Tarot’s Aces – Wild, Up Your Sleeve, or In The Hole

 

Ace of Cups from Rome Choi's
"Dreaming Way Tarot"©

Aces are considered a positive sign in a tarot reading. Theycapture the central theme of their suit and the subsequent cards explore that theme in a variety of aspects.  Aces herald the beginning of something new and in certain spreads can be used as an indicator of time.  Wands represent autumn; Cups, summer; Swords, winter and Pentacles, spring. 

The Ace of Wands starts of the big show.  It represents an idea, a realization that brings enthusiasm for a particular course of action. It is in essence, that spark of Divine creative force  sweeping through us.  It emboldens us to ask an age-old question much like in the opening three notes of Richard Strauss’, “Also Sprach Zarathustra, Op. 30".  The following two notes of that piece denote the ‘aha’ moment.  The awareness is set and now our curious mind demands action.  Strauss’ work is the Ace of Wands set to music.  The appearance of the Ace of Wands in a reading is the call to adventure, the request that you take stock of your life.  Are you playing it too safe, or ignoring potential growth for the sake of convenience?  Follow the ace and go a little wild.  (See blog: “Lights, Camera, Action” )

Cups shows us a challis over-flowing with water, tarot’s

Ciro Marchetti's Ace of Wands from
"Legacy of the Divine Tarot"©

symbol of emotions.  This is a deep, spiritual well of emotional force, a direct link to your intuitive self.  As with all aces, the Ace of Cups signifies the essential element of its subject – in this case, love.  Ace of Cups declares the need to establish a connection with our higher selves, past ego and outside influences.  It asks us to open our hearts because in doing so we not only gain a greater capacity to give and receive love, but we also gain an entirely new understanding about the of very nature of love.  When the Ace of Cups appears in a reading it can show us an unreserved out-pouring of emotion. It can ask us to open ourselves to the possibility of forgiveness.  By extending the olive branch we develop a more loving nature.  On the spiritual side, this ace also asks us to open our consciousness, to understand the intricacies of the world around us and to use our link to the Divine.  

Ace of Swords from Lo Scarebo's
"Tarot of the Pagan Cats"©

Swords is the suit of the intellect and communications The Ace of Swords brings forth questions of truth, justice, attitude and mental prowess.  The ace asks us to expand our thinking, to face our problems with new awareness and make a commitment of fairness towards yourselves and others.  It is in essence, the idea of higher thought.  The appearance of the Ace of Swords in a reading can signify that it’s time to consider your mental outlook and view issues truthfully.  This ace wants you to be ready to cut away attitudes that have kept you from moving forward.  It promises resolution of situations once we’ve cleared away the thoughts and emotions that cloud our judgement.

The suit of Pentacles represents the material world.  This ace

Ace of Pentacles from"Shadowscapes"©
by Stephanie Pui-Mun Law

introduces the concepts of prosperity, material gain and common sense.  When you look at the Ace of Pentacles ask yourself, “Why not me?”  Understand the correlation between goals, conscious thought and direct action.  The Ace of Pentacles promises that if you prepare your foundation by using common sense and practical application, you will succeed in turning your dreams into reality.  

Welcome the appearance of tarot’s aces in your readings.  They bring awareness, growth and the chance to start an exciting new journey.

LADY ORACLE

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You Are What You Speak - The Power of Words on the Physical Body

OSHO Zen Tarot © by
Deva Padma
Amazing Deck!!!

There was a mother and her son pushing their cart along the aisle at the grocery store this afternoon.  The mother's T-shirt said, "Bad Attitude," underneath a picture of Oscar, the Grouch from Sesame Street.  Her son's shirt read, "I didn't ask for your opinion, so shut your f(ing) mouth."  We can all agree that negative messages can't produce positive growth.  If you wear a message shirt while in the public eye, that message is the first impression you make on the people around you.  And that's fine because what you wear is a matter of choice and individual freedom.  However, what about the message you're sending yourself?

If you're familiar with the work of Masaru Emoto ("The

OSHO Zen Tarot© by Deva Padma

Message From Water")  you're already familiar with his contention that ordinary words carry the power to actually alter matter.  More correctly, Emoto theorizes that each word we speak is imbued with a creative energy simply because we use that particular word to define and recognize an item, or trait we are describing.  Emoto photographed the frozen crystals of various types of water directly from their source and then photographed samples of the same water after they'd been labeled with words such as, beautiful, ugly, love, hate, frightened, happy, etc.  His photographs are astounding.  The more positive the messages written on the water, the brighter and more clearly defined the crystal structure of the sample.  When a negative word or message was written on the water, the resulting crystal appeared less symmetrical in shape and darker in color.  Whether or not you agree with the outcome of Emoto's experiments, you have to admit that that the concept is fascinating and is certainly worthy of further exploration.

OSHO Zen Tarot© by Deva Padma

We know that words can psychologically wound and that positive reinforcement does more to teach appropriate behavior than yelling and name calling.  If we understand this about the world outside of ourselves, why wouldn't our inner world, our physical body, respond in the same way?  Think about why meditation works in the first place.  You disengage from outer stimulus and by focusing on your inner being, achieve harmony between your physical, mental and spiritual selves.  

The messages we send ourselves via the type of music we

OSHO Zen Tarot© by Deva Padma

listen to, the movies we watch and the cultural memes we endorse effect us just as surely as our religious and political upbringings.   However, as adults, we get to choose what we allow to cross into our personal territory and we can label ourselves in any fashion we want.  If you subscribe to the theory that  words hold the power to either nourish or malnourish your physical form, then it only makes sense to carefully consider the messages you use for self-expression.  Catch phrase zingers are all well and good on a thirty minute sit-com, but don't usually translate well as an endorsement for a lifetime philosophy. 

To own your truth you must live your truth and choosing your truth can be a difficult thing.  To borrow from a cultural meme, "Choose wisely."

LADY ORACLE

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