The Chariot UFO'S ?

The Chariot: UFO’s, UAP’S 25

     It’s best to approach the subject of UFO’S (Unidentified Flying Objects) with some skepticism. Instead of the question: “do they exist, or do not exist,” this discussion is more about the multifarious interpretations of the concept of UFO’S, now called UAP’s (Unidentified Aerial Phenomena). A lot of this discussion is based on pure speculation, imaginative fantasy, and even science fiction, although current information about UAP’S has recently been reconsidered and, yes, it’s been confirmed that they are a reality and have been photographed with certainty. 

 “…the whole propaganda on the subject has been handled very badly driving countless individuals away who might otherwise be genuinely interested” (Brinsley Le Poer Trench)

The Chariot TOCC 

What does this have to do with Tarot? The Tarot card, The Chariot, in Tarot of Cosmic Consciousness, depicts elliptical shapes that could be interpreted as UFO’s. Why did Arthur E. Waite include The Chariot in The Rider Tarot Deck? [1910] (U.S. Games Systems, Inc.) A chariot implies movement; a cart enabling one to move forward at a rapid pace. In the ancient past, chariots were used in warfare to carry soldiers and weapons or to move goods and people from place to place. In Tarot, The Chariot represents a more transcendent purpose, for instance, as a symbol of divine power. In Hebrew mysticism, the Merkabah, the name of a divine chariot, symbolizes the movement of the Throne of God. 

    In the Rider-Waite Tarot Deck, The Chariot card depicts a King or Knight driving a team of black and white sphinxes, odd creatures which add to the mystery of this card. Waite says in the Pictorial Key to the Tarot (University Books 1959 [1910], that the sphinxes refer to the “Mystery of Nature.” According to Waite, the symbol of the human figure resembling a knight riding in a victory chariot celebrates the achievement of success, either in battle, passing an initiation, or in overcoming conflicts in life.

 

UFO/UAP Sightings and witnesses: 

     In 1959 or 1960, I was first introduced to the UFO phenomenon by a young man who was stationed in the Air Force in Alaska. He showed photographs some airman had taken of UFO’s that were seen flying around their base. I was interested and amused and, of course, I was left wondering what that was all about. Then, personally, in 1967, I saw two strange round disks speeding through a dark night sky at high altitude over central California, which I interpreted as UFO’S. My Mother and I were sitting in the yard on our farm (where there are no city lights or street lights) and we saw two huge round orange-colored disks sweep across billions of stars at thousands of miles per hour, heading South. Earlier, I had watched a passenger jet slowly cross the sky, although when compared to these fleeting things, the jet was slow as a turtle. What did we just see? What were they? Where did they come from? Were they from outer space or something from another dimension? How were they piloted at that enormous speed? They were obviously not some US military space rockets. 

    After that experience, I read several books about UFO’S by well-known authors such as Jacques Vallee, Whitley Strieber; watched the movies Encounters of the Third Kind; E.T, and of course, Star Trek. I was entertained by UFO encounters on the X-Files TV program, especially the abduction of the one called “Max.” Eventually, some friends and I visited alleged UFO landing sites in Roswell and Aztec, New Mexico. We loved the UFO Museum and Crash Down Diner, a great place for entertainment and laughs. A friend who was traveling the “Extraterrestrial Highway” in Nevada bought a book for me from the “Little A’le’Inn” Restaurant titled UFO Highway: Are You Ready for the Truth? by Anthony F. Sanchez. That story is about military discoveries in Dulce, New Mexico and tells of skirmishes with “little grey men” in deep underground caverns. If it is a true story and not science fiction, this is the scariest book I’ve ever read. This report can really bring out the fear of “the unknown.” 

 

   The past few years, UFO/UAP witnesses have been asking a lot of questions about what they were seeing and how the government has denied their existence. Are the white semi-transparent airborne globes we are seeing from another dimension? Are they some kind of projection from beings on another planet? Are they biblical-type angels talked about for centuries? Because of reliable witnesses and legitimate photographs, we now know certain UFO’S appear to be solid metallic, mechanical devices. Who made them? What are they doing here? Are they hoaxes, or some kind of top-secret spaceships made by other countries? 

 Chariots of the Gods: 

    Briefly, stories about mythological people (gods) riding around in chariots in the sky is a very old concept about supernatural activity. On ancient Greek vases, Apollo, the Greek sun-god, is depicted riding in a celestial chariot drawn by two Griffins. In the Orphic mysteries, white winged horses drew Helios, their sun-god, in a golden chariot across the sky. In early Greek literature, the gods had the power to travel to the stars (Ovid, Metamorphoses). In Roman astronomy and astrology, the planets were given Latin 

names of the gods: Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Neptune, Mercury, Saturn, Pluto, and this included the meanings roughly associated with the gods they represented. So, in an age that doesn’t believe in sky-gods anymore, why symbolize the super-powers of ancient gods in the Tarot? Today, most of us grind along roads in cars (modern-day chariots) and very few still use horses to pull their buggies or carts. Yet, it seems we have a new group of sky-gods such as UFO’S to tantalize us, scare us, and even entertain us now. Consequently, there some people  (as in UFO cults) who image that these might be advanced beings from other planets coming here to “save us or rescue us,” obviously — from wars, destruction and so on, in the wake of our warlike plight on earth. Professor Richard Tarnas, author of The Passion of the Western Mind, (Ballantine Books 1991) refers to Greek gods as “personified archetypes” which have been interpreted as symbolic of transcendent ideas or archetypal models:

 

 “In the pre-philosophical Greek mind, these archetypal principles took the form of mythic personifications such as Eros, Chaos, Ouranos, [Heaven] Gaia [Earth] as well as more fully personified figures such as Zeus, Prometheus and Aphrodite.“ 

     Jacques Vallee, French scientist, stated in his book about UFO’S, Anatomy of a Phenomenon (Ace Books, 1965) that “…a dispassionate, scientific debate be established concerning UFO phenomena and that such a discussion could well be conducted within the boundaries set by rationalism for the purpose of objective acquisition of knowledge.” Senator Harry Reid tried to start congressional investigations in 1969 but was poo-pooed and laughed at and nothing happened. Project Blue Book, an Air force investigation by Allen Hynek followed, which concluded that no so-called UFO sightings posed a threat to national security. 

 Current Congressional hearings on UFO’S/UAP’S: 

     Congressional hearings were conducted in November 2024 on UAP’S “Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena.” Several witnesses testified: Pilots from the USS Nimitz presented photographic evidence of strange objects harassing the ship, which also showed up on the ships radar and on radar within the jet planes. Because of their oblong shape and white color, the pilots called them “Tic Tacs.” They moved at incredible speeds and flew around the ship in gimbal-like motions that a human cannot endure. Luis 

Elizondo, former head of the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP), who also   worked for the office of National Counter Intelligence, testified that: 

“…information has been obfuscated … and I think that is problematic because at the end of the day, we have a significant situation here. We have something that can enter into our US air space with no attribution.”

     Representative Biggs stated at the end of Elizondo’s testimony: “So it’s easier to be quiet and suppress when you don’t have the answers.” Mr. Elizondo responded: “Correct, and still to this day we have to admit we do not know what they are – where they came from, who is behind this and what are they doing here? What are they for?” Those of us who watch the daily media blitz, see posts and photos/videos taken by passengers aboard airliners of UFO’S zooming by the windows or drifting alongside the plane. What? These video reports of UFO/UAP sightings can really frighten some of the public. Are they real or hoaxes? 

 Roswell and Skinwalker Ranch: 

     Ever since the reported UFO crash at Roswell, New Mexico in 1947, there has been endless speculation, endless denial, lies, endless secrecy, and cover-ups about what really happened there. Supposedly, “little grey men” were killed in the crash and were taken to a secret location. (Remembering Jonathan Frakes TV program “Alien Autopsy?” Was it fake?) At first, the Roswell Newspaper reported that it was a UFO Crash, but that was redacted and, instead, the US Military said it was a crashed weather balloon. Meanwhile, the town of Roswell has reaped all the benefits of the so-called crash with their UFO Museum containing dummy bodies of little grey men and other memorabilia. Across the street is The Crash Down Diner. Yearly hilarious festivals are held, honoring the crashed UFO and the “alien” occupants all in good humor. There have been several books about Roswell and other “crash” locations such as Aztec in northern New Mexico, all reaping in the dollars over that incident. What about the little “grey men”? Are they real? Who or what are they? Some UFO fans have wondered if the little grey men are some kind of bio-robots or cyber-androids or maybe even insect-like “mantids.” 

 

    Skin Walker Ranch, a recent TV program shown on the History Channel, is about UAP’S hovering in the sky over 500 acres of farmland in Utah. Several scientists have put their lives and reputations on the line by conducting ongoing experiments around the property with sophisticated equipment, computers, and machinery. So far, they have lots of evidence of strange UFO/UAP type phenomena but no concrete answers. Transparent floating white blobs or globes of lighted objects were filmed by professional photographers and a film from a very high-speed wildlife camera showed one frame of a silver-like round object suspended over a field. Puzzling invisible columns of what looked like transparent broken bits of rocks soaring high in the sky were revealed by photogrammetry. High frequency sounds were monitored, and high radiation readings were discovered in certain areas. Using lidar, they discovered something dome-like about 400 feet long buried within the adjacent mesa. A weather balloon with radar-like technology picked up an electromagnetic field surrounding the ranch at 70,000 feet. Exploratory rockets fired by the scientists were thrown off course or blocked at 30,000 feet. In addition, on the MGN TV channel, you can download a recent program called Beyond UFO’S and the Unknown, where a group of scientists are discussing the dangers, among other things, of being too close to the moving globes of light, especially the blue globes. People who were too close were injured. Of the X-rays taken of the injured people’s brains, a Stanford brain scientist showed that those people have brain lesions. No wonder these unusual experiences have caught the attention of the Pentagon. 

 

A Chariot Tarot Reading: 

• If you received The Chariot in a reading, this is a chance to reflect on finding meaning in your own life in    a bigger sense. How do you relate to the Earth, the Universe? 

• What is your motivation and power to move forward in your life? 

• What is the source of this power? 

• Do you believe in Guardian Angels or the divinity of a higher power? If so, how do you process that           information? 

• What are your successes so far in life? What have you learned from any failures? 

 • Do you believe the recent information and Pentagon hearings about UFO’S and Unidentified Aerial           Phenomena? 

• Have you, or someone else you know, seen so-called UFO’S or strange orbs in the sky? 

• What meaning do these reported sightings give to your future life experiences? What do you envision       for your future? 

 • Do you think this is a serious matter or just a fun imaginative fantasy? 

 References: 

 Luis Elizondo, Imminent, Inside the Pentagon’s Hunt for UFO’S (HarperCollins 2024) 

Bruce Handy, The Roswell Files, Time Magazine & Cover (June 23, 1997) 

Karl T. Pflock, Roswell (Prometheus Books 2001) 

Susan Ressler, Roswell, UFO Festival 2010 (Blurb 2010) 

Wendelle C. Stevens, UFO Crash at Aztec (American West Distributers 1986) 

Anthony Sanchez, UFO Highway (Strange Lights Publishing 2010) 

Whitley Strieber, Confirmation (St. Martin’s Press 1998) 

Brinsley Le Poer Trench, The Flying Saucer story (Ace Star Books 1966) 

Jacques Vallee, Anatomy of a Phenomenon (Ace Star Books 1965) 

Arthur E. Waite, Pictorial Key to the Tarot (University

Kings: Give us a King!

King of Pentacles 
TOCC

 

We want a King:  Who said “We want a King?

A question has come up: “Why are Kings still included in most modern Tarot decks”? 

  We assume that this concept of Kings and Kingdoms, including an accompanying aristocracy, are leftovers from a bygone era that ended with the WWI Armistice of 11/11/1918. At that time, the Kingdoms and imperial dynasties of Russia, Germany, Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire ended. Meanwhile, in the present time, the Norwegian King, and British Queen/now King, have carried on in constitutional monarchies. After WWII, The US allowed the Japanese to continue with their    Emperor. The Kingdoms of Arabia and Dubai continue to exist in the Middle East.  

            Of course, on the 4^thof July 1776, the colonists of the United States rid themselves of British reign over the colonies and ended the rule of King George III with the Declaration of Independence. “We the people” wanted a democracy. Those early colonists did not want another King or a dictator to “fix” all their financial and political problems, especially through “taxation without representation,” and were defiant in having to swear fealty to a King. 

“Better no rule than cruel rule”

Aesop: The Frogs Desire a King

In the 1800’s, Mexico and parts of the Southern US were also under the rule of Spanish Kings until 1821, when the states of California, New Mexico and Texas were ceded to the USA. My education in the California education system included a history of long Spanish rule in California and my own migrating ancestors from the South received a “Spanish Land Grant” sometime in the early 1800’s in Northern California.

Stories of Kings in the past 

In ancient times, Egyptian Pharaohs were Kings who thought they ruled by “Divine Right.” In Roman times, Julius Caesar was supported in becoming King (Roman Emperor) by a rich merchant, Crassus. “Give us a King” is an old biblical story from at least 4,000 years ago about about a newly formed tribal coalition of Israelites who demanded —“We want a King!” They saw other countries ruled by powerful Kings and winning wars. But, a judge, Samuel, tried to dissuade the people in their desire for a King. He told them that a King will take their best cattle, a tenth of their grain, their sons for wars, and they will pay taxes in tribute to the King, and he will want their fealty and loyalty. Samuel’s diatribe ended with “…and you shall be his slaves” (see I Samuel 8: 11–17). They ignored that, so Saul, a strong young man who was looking for his father’s lost asses (pun?) was appointed their new King. But after a troubled rule, he became corrupt, and his Kingship ended badly. Then, after a long, convoluted story about mayhem, chaos, murder, women and wars, David of Judah was appointed King (see II Samuel 1–11).

 In reality, a King is a person who has gained power and rules over everyone and everything in their Kingdom. In 1524, in European history, horribly subjugated peasants revolted against their King’s unrestrained rule in what is now Germany and were crushed. They revolted against the oppressive feudal system maintained over the lands by the Hapsburg Lords of Nobility in the central regions of Germany. Over 100,000 or more peasants died in the war against the Kings’ Lords and ruling Dukes. Today it is referred to as “The Peasants War” (according to the War Memorial in Wurzburg, Germany). This was also at the beginning of the Reformation and Martin Luther’s revolt against the Church.

Kings in Tarot

    We know Tarot decks have existed since the 15^th century at least. So, it is to be expected that the decks would include four types of rulers as Kings and Queens, which correspond with the meaning of the suits of the Minor Arcana: Wands, Cups, Swords, Coins, or Pentacles.

The late Rachel Pollack asserts in The Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom, that, “The king is a symbol of extraordinary activity, accomplishment, social position, success.” As an archetype in a positive sense, a King in a reading represents the ascent of someone to ultimate power and governance through their good leadership. When reversed, “…an upside-down King is symbolizing the idea of success corrupted, the image of a man or woman who will use any means to achieve their goals.” In an optimistic Tarot reading, a “good King” (as a competent leader) works together with people for change and improvement, while providing security and opportunity for those who want to move forward — in an atmosphere of respect, cooperation and generosity. 

“A King is a ruler, responsible for the welfare of a society.”

Rachel Pollack, The Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom, Part 2  (Aquarian Press 1980)

The “King” Tarot card reversed

Keep in mind that whom we might think was a “good King” can go in the opposite direction and can become corrupt, creating chaos and “shock and awe” actions along the way. He assumes he has power to ruin those who criticize his governance. A vengeful King targets and threatens people with eradication. He spreads doubt and confusion about rules and laws and obfuscates the facts.  A “bad king,” gone awry, can border on a becoming a dictator — one who sparks rage, plots retaliation against his so-called enemies, crushes dissent, and demands his constituents engage in “boot licking” and “kiss the ring” behavior.  In other words, “Be nice and do what you are told.“ 

(Currently, there is an act before Congress, The No kings Act(SR4973) which would strip the President and Vice-  president of immunity from criminal prosecution unless specified by Congress).

            In Shakespeare’s play, “King Lear, we see what happens to an arrogant and prideful King when things go wrong. In planning for his succession, he wants to divide his kingdom between three daughters and will determine the portions of the estate if they tell him how much they love him. Two daughters are evil and deceive him with lies, while the third daughter, who loves him, is banished because he thinks she doesn’t love him enough. She is eventually killed, and he becomes paranoid; madness overcomes him. 

Book of Fools

         

In the Tarot deck, “Book of Fools,” by artist Brian Williams, the King of Staves card shows a fool whispering supposed lies and confabulations in the King’s ear. William's Tarot deck is based on the German Renaissance book Das Narrenschiff,  “The Ship of Fools” by Sebastian Brant. It was a parody on foolishness and corruption at that time and showed the fool depicted in 103 woodcuts, attempting to influence Tarot-like characters. 

            Naomi Klein, in her book  The Shock Doctrine  (Knopf Canada 2007) describes those (such as “those who would be King”) as people who exploit the chaos of war and natural disasters and crush dissent in order to push through unpopular policies such as deregulation and privatization of government functions. These schemes may include disenfranchising citizens who are too distracted and overwhelmed in confusion to understand what is happening. 

Questions to ask in a Tarot reading with a reversed King:

1.    Do you see yourself as a King over your particular domain? Or is someone else a King over you?

2.    How do you treat your family, friends and colleagues? How do they treat you?

3.    Do you distrust political leadership? Are you one of the “Yes-Men”? Or do you resist?

4.    What can you do to ensure that “we the people” form of Democracy will continue?

5.    Today, do you think we need someone to “take care of us” (especially women)?

6.    What are you doing to defeat corruption? What actions are you taking?

7.    What place do you hold in the “Scheme of Things”? What to you want to see happen?

References: 

Brian Williams, “Book of Fools,” Llewellyn Publications 2002

Rachel Pollack, “Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom, Part 2": The Minor Arcana and Readings, The Aquarian Press 1983

“Harper’s Bible Dictionary,” HarperCollins 1985 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Sun card in Tarot

The Sun: Promise of Light and Hope

 

Part I: Sunrise, The Suncard

As we experience the light of the sun every day, what does The Sun card mean for us in a Tarot reading? First, the most obvious physical meaning is to remember that we depend on the sun’s continuing light and heat to maintain our existence and the lives of plants and animals on Earth. When we receive this card in a reading, our first thought should be about gratitude. On this Summer Solstice, we acknowledge our gratefulness for the sunrise and continued renewal of daily light and life-force

Visconti Deck, The Sun

energy, and again, the opportunity and newness for a fresh start. On another level of The Sun card in Tarot,  the term, “I have seen the light!” means looking for a metaphysical interpretation of “The Light”or Enlightenment, symbolic of communications from a higher source—supernatural illumination. In this sense, The Sun card embodies divinity, wisdom and spiritual understanding, filled with inspiration, grace and hope for a better future. 

 

“We awaken to our creativity by the power of the sun when we

identify ourselves with its essence.

Visconti Tarots by Berti and Gonard (Lo Scarabeo, 2022)

 

In our everyday existence, because of the orbital tilt of earth on its axis, changes in the angle of sunlight cause seasonal fluctuations on Earth, so our daily lives are always changing as different phases of light and heat move us through spring, summer, fall, and winter. In ancient pagan times, seasonal celebrations of early European cultures, observed the death of the sun, and then the return of the sun after a long cold winter, with various rituals venerating the Earth Mother at the Vernal Equinox, and at the Summer Solstice. In spring, seeds for future crops were activated and sprouted as the light of the sun warmed the ground and prompted new life, just as it happens today! Seeds begin to grow and pop up out of the “womb of Earth”—manifesting aliveness—cells are animated, dividing and growing, and filled with the promise of a ripe tomato in the fall, or a great tree in the future. Until recently, in English farming communities, John Barleycorn (Mother Earth’s Consort) was symbolically burned and buried at the end of the year only to be born again in the spring as a bright new king. The sun has returned! (See The Avebury Cycles by Michael Dames, Thames and Hudson, 1977)) At the ancient Megalithic site of New Grange Tomb in Ireland, the sun’s first new rays of the Winter Solstice still pour into the cavity, built over 2,000 years ago, through a carefully pre-arranged slot, revealing enigmatic ancient carvings on the stones of the walls. And today, the sun still rises over the Heel Stone at Stonehenge on Summer Solstice, thrilling a modern-day crowd and those in awe expecting to witness renewal and “the birth of the sun!” In ancient Egyptian Cosmology, RA (Re) means the sun or light:

“Ra personifies the primeval, cosmic force, creative force. The right eye is called the eye of RA symbolizing the sun. The eye is the part of the body able to perceive the light and is therefore a symbol for spiritual ability.” 

                                  Egyptian Cosmology by Mustafa Gadalla (Bastet Press, 1997)

Every day, because of radiant sunlight, our eyes see everything in living color. An important quality to nurture is to become intricately aware of nature’s features and pay attention to our crowded, colorful surroundings. How are you perceiving all the glorious colors and beauty around you? What are the beautiful things of nature in your life? How do you express your gratitude for another new day? What is your inspiration for a new endeavor or project?

Impressionist painter, Claude Monet, was enthralled by how moving rays of sunlight kept illuminating nature’s appearances causing different color changes. He was famous for lining up a series of easels and canvases, so he could paint the changing atmospheric moods of color as sunlight hovered over a group of haystacks and the colors changed hour by hour.

 

Monet, Haystacks in the Snow  

“The Sun Flowers represent an operation of this solar force in the organic world. They turn toward the sun, recognizing it as the source of their strength and growth.”

Madona Compton, Archetypes on the Tree of Life (Llewellyn Publishers, 1991).

 

When awakening with the dawning light of a new day, it’s  a fresh start for us and so our daily life adventures begin anew again. “Hope Springs Eternal,” (Alexander Pope).  Starting fresh, we  hope that the sun will rise and shine again the next day, and every new day. This is a time to ask yourselves: What is your inspiration for the day? What “seeds” have you planted in your imagination to expand new growth and creativity in your life? What do you hope to achieve this new day? How can you brighten the day and bring sunshine into the lives of your friends, colleagues, and loved ones? 

 

Part II: The Sun card reversed  

Now on a different note, with the “death of the sun” in winter, let’s look at the doom and gloom aspect of a reversed Sun card in a reading as it applies to what is going on in the world today. Traditional Tarot interpretations considered the disorder and chaos it symbolized in such human terms as:  “Vanity … hypocrisy, egotism … darkness … incomprehension, insurmountable difficulties, unhappiness.” “Delayed success or success achieved with much suffering” (Visconti Tarots, Berti & Gonard, Lo Scarabeo, 2002).But now, in a larger sense, we will see something startlingly different in a current reading more in tune with the times. This concerns 2024 and the catastrophic wars and atrocities occurring around the world right now and how these unending wars will affect not only you, but the whole Earth in the future

According to a recent article in Scientific American, “Exploring the Sun,” (March 2024), scientists view the sun as a nuclear furnace where hydrogen fuels the inner core in the process of nuclear fusion and temperatures are over a million degrees.  

During WWII, the atomic bomb was developed during the “Manhattan Project” in the USA, based on nuclear fission. This was followed by the military production of massive rockets capable of carrying nuclear warheads, all in order to “deter the enemy.” Some of us remember when we practiced hiding under our desks at school when these so-called rockets and nuclear warheads were brought to Cuba by the Soviets in the 1960’s, right under the noses of our US military. Today, as you are reading this in 2024, war and bombing continues unabated in the Middle East, killing thousands of civilians and innocent people (Israel and Gaza, Syria) and the same chaos is going on in Ukraine with Russia. Civil wars, insurrection and uprisings, are ongoing in Nigeria, Somalia and Sudan. Bloody warfare and armed conflict is still unending in certain areas of North Africa, displacing thousands of people. 

 Development of nuclear power plants for the production of electricity for “peaceful purposes” followed in the wake of making nuclear weapons for war. But this didn’t go as many had hoped. Dangerous massive accidents have occurred at several nuclear power plants, much to the world’s dismay —Three Mile Island, USA (1979); Chernobyl, Ukraine (1986); and Fukushima, Japan (2011). Their production nuclear reactor cores melted down and released untold amounts of radiation. What has happened in the aftermath? 

The answer comes along in the scariest book I have ever read by M.I T. historian, Kate Brown: “Manual for Survival: A Chernobyl Guide to the Future” (W.W. Norton, 2019). It describes  ongoing research about what happened to the people and wildlife exposed to the fallout of radiation after the nuclear explosion and meltdown at Chernobyl and Fukushima. It covers stories of ignorance of radiation damage, whitewash; incompetent leaders lying and cover-ups; obfuscation, and extreme secrecy (Chernobyl, which was revealed later by the Swedish government).It was shown that the R B M K reactor at Chernobyl had fatal flaws and was hard to control and there were no adequate safety systems, no monitoring. In the Fukushima Daiichi accident during the 2011 tsunami, the leaders responded similarly, infuriating its neighbor, South Korea.

Rupert Sheldrake, in his book, Rebirth of Nature, (Inner Traditions, 1994) he stated that the Ukrainian word Chernobyl means “wormwood.” Where have we heard that term before? This opens the door to a Pandora’s box of “End of the World Predictions.” We hear of extremist views of Doomsayers and Doomsday Preppers and conspiracy theorists, who are preparing for the so-called “End-times,” and of looking for biblical answers such as Revelation 8:10, which by the way, specifically describes a star whose name was “wormwood,” falling to Earth and poisoning the waters and killing people, sometime in the future. Are these “whispers” from the past conveying shades of nuclear bombs, nuclear accidents and nuclear destruction, and the possibility of  a “nuclear winter”? Are we on the brink of a mass extinction? A lot of people need to be held accountable for all the chaos and destruction happening now. 

 What hopes do we have for a peaceful future in the midst of this “nuclear madness”? (As Helen Caldicott calls it.) One can hope that uncovering the truth about the extreme dangers of nuclear power and nuclear bombs will assuage hubris, expose any cover-ups and corrupt practices in the future operation and possible development of nuclear power plants and production of weapons of “mass destruction.” Many anti-nuclear activist groups have been established over the years and are working in opposition against any further development of nuclear weapons and nuclear power plants. Groups like Greenpeace, The Sierra Club, Friends of the Earth, and Clamshell Alliance, are among some of the most known.  Concerned people like former Vice president, Al Gore, Helen Caldicott, M.D., and Amory Lovins, are well-known anti-nuclear advocates who have written volumes on the subject. 

What are your thoughts about what should be done to put an end to this insane march toward oblivion created by misuse of knowledge of the sun’s power—nuclear fission. What can you do and how can you join or support the participants in  the “save the Earth” movement”?  What positive action can you take to prevent something worse ever happening to  Earth and all its passengers?  

.  

The Hermit Now

 The Hermit: In the NOW and what is

 

Someone told this joke recently: “A man goes to his Guru and asks: ‘What is the meaning of life’? The Guru answers and says, ‘I don’t know, the internet is down.’” One of the definitions for The Hermit card in Tarot is about a person who meditates on “the meaning of life.” Usually, we think of a hermit as a person who withdraws from busy societal activities, family goings on, etc. (and the internet).We envision an isolated person who sits in meditation or contemplation somewhere in a cave seeking enlightenment. In modern Tarot interpretation, such as Tarot of Cosmic Consciousness, to receive The Hermit card in a reading is to consider what it means to be an illumined person on the path to self-knowledge; one who seeks liberation from any mental charades and travesties of one’s internal “monkey mind” whirling around in their head. It means taking time-out from the usual hubbub of daily routines in order to rejuvenate oneself and to ponder the deeper meaningof life—the what is.

Upon return, one is refreshed with new inspiration and wisdom to share with others. 

 

“As an emblem of personal development rather than a guide, The Hermit symbolizes the idea that only by withdrawing from the outer world, can we awaken the inner self.”

Rachel Pollack, 78 Degrees of Wisdom(Aquarian Press 1980)

Meditation:

The ideal condition for understanding oneself is found in experiencing the transformation achieved through meditation and mindfulness. By aligning oneself in oneness with the Universe, we find a much bigger, grand, cosmic concept of life beyond “little ole me.” The aim of meditative practices in Buddhism and other similar traditions, is liberation from the limited confines and acquired attitudes of the Ego-self. By concentrating on silencing the endless jittery, chattering of ones’ internal thought processes, we can break away by meditating in a tranquil state of stillness and calmness. The intention of meditating is to understand and conquer the demanding impulses of desire: “—I want—I need—I wish for, gimmie, gimmie, gimmie!” (And give it to me right now!) In the best sense, everyone needs an occasional meditative retreat as a respit from worldly goings on. When you find the right place for meditation, begin to work on overcoming any anger and fear: such as fear of responsibility, fear of failure, fear of people, or anger and fear of just living one’s daily life. This is your opportunity to get in touch with the reality of every moment—to live in the NOW. So, what are you doing right now?

 

“Thinking is at the base of everything. It is important for us to put an eye of awareness into each of our thoughts…If we create true harmony within ourselves, we will know how to deal with family, friends, and associates.”

Thich Nhat Hanh, For a Future to Be Possible (Parallax Press, 1993)

 

 Liberation from mental intrusions comes when you are in a state of timeless contemplation and
the “monkey mind” is no longer babbling away—freeing one’s effort to overcome distorted thinking, desires and greed. Then, “much ado about nothing” is gone. By counting the breaths in meditation, a Yogi or Swami renounces the daily churning of events and seeks liberation from the unreal world of Samsara and illusions. The Buddha lived in hidden seclusion in a forest for years where he dealt with the deeper causes of suffering. In Buddhist teachings, everything in the life of the self is temporary, impermanent. “Here today and gone tomorrow,” so to speak. In Christian meditative practice, we hear stories of the struggles of Saint Anthony (251-356) who meditated in a cave in the desert. Here, he dealt with outlandish temptations from devious monsters spinning in his mind and, later, he wrote about his liberating experiences in a book: The Sayings of the Fathers. 

Hermit by Hieronymus Bosch

(See my previous blogs on The Hermit: The Path to Enlightenment (11/17/2011 and The Hermit and Monsters (01/04/2018)

 

Mindfulness:

When you are sitting quietly in contemplation, ask yourself: “What are the only things I am experiencing”? You are breathing, and you never stop breathing (unless you have departed from this existence). Your heart is beating. Your mind is probably filled with inconsequential thoughts, and you can hear sounds in the background. That is the reality of your meditative focus. Nothing else. As you count the breaths, focus on gratitude for the blessings of the gifts of Life and become aware of all the day-to-day processes we take for granted. To arrive at a peaceful state of mind, you need to be in touch with the reality of the present moment through the logic of practicing mindfulness. Ask yourself: “What is happening right now”? This process consists of calming the busy, noisy, inner mind in silence. Rehearsing old memories of the past that no longer exist is not the present reality. Drumming up fears for the future and imagining circumstances that might “would a/could a” happen is not the present reality. Your only reality is to be mindful of what is happening now and just live in the constantly changing NOW moment—which is.

 

“What is important is to keep our mind high in the world of true understanding and, in returning to the world of daily experience, to seek therein the truth of beauty.”

“This basic form of meditation is concerned with trying to see what is.”

“In fact, it is the very essence of meditation”

“Blue sky consciousness”

Chogyam Trungpa, Meditation in Action (Shambala, 1969)

 

Tarot of Cosmic Consciousness:

Triple Spiral 

            The painting of The Hermit card in the Tarot of Cosmic Consciousness deck, was inspired by research and views of ancient megalithic sites such as the interiors of the New Grange Tomb in Ireland and the Gavrinis Passage Tomb in Brittany. Inside, the inner walls are lined with great stones which are covered with swirling, spiral carvings. From the ancient past to today, on the Solstice, December 21^st, the midwinter sunrise shines into the tombs and illuminates the spiral designs on the walls. Spring is on its way! The timing and placement of the tombs and spiral carvings seem to show early people’s awareness of celestial phenomena. Mother Earth’s natural forces are bringing new light—and those people may have recognized the seasonal indications that life is cyclical and celebrated the promise of renewal of each new year. 

  

The Hermit TOCC

In the profound book, Meditations on the Tarot, (Penguin Putman, 1993) the “Anonymous Author,” says about The Hermit: 

“…he has the faculty of separating himself from the collective moods, prejudices, and desires of race, nation, class and family—the faculty of reducing to silence the capacity of collectivismvociferating around him…He traverses the way of peace between opinions, beliefs and experiences.”

 

   What about the Hermit card In a Reading?

            When you receive this card in a reading, ask yourself how you are dealing with the “monsters” of our modern age: hackers of our computers, spyware, conspiracy theories filled with lies, hoaxes, untruths and false beliefs; extremist war-mongering men who desire power and dictatorship; the perpetual continuing wars. And yes, the threat of nuclear war is still ongoing. What about a government trying to control people’s privacy by taking away their autonomy? 

The Hermit card signals that it is time for reflective thought. Stop “doom scrolling” and having your thoughts and passions twisted every which way by the “daily horror”(aka: the Daily News). How can finding stillness of mind help your attitude toward life and these daily experiences?When you receive The Hermit card in a reading, it indicates that it is time to put aside your daily routines and activities and retreat in meditation to rest and rejuvenate.  

 

Ask yourself:

What is most important for you in this life”? 

What really matters”?  

What is your concept of finding meaning in this life?  

What are your intentions? 

Are you taking time out often to clear your mind of trivial pursuits and useless information?

Are you tired of feeling “brainwashed” by incessant political propaganda?

What are situations that need to be resolved? 

How can finding stillness of mind help your attitude toward life and daily experiences?

Are you affirming gratitude for your gifts of life and every day blessings?

Are you working to overcome anxiety or sorrow and painful memories as you gain insight into your true spiritual selfhood? 

How are you doing at expressing mindfulness, generosity and responsible behavior? 

How are your actions affecting everyone else?  

            

 

References:

For a Future to be Possible, Thich Nhat Hanh (Parallax, 1993)

Zen and Reality, Robert Powell (Viking Press, 1975)

Meditation, Sri Swami Satchidananda (Integral Yoga publications, 1975)

Meditation In Action, Chogyam Trungpa (Shambala, 1969)

Knights: War/Peace

Knight of Swords: More War—or Peace on Earth 

     Samson, the Israelite, went to Gaza and tore down the temple and buildings and killed a lot of people including himself—all aimed at retaliation against Delilah, the Philistine woman who betrayed him. Sound familiar in light of what is happening today? Only, this is a biblical story about Israeli/Palestinian strife in Gaza over 2,000-years-ago. (Judges 13–16 ). Today’s conflict is nothing new. It obviously began long ago. 

    Some of you may look at the title of this essay and think, “Peace on earth? Forget it! War has continued non-stop somewhere on earth for centuries, it’s the human condition. There is no Utopia.” (See “Taming Humanities Urge for War” (Scientific American May 2009) 

    As we know, splinters of war still continue today in several places on earth: Ukraine/Russia; Israel/Palestine; Sudan; Yemen; Syria; Somalia … and so on. We’ve been hearing/seeing the TV reports of atrocities every night for months now, going on years. The latest mind-numbing causalities are happening in Israel and Gaza beginning with the Hamas terrorist invasion of Israel and the murder of 1,500 civilians at a concert. At the same time, they killed people on Israeli's farms and kibbutz’s and captured 250 hostages. This kind of terrorism has resulted in retaliation from Israel, which is now blasting and bombing Gaza every day into gruesome bloody piles of rubble, including killing Palestinian civilians, women and children. Could we say that this is just a continuation of over 4,000 years of miserable conflict in the Middle East? Is this something new? Where is this supposed to lead? What will be the outcome? Peace?

 

     Is this what “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” really means? According to the Harper’s Bible Dictionary, this statement originally meant the judicial policy of Israelite’s justice system where the sentencing and punishment fits the crime which was determined by a judge (Mosaic Law, Exodus 21:23–25). But today, this concept infers that enemies and their armies can descend into disastrous acts of revenge and angry violence at will. With US money, guns, bombs, tanks and war equipment, the US has helped Israel retaliate and, so far, they have killed more than 20,000 Palestinian civilians, including innocent women and their children. Yes, the distrust and hate from both sides has led to a catastrophic inferno of war. Why do war-mongering men of the world continue on a path of total destruction of countries, land, property, and people, all the while manifesting the signpost of kill, kill, kill? Peace, Peace! Will there be peace in the end? It isn’t a matter of who’s right and who’s wrong, it’s all about the hate and murder of those you perceive to be your enemies. 

     “We should be dismantling the war machine and rolling back the conditions that led to it. True feminism which is interested in guiding the world toward health in a way that benefits women and their children, would make this a priority."  Caitlin Johnstone, Australian Independent Journalist 

                                 

Knight of Swords
TOCC

   Knight of Swords
   I’ve chosen the Knight of Swords for the discussion because most Tarot decks include  four Knights who are the remains of a bye gone era of royal rulers—Kings and Queens of many old Kingdoms around the world, some of whom ended their reign in WWI and WWII. In earlier Tarot decks, Knights still represent soldiers and warriors skilled in the military conduct of war. These were Medieval Knights on horseback who brandished swords and weapons used for maiming and killing. Many kings’ armies engaged in wounding and killing people in an effort to put down European peasant rebellions in the 15th to 16th centuries. Military knights also participated in the conquest of other countries and plundering of their cities, such as the knights of the Crusades. 

  (See my blog: The Chariot: Wars and Heroes, July 7, 2017) 

 The Knight of Swords in Tarot of Cosmic Consciousness has a more symbolic esoteric meaning. In the painting, a well-aimed sword swoops down over a tessellated dark and light background. The Knight is not there. Instead, this Knight card symbolizes the action of conquering the duality of opposites where the skill of the Knight is embedded in a sense of determining truth from lies; dealing with the positive vs the negative; good vs evil; love vs hate, and so on. The double-edged sword is symbolic of focusing and cutting through hostilities and duality, exposing falsehoods and misinformation in order to reveal the truth.  

    “Polarized thinking encourages our sense of separation and deflects our vision from the world’s —and our own —inherent unity.” (Michael Schneider, Beginners Guide to Constructing the Universe, Harper Perenial 1995 ) 

Hope for Peace on Earth 

    How are we to find peace in all this man-made chaos? Some may think the hope for peace is just a utopian fantasy that never comes and never will. In the last century, many world leaders, both political and religious, advocated for non-violent means to solve the disasters of endless wars. Gandhi led the non-violent movement in India that eventually freed them from the British Overlords. His example and steadfastness has provided strength for the efforts of others to stop the violence. Here’s some of what he said: 

 “There is no half-way between truth and non-violence on the one hand and untruth and violence on the other. We may never be strong enough in thought, word and deed. But we must keep non-violence as our goal and make steady progress towards it.” Gandhi on Non-violence, Ed. Thomas Merton (New Directions Publishing, 1965) 

  Ask yourself these questions when you get the Knight of Swords in a reading: 

1. How have I dealt with animosity from others? 

 2. Am I expressing my true inner strength in dealing with, or preventing evil violent conflict in my home,         at work, in my country? 

 3. How can I work to liberate both the oppressor and the oppressed? 

4. Am I able to forgive those who show remorse and ask forgiveness for wrongful hurts? 

5. Am I expressing kindness and compassion for those suffering from the burden of evil-doers that cause chaos in their lives? What is the best way to help? 

6. Am I finding and working with others who are training and providing guidance for others on the same path of ending violent conflict. 

 7. Do I have a plan to share that will end war once and for all and establish peace on earth?

Two of Cups: Two-ness/Mirror

 Two of Cups: Two-ness, duality and the Loving Cup

 

Cup:a vessel for containing something. In Tarot, Cups usually signify emotions, especially Love.

 

The Two of Cups card in Tarot – Two-ness

In Tarot of Cosmic Consciousness, in the Two of Cups card, we see an upright cup and below that, an upside-down cup, which appears to be a reflection or mirror of the upper cup. In this card, we are introduced to two ways of viewing and understanding TWO-NESS. Earlier, in the Ace of Cups, we became aware of One-ness. Now, when we get this Two of Cups in a reading it symbolizes states of reality and/or unreality. This implies there is one real cup, but the second upside-down Cup is only a reflection of the top cup. When this card is reversed, we are confronted with how we are dealing with dualism and things that are in opposition to oneness: truth/lies, good/bad, light/dark, peace/war, friend/foe, and so on. What is being shown here can be compared to seeing the Moon reflected on a lake. The Moon is the only real object and the other Moon is a mirrored reflection seen on the water of a lake. We know there is only one Moon; the image in the water is only it’s reflection and, we know that it is not real. The message here is to not be fooled when some people interpret our life experiences from a dualistic point of view of equivalence. Since the mirrored cup is false and represents an opposition to the one cup, it is false view because it isn’t reality, just as you know the image of yourself in the mirror is not the real you. That is the truth of the observation. 

2 of Cups

In my previous blog about “TWO-NESS” (June 2, 2013), the essay is mostly about dealing with polarities and dualism where: *“… we are confronted daily by an array of colossal forms of opposition. The most obvious and immediate concerns are seen in the futuristic optimism of a desire for peace but opposed by the never-ending condition of violence and war.” 

 “When looking at the mirror world, it seems obvious that millions of people have given themselves over to fantasy, to make-believe, to play-acting” “The point is that on either side of the reflective glass, we are not having disagreements and different interpretations of reality—we are having disagreements about who is in reality and who is a simulation.” 

Naomi Klein, Doppelganger, (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2023)

 

In the Rider-Waite Tarot deck, we see the Two of Cups depicts a man and a woman holding large cups in front of one another in a loving and friendly manner. This is what we see in most Tarot decks. The whole suit of Cups in a reading is usually interpreted in emotional, psychological or mental symbols.

Over time, there have been many different references and interpretations of the meaning of Cups in the Tarot Minor Arcana. As we contemplate these possibilities, we see a person’s lot In life, or fate, can be described through the symbol of a cup in many ways: Love (Loving cup); Victory (Trophy cup); Friendship (Party toasting cup); Ritual Liturgical cup (Eucharist, Passover); Abundance (Overflowing cup); Rescue (Cup of salvation); Calculation of the future (Cup of divination) and Anger (Cup of wrath). 

*To pursue this further see my blogs of Jan. 26, 2013 and April 20, 2013.

Originally, the suit of Cups in Tarot probably had a biblical basis: The Harpers Bible Dictionary says this about a cup:

“…everything that exists is a world of limited good; everything that exists is perceived to exist in limited amounts…”  “In this perspective all persons can be said to have their ‘cup’ i.e., the limited amount of whatever God has to offer."

In the biblical story of the Twelve Tribes of Israel, Joseph’s cup was used for divination in foreseeing the future (Gen.44:5).Other cups mentioned were filled with blessings, or salvation (Psalms 23, 116:13) such as Jesus’ “bitter cup” at his Crucifixion (Matt. 26:42). Then there was Jesus’ cup at The Last Supper (John 13) and the legendary Medieval story of the search for The Holy Grail in adventures with King Arthur and the Knights of the Roundtable. (See At the Table of the Grail, Ed. John Matthews, Routledge, Kegan & Paul, 1984)

 

Let’s take a closer look at each of these types of cups in relation to their deeper meaning for your life. What are some of the questions that come up for you if you get the 2 of Cups in a reading? Which cup aligns with your inquiry and does it provide any answers?

 

Love and the Loving Cup

We see the loving cup presented as a pledge of fidelity to one another in many marriage ceremonies, wedding celebrations, and so on. 

How are you sharing your life with a loved one in honesty and truth? Are you still sharing the loving cup and feeling good about your relationship? Do you give yourself a reality check every now and then? How do you express your love?

 

Friendship Cup

In old Germanic Hall celebration stories, a cup of friendship is passed around as an evocation of “the good life”, goodness and light, as in Beowulf’s “win of wunderfatum” after he subdues the monster Grendel and the forces of evil. 

What friendship groups are you part of? How do you celebrate friendship with family and friends? Are you having positive relationships with others? How do family celebrations affect you? How are you dealing with so-called “monsters” in your life? 

 

Trophy Cup

This is a cup for celebrating and acknowledging a winner, such as the “America’s cup,” the oldest International sporting trophy in yacht racing, or the “Stanley Cup” in Hockey. 

What are your good intentions and expectations? What are the achievements, victories, and successes in your life that you are proud of?  Are you taking risks and overcoming the seemingly impossible? How are you achieving your goals? What have you overcome and “won”? 

 

Liturgical cup

A Eucharist cup of wine is used in Christian Communion commemorating the blood of Christ, which was shed for the salvation from one’s sins (a symbolic cup from The Last Supper and/or Crucifixion) There is also the Four cups of Passover of the Hebrew Seder (Celebration of the Liberation of Israelites from slavery in Egypt) 

What is your spiritual path? How do you practice your beliefs? What are your religious beliefs if any and how do you carry out the observances and rituals associated with your religious practice? How do you use the Cup as a sacred object?

 

Cup of abundance

Harvest festivals, fairs, Carnivals, Thanksgiving celebrations 

Are you expressing gratitude for the abundance in your life, no matter how small? Are you sharing your richness and joy with others in giving and receiving?

 

Cup of Salvation

Salvation Army, Red Cross, Social Workers, Missionary social work, helping others

Are you expressing kindness and compassion for the trials and tribulations of others?  Are you emphasizing the will to live and focusing on the creative life force in self-help and helping care for others? How are you helping those in need?

 

Cup of divination

The oracle of Tarot calculations for the future

Are you looking toward a beneficial future? Are you accepting change as part of the experiences of the future? How are you dealing with unforeseen events in your life?

 

What if the two of Cups is reversed? 

“It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury signifying nothing” Shakespeare, Macbeth

 

Cup of Wrath

Someone or something is being blamed and/or punished with spiteful contradictions. What about the wrath of people expressing vengeful anger, rage and fury and even instigating horrific events that leave you emotionally drained? 

Are you being threatened by someone or something? Are you in a love/hate relationship? Is someone making up lies and unfounded conspiracy theories in a fantasy world that intimidates you? How are you combatting forces which seem beyond your control? What can you do to stay calm and rise above stressful situations?