I suppose everybody has once heard the saying “nobody is a prophet in his own land” and I’ve always felt that way.

Contrary to what some people might think, even as a foreigner in Austria, I find the people of Tyrol (“Unterland”) very friendly people who smile at you in the streets and that are very correct and respectful.

Today while walking through some places I noticed that people smile at me here too. And although I can’t remember how it was when I lived here (11 years ago), I don’t think people were so friendly.

I just read an article about life being a mirror of your own being, and it just clicked in me that I’ve changed for good in the last 11 years.

I noticed that wherever I walk I look at people in the eyes and smile and it is very beautiful to see those eyes smiling back. Most of them are surprised; big town people aren’t used to smiling eyes, let alone looking at strangers in the eyes at all.

Have you had this experience with complete strangers lately? This recognizing the human being in you and the person you smile at in this moment when your eyes catch. This is the simple but nice gift of a smile.

This cell of God, Eternity or the First Source (you can call it however you wish) has been spoken about in almost every religion. For some it’s the third eye and for some it’s more a concept like “being perfect like God”, “God is in you” or “You are God as a part of God”, to name a few.

Consciousness of God’s presence and reality is something we experience as a fact but cannot accurately describe, justify or prove. This cell of God in our minds “is” God’s presence in us, and it is “he/she” who whispers his love in our ears and originates our “faith” in his reality.

The First Source of all, in its absoluteness, cannot be perceived by us with our five senses, but our spiritualized mind has the capability of reacting to it and gaining consciousness of its presence through this apparently tiny but extremely powerful Cell of Eternity.
The First Source or Origin is absolute, impersonal and by choice personal as the figure of our Eternal Father.

We human beings of animal origin are born in a material world with very material and time-bound minds. As soon as your mind is capable of taking moral decisions, you loose a part of your material status and gain a new one: human being with eternity potential and this is marked by the immediate “appearance” of the God-Cell in your mind. This means that your mind is capable of experiencing the world not only based on that which is only tangible: your mind now has turned into fertile soil for the growth of your spirit.

This happens in the lives of every human being around the age of 6. It is also the time when we start caring for other people’s feelings, the time when we start learning the difference between right or wrong, and this list goes on and on.

That “difficult age” of questions about everything is typical for childhood. I am overwhelmed with joy at my 6 year old son’s questions.

Where are we really? I mean, in which part of us are we? Our head, heart, feet: where?

I suppose he feels the difference between that which we really are and this which contains us. We are spiritual beings dressed up in flesh.

If you want to read more about the presence of God in Mankind as the “Thought Adjuster” I recommend a book that changed my life: The Urantia Book.

You can also read The Urantia Book for free in the internet: www.urantia.org

Note*: Please, don’t interpret “moral” under traditional Judaeo-Christian standards, but more with the “Brotherhood on Earth and the Universe” idea.

The power of the verb – your words and thoughts – is unlimited. You, as a part of the creative mind, generate that which you program. This related to health issues is an important point to consider.

The time lapse (approximately an hour or so) between the moment you prepare to lay in bed and actually fall asleep is the time when affirmative prayer has its greatest power. The moments right before you doze off to sleep, when your conscious mind doesn’t interfere so strongly, are prefect to program yourself to positive and healing attitudes.

Especially before going to sleep one has the tendency to recall what the day looked like, and as we lay ourselves to bed, we are more conscious of our body and our pains. What happens if you think and talk about your pains or name your illness? You are actually giving them the power to stay and even to grow. One is better off avoiding this. Fear and pain are no good companies before going to bed.

Instead think about harmony and perfect health, and don’t refer to your condition by name in the hours before going to bed.

I will show you my personal affirmative prayer for healing which is inspired in a prayer contained in Dr. Joseph Murphy’s book: The Power of Your Subconscious Mind.I recommend that you adapt or make your own personal healing prayer which would better suit you, whether in its content or the way you normally talk to yourself or the universal energies.

You must feel comfortable with your prayer and be able to remember it because you will repeat it often enough so that your subconscious mind accepts the “health affirmations” for your body as true and sets out to heal you.

Affirmative prayers should be repeated several times a day, taking into account that the moments before dozing to sleep are those in which praying works with more power. It’s like even though you’re sleeping, your mind repeats that which you programmed.

I am relaxed and in peace.

The infinite intelligence of my Mind which created me, in conjunction with the Eternal and Universal Mind, works in this moment to regenerate each and every one of my atoms, cells, tissues, nerves, organs, systems and vital processes. It regenerates me completely and restores perfect state of health in me and around me.

All distortion patterns and thoughts are removed, dissolved and gone.

My whole body is completely restored to health and harmony.

For this I am thankful.

The Love Pyramid

I commented on my last post about Tarot Spreads that one of the major interests in card reading sessions are those related with love matters. “Liebesglück” (translated from German to English: Luck in Love) is one of my most popular spreads, and it’s one I adopted from Hajo Banzhaf (The Tarot Handbook). I personally call it the “Love Pyramid”.

In this Love Pyramid you will be able to see how your relationship’s present state is and also the direction where you, as love-partners, are headed for along this present path.

Please remember that we are “Free Will Human Beings”. Our present path and the direction we’re headed for is our choice. If you don’t like the present path or the direction you’re headed for: do something to change it. You and only you decide how your life will be! And this is independent from those things that happen in life which you cannot control.

With this spread I always use the Universal Waite Tarot; and I think people like it because it’s very easy to follow. On the graphic, the gray line of cards on the right is the woman’s side; and the white line of cards on the left is the man’s side.

• Card 1 at the top of this Love Pyramid represents the forces that maintain this relationship together. Here you can see the principles for this relationship’s existence and also how this relationship is being lived at the moment. Harmony or discord can be seen according to the card placed at the top.

• Cards 2 (woman) and 3 (man) represent how each partner lives or sees this relationship individually. It represents the point where each one is standing at the moment in relation to this love partnership.

• Cards 4 (woman) and 5 (man) represent what each one expects from this relationship and what their wishes are; but it can also represent what they fear might happen in the future of their lives together.

• Cards 6 (woman) and 7 (man) are cards of advice. They give you a direction to look upon or follow. I find it interesting that these cards – many times – open the eyes of the consulting persons to things they had been ignoring.

• Card 8 is the future card. It represents what both, man and woman are bound to “produce” as a result of the present way they are living their relationship. It represents the road this relationship is headed for.

I hope you enjoy this spread. If any questions should arise, feel free to make your questions in the comment boxes. All comments are welcome, and I’ll be more than glad to answer.

Oh, that was a great day for me even though my father was making fun of me and the cards. I was 11 at that time and I still treasure my first Tarot. Each time I open my treasure box and get them out of their gold lamé cloth, I gasp at the beauty of their colors, details and the connection between us. Many years of studies and experiences unite us.

If you’re reading this and have your new cards near by, I congratulate you on your purchase. These are the first days of a long relationship on a journey that in many ways will change the way you conceive reality. Many surprises and learning experiences, not to mention some disappointments, await you.

In these ups and downs of life, your Tarot Cards will be there for you, waiting for you to unveil them.

Now, let’s get started with the action:

• Find (buy) yourself a nice cloth of more or less 1 square meter. It can be any color you like, although I would prefer deep red, dark green, royal blue, white or even black; important is that this cloth should have only one color or a very discreet pattern. It shouldn’t steal your attention from the cards.

• Find, buy or sew yourself a small cloth bag inside of which you will place your Tarot Cards instead of the carton package where they usually come in. Humans like nice and soft fabrics, give the same to your cards.

You can make the preparing of the Tarot Cards a ritual with candles and incense, with very soft music at night. It’s fun and it helps you concentrate on the energy flowing from you into your cards:

• Place your cloth, from step 1, on top of the table where you will have your first reading. Sit on a chair where you will dominate the whole room you’re at. Avoid sitting with your back to the door or a window. If you have to choose between both options, then sit with your back towards the window and make sure you can see the door. News comes through the door of the house or room, it is symbology: you are in control. But also, psychologically, one has the tendency to better concentrate when ones face is oriented towards the door: news does actually come through the door. Noises and possible interruptions distract less if you’re not giving your back to them.

• Place a glass of water which represents the vast waters of the infinite ocean that is the information you will gain access to. Water is the element of intuition. Flowers or incense are great helpers for creating a nice atmosphere and for connecting with the beauty and wisdom inside you. A candle is also a way to get in contact with the wisdom of Light-Energies. The fire of a candle can help light up and activate your Spirit Mind! Although this step is optional, try this out. It’s a very nice experience that celebrates your initiation in the Tarot world. I usually have a glass of water and a candle.

This is a meditation you will do now.

• Take your new Tarot Cards in your hands and shuffle them while feeling how the energy from your own being flows into the cards and returns back into your body. Visualize, while shuffling the cards, how you start to travel with your mind and soul through the cosmos.

• Visualize how you immerse yourself in the flowing of energy and wisdom of the universe and the eternal Mind-Spirit.

• Make contact with True-Light Energies of Wisdom – your Spiritual Guides- who will help you to better understand the relationships between eternity and time-bound space. (Just use your imagination, it’s not really important for now which form these energies appear to you) Eternity, past and future fuse in the present; ask for help to be able to understand the correlations of events at all times.

• Be determined to be conscious at all times of what is true. Be like a tree whose branches reach out to the sky as high as it gets, never forgetting that the higher you go up, the deeper your roots should dig down deep into earth. Your mind may experience high spiritual realities, and these should be in harmony with the beauty of your material reality.

• And as you stretch your branches into the never ending cosmos, start being again conscious of the roots that bring you back to earth. Be thankful for this great opportunity to better know yourself and the energies that move the universe.

You can now start by looking at each card; start with the Major Arcana. You can do the same with the Minor Arcana also some other day. Observe each card: its colors and motives. You can read their meanings in a book and try to associate the principles read with the images in each card.

I have written about the meanings of the Major Arcana in this link; but I highly recommend that you read my post Major Arcana: a Story of Spiritual Growth. This story will introduce you the main principles and sequence of the Major Arcana; it will help you to get familiar with the archetypes these cards represent.

The Universal Waite Tarot is a great way to start learning Tarot because the meanings of the cards are more or less “readable” in the images. I usually use the Major Arcana from my Marseille deck and the Minor Arcana from my Waite deck, amongst others.

There’s a renown author whose books I enjoy, Hajo Banzhaf is “the” Tarot expert in Germany and his book The Tarot Handbook I highly recommend. His explanations are very handy and direct; some of his card spreads are some of my most used. The Relationship Game is one of the most asked for among my friends. You will enjoy it!

Tarot Spread overview

This tarot spread is a very practical and easy way to obtain an overview of the situation or person to be consulted. I learned it about 20 years ago from one of my mentors, and since that time I use it as the first spread in every session. I use only the major arcana because in this spread it is important to find out the main principles or energies that dominate the person or question; details will be looked upon later based on this first overview.

What makes this tarot spread so special to me is that it takes into account “how an event is perceived” as a complement of “how it really is.” How something is perceived is not necessarily reality, and it helps to see the difference.

What kind of questions can I ask?
You can find out about the elements involved in an event or obtain a description of it. You can also ask about people: here you might want to know how you or someone else is doing.

The place or “atmosphere”
First you should choose a quiet place to spread your tarot cards. You will need a cloth to spread your cards on; it is not a good idea to spread your cards directly on the table surface. This cloth marks the territory where your cards can act. Placing a glass of water near you and/or flowers together with a lit candle or some incense is a way to get connected with the energies of the universe and with the collective-subconscious. Water is the main element of intuition-readings; water is analogical to the mass of information in the universe. I always feel like if I’m diving into a vast ocean where I can find the information I’m looking for. A flower is a product of the earth, and its beauty always inspires. The fire of the candle and incense are also ways of getting in touch with those universal energies: light and aroma. These are nice elements but not indispensable. A quiet and “nice” atmosphere is really important.

Before you start: visualize
Close your eyes for a moment and visualize how a string or ray of light that starts inside your mind extends itself so long that it connects you with the stars and cosmic energy in the universe. Visualize your mind already being in connection with the universal stream of information; feel that your mind has free access to that information and be thankful that you are able to experience this.

Mixing and asking
Mix the cards and at the same time think about your question. Think about the overview you wish to have in relation with the topic you chose. When you’re finished mixing, place the cards – face down – in a pile on top of your table.

If you read the tarot cards for yourself, take a small amount of cards with your left hand (the hand of your subconscious) and place this new pile of cards before you. Then, place the remaining ones back on top so that you have one pile again. If you do this spread for someone else, let him or her make a second pile of cards in their direction and place the remaining ones back on top. Don’t look at the cards yet.

The tarot spread
Now take each card from the top of the pile and place them – face down – in the order shown in the graphic, from 1 to 15. After you’ve done this, take the last card from underneath the pile and place it on the left upper corner of the other cards.

Reading and interpreting
First of all turn the 16th card around. This card will give you the general “atmosphere” of this spread, of the reading and of the topic you’ve asked about.

Then turn cards 1, 2, and 3 – faces up. These represent the present and also how the person feels inside; they show elements that are important for him or her at this moment. If it’s an event or situation, these three cards will describe what is happening at the moment or which energies are involved.

Turn cards 4, 5, and 6 around. They represent what is in that person’s mind, wishes and hopes included. Here you can see which opinion and feelings the person has regarding the main topic revealed in the first three cards. If this spread reveals information about an event, it portrays how you see it and what you think about it or what you wish for.

Now turn cards 7, 8, and 9 around; they describe the reality of an event or situation; what it is about and how it is developing. When consulting a person, these cards represent the place where you stand in life at that moment and related to the main topic read in the first three cards.

Cards 10, 11, and 12 give you a glimpse of the place you came from, the situations that preceded your present moment (the present is described by cards 1, 2, and 3). In case of reading about an event it describes where this situation started.

Cards 13, 14, and 15 give you an idea of what the future will bring.

All three cards in each place are related to one another, sometimes even chronologically.

But, there are also some other relationships to look up:
After reading the cards in their normal place, relate cards 4, 6, 7, and 9; this gives you a better idea of what’s happening and where this situation is headed for.

Cards 6, 3, and 9 give you an idea of which energy is going to make the change that is seen in the three future cards. I see these cards as a door to the future; it can be an open door or a closed one, with the features that need to be worked out before going ahead into the next stage.

If you’re new to Tarot try not to push yourself into understanding all that has been laid in front of your eyes. You can observe them and ask the universal mind for help in order to understand the hidden messages, ask for help to uncover these mysteries. If you still find it hard to understand, write the question or topic down on a piece of paper and place it facing down on the table. Leave the spread as it is and then come in an hour and look at everything again. I sometimes take pictures of the spread so that I can relate the spread with reality as time goes by.

In order to have a better idea of which energies each Tarot Major Arcana has, you can read the information in the following links:

Practical Tarot guide: Major Arcana card meanings – Introduction

Practical Tarot guide: Major Arcana card meanings – Part1

Practical Tarot guide: Major Arcana card meanings – Part 2

Practical Tarot guide: Major Arcana card meanings – Part 3

Tarot Major Arcana: a story of spiritual growth – Part 1

Tarot Major Arcana: a story of spiritual growth – Part 2

Tarot Major Arcana: a story of spiritual growth – Part 3

In this week’s post: Energy, Stones and Well-Being, you can get an idea of what we will do now.

The key points are: cleanse with salt, activate with light and amplify with very low temperature.

A word before we start: if the stones are for you, don’t let anybody else touch them and don’t let the stones get in contact with other metals besides the aluminium foil. If you’re preparing the stones for someone else, don’t touch them directly with your hands, I use gloves instead of having direct contact with the stones.

Here we go!

1. Wash your stones with mild soap in warm water

2. Put your stones (maximum 3 at a time) in a glass bowl and pour water and sea salt on top of them. Place the bowl in front of a window where sunlight will shine upon the stones at least once during the day. If direct sunlight isn’t possible, let the stones be in this salty water for half a day, preferably in front of a window.

3. This step is only necessary if direct sunlight isn’t possible: wash your stones with fresh water and place them in the empty glass bowl again. Place three white candles around the bowl so that the bowl is in the middle of this triangle of candles. Light the candles and leave them burning for a while, I usually wait until the candles are at least half way down. This light of fire cleanses and activates the stones.

4. After letting the stones cool down for a while, wrap each one separately in a small piece of aluminium foil and put them in the freezer for about two hours and then take them out.

5. The fifth step is to connect with your stones, one at a time. Take the first stone out of the aluminium foil and warp it with your hands:

Feel how the stone takes the heat away from your hands; feel how the warm energy from your hands flows into the stone, making it also warm.

Visualize in your mind the purpose of your stone. Is the stone meant for healing a specific part of your body? Is it to help you heal emotional wounds? Is it meant to open the doors of your heart to love? Connect stone and purpose in your mind through visualization.

Carry him around for a while. You can put the stone in a tiny cloth bag and then wear the bag as if it were a necklace inside your shirt so that the stone is near your heart. If you’re a woman you can place the stone inside your bra.

There are many interesting internet sites with detailed specification of what each stone does. You can google: “meanings energy stones” and start reading until you find a site that appeals to you and gives you the information you need.

There are also many books with great information and pictures. One of them is The Book of Stones: Who They Are & What They Teach. The beautiful pictures help you recognize the stones you need when you’re buying them and the areas which these stones enhance is described in great detail.

There’s a sort of game I do when shopping for stones: I let the stones choose me!
I look at the stones without any idea of which one to take home. As soon as one catches my interest in a special way I take it home. Then I look for the name of the stone in my book or in the internet and see which areas it enhances.
More than once have I been surprised at the universal wisdom of the subconscious mind. Things I wasn’t really paying attention to in my body, my psyche or my emotions surfaced as I read about the stones I chose and their properties.

I wish you very successful healing sessions with your stones.

Because of their nature, Energy Stones absorb, store, transmit, re-transmit, and amplify these radiations which turn them into powerful tools that can affect our health positively. Therefore we can use stones to enhance our physical, spiritual, mental, and emotional well being.

How can you do that?

• Stones and crystals absorb all sorts of energy that come in contact with them (this can be constructive energy or not), that’s why before using them you must first cleanse them. Every stone has its own natural qualities and energy manifestation; cleansing them before we use them will help us take advantage of these natural characteristics for healing and well-being purposes. Sea water or pure and fresh river water cleanses them effectively.

• Stones and crystals are activated after cleansing them. Activation means that we amplify the Life Energy of these stones which then can be used to heal. Some use rituals to activate them and some simply water and sun-light. Native American Shaman activated their stones with a sacred blessing ritual.

• Once the energy stones are activated we can “wear” them or carry them with us. There are stones that relate to every part of our bodies and to every emotional, physical, mental and, spiritual state.

Some points though should be observed:

• It is not a good idea to put activated stones in contact with metals because metals interfere with the natural radiation of the stone.

• It is also recommendable that only you make contact with the activated stone, the interaction between your energy and that of the stone should be kept only between both of you. As soon as the stone makes contact with other persons, it will inevitably absorb and interact with the energy of these other people.

There’s a very beautiful and complete book by Robert Simmons that specifies the stones qualities and the area of use in order to enhance our well-being: The Book of Stones: Who They Are & What They Teach. It has beautiful pictures of the stones and the area which they enhance is more than thoroughly described. Through this link you can take a look inside at the first pages of this book.

“Success in life could be defined as the continued expansion of happiness and the progressive realization of worthy goals.
Success is the ability to fulfill your desires with effortless ease.”
- Deepak Chopra

Not long ago I read an article that placed Nigerian people among the happiest in the world. This is true, even though many are living in deprivation when compared to our comfortable lives.

At this moment my house is full of kids whose ages range from 6 to 12. They are all together in my son’s play-room. And they are so happy to be together, simply playing, sometimes complaining at each other, but then again being friends again. I think many of us can recall simple happiness in our childhood times; isn’t this successful living?

Can we as adults have access to this care-free happiness in our western civilization? Growing up, having a family or a life on your own is logically related to responsibilities and with having to provide for yourself or your family, whether we’re in Africa, the States or Europe, it’s always the same.

But, if a country with abundant poverty problems can boast about having the happiest people on the planet, I think we can also achieve that! And with “we” I mean everybody.

Happiness in every dimension is achievable. Being life’s nature constant motion and continuous evolution, I believe that it is also our nature and mission to constantly evolve and develop, while in the meantime being happy. You don’t have to wait to be happy until you achieve something, the way to get there should make you happy also.

The capability to set yourself goals and work in their direction with deep engagement, consequently and in peace, trusting your inner powers and the powers of the universe leads to a light hearted and joyous life along the way of achievement. And this is beautiful. These goals should be in harmony with your nature, it is important that you feel love towards that which is your goal or the way to achieve your goal.

There’s a passage in Dr. Murphy’s book, The Power of Your Subconscious Mind, which states that human inner urges to achieve anything are inspired by the universe and the subject’s own capability. And with the right mindset we are” doomed” to succeed. So if we will succeed anyway, why not be happy now?!

After living exceptional experiences it’s inevitable to return to normal life and routines, and being happy is a way of life and can be a habit if you choose it to be. Affirmative prayer and programming your mind can help you turn happiness into a habit.

Mind touched by faith works miracles in your life.

Confidence in your own power and sublime trust in the assistance of the powers of the universe will bring you happiness that stays. Choose to be happy by working on your mental patterns and following the call of your heart.

I’ve used many affirmative prayers to repeat everyday that I find beautifully simple. Try making this the first thought when you awake and repeat this several times during your day:

I choose happiness today,

I choose peace,

I choose succes.

Love and joy brighten up my entire day.

For these blessings I am thankful

Exercise makes the master. Exercise bringing the best and highest in you, put it into action everyday.

Trust the guidance of the divine cell of God contained in your mind,

allow yourself to be inspired by the Spirit of Truth in your heart,

be conscious that your Guardian Angels bring you into situations where decision-making is vital.

It is in hard times where you have the opportunity to show what you are made of, and your Angels see to it that you make the best out of this opportunity.

Even when you find no strength to go on, and I know it can get hard, goodness that comes out of you heals you and others and it fills your heart with sublime joy.

Some people feel anger towards life because of their so-called fate or take revenge at others because things went bad; this only empowers the lowest in human kind.

You see, events are a result of mental structures and not the cause.

Letting go, moving on, being constructive or fair, forgiving, discovering your inner strengths and augmenting your self-worth imply a great deal of personal character and mental power in hard times; but training these muscles can and will bring back the feeling of happiness. Working on yourself can give you a feeling of accomplishment that is a balsam for your soul.

Sincerely desire to be happy and happiness will follow; divine guidance of the universal powers lay before you.

If you want to read more about how your mind can make happiness a habit, read The Power of Your Subconscious Mind from Dr. Josef Murphy; you’ll be happy you did.

Perceiving happiness as an intense emotional state can only lead to disappointment. Intense emotional states caused by bio-chemical reactions originated by an event are only temporary and bound to disappear very soon. That’s the way chemical reactions are: they are caused, they affect us and then body and mind return to normality. That’s nature.

No wonder so many people believe that happiness is lived only at moments that repeat themselves sometimes.

Out of experience I tell you: you can be happy everyday. And yes, I’ve already written about being happy before here. But what I want to tell this time is that:

Life can be set with flowers and stones along our way, but it is you and only you who decides “how you will be” and “who you will be” during these alternating ups and downs of life.

A light-hearted attitude and a fresh mind set-up towards that which we cannot change is “the” ideal attitude; but I know out of experience: it’s easier said than done. Events are sometimes too strong and our lives change so radically that it is nothing but normal to not be able to see light in those moments.

But once you’re half way into normality, it is your choice to return to your usual happy self or at least try to cheer up and find light; the important thing is not to force yourself to do anything.

In those “exceptional” moments there are not many other ways to react than feeling miserable and crying your soul out. Feeling lost, not being able to talk or move, let alone think is a part of being in shock or living loss and hard times. And like I wrote before, thank God that these extreme emotions, also fuelled by chemical activity in our bodies, also have an end. “This too shall pass”.

When you’re finally able to calm your emotions down a bit, and the state of shock lowers to almost normal levels, you find yourself with the practical things in life and you have to go on; sadly or luckily: there’s no other way. In extreme times I remember not even having a drop of energy to do anything. Having kids is a blessing, you literally “have to” move!

So concentrate on doing only that which is absolutely necessary, one step at a time:

• Errands related with practical stuff or survival: buying food, paying bills, going to work, etc.

• Go out and walk for a while, even if you don’t want to. Fresh air works wonders in a few minutes: it heals. And just being among people in the street, observing how life moves and never stops, is a good way of charging energy.

• Pamper yourself. I cannot stress the importance of this point enough. Hard times also affect one’s self-esteem; it’s very important that you bathe (rub yourself, use aromatic oils – this helps you love yourself) and take care of your looks. Dressing yourself like you would when you feel happy is effective, whether you believe it or not. Happiness is contagious. There’s even a technique that says: “act like if you had or were this want you want to have or be and your mind will accept this as real and will make it manifest in your life“. That’s the power of your mind.

• And in relation with this last statement (happiness is contagious) I’ve found that the “Peter Pan” technique of thinking happy thoughts is very effective. Surround yourself with objects that make you think of funny moments, talk with cheerful people, and watch funny movies.

Concentrating on these small but practical things are the first small steps of recovery. These small private moments where you make small decisions is the start point for bigger decisions.

Once you have got the basics in your life running smoothly it’s time for evaluating the state of your affairs. Knowing where you are is the first step into knowing where you’re headed.

• Face and accept reality with all its implications. Observe the cold facts, if possible, without emotions

• See how these facts affect your new life

• Which are the possibilities you have to go on? What are the resources to go on?

• Find out where/what/how you want to be or what you want to do

• Sort out the necessary steps to move your life in the direction you choose it to be

• After these steps are sorted out then it’s time to start acting. One step at a time, start walking before you start running

• Seeking for professional help can also help you into sorting out your life. The supporting input of a professional counsellor will be certainly positive

You can make a list or run a diary with the ideas and how you advance in your list. In the future you may look back and see all you have achieved and how the process was.

These steps are a very practical way to start being again in control of your life and your emotions. Reality wipes fear and anxiety out. Fear and anxiety come from thinking obsessively about the future with no real information in your hands.

Looking at life in the eyes is a healing process; being active and with a goal in your hands, open your eyes again to the simple joys in life. It might take a long time or it might take only days; but getting back to action is certainly the road to start being again the happy person you’ve always been.

There’s a cell of God in our minds, it’s located in the area between the eyes – often called the third eye – and it is this presence that makes us Godlike. “I am” is an integral part of you.
Pronouncing “I AM” refers inevitably to the original cause and it naturally activates eternal powers in you and in the universe.

The words pronounced after “I am” are also of vital importance: accustom yourself to using the right words when you refer to you. The power of “I am” is creation. You literally create that what you say about yourself.

• I am happy
• I am healthy
• I am intelligence
• I am consequent
• I am love
• I am good
• I am peace
• I am beauty
• I am truth
• I am prosperity
• I am abundance
• I am creative

This is a pure and powerful act of creation; it links you with the primary source of the universe.

Think twice before you say things like “I’m no good, lazy, difficult, and dumb”. Avoid calling anyone such names; specially kids and young people tend to “save” those words in their minds and act accordingly.

Make it an important goal to refer to you and to others with respect and in a constructive way.

Set those powers into motion for a good cause: being a beautiful, good and truthful person everyday.
It is an honour to give shelter to the cell of God; let’s live accordingly.

Gain consciousness of this divine presence in you and in others. Although complete consciousness of God is impossible due to our still very material nature, our eternal Father reaches out throughout the whole Universe towards us, he literally sees through our eyes. To spiritualize our material minds in order to establish all possible contact with this divine cell of God is beauty in action. For such beauty in the world I pray for and I’m thankful everyday.

With love,
Atika

Skills, hobbies, routines, sense of humour, ways of thinking and seeing things, etc. can in fact reveal a road of self expression worthwhile exploring, and this discovery is a start that can and may bring back the feeling of joy for life, like you had as a kid.

To consciously do what you do best with joy and maybe even “passion” is a nice goal in life, and it doesn’t matter in which area of your life it is; it may be in the professional area, in the relationship arena, a fulfilling hobby, or a volunteering activity. Important is that you feel you have a place in life, where you give your best and even help or inspire others if possible.

There’s no place for boredom in our lives once we find the things, activities and thoughts that energize us and set our lives into motion. But, please, don’t think that finding the things you’re passionate about means you’re getting a ticket to immediately drop what you’re doing in order to run after your dreams.
The goal here is to motivate your everyday life, and give meaning to otherwise boring or frustrating situations. The goal of this post is to help you find out a direction to go through wisely and intelligently.

Remember, a project has self made and carefully thought steps to follow in order to achieve a goal. One can’t run without first learning how to walk.

Here’s a small list of questions that might open your eyes to a new and intelligent transformation process in your life:

What’s the best attitude towards this questionnaire?
A loose, creative and happy attitude, even funny is the best. Don’t limit the answers and don’t take everything too serious; spontaneity is a good way to find the hidden treasures. Remember you want to find a happy spot in life to develop yourself. After all, we all want to be happy!

Answer the following questions to yourself:

• What moves you emotionally in your everyday life? It can be a hobby, a song, your kids, a painting, dancing, anything!

• Why does it move you? Which values or mental images come up that make you feel good?

• Which activities bring you pleasure and make you forget that time exists?

• What would bring happiness into your life if you could dedicate your life to it? Which activity would make you wake up with a smile on your face everyday?

• Which topic could make you read or talk for hours?

• Ask a good friend, your partner or a family member to tell you what they think you’re passionate about; what have they noticed moves you; what you’re good at; or just plainly what they think you mostly like.

• In which area do you think you’re good at, best at, and better than most? It can be at problem solving, reading between lines, organizing, making people laugh, grilling, etc. Be open and even silly here.

• What can you do that is so easy for you but causes other people to ask for help? What comes naturally to you?

• What makes you unique? What distinguishes you from everybody else?

• Where are you difficult? What can’t you stand?

• Which activity or profession do you think would suit you best?

Now use your imagination here:

• If you died, what would you like to be remembered for?

• What things would you be honoured or celebrated for if you were famous?

• In which area, different from the one you’re now, could you be good at? Be creative.

• If you started a successful business, which would it be?

Once you’re ready with the questions, compare the answers. See which answers are repeated; this is a strong indicator for what you love to do. Which answers feel right in your heart?

Once you discover what the possibilities are for you, make a plan of how you can include these items in your life. Which hobby or occupation is made out of those things that make you happy? If you don’t know of any then invent one up, be creative! The important thing here is to add quality to your life, not stress. To do something you’re passionate about regularly should bring joy to your life.

And if you find that your plan not only makes you happy but that it can actually help others, then your joy will reach sublime heights.

I wish you the very best of times while digging into your soul and finding your place in life: your mission.

With so many choices and countless possibilities, which one is the right path to follow?

The pressure for success and the fear of making mistakes can paralyze and blind you. This is a logical outcome; I mean we have been instructed at school how to carry out projects related to academic areas, but no one ever taught us how to carry out projects related with our goals in life.

I suggest you look at things from another perspective:

• There is no wrong or right, and questions like “what’s my destiny in life?” don’t help either because:

• It is you and only you who decides what you want to do with your life. And, of course, it is up to you to give it your best shot; but you can only give your best shot if what you’re doing is in harmony with your abilities or tendencies. Don’t force yourself.

• All your roads are good, all your possibilities are good. You just have to choose!

• The best way to find out “where your place in life is” is getting to know yourself.

A long time ago I made a course called Life Project.
What I learned has helped me throughout every stage of my life and will continue to do so.

I learned that:

• Dreams are not only dreams

• Nobody has the same dreams you do

• What you dream of is completely related to your skills and capabilities or knowledge

In other words, “because” you have what it takes to actually make these dreams come true, is the reason why you have these dreams in the first place.

Your goal is to turn your dreams into realistic and practical goals.

How did we go about making this project of life? Here are the exercises:

List 25 things or occupations you would love to do; it doesn’t matter how wild or crazy your dreams may sound, just write them down without any adjectives. And please, don’t write things like being rich or famous, these are not occupations, although some so-called celebrities might make us think so.
Results: It was incredible to find out that no one of us could really find 25 things we would love to do in our lives as an occupation, 10 was even hard at that time.
And when comparing some of the not so crazy dreams in life (that could’ve been embarrassing) we found that no one of us shared the same dreams. And it was funny to see that the dreams of others would never be in my list of dreams. Just like nobody is the same, our dreams are also unique.

Pick the top 5 dreams you would love to do and write them down in realistic way: as a goal.

Write a list of the natural and logical course of action to follow if you were to pursue this goal.
Next surprise: EVERYTHING is actually “doable”.

This exercise is a good way to put life into another perspective, where life’s quality can be enhanced and improved by turning your dreams into goals. By giving your dreams a practical and logical structure, you literally pull them out of your imagination and make them real and tangible.

The rest is up to you; follow the steps you consider adequate to make those dreams come true. Even if it takes a while, every small or big step you take in the direction of achieving your goals is an inch closer to your “dream-come-true”.

There’s a statement in my post Motivate your life with Self-Programming that I would like to place here; it’s an affirmative prayer  to find your place in life (click here). Like I always write, be consequent, and repeat these affirmations several times a day everyday; they make wonders in your life!

(update: 2009-02-15) I made a list of 15 questions that can bring joy to your life. This exercise will open up perspectives that you might be unaware of. It will help you discover the hidden treasures in you and might even paint a whole new journey in your life.

I hope this article will set your mind and spirit into motion like it did with me at that time.

You see, there are these long sold stereotypes “made up” by religious groups and people with power to oppress the masses: “Poverty and suffering are virtues”; “only the poor will go to Heaven”; “money is the origin of all evil”, and we can go on and on this way.

1. Note: First of all, heaven is open for everybody (read here), whether you’re poor or rich or anything; as long as you want to, heaven is yours. And this has absolutely no relationship with your material achievements on this planet.
   Second of all, some political tendencies and even Robin Hood promote taking away from the rich to give to the poor because it’s way easier than empowering the poor in a nation to achieve a realistic goal of prosperity in an area of their best skills. Mother Theresa said something like: don’t take people out of poverty, take poverty out of people’s minds. That means hard work.

There are so many people who want a nice house with a garden, in a beautiful place. I ask you, if you have no resources and having money is so bad, how on earth are you going to make your dreams turn into reality? It’s good to have money, and it’s OK to be prosperous. Living only for money or living in bad conditions because of the lack of it is not OK.

I read The Power of Your Subconscious Mind from Dr. Joseph Murphy quite a long time ago, it’s a book about affirmative prayer and working on your mind, and it literally changed my relationship to money and wealth.

This change in your relationship with money and wealth is the first step to heal your mind of erroneous concepts. Wealth is not only money matters; wealth is abundance in all areas, but mostly in freedom of action.

Freedom of action! Doesn’t it sound good? It sure does to me.

I’m not rich but I’m expanding each day more. Each day I work towards winning freedom of action in every way possible. And money is a part of it; that’s why I go to work. But money is not my only motor: I love my job very much. To work and earn money in an area I love is a freedom I hunted down and achieved. I gained in quality of life, I feel blessed!

How can you get to feel this way? Work with yourself everyday; work on your concepts of abundance, money and wealth:

• The principle of life is towards growth, evolution and expansion. The universe is abundant and generous. So, your life grows, evolves and expands; your life is abundant and generous.

• You should be happy, healthy and prosperous. It is your right to be wealthy and free of material barriers

• Try repeating to yourself several times a day these powerful words: “FREEDOM” and “WEALTH” independently from each other.

Being aware of these points and repeating the last two powerful words will change the patterns by which you live and see life. Most people live in the world of “without” or “I don’ have”: change your state of mind to a more constructive and satisfying one.

Decide to live in “Wealth and Freedom”; you’ll see that it feels very good to be conscious of the treasures we have in our everyday life, one feels grateful for life. It’s definitely one of the best feelings and surely one of the many sources of happiness.

In The Power of Your Subconscious Mind,there’s a statement to repeat several times a day, it’s a scientific or affirmative prayer that can help you to have a better relationship with money. I quote:

“I like money…I use it wisely, constructively and judiciously. Money is constantly circulating in my life. I release it with joy, and it returns to me multiplied in a wonderful way. It is good and very good. Money flows to me in avalanches of abundance.  I use it for good only, and I am grateful for my good and for the riches of my mind.”

Be consequent, I can tell out of personal experience that Affirmative Praying does work wonders. Here are some other posts about Self Programming:

Your own Mind, the power to transform your life
Choose to be happy: how Affirmative Prayer programs your mind
Motivate your life with Self-Programming

The Devil

XV – The Devil

Being slave of our own fears or own monsters: addictions, jealousy, envies, attachments, anguish, greed, materialism, etc.

To hurt oneself

Lower energies take control of something and although they are an illusion, they achieve such power in one’s mind that it can eliminate will power. One cannot see, advance or free one’s self from these energies, because one is made blind by any of the characteristics mentioned above.

To be caught up in negative energies that can be lower forms of behaviour or thought.

Acting on rage, animal instincts

Sexuality takes over your head, no reasoning

Alcohol excess or any excess, generally speaking.

Something has gone out of hand

Lower organs

Appetites on the loose

The Tower

XVI – The Tower

The Tower represents crisis, and even though these sorts of crises are very healthy and sometimes necessary, they can cause pain. These crisis bring your forward, you move on and evolve.

The comfortably laid out world, this that is “normal” to us is shaken up.
Although this crisis was necessary, and maybe even desired or predicted, it finally occurs in all its strength, but not self imposed. Sometimes events or normality become intolerable, and nobody seemed to do anything. But nature and heaven make the decision for you if you can’t do it on your own. Sometimes, we have to go through it.

Clean house, all elements of everyday life are shaken up or burnt with healing fire, metaphorically speaking, of course. Only the bare bones are left, all that is superfluous has gone. Essence remains.

All values and fundaments are freed of clutter.

To break out of sick relationships, end choking routines, and eliminate things that get in the way and don’t allow forward movement.

Sorting out what is useful, and throwing away what is not.

Reorganization.

Chaos, it seems as if there’s no way to get order back

Something had or has to be done to end this

The normal and old order has come to an end.

The Star

XVII – The Star

This is an affirmation that comes from heaven and the universe: YES

Inspiration, beauty

Abundance, generosity, blessings

So much abundance of resources is available, that this woman pours water in water and the fertile soil. Pouring water in water: redundancy?

When reading in different areas of life and this card appears, it signals the correct way, the road that will make you happy. This road will make you feel complete.

Fulfilment

When feelings are consulted, it stands for generous and complete love.

It is the road traced by the stars in the direction of wholeness.

Religion: the road of the stars that leads to the attainment of God.

Truth, goodness and beauty.

The Moon

XVIII – The Moon

Your goal is in view, but there’s still a long way to go because this road is not free of obstacles or setbacks. The difficulty lies in things we cannot see with the eyes but can be sensed thanks to our intuition.

The light of the moon reflects the light of the sun. Moonshine logically indicates that the sun (our goals) is actually there even if we don’t see it. Goals are almost at hands grip, but there are “dangers” that might take out our strength and make our pace slower.

Although we cannot see, if we keep our senses open, there will be signals revealed during the way. Listening to hunches or inner voice is advised. Animals sense thing we don’t normally pay attention to, but they warn us. This symbolizes intuition and watching out for signs of danger.

Hidden intentions, actions, motives, and words.

When this card appears together with the sun or the star, or both of them, then there’s no danger. It means light during day and night. Clarity, luck, joy, and harmony. This combination reminds me of a night full of stars, when the moon is full on a clear sky and this light makes everything glow: it’s inspiring.

The Sun

XIX – The Sun

Success, light, clean, good.

Coming home, achieving goals.

Welcome. Being welcomed.

Happiness, peace, and optimism.

Opposites are not opponents anymore, the tension between them disappears and they can now work together as one. Peace at last.

Coming together

That which once was a united and separated is now again united. This explains the concept of coming back home.

A green traffic light: things flow freely and on the right track, harmoniously and safely.

Security

When I see the sun and the stars in a reading I always see success, happiness or harmony. The time is right or the outcome will be satisfying. For me the sun is an earthly and more down to earth symbol than the star which is a are more spiritual symbol.

The Judgement

XX – The Judgement

Freedom, liberation, relief

Finally time has come to let go or be liberated

Time to look back, recognize what worked and didn’t. Free from all burden, free to advance.

It’s time to set things straight and bring your affairs into order.

Classifying and organizing, making conclusions.

Feeling of relief and freedom after a project or task is over or achieved.

Pause for freedom after a hard job. A pause before the glory.

It has been a long and sometimes hard road, but this stage is over. You look back and all that seemed so hard and difficult doesn’t look like it anymore. You have matured, you’ve learned, and you are above the task: you solved, you lived, and you excelled. Freedom!

The World

XXI – The World

All the elements of the universe, all the energies are in their place. The ideal, perfection.

Having the world in your hands.

Success

You are in harmony with all the universal forces.

This card gives the feeling of completion, of excellence, and happiness; the feeling of being “full”.

Spiritually, it represents the gaining or attainment of God consciousness.

In love questions, the obvious: true and complete love, without restrictions.

In profession questions, it means having found your place in life, your mission.

In health questions, complete healing or cure.

State of grace

Joy in life and in the world

Permanent and universal meanings and values.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at: atika@mindspiritmotion.com
I’l be delighted to help you in any way possible.

You can find Part 1, Part 2 and the Introduction of  the Practical Tarot guide of Major Arcana meanings with these links:
Major-Arcana card meanings and relationships – Introduction
Major-Arcana card meanings and relationships – Part 1
Major-Arcana card meanings and relationships – Part 2

Justice

VIII – Justice

As the name of this card indicates, it has to do with justice ad fairness.

Fairness in a wide range means “you shall sow what you plant (seed)”
Many times it has to do with legal papers, justice departments, lawyers and everything to do with legal matters. Contracts, paperwork, etc.

As an answer to an outcome or behaviour it means fairness.

Of course, when the neighbour cards are “negative” (there are no negative cards) than it can mean lack of justice, unfairness, lies (devil) or manipulation of the truth; not being able to see the truth.

Impartiality

Judging others, being judged

The Hermit

IX – The Hermit

This is for me a very controversial card; it needs a bit of carefulness to define its meaning.

Although it basically means “insight”, to get away from everything that distracts and disturbs in order to look inside of yourself and find your way and your truth (to follow the way of virtue), it may also not have such a happy meaning.

The hermit lives in a cave instead of trying to live in “virtue” among his fellow men ad women; he believes that in order to be “spiritually advanced and free” he has to stay away from them, either to escape from temptation or because he might feel he’s too good to be with normal people. He has good eyes but he needs a lamp to see because he’s in darkness; he can walk but he needs a cane.

When I see this card in contrast with the card of the Emperor I see sometimes a disturbed man (it can also be a woman), someone who stayed behind in some areas (economically, mentally, emotionally) and this causes him/her sorrow when conscious of this situation. It can also be someone who can’t really be aware of himself; he/she is in darkness. His/her behaviour may be harmful to others in a passive way because of his blindness or ignorance. Of course this occurs with “negative cards” (there are no negative cards)  as neighbours.

This troubled person may be in crisis and needs a “time out” in order to find himself again.

Patience, the pass of time without acting. The only movement allowed is in your spirit-mind.

I see our civilization reflected in this blind man at the moment. I perceive the desire to follow the light of hope that is spirituality, the following of our eternal Father’s will or the “energy”, etc (it doesn’t really matter how you want to conceive it).

The Wheel of Fortune

X – The Wheel of Fortune

Fate, destiny

This card together with cards like “The Sun”, “The Star” or “The World” means luck and fortune.

There are things in life against which one cannot act, the inevitable, the uncontrollable.

When I see this card I try to keep my eyes open because this card might bring surprises. You can investigate what the whole thing is about by doing further readings in relation with this card; you can find out which event it refers to or at least which area in life will be affected, also whether things are conflictive in nature or harmonious.

It may call for acceptance of life “how it is” or “how it turns out to be”.
This attitude of acceptance can be resignation, but for a mature and experienced person, life’s ups and downs can be worked out to still achieve pre-set goals.

Life might require flexibility in the light of unexpected events.

A rock in your way can be walked around, climbed or hammered to pieces in order to get to the “other side”, but you can also just stand there and feel bad about your luck. Either way it is only “your choice”.

Strength

XI – Strength

This card I like very much, I like what it means:

The lion represents force and passion; all that in nature and in our nature which is very strong and which can force or control peoples lives.

In this case the lion allows his mouth to be opened or closed by this woman or being because he/she is in harmony with the force of nature and inner passions. He/she is mature and “knows” out of experience how to live in harmony with these forces. He/she is in peace with himself/herself and the surroundings, and can “play” knowingly with dangerous powers.

The hat is the sign of the infinite “8″

In contrast with “The Hermit”, there’s achievement of spiritual and mental harmony and no fear to be exposed to life. She doesn’t even see temptation. She is sovereign.

Her attitude is a healthy one, towards fate, passions, and forces. She knows the cycles of life, how things work; and she is perseverant in living life how she chooses to.

Resolution, perseverance.

How do I go about in life and temptation?

Am I sovereign in my deeds and actions?

The Hanged Man

XII – The Hanged Man

This card talks about being at a stop and seeing things backwards or acting like it’s not supposed to be.

The presence of the following attitudes: confusion, stubbornness, immaturity, but also being dumb.

Sometimes, this card talks about youth and the difficulty of this time. Not a grown up and not a child. Like an ostrich which its head in the sand.

It also sometimes indicates a time of not being conscious of things or events. It seems like having wasted time “hanging on a foot” with no purpose at all, and it is as if having observed the world from the wrong perspective.

Then is this card an invitation to stop, open your eyes, turn around and look at the world from a whole new perspective. A healthy and constructive perspective is needed in order to solve and advance in life.

Death

XIII – Death

In films you usually see the great fear some of the characters live with this card. But this whole tragic and exaggerated drama is so far from the meaning of Death in Tarot.

Death of that which is old is birth of things new.

Death and re-birth.

Old chapters in life come to an end and clean the environment, preparing life for wholly new chapters.

This which decayed and doesn’t work anymore is pulled out from the roots, deeply extracted. And there, where stagnated energy is expulsed, starts new life and new energies that are constructive.

Of course, depending on your point of view and the situation, this card can provoke sorrow or joy. If your level of attachment with the “familiar” ways is high or if your secure position is at risk, then it doesn’t matter if the change is good for you or not in the future, this will be a negative card.
In these situations trying to recognize that the sign of the times indicate that things are coming to an end, and I don’t mean it in an apocalyptic way, is hard work. But these events are just part of the recurring cycles of life.

I have to admit, endings can be terrible. And although in the long run one is thankful that everything happened the way it did because a new life with its beauty and new opportunities now exists, in the very moment of these events drama can and may take over. It is important to adopt the position of the next Major Arcana: Temperance; we live in a dual world were extremes exist; it is healthy to try and find the middle road.

Whatever this card is about, it is always a promise of a new beginning; and most times it is something to be happy about.

Temperance

XIV – Temperance

Moderation and balance

Knowing how to deal with the opposites in a dual world and not going to extremes each time.

The balance of duality is desired or achieved.

The person or situation being consulted shows strength of balance. Its middle point or core energy can be influenced but its essence remains untouched.

Stability, balance, flexibility

Health stability of a person or situation

Mature.

Temperance is a very positive energy. Sometimes situations, energies or personalities can go to extremes, but to find that middle point is an important goal in life.

This card shows that duality in the world is not something to avoid or fight against; instead one should try to be conscious about how it manifests and learn how to deal with nature and move ahead in life.

Correct use of resources, of what is available, it gives stability.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at: atika@mindspiritmotion.com

Continue reading the Practical Tarot guide:
Major-Arcana card meanings and relationships – Part 3
Major-Arcana card meanings and relationships – Introduction
Major-Arcana card meanings and relationships – Part 1

The Fool

0 – The Fool
The Fool and the Magician are the same person.

The Fool has the same resources, knowledge, and experience as the Magician, but the Fool “chooses” to have all that tied up in his tablecloth and assumes a passive attitude in relation to his life’s work. The Magician decides to spread his “tools” and use them actively.

The Fool is one that is on his way, on a journey, but also someone who decides not to take responsibility, attachments, etc. He is free. This free journey is temporary; he will always stop and decide to act upon life’s many tasks and challenges.

Sometimes it may seem like he really is careless and irresponsible when combined with “negative cards” (there are no negative cards).

He can also be a child, someone who’s not aware of something because of distraction or ingenuity. But he can also be someone who is on a personal process of new discoveries or life experiences.

When I see this card I have the feeling of someone who is not really there, he or she is physically or mentally somewhere else, like a bit distracted. There’s a bit of evasion in his attitude.

When seen as a child, this card symbolizes innocence and wisdom at the same time: innocent and complete trust in God and in life, with no worries at all.

The Magician

I – The Magician

The Magician is the Fool who decided to stop being evasive. He recognizes it is time to act, and he decides to do so.

The “apparent Fool” then turns into The Magician who masters his cosmic profession (his hat is the symbol of the infinite). And this he enjoys and executes openly (with passion).

Profession is a key for me when I see this card because, out of my experience, this card appears almost always related to that area where you make your efforts everyday. And this is true whether you are a banker, teacher, housewife or a student.

Of course, this card relates to the statement “it’s time to be active” or “it’s time to start being active”, but in the readings I notice that some of the messages are related to work or profession when this card appears.

It may also refer to someone who is good in his job. Someone who takes good care, a good boss, a passionate employee, etc. are all included in the Magician.

Creativity and acknowledgement of relations between events that escape the eye (this is the capability inspired by the street con artist).

Building your own destiny.

So you see the Magician and the Fool are two sides of the same coin. Both are wise and trusting in their own capabilities. Both are self-confident, confident in life and in God, etc.

The High Priestess

II – The High Priestess

This is a wise woman, although this card can refer to a man with a developed intuition. A very down to earth person which has also access to the “other world” (symbolized by the cloth spread behind her). This other world is the world of intuition.

Intelligence and intuition are her tools. Wisdom.

She knows about the secrets of life (the book of sacred writings), she is mature and practical; but she is reserved. You have to go to her in order to get the information; she won’t give it away without you asking.

She carries life and knowledge inside of her; she has the secret of life thanks to her experience.

This woman can bring wise words and ideas; she can guide others to act because of her wisdom. She knows the facts and can advice you.

I usually see her as a mature woman, not a young one. Sometimes I see her as a mother, mother in law, etc.

Depending on the cards near her, she will use her hidden knowledge to help and to heal, but she is also capable of harming and gossiping.

Feminine intuition.

This woman’s guide is intuition.
This wisdom which she carries should be heard.
This woman could be your inner voice.

She advices or guides.

The Empress

III – The Empress

This wise woman is very active, also in decision making. She is in domain of herself and moves actively through life.

Most of the time, the Empress symbolizes the woman who is being read of, as long as the consultant is not emotionally unstable. If the consultant is a dependant or unstable personality, then the card representing him or her will be another card like the Fool or the Hanged Man.

Clear mind, clear words, clear actions would describe her being. Her wisdom is practical, she makes decisions.

Growth and readiness for creation. Fertility.

Creativity in action.

To go outwards and enjoy beauty.

It can also be a woman who is the boss, influential, sovereign, the wife, etc.

In contrast with the High Priestess, The Empress combines intelligence, intuition and wisdom with “action” and adopts a leading role. The High Priestess is active in mind and soul but shows a passive outward attitude.

The Emperor

IV – The Emperor

He is the masculine active principle. Halfway sitting and halfway standing which means he’s about to take action, he’s ready to act.

This card talks about the practical, down to earth and realistic attitude of a man who owns himself.

Maturity, authority, and practical mind are his characteristics. The Emperor is someone who makes the “correct” actions, the “good for all” above selfish goals. Fair and practical.

When I see this card I have mostly the impression of a clear minded man who is generous.

When he’s the boss, he’s fair
When the father, loving and caring
When the husband, friend and lover, correct and faithful

The Emperor is a practical and faithful man. Not only in his intentions, mostly in his actions.

Intelligent man

Authority, man capable of making decisions, man in position to make decisions.

Material power

The Pope

V -The Pope

He represents spirituality and morality; everything wise

This card symbols the importance of the card directly in the direction of his pointing finger. I usually meditate on the right hand side neighbour card; its combination with the Pope shows you something you’re overseeing, something you didn’t know had importance or something you didn’t know had to do with your question; and this is always something you should pay attention to.

The Pope’s signalling finger shows you the way or tells you: “look! So it is!”

Wisdom, experience, capability of seeing the great picture. Authority.

Doing God’s will or the “right thing”.

Love

VI – Love

This card talks about human relationships and social contacts, and also the influence these relationships may have on you to manipulate, restrict or push you into action, through “rationality or social mores”.

It also represents the spiritual world which rules over rationality and social influences (Cupid, the angel of love). This force that is in each one of us, guides us to make our own heart felt decisions; the longing for love and goodness, the “urge to do the right thing”.

In relation to love matters, it is the tension between sensuality as a direction to choose from and heart as the other direction (will power).

Choice

Heart over sensual and temporary satisfaction.

Relationship based on love and choice.

The Chariot

VII – The Chariot

Movement and decisions

Time has come to make a decision and to concentrate your efforts on a goal. Mind, heart and body in the same direction will drive you forwards. If your heart and your mind don’t agree in which direction to go, it would be the same as having a chariot with two horses who want to gallop in opposite directions at the same time: there’s no way to advance.

When awaiting an event, this card signals that it’s moving; the decisions were made or will be made soon.

The moment to act is now. Choose your way or direction and make it true.

This card is always influenced by the cards next to it. It shows an easy road or a bumpy one depending on if it’s a positive or a “negative card” (there are no negative cards) right next to it. This card next to the moon means, it’s still a long way to go but the direction is correct; keep your eyes open so you don’t miss your goal.

The word “road” in this case can be a life path, a company where you want to work, a job or project to do, a course of action; everything that means making a decision of going consequently in a direction.

A deep intention that is carried through and made real.

This card alone as an answer related to a task means success, it moves.

The right choice.

This card also represents the decision of “moving on” into the next stage of life

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at: atika@mindspiritmotion.com
I’l be delighted to help you in any way possible.

Continue reading the Practical Tarot guide:
Major-Arcana card meanings and relationships – Part 2
Major-Arcana card meanings and relationships – Part 3
Major-Arcana card meanings and relationships – Introduction

Major Arcana

This being a personal point of view, I suggest you don’t necessarily learn by heart all that is written in this guide, or in any book. I myself never did that. Instead try to understand the principles and the images. Let your mind-intuition guide you, listen to yourself and your hunches. One card can have so many meanings, most of all when related to so many other cards, questions, lives, etc. Read and “feel” the meanings; ask yourself:

• What are these cards trying to tell me?
• What is the relationship between them?
• What is their relationship to reality or that which I am asking?

It is important that you understand the symbology, archetype or principle-essence of the card more than formulas written on a book. Understanding means “interpreting”. But more than concentrating on the meaning of one card, it is very important to understand the relationship between the cards, the “whole picture”. If you add to this mix your intuition, than I guess there’s no stopping you!

Is my answer or interpretation right?
Please don’t expect to get the right answers. There are no right answers in the first place. Remember that a card reading session is time-bound. We are human beings with Free-Will. In this moment you might be headed in one direction, but if you change your mind, you will head in another direction. You ultimately decide how your life will be. Isn’t that good news?

How to keep track of my learning process?

I suggest you take card reading as an experiment, at least at the beginning. That’s why I strongly recommend you to have a diary with all your questions followed by the answers obtained in your card reading sessions. You can check afterwards if your interpretations went in the same direction of the events you asked.

Death

Does the death card mean I’m going to die?
Negative cards are not really negative cards. We live in a dual world.  Like every process in life, there is growth and decadence, light and darkness, open and hidden, etc. We are all born to grow up, mature, grow old physically, die on earth as a material being and then be born again in other more spiritual realities. And this cycle repeats itself until achievement of eternity and complete realisation of God, our Father’s Reality.

The death card means that something is completely finished in order to start a new epoch in life. Death intrinsically implies “re-birth”. Evolution is universe’s motivation!

The death card is many times a desirable card. It can mean the end of a sad period in life and the beginning of something new and beautiful.

How do I ask the cards?
The information that you receive from the cards comes from a huge mass comparable with the mass of all the oceans together. One has to give specific coordinates in order to get an accurate answer. For me it’s like diving into the sea: molecules of water connected with zillions of other water molecules, carry my petitions and connect me to the answers. To some it may sound rude, but I feel it a bit like surfing in the internet. You can google everything!

It does help to first know what it is you want to know. Complete names and horoscope signs, birthdates or even pictures are altogether good in order to make better “hits”.

Before we start I would like you to know that I am here to help you with your cards, so feel free to make all the questions you want; feel free to contact me at: atika@mindspiritmotion.com

Continue reading the Practical Tarot guide:
Major-Arcana card meanings and relationships – Part 1
Major-Arcana card meanings and relationships – Part 2
Major-Arcana card meanings and relationships – Part 3

I lived myself also two very short periods of my youth and young adulthood without being able to sleep well or at all. Being such a “visual” and “skin” person (I feel or sense everything); I was perceiving spiritual beings who would rejoice at my fear and ignorance. They got a kick at me being able to see them.

These spiritual beings, called in some religions “fallen angels”, have total lack of strength or power whatsoever since the times of Jesus of Nazareth’s resurrection, specifically since the time of the Pouring of the Spirit of Truth at Pentecost.

There are 2 very important things you must know by heart:

• There is absolutely no way possible for a spiritual being to do anything bad or good to you if you don’t want to. Nothing, absolutely nothing can interfere with your supreme universal right: FREE WILL.

• Your Guardian Angel has full power – given to them by God, our eternal Father, and the Universal laws – to guard your life and see that you are in complete use of your right of Free Will.

We choose. We are free will creatures. And this is a strong privilege in the Universe; it makes us big in our own smallness.

We, as evolution beings of animal origin, are at the very beginning of the spiritual ladder of universal hierarchy. Our Eternal Father has created the mechanisms by which his love reaches every single one of us, universal beings, throughout the whole creation; and this fact is exactly that which protects us and makes us mighty:

• The Cell of God in our minds, located in a place in our brains between the eyes. It is “the” major goal in life to turn into more spiritual beings in order to widen our contact with this cell of the Eternal Father in ourselves.
• The Spirit of Truth, the presence of the eternal Son, which was poured about all of human kind here on Earth at Pentecost
• And the loving watch care of our Guardian Angel whose source of origin is the Holy Spirit.

Consciousness of the importance of our place in the universe makes you strong.

I remember two techniques I used to get rid of my fears:

* I would visualize the whole amount of ideas, images, feelings, words, etc that go through our minds the whole day as small squares of a movie film; like if each thought or image were a small trailer of a whole movie.
The point here is that as soon as you stop on an image or a “movie trailer” automatically the whole film regarding this image would load. So I just had to take care of which film I would “download” and which I would just ignore.
There are sometimes bad images that scare you, and the more you stop on them, the more your fear grows. Instead, just look at the trailer and let it go, that’s not a movie you want to see.
Concentrate on good films; promote constructive energies and harmonious feelings, etc.

* Technique number two is one I started to use as soon as I gained consciousness of our human powers. And it doesn’t matter if your fears have foundation or not, all you have to do is simply “command” in an authoritarian tone of voice(don’t ask kindly here, please) :

You will leave this place (my house, etc) immediately! Now!

You have complete power to do it. And that’s all there is to it. A self-reliant and confident attitude works wonders to expel all fears.

Note: Please observe that I emphasize “getting rid of fear”.
I’m not saying here that spiritual entities don’t exist; there are countless light beings and very very few dark ones. But I do have to say that many times our fears are a product of our imagination, religious tradition or just simple superstition.

Here, I concentrate on you and your mighty powers. Whether “lower energies” are present or not is wholly irrelevant and of no importance whatsoever to our lives.

The important point in this whole situation is you and your ever growing universal consciousness.

If you want to read more about the presence of God in Mankind, Guardian Angels, a description of what happened at Pentecost related by “light Angels” I recommend a book that changed my life: The Urantia Book.

You can also read The Urantia Book for free in the internet: www.urantia.org

It can be anything.
But sometimes you don’t even know what to wish for although you know something’s missing.

• Renewing the love you have or
• Finding that “someone” special to love and be loved by
• Cultivating warm and deep family relationships
• Developing a great hobby
• Being really good at something you love
• Doing a job that you can be passionate about

I encourage you to make contact with the eternal source of wisdom that is the Universal Mind. Remember that even though you might not know the questions, let alone the answers, the fact that you are conscious that there has to be more or that you can give more of you is actually inspired by those energies in charge of your development as a human being with infinite potential. The Universal source that makes you conscious of that need for change knows all the answers, connect with it and let yourself be inspired.

Here is a short exercise to make contact with the Universal Source of Wisdom that guides us all.

What, when and where:
Prayers and auto-suggestions work at best right before you doze to sleep and when they’re the very first thought when waking up. They also work better in those moments of peace and silence, where there’s no chance to be disturbed.
Everyday, twice a day or more, when the conditions allow it, repeat the following text or make your own prayer according to your personal needs, and in a tone you personally use to communicate with the universe.
Be patient and consequent. Repeat this everyday, at least twice a day. Trust the power of the divinity in you and the universe.

The Powers of my Mind-Spirit, in connection with the eternal Wisdom of the Universal Mind, guide me to the place where I belong in this life. Supreme intelligence inspires me to discover the area where I can grow and make my life and that of others around me even better. Deep joy and motivation are motors of my life.

I am capable of recognizing and appreciating the goodness of life
I am capable of truly living life
I am capable of making life beautiful

For that I’m thankful

There’s a book that inspires me very much and it’s called The Power of Your Subconscious Mind. It speaks about how your mind works and gives many examples of affirmative prayer or self-programming. I not only mention my own power or the powers of my own mind in my prayers or self-programming sessions; I am very conscious that our power is directly connected with the powers of the universe and that they are of cosmic nature.

How many of you have heard “that’s life”, “some things will never change”, “you never know what can happen”, or “why even bother?” These common phrases keep you expecting the worse. Hearing them enough is also a way of self-programming. Your mind accepts these messages as true and executes them without discerning whether it’s good or bad. This is how the mind works.

If you live and think in fear, then that what you fear will come true.
Choose to live and think with trust and love in life’s wisdom, then a lovely life full of self- trust will manifest.

Self-programming works faster than you can ever imagine. In one week, since “choosing to be happy” and reinforcing this goal through self-programming (also called affirmative prayer), I got the job of my dreams in a great place, working with great people.

On the very day I quit my old job (a very progressing company but a depressing place to work at), my soon-to-be boss called me to ask if I would be interested in working with him. After his call I just sat down speechless: in shock and awe at the power of my self-programming sessions.
It was a very hard decision to quit my job without having anything else in my hands except my trust on the Universal Wisdom. I was just simply happy and grateful towards life.

Starting to consciously pray in an affirmative way will improve your relationships incredibly, and the way you approach life and how you feel is like a sort of small re-birth. And this state of happiness you can renew everyday; you’ll feel blessed.

Being this such a wonderful state to be in, I want to share these practical exercises with you. It is my intention to contage you with happiness.

What, when and where:
Prayers and auto-suggestions work at best right before you doze to sleep and when they’re the very first thought when waking up. Also in those moments of peace and silence, where there’s no chance to be disturbed.
Everyday, twice a day or more, when the conditions allow it, repeat the following text or make your own prayer according to your personal needs, and in a tone you personally use to communicate with the universe.

Be patient and consequent. Repeat this everyday, at least twice a day. Trust the power of the divinity in you and the universe. Choose happiness.

I CHOOSE TO BE HAPPY. I AM FREE.
The powers of my mind-spirit, in connection with the eternal Wisdom of the Universal Mind, open my inner doors to happiness.
Beauty, Truth and Goodness burst inside of me and fill every cell of my body with genuine joy.
Beauty, Truth and Goodness grow and expand outside of my body filling every single part of my life with blessings.
Everything I touch is beauty, the universe is wonderful
and I AM HAPPY and thankful for this gift

With this exercise you will discover that what one often hears: “happiness is real at moments, and it’s not a constant state to be at” is not at all true. People sometimes describe being happy as being “high”, laughter and joy unlimited.
Experience has taught me that “being happy” is actually a constant state in life, if you choose it to be. This state of happiness is sometimes affected by bad news or events, but you’re core element remains untouched. And as time heals, you always return to be your normal happy self.

It’s wonderful when you ask someone, if they could choose “what to do” or “where to be”, and their answer is:

I choose to be here doing exactly what I’m doing now.

This, my friends, is real freedom!

Your mind, as a substantial part of the universal mind, has the power to work miracles, it has the power to create and transform life.

Modern Physics (Quantum Physics) have proved without a doubt that even the smallest atomic particle found on earth and the biggest and farthest star on this universe are both part of a single and inseparable net of relationships. This invisible “net”, the space between the tangible, is inseparable – in function and substance – from that which is perceivable. This so-called “emptiness” makes the tangible possible, it allows function. Mind, spirit, our world and the universe are one; some parts of it you see, some you don’t. But these connections are real, whether we understand them or not.

Everything you find in the world was created by “the mind”. Your own world is also created mostly by your mind. Make contact with the grandiosity of the universal mind and heal your world.

Fill your thoughts with ideas of love, harmony, health, joy, and prosperity. The power of your mind will make them manifest in your material world. Deepen those thoughts; make them an integral part of who you are.

Illness, problems, war, and poverty -amongst others- have been targeted by trying to change its outward manifestation. The real sources that originated these sad realities have been entirely ignored.

The place to start the change is inside of you, me and everybody.

If you change the source, it is impossible to get the same outcome.
The source is your mind.

Our minds have many parts. We’ll concentrate about the conscious mind and the subconscious mind. Your subconscious mind has total control over your vital functions, those activities which we cannot control consciously. Your subconscious mind literally builds and regenerates your body every single second of your life.

As soon as a concept nests in your subconscious mind, it reacts like a computer: your subconscious mind follows exactly the orders given, without discriminating whether it’s a healthy or harming command. This makes things a tiny bit difficult in a world full of “you can’t”, “it’s not gonna happen”, and “life’s so difficult”.

The good news is that the main purpose of your subconscious mind is to preserve you and heal you. Its main goal is to create, not to destroy; and affirmative prayer, also known as scientific prayer, is a powerful transformation tool. Constructive concepts will always substitute or prevail over wrong-doing concepts.

Keep yourself busy with thoughts of health, truth, happiness, and harmony. And don’t worry that negative concepts may appear. The key to this is to let negative thoughts go as soon as they appear, don’t stop on them. Just go on with your thoughts of love, prosperity, and joy. Live these wonderful realities in your mind, feel as if you already had them, visualize them vividly.

It is also important that you check your life consciously. Observe where you are strong and where you are weak or incomplete. Check for  ideas and concepts associated with the areas you would like to strengthen or completely change.

Start visualizing yourself the way you want to be; re-program yourself. Always remember that your mind is connected with a universal power, which supports you: The Universal Mind. You’re not alone; heal and grow.

The best times to do these visualizations are right when you wake up and right before falling asleep. Those are the times when your conscious mind is more relaxed than usual. And be constant, it has worked real wonders for me.

If you want to know more about your mind and how it works for you, I recommend this book: The Power of Your Subconscious Mind. This is one of few books I consider to be my dearest; this book has seen me transform into the person I am today, it has changed my life and will continue to do so.

It’s time to free ourselves from the inherited concepts of karma, original sin, and guilt. This load on our backs doesn’t even belong to us. These concepts were sometimes used to establish discrimination among people; these concepts were often used to keep the privileged in power. Heaven is for every single one of us, if we want to. And nothing can take that away from us.
Be free!

This might come as a shock for some. You don’t have to be perfect, no obligated church visits, no purging-off your sins.
Your ticket to heaven is simply “Wanting” to make this journey. Inner longing to make this spiritual trip.

FAITH is your key to Heaven.

It sound simplistic and easy, but it’s not… and then, it is.
At least for me, it’s very liberating, this sense of freedom is hard to describe with words.

Nowadays, there seems to be this emptiness in the air. Some of us try to fill this gap with shopping, entertainment and pleasures, but when you’re alone with yourself, you might get to feel a bit lost. Many questions could arise:

• What’s the purpose of life?
• What’s the purpose of my life?
• What next?
• Is all this worth it?

For some people the purpose of life is:

• Protect and provide my country or my family
• Cure the sick
• Feed the poor
• Help humanity
• Bring happiness to my family

These are wonderful and important goals in life, for all of mankind.

But, the “ultimate purpose in this life”, the one Purpose that makes all other purposes achievable is the consciousness of our eternal destiny in Heaven; the spiritual career.

This spiritual consciousness intrinsically implies:

• Opening eyes and hearts to our brotherhood on earth and in the universe. As material (only temporarily), intelligent and spiritual beings we all come from the same origin, our substance is the same, and our purpose is the same.
• Having goals that transcend all material and temporary ambitions (life’s motiv(es)ation). This is the spiritual career.

And longing for this journey across this universe, knowing only “that” which many of our religions have preached, is a pure act of faith.
And this pure act of faith upon the spiritual career is what guides us and gives us the tools to achieve all of humanities biggest goals.

The material world is a result of the spiritual world; our planet won’t get better with material solutions alone. The change has to come from the inside, from every single one of us. And this deep conviction of spiritual and universal values is the true motor.

One of many beings that showed us the way was our loved Michael, known on earth as Jesus of Nazareth, with his life’s example he continues to inspire us to reach out into eternity starting from ourselves:

Beauty of actions
Truth of mind and intention
Goodness of heart and soul

The spiritual career, the description of Heaven, Life’s purpose, and the complete narration of  “The Life of Jesus” (narrated by spiritual beings) are but a few topics written on this wonderful book that changed my life: The Urantia Book.

Warning: If you decide to buy this book, I suggest you read it slowly, not necessarily from the beginning. Its concepts are hard to take at once; start by reading about things that have always interested you or intrigued you; and then slowly get to other deeper areas. I hope you love this book as much as I do.

Angels

Guardian angels are our spiritual helpers. Their goal is to help you, me and every person on this planet to communicate with the divinity in us, and to be one with the God-Cell inside ourselves.

This angel assignment is done according to our intelligence and spirituality levels. Since the times of Jesus of Nazareth guardian angels have been assigned to each and every one of us, without exception.

Average man shares many guardian angels with others based upon similar intellectual and spiritual progress related to:

• Self-understanding
• Self-conquest
• Self-mastery

A “personal” guardian angel is assigned to you as soon as you evolve into a position of great decision making with potential of spiritual understanding and depth.

Your great “life” decisions are personal and no one else lives these decisions the way you do; everyone has their own experience. For you to consciously overcome fear and dare stand up to someone or some situations at hard times in a calm and well thought form, consequent with ideals or own moral standards can take a great deal of guts.

Personal guardian angels are assigned to you when these points are met:

• Capability of great life decisions
• Possible spiritual understanding
• Relative contact with your own divinity
• And when the “supreme” decision to be God-like is made

Being God-like

The “supreme” decision is made in that moment where you decide to be true to yourself, to life and to others; to love in all situations possible; to act consequently with that truth and love for yourself and humanity in your daily normal life. In that moment when you are conscious of being a part of the beauty of the universe, of this planet, of your country, city or family, and you want to cultivate this beauty: on this very moment you have been assigned a personal guardian angel.
You just simply want to be good and do good things in a good, healthy way.
It’s a way of life. It’s consciousness.

And this occurs whether you know or not that an active cell of God and his love is in you. Deepak Chopra, in his book How to Know God: The Soul’s Journey Into the Mystery of Mysteries, says that the urge to seek for answers, to look for God, to try and feel or understand the reality of God is in our DNA, we can’t help ourselves. We come from the love of God and we have the innate necessity to go back to our origin.

And this is what angels guard with jealousy:  our mind-spirit journey back to the Eternal Father in -what we call- paradise.

If you want to know everything about angels and many more things about God and the spiritual world and our eternal destiny, read the The Urantia Book

Now that the opposites of victory and loss have been accepted, and balance guides our acts, we are ready to enter the third and last part of this story.

Major Arcana (click on the image for a bigger view)

Stage III: Soul – Upwards – Heavenly

This is the last chapter where our hero (we are our own heroes) achieves his goals and the world: he’s free!

Have you noticed that sometimes before healing definitely it only seems to get worse? The same happens at the beginning of this final stage.

Right after balance and recovery of the second stage were set, life exposes dependencies and slavery to conventions; ego, primitive desires and the determination to get things “the way I want” take over. These elements remain even though reality asks for recognition and acceptance of that which we cannot change or control (“The Devil”).

It’s hard to realize that what one thought was completed is actually not ready yet. Burdens and slavery are still there.

Therefore, and once again inspired by God and the heavens, crisis painted by “The Tower” card takes over and shakes up the entire world. This is a deep cleansing action which finally burns all that’s superfluous and not spiritually constructive, all attachments to old customs are gone; they were burnt down to its roots.

Material and personality burdens are cleasend away.

This crisis can be self induced sometimes; but if man doesn’t make the necessary decision, life usually takes over, and those energies (guardian angels) in charge of guiding and helping us through spiritual growth and evolution are indeed involved in taking us through these necessary experiences.

Once clean from ego, after so much fighting with the world and one’s self, looking up to “The Stars” in recognition of the spiritual and universal values learned along the way: there’s peace and sweet joy.

The abundance of stars and the generosity of their universal powers wake the urge to reach out and touch them. It is the will to be in harmony with spiritual values: beauty, truth and goodness… enlightment takes place.

“The Moon” represents the long and “dangerous” path that is the search for divinity, the quest for truth, the way to spiritual growth. The shine of “The Moon” allows seeing the purpose or goal, which lies in the future (intuition), in the dark. You can also see that it still takes a while to get there.

After all that has been achieved and lived, the road has finally led home, the place where one is welcome (“The Sun”), where warmth and light reigns. And it is as if time never existed, it seems like never having left. Did we ever?

Time is inexistent; in Judgement day (“The Judgement”), after having gone this long and dangerous road, you are not only free of attachments or ego, you are free of fear.

Material/Temporary mind is free. The spiritual mind is born or has been expanded, spiritual realities are attained, and lessons are definitely learnt.

The consciousness of God (the Eternal Father/Mother), also known as Nirvana is the card of “The World”: True light.

This process of spiritual evolution repeats itself over and over again, each time at higher levels, in a movement that could be graphically represented as an upwards opening spiral; each round is bigger and wider. The end is in reality a never ending new beginning.

In other aspects of life, “The Fool” starts its process again, that free soul parts from its comfortable settings and sets about to conquer the world; the quest for true values is long and beautiful.

This has been a story of attainment of Universal values:
Beauty of actions, truth in our minds, and goodness in our souls

Thanks for taking your time to read this story!

Major Arcana (click on the image for a bigger view)

Stage II: Mind – Inwards

The second line of cards or the second stage represents the road of “insight”, our relationship with ourselves and our lives. It’s the inner world in each of us and our inner battles with life’s many tasks; but also the battles to try and let go.

The inner urge for fairness, the need to differentiate and judge, to choose to do “the right thing” (the “Justice” card) implies insight and enlightment (“The Hermit”). This discovery of the “right course of action” is felt at heart and is intellectually logical, it’s like a “click”, the pieces fall into place.

When you’re in the dark, troubled or standing before an obstacle or an event placed by fate – “The Wheel of Fortune”- and you find “insight”, you convert yourself from the enlightened “Hermit” into the card of “Strength”:

You come to believe that it’s natural to find things or situations which you cannot really influence; one can learn to live this reality and still go our way perseveringly until we master the task at hand.

Though sometimes, we still resist ourselves and set about to fight against things we cannot change. At times we feel that that found strength runs out, we might be tired or maybe just went in the wrong direction in the first place; we got confused, simply ran out of vision or our personal motives or needs weren’t met how we expected (“The Hanged Man”).

This sequence repeats itself many times during life, be it divorce, separation, mourning, but also during the creation of an enterprise or a project, as well as experiencing something new in life (“The Wheel of Fortune”); it’s a learning process. You find light and direction or the solution “clicks” in you, and it is then when you are ready to do the “right thing” for yourself (“Strength”), you’re capable of assuming reality and making decisions.

That voice in the middle of action that suddenly stops you and asks: is this correct? Is this worth it? Will I succeed? What if I don’t? Why can’t I just have it easy or my way?, can sometimes be a real bother.

At this stop one might stick the head in the sand (“The Hanged Man”), not knowing where to go or where strength has gone. It might also be fear to leave old patterns or being to comfortable to do it; stubbornly sticking to ways that don’t bring anyone further. It’s hard to leave the security of a perfectly set world or society; it’s hard to not get things our way.

But as life is to be lived, the old concepts die and a stage in life dies (“Death”). There’s no comfortably set order in the world anymore and it’s sometimes difficult to accept. Naivety dies and reality takes over; it’s a new begin. Death and Rebirth are in one card.

In this accepting and mastering of many tasks you finally understand that life is made out of these ups and downs coming from the “Wheel of Fortune”. You learn to live with the opposites of victory and loss, achieving or letting go (“Temperance”):

all dualities are but two faces of the same coin. Understanding them as a unit will help one’s central core to remain unchanged, and to be able to decide how these ups and downs will influence life. Finally, in this stage, “balance” is obtained.

This is, at some points, Plato’s Soul of Will: “determination and self-determination” like it is written in Robert Place’s book The Tarot: History, Symbolism, and Divination.

Read “Part 3″ of this story of spiritual growth in the Tarot Major Arcana here!

There are three states described in this story which are analogue to the “road of enlightment” led by Siddhartha; but these three stages are also pretty much like the process everybody goes through in life, personally or in relation to the always evolving paths of human civilization, it’s called “Spiritual Growth”. These states are patterns or archetypes which repeat themselves throughout all great quests.

I have prepared this image in order to follow each card as if it were a spiritual diary with three chapters. You can click on it for a bigger view.

Major Arcana

Stage I: Body – Outwards

The first line of cards represents the state of “worldly life” or “material life”, the place where one influences others and is influenced by society. This is your everyday life. Material values are at display in the form of ignorance (not seen as negative), manipulation, the quest for power, concentration on acquiring material fortunes. Spirituality or spiritual purposes are not really present. This is Plato’s “soul of desire”.

Although today “The Fool” and “The Magician” cards have different meanings for us today – as you will see in my further descriptions- these represented archetypes, as original concepts, are rather negative.

• The unwanted, the renegade, he who doesn’t fit in and gives his back to society and its mores represented by “The Fool”.
• “The Magician” is the greedy street performer who will trick you out of your money without blinking, the con artist.

These starting cards in Tarot represent two archetypes which are looked down to. “The Magician” is considered to be the worse of both because “The Fool” cannot help himself. “The Magician” is deceiving with complete intention and purpose, he makes his living out of his well mastered con abilities.

These two cards represent the lowest standards in society. But they also represent:

• “The Fool”: freedom of choice, the search for truth even if it goes against tradition or the establishment. Prejudices, beliefs and assumptions are discarded and “one’s own new path” is followed with courage.
• “The Magician”: things are not always what they seem and not all that shines is gold. He dares us to look at our life critically, to discover what is real and what only appearance is.

So you see, the beginning of this first stage is the absolute start point of every evolution-stage as a spiritual and intelligent human being. Each card has two sides or meanings (symbology). You can stay in your secure world or you can start asking questions and living out of the mould, it’s the border between the material world and spiritual consciousness. “The Fool” asks for courage to go your own way and not necessarily that which you’ve been told to. “The Magician” in you can intelligently differentiate what is real and where you fool yourself in life. What is superficial and what hides behind it. Whether you consider doing something about it is not stated in this first stage, action will come in the next two stages. This first stage is always starting to be aware of your own place in life and taking an honest look at yourself. It represents the new task to assume or not.

The book called The Tarot: History, Symbolism, and Divination from Robert Place names this first stage, according to Plato, “the Soul of Desire”, in which the material and our ego are honoured.

After these two cards, comes a sequence of personalities displayed according to their social hierarchy. “The Pope” as a spiritual leader has a higher social pedestal as the material powers represented by the royals; and it is he who signals that “the spiritual” and “the heavenly” rule over material power, sensual desires and social mores.

This last affirmation is confirmed and supported by the “Love” or “Lovers card”.

“The Fool”/“The Magician” in his path through materiality and sensuality has to decide between what his body or ego commands or what he strives for: virtue.

Cupid’s arrow is pointed at him while he looks at the woman with virtues, therefore his higher values will win over his ego. Here are material and sensual influences which are “worldly” but the higher or “heavenly” influences and inspirations are stronger.
Man decides to follow the way of higher values.

And just as this decision for spiritual growth is being made, will this stage be ended by the “The Chariot”. It’s time to act consequently with your decisions in order to reach your goals. The need for horses signals a long way to go.

This is the letting go of the “superficial” to start riding the path of “Insight”, Plato’s “Soul of Will” according to The Tarot: History, Symbolism, and Divination from Robert Place. This point of view is also supported in Lee Bursten’s book “Universal Tarot of Marseille. A true guide to the Marseille Tarot.”

I see in the cards and agree on what these great books say; but there are other ways to see it:

These first seven cards or trumps, taking “The Fool” out, show the world in its established order which, good or bad, is a world of security where everybody knows which role to play and where they belong. The old and young, the weak and powerful, the wise and foolish, all find their representation in this first set of cards. And then with the “Love” card appears what in my opinion moves the world and society. And no, although it sounds beautiful, there’s more to this card than “all you need is love”.

The material/sensual in our human nature is such a strong force as our inner love for the beauty of truth.

Our culture or social customs, this we’re used to see and do have a strong saying in how we deal with these two poles of attraction, both fascinating in their own way. The third force comes from heaven, the universe, God, nirvana or inspiration (holy) which guides us even if we don’t see it or are aware of it:

It’s the urge of the heart and the urge of the soul: wanting to do the right thing, to be good, true and beautiful, which is inspired and motivated by elevated or holy energies.

In that moment where you decide yourself for truth, starts a whole new movement, like a rolling of events (The Chariot) that results in a not so orderly world anymore (that would be the second sequence of cards), and this bumpy road ahead intrinsically comes with growth and evolution.

Read “Part 2″ of this story of spiritual growth in the Tarot Major Arcana here!