUED BELOW]
Mind you, this is not the entirety of that guidebook. This is my edited, reformatted, cleaned-up edit of Cindy Figueroa's English translation she has uploaded to Scribd. You can only view a preview of the whole document there unless you have a premium Scribd membership (which, I happen to have, and that's how I was able to access it), though here is a link to the page regardless: https://www.scribd.com/doc/119004851/Symbolon-Deck#scribd
In Cindy's own translation, there were numerous missing portions, which, I have tried my best to find in the original German version, and translate myself.
Note that I have not thoroughly checked this all over to make sure every bit of grammar and the like is perfect. I have, however, made sure that this was more neatly organized and accessible than Cindy's version, that it is fully comprehensible, and that missing chunks were added in to make this more complete. There will more than likely still be some errors in my edit, though, I am certain that this is still very usable.
Credit for the authorship of the guide goes to Peter Orban, Ingrid Zinnel, and Thea Weller, who wrote the guide in the first place. Credit for 90% of the English translation goes to Cindy Figueroa.
I hope someone (besides myself) will find this helpful whilst studying the meanings of the Symbolon deck.
Please, please: if you spot any mistakes or issues within my translation, let me know! I would gladly revise it, and post the new, updated version(s) after I finish doing so.
1. The Warrior (Aries/Mars)
Aggression; Capacity to Achieve; Conquest; Instigator; Phallic Power; Energy of a New Beginning
PROBLEM: Underlying the problem is the anger and aggression you have not yet perceived and acknowledged. What has happened to this persona? Why do you hide its feelings? Perhaps you think they are inappropriate, that you are too refined and everything must be governed by reason. Or perhaps you don't want to confront your own cowardice.
WAY: The task ahead of you involved becoming more instigative. You are being asked to act in order to unravel the Gordian knot holding you captive. You won't progress any further without acquiring the resolve to act.
OUTCOME: You regain your ability to act. You have the strength to regenerate (now). The conclusion of the process heralds an absolute new beginning in which you gather strength and the warrior in you can embark upon a new round in the game of life. Underlying the problem is the anger and aggression you have not yet perceived and acknowledged. What has happened to this persona? Why do you hide its feelings? Perhaps you think they are inappropriate, that you are too refined and everything must be governed by reason. Or perhaps you don't want to confront your own cowardice. The task ahead of you involved becoming more instigative. You are being asked to act in order to unravel the Gordian knot holding you captive. You won't progress any further without acquiring the resolve to act. You regain your ability to act. You have the strength to regenerate (now). The conclusion of the process heralds an absolute new beginning in which you gather strength and the warrior in you can embark upon a new round in the game of life.
2. The Lover (Taurus/Venus)
Worth; Attraction; Possession; Sociability; Physical Attraction
PROBLEM: You are a prisoner of your own feelings of worthlessness deep down inside. This under-estimation of your self (the words "I don't like myself") must be allowed to come to the surface. It's no longer enough to use other people's labels or seek their attention in regard to whether they still like you or can be won over (will go to bed with you.)
WAY: As much as esoteric circles propagate "letting go" of body and matter, your path ahead involves thinking about Venus. That means becoming her friend. Learn to see life as a sensual experience and to respect the value your body as the residence of the soul without exaggerating its importance or wasting your energy.
OUTCOME: Your path has led you to gather self-esteem. You have learned to judge things realistically and to see them for what they are: material things. You are a prisoner of your own feelings of worthlessness deep down inside. This underestimation of your self (the words "I don't like myself") must be allowed to come to the surface. It's no longer enough to use other people's labels or seek their attention in regard to whether they still like you or can be won over (will go to bed with you.) As much as esoteric circles propagate "letting go" of body and matter, your path ahead involves thinking about Venus. That means becoming her friend. Learn to see life as a sensual experience and to respect the value your body as the residence of the soul without exaggerating its importance or wasting your energy. Your path has led you to gather self-esteem. You have learned to judge things realistically and to see them for what they are: material things.
3. The Mediator (Gemini/Mercury)
The Messenger (of the Gods); Intellect; Contact; The Onlooker; Ease
PROBLEM: You are unhappy with your position in life at the moment. You find it too boring, banal, superficial. You don't want to identify with the meaning and demands of Mercury; you have blocked and dispelled the messenger. You have lost his wings -- his lightness.
WAY: Mercury offers his help in leading you to a solution. His message reads: "Give yourself some distance and take a quiet look at your present situation, speak your true feelings and face matters with a detached and objective attitude."
OUTCOME: Regardless of how difficult the road may be, you will be able to use "Hermes wings" to unite the unconscious with the conscious and then observe yourself from a neutral position -- in hindsight, maybe even with mischievous smile. You are unhappy with your position in life at the moment. You find it too boring, banal, superficial. You don't want to identify with the meaning and demands of Mercury; you have blocked and dispelled the messenger. You have lost his wings -- his lightness. Mercury offers his help in leading you to a solution. His message reads: "Give yourself some distance and take a quiet look at your present situation, speak your true feelings and face matters with a detached and objective attitude." Regardless of how difficult the road may be, you will be able to use "Hermes wings" to unite the unconscious with the conscious and then observe yourself from a neutral position -- in hindsight, maybe even with mischievous smile.
4. The Mother (Cancer/Moon)
Femininity; The Family; The Infant; Feelings; Devotion; Acceptance; The Spiritual Past
PROBLEM: Your feelings -- the waters of your soul -- are being dried up by the inner child which says "NO" and the "NO" which closes off your inner being. You are frightened of feeling your own self, scared of your feminine aspect and the powerlessness it might generate.
WAY: This card clearly advises you to follow the path of your feelings. Discard reason for a moment and act intuitively. Look for the child within and let this child live and express itself.
OUTCOME: Your journey will lead you to embrace the inner child and live in harmony. You reach a homeland of your own, return home to your feelings and your feminine aspect. You find security in yourself. Your feelings -- the waters of your soul -- are being dried up by the inner child which says "NO" and the "NO" which closes off your inner being. You are frightened of feeling your own self, scared of your feminine aspect and the powerlessness it might generate. This card clearly advises you to follow the path of your feelings. Discard reason for a moment and act intuitively. Look for the child within and let this child live and express itself. Your journey will lead you to embrace the inner child and live in harmony. You reach a homeland of your own, return home to your feelings and your feminine aspect. You find security in yourself.
5. The Ego (Leo/Sun)
Power; Desire; Uniqueness; Glory; Fertility; Creativity; Sexuality In you for the moment a lack of aliveness exists. You lost the entrance to your Kraft. Where did the life remain? You must begin, your identity, yours be, to express. At the end of this enterprise you live. Kraft, which to aliveness, those you miss for the moment, return a little more to you. The sun goes, a new day begins. You are then also again with the heart with the thing.
PROBLEM: You lack vitality, joy, and a necessary form of hard-heartedness deep down. This means you cannot put your energies to use. You might be trying to compensate for your impotence and lack of power through dominant behaviour. You need to ask yourself where you can still find life.
WAY: The path ahead involves learning to express yourself, your identity and your being. You need to live the way YOU are, even if this hurts others. All this may not be as easy as it sounds: just live your life!
OUTCOME: Your path leads you back to life. Strength and vitality -- perhaps lacking at the moment -- return to you. You put your heart and soul back into things. You lack vitality, joy, and a necessary form of hard-heartedness deep down. This means you cannot put your energies to use. You might be trying to compensate for your impotence and lack of power through dominant behaviour. You need to ask yourself where you can still find life. The path ahead involves learning to express yourself, your identity and your being. You need to live the way YOU are, even if this hurts others. All this may not be as easy as it sounds: just live your life! Your path leads you back to life. Strength and vitality -perhaps lacking at the moment -- return to you. You put your heart and soul back into things.
6. The Servant (Virgo/Mercury)
Reason; Accepting Reality; Rationality; Sobriety; Spiritual Balance
PROBLEM: This card says you refuse to accept your current position in life. You like to keep a clean image by blaming others, leading you to become caught up in your own projections. But the finger ultimately points back at you.
WAY: It's no use now: although it's a bitter pill to swallow, you have to accept yourself; set your sights lower and adjust to the conditions of life.
OUTCOME: The result of your learning process is not the gold at the end of the rainbow, but quiet, unprepossessing order and a knowledge through which your soul finds composure and resumes its rightful place. This card says you refuse to accept your current position in life. You like to keep a clean image by blaming others, leading you to become caught up in your own projections. But the finger ultimately points back at you. It's no use now: although it's a bitter pill to swallow, you have to accept yourself; set your sights lower and adjust to the conditions of life. The result of your learning process is not the gold at the end of the rainbow, but quiet, unprepossessing order and a knowledge through which your soul finds composure and resumes its rightful place.
7. The Partner (Libra/Venus)
The Other; The Relationship; Balance; The Symbolon; The Mirror; Supplementation; "The Better Half"
PROBLEM: You are not yet prepared to look into the mirror of the other and recognize what you see there as part of yourself. You refuse to understand that the other is only expressing your own otherness.
WAY: The path involves learning to understand yourself in others. This means mutual exchange and offering your hand to the other in reconciliation (or understanding). It is vital to meet someone along the way who opens your eyes.
OUTCOME: You have rediscovered yourself in the other, found balance and harmony between the inner and external partners. Now the symbolon has been reunited. The pieces have been put together. You are not yet prepared to look into the mirror of the other and recognize what you see there as part of yourself. You refuse to understand that the other is only expressing your own otherness. The path involves learning to understand yourself in others. This means mutual exchange and offering your hand to the other in reconciliation (or understanding). It is vital to meet someone along the way who opens your eyes. You have rediscovered yourself in the other, found balance and harmony between the inner and external partners. Now the symbolon has been reunited. The pieces have been put together.
8. The Seducer (Scorpio/Pluto)
The Devil, The Imagination; The Idea; Suicide; Obligation; Fixation; Fanaticism; The Underworld
PROBLEM: You have become obsessed with an idea; now you are stuck. You therefore give away part of your soul in the hope of receiving something better. You are ruled by underworld forces; you are gambling with the Devil. Find out what idea it is you're obsessed with at the moment. Do nothing more and nothing less than you need to.
WAY: You can only reach the light at the end of the tunnel by tackling the landscape of the underworld and crossing it. Nothing more can be done; nor can it be "bettered" (avoid looking for improvements -- that's one of his favorite ideas). Only Virgil's words can help you now: "Look closely and go on!"
OUTCOME: A metamorphosis will take place. Old images must be shattered, just as Moses destroyed the Golden Calf long ago. These images will ultimately dissolve like a morning fog in sunlight (because they never really existed!). You have become obsessed with an idea; now you are stuck. You therefore give away part of your soul in the hope of receiving something better. You are ruled by underworld forces; you are gambling with the Devil. Find out what idea it is you're obsessed with at the moment. Do nothing more and nothing less than you need to. You can only reach the light at the end of the tunnel by tackling the landscape of the underworld and crossing it. Nothing more can be done; nor can it be "bettered" (avoid looking for improvements -- that's one of his favorite ideas). Only Virgil's words can help you now: "Look closely and go on!" A metamorphosis will take place. Old images must be shattered, just as Moses destroyed the Golden Calf long ago. These images will ultimately dissolve like a morning fog in sunlight (because they never really existed!).
9. The Preacher (Sagittarius/Jupiter)
The Priest; The Missionary; The Inner Therapist; Belief; Insight; Philosophical View of the World
PROBLEM: Where is your sympathy, the memory of your own spiritual past? You presume to impose your opinions and knowledge upon others while your own soul remains infertile.
WAY: Remember! That's what this card tells you to do. Look for an inner therapist (a person, if need be, who acts as a mirror). And above all, retrace your steps. Solutions can only be found in your past.
OUTCOME: You will continue to grow, to become more open-minded and tolerant. Mnemosyne, the Goddess of memory, has a treasure waiting for you at the end of the journey: insight is the wealth of the soul. Where is your sympathy, the memory of your own spiritual past? You presume to impose your opinions and knowledge upon others while your own soul remains infertile. Remember! That's what this card tells you to do. Look for an inner therapist (a person, if need be, who acts as a mirror). And above all, retrace your steps. Solutions can only be found in your past. You will continue to grow, to become more open-minded and tolerant. Mnemosyne, the Goddess of memory, has a treasure waiting for you at the end of the journey: insight is the wealth of the soul.
10. The Master (Capricorn/Saturn)
Legitimacy; Responsibility; Fate; The Old Man; Death; The Merciless Taskmaster
PROBLEM: You have become hard, retreated into a shell where no one can communicate with you or reach your soul. It is as if you have withdrawn to a fortress of loneliness high in the mountains. The fortress is part of you. Take a close look and try to accept responsibility for having built it.
WAY: The way through the problem is to learn to take life's gravity into account. The game's over -- now you have to confront your problems honestly. It's all about becoming an "adult".
OUTCOME: The outcome is that you now realize an objective destiny prevails over you, a power (the power of fate) no one can influence, one you accept and acknowledge. Now you are responsible for yourself. That means responding and accepting responsibility with a firm "yes". You have become hard, retreated into a shell where no one can communicate with you or reach your soul. It is as if you have withdrawn to a fortress of loneliness high in the mountains. The fortress is part of you. Take a close look and try to accept responsibility for having built it. The way through the problem is to learn to take life's gravity into account. The game's over -- now you have to confront your problems honestly. It's all about becoming an "adult". The outcome is that you now realize an objective destiny prevails over you, a power (the power of fate) no one can influence, one you accept and acknowledge. Now you are responsible for yourself. That means responding and accepting responsibility with a firm "yes".
11. The Jester (Aquarius/Uranus)
Deliverer; Freedom; The Outsider; The "True" Hero; Steppenwolf
PROBLEM: You have forgotten the original meaning of the world "freedom". You might believe you need to escape the prison of your situation in life, but you shake helplessly, in vain, at the bars of external conditions. You don't understand the real message of The Jester: human beings have to work on every opportunity, every spiritual path, in order to grow from a situation.
WAY: Try to find spiritual space beyond your present complications. The path to freedom involves nothing more than release, letting go of your current problem -- even if this now seems paradoxical. Try to come in contact with your own Jester and learn to laugh at yourself.
OUTCOME: Conditions have catapulted you out of outdated and superseded ways of approaching things. Your path of development has given you wings -- and you didn't even notice it. So fly! You have forgotten the original meaning of the world "freedom". You might believe you need to escape the prison of your situation in life, but you shake helplessly, in vain, at the bars of external conditions. You don't understand the real message of The Jester: human beings have to work on every opportunity, every spiritual path, in order to grow from a situation. Try to find spiritual space beyond your present complications. The path to freedom involves nothing more than release, letting go of your current problem -- even if this now seems paradoxical. Try to come in contact with your own Jester and learn to laugh at yourself. Conditions have catapulted you out of outdated and superseded ways of approaching things. Your path of development has given you wings -- and you didn't even notice it. So fly!
12. The Angel (Pisces/Neptune)
The Truth; The Divine Spark; Wisdom; Intuition; The Dream; The Illusion
PROBLEM: You have lost your way. Your view of truth has become clouded by illusions. You hide from yourself and fall for your own tricks. You try to repress and avoid problems, you shy away from facing reality. You are nowhere near solving the problem and there is still a long way to go before you being to deal with it. WAY: You need to take the word "release" quite literally. Release yourself from the outer world, be more contemplative and look within yourself. Your problem has no bearing in the world outside. You can only look more closely at yourself.
OUTCOME: At first you don't recognize the end of your journey as it is invisible in the outer world. But the star of a learned truth will illuminate within your soul. You have lost your way. Your view of truth has become clouded by illusions. You hide from yourself and fall for your own tricks. You try to repress and avoid problems, you shy away from facing reality. You are nowhere near solving the problem and there is still a long way to go before you being to deal with it. You need to take the word "release" quite literally. Release yourself from the outer world, be more contemplative and look within yourself. Your problem has no bearing in the world outside. You can only look more closely at yourself. At first you don't recognize the end of your journey as it is invisible in the outer world. But the star of a learned truth will illuminate within your soul.
13. Defiance (Cancer/Aries, Moon/Mars)
The Destructive Child; Rage; "Runaway Johnny"; Seething Anger; Hatred for the Mother; Rejection of Femininity
PROBLEM: Your belly aches because a little child within you is throwing a tantrum, beating its fists angrily against the depths of your soul and crying to get out. The whole world is "evil", it plots against you. Accept that you are a small child at the moment and still a long way from being a sensible adult.
WAY: Years and years of anger want to be let out. First of all, you will have to go through a painful labor which brings the deepest part of yourself into the world. Your energies will not begin to flow again unless the pent-up anger can be released and experienced. Find your own (perhaps therapeutic) terms by which it becomes possible to freely express your rage without hurting other people.
OUTCOME: It is only possible to be at peace with the "little tyrant" once we have lived out our childhood, those feelings of defiance, anger and annoyance. One day you will have to embrace the child. Your belly aches because a little child within you is throwing a tantrum, beating its fists angrily against the depths of your soul and crying to get out. The whole world is "evil", it plots against you. Accept that you are a small child at the moment and still a long way from being a sensible adult. Years and years of anger want to be let out. First of all, you will have to go through a painful labor which brings the deepest part of yourself into the world. Your energies will not begin to flow again unless the pent-up anger can be released and experienced. Find your own (perhaps therapeutic) terms by which it becomes possible to freely express your rage without hurting other people. It is only possible to be at peace with the "little tyrant" once we have lived out our childhood, those feelings of defiance, anger and annoyance. One day you will have to embrace the child.
[CONTINUED BELOW]