EXERCISE CT #8: Justice spread
Date: Wed, 19 May 2004
From: Moonchild
To: Comparative Tarot http://comparativetarot.com
Taken from James Wanless New Age Tarot.
> As usual, do the exercise with a comfort deck and with a deck with which you are less
familiar and meld the meanings of the two decks....> Crystal Symmetry Spread
> 1 2
> 4 3
> 5 6
> 8 7PART I: I'm using Brian Williams' Renaissance Tarot first.
> 1. Left Brain: My analytical ability
Eight of Cups--"surrender, oblivion"
In this card, Psyche succumbs to her curiosity and is put to sleep. (In another version of Psyche's story, she later
wanders searching for her lover.) This pretty well describes my analytical ability, as I have surrendered it over to
my "other half." I mean, why do math when I can just go into the next room and ask my man?> 2. Right Brain: My creative ability
Six of Coins reversed--"selfishness"
I don't know that selfishness fits, but maybe receiving more than I give. My brain is full of creative ideas, but I don't
manifest them in the physical realm, or turn them into "Coins," efficiently enough. (Maybe more analytical ability would
help me with organization and motivation.)> 3. Mental: What mental state balances me?
King of Swords
Here's my man, the only Sword in my reading. He "balances" me in that he supplies what I lack. Analytical ability.
I don't have to mess with any financial or government stuff. It's not that I couldn't, but why would I want to? I like to
have my mental capacity free for other things. Like Tarot. = P> 4. Emotional: What emotional state balances me?
Five of Coins--"loss, worry"
In this card, a mourning Demeter revokes her gift of fertility to the world. To me, it represents the question: What would
I do if I lost someone important to me? Worry is there to remind us how much we care about others, and to act accordingly.
It keeps me from getting too upset over daily annoyances.> 5. Physical: What physical state balances me?
The Priestess
This is one HP who is not seated, but walking barefoot (yay!) through dandelions outside of the town. I think I have
to pass over any standard or book meanings and take it at face value. The exercise and fresh air are not only good for the
waking self, they also make one sleep better. Physical balance. We've got dandelions, and bare feet, and I've already
broken a toe. Maybe I need to borrow this Priestess' extra pair of eyes (St. Lucy's), to watch where I'm putting my toes!
According to Mary Summer Rain, toes symbolize: "an aspect in one's life that contributes to a balanced course." Hmm,
maybe the Universe is trying to get my attention. Or throw me off balance.> 6. Spiritual: What spiritual state balances me?
The Emperor reversed
This goes beyond the everyday, to a couple of core spiritual philosophies. Since I've always had "Emperor issues," I tend
to look more favorably on the Emperor when he's reversed. His authority comes across as more benevolent then. This card
represents two aspects of my spiritual state which, although they balance me, set me rather at odds with the majority of
those who (do or claim to) follow my same religion. a) I've learned that God is not a tyrant. He is Authority through Love.
Love is the Law! If(God = Law AND Love = Law, God = Love,0) b) Religion doesn't require any Authority other than God.
Even small as I am, I have the ability to contact Him directly. The only bond that can unite the divided is Love. (Isn't it ironic
how Crowley and God agree?) IV walls won't do it. Emperor Constantine couldn't do it. etc. etc.> 7. Adjustment: What adjustments need to be made to bring me into balance?
Seven of Cups reversed
Yes, yes, I know.> 8. Justice: How can I be just to myself & others?
Ten of Staves--"The Last Trial before Glory"
Reminds me of a Marley lyric (probably Biblical): "The harder the battle, the sweeter the victory." To be just to myself,
I need to work harder and reap greater rewards. To be just to others, I need to (a) carry at least my share of the load;
(b) hold up under stress; (c) keep in mind that "this is only a test"; and (d) remember that others are just as stressed and
tested as I am. I could go on about these points, but I'd better break here, and get out my comparison deck.So now I'm looking for one, and I'm thinking, I have a disproportionate number of American-made decks.
I'm looking for something that's not going to be too jarring next to these lovelies.
PART II: I decided on Dali, in honor of his recent centennial. Unfortunately, I'm missing the HP out of this deck! Anyone out there have an incomplete Dali deck and want to sell me the Priestess?
> 1. Left Brain: My analytical ability
Eight of Cups--To this card Dali has added the mosquitoes of the swamp of oblivion. Insidious parasites.
> 2. Right Brain: My creative ability
Six of Coins reversed--What are those scrolls? Bread? Hey, look, it's a priest giving communion to some poor lost souls.
Reversed, my attention is focused on the guy standing with his hand out, but not receiving. But to tell the truth, it's more
than my brain can handle right now, to look at Dali art upside down.> 3. Mental: What mental state balances me?
King of Swords (Rey de Espadas)--What's the Pope doing here? With a Sword?
> 4. Emotional: What emotional state balances me?
Five of Coins--Oh my God. I just found my HP stuck to the back of the Five of Coins! This is too bizarre, because she
is placed just below it in the reading. And before I pulled the cards for the reading, I went through the deck *twice* to see
if any were stuck together. What's up with *that*? This card has been missing for *years*! Okay, I don't use the deck that
much, and shuffle it even less. But still...
As for the Five of Coins, it just doesn't do anything for me.> 5. Physical: What physical state balances me?
High Priestess (La Sacerdotisa)--Oh, she's so lovely. I have to sigh just to look at her. I guess that guy on the left thinks
she's pretty hot too. Never noticed him before, but he's got his tongue out. It seems the physical thing that would balance
me is a secret lesbian lover.> 6. Spiritual: What spiritual state balances me?
The Emperor reversed (El Emperador)--Dali's Emperor seems so much stronger than Williams'--more imperial. Maybe
because he's older, and wears robes rather than tights and a codpiece. The red robe in this card is such a match/contrast to
the blue robe of the Priestess. With him reversed, they make an impression of a yin-yang symbol. So, what offsets a secret
lesbian lover? A husband!
This card shows me that my spiritual state doesn't just involve my dealings with God, but my dealings with mankind as well.
There are other, earthly, Emperor issues that I have to deal with to find balance.> 7. Adjustment: What adjustments need to be made to bring me into balance?
Seven of Cups reversed--The top center Cup is empty. The veiled, glowing entity from the RW image seems to have been
combined with the main figure and placed in the center, so that the other two top cups are placed in his upturned palms.
Four cups are in a row across the bottom. I know there's something here for me, but I don't know enough about the
symbols in the cups to be able to figure it out.> 8. Justice: How can I be just to myself & others?
Ten of Staves--Here, a very small man carries very long staves. He looks to his left, where a giant butterfly covers a woman
like a cape. Only her foot and part of her dress is visible. Another butterfly rests on the staves, and another flies near the
bottom of the card. On the card's top left is a face, and not a happy-looking one either. On the bottom right is Dali's signature,
with leaves growing out of the letters. The main message this card is giving me is to see the beauty that accompanies life,
rather than the workload.Funny, because this spread has beauty *and* a workload. I'll be happy to put all these cards away, but I think I'll keep that
Dali HP/Emperor rev combo out to look at for a while.One Love All Love,
Moonchild
This page is excerpted from my original contributions to the Comparative Tarot discussion group.
Graphics created and generously shared by Full Moon Graphics.
http://www.moonchild.ch/Tarot/personal/exercise/EX08.html
