Justice

Justice: Truth versus Lies

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

Martin Luther King 1963

For a fuller sense of meaning in the Justice card of Tarot, let’s start with the implications of what injustice means. What are our moral obligations to expose crimes against humanity? Our laws condemn murder, robbery, extortion, mayhem, prejudice and oppression, and so-called “ethnic cleansing,” to mention a few. Over the centuries, we have abolished slavery and experienced women’s suffrage, but still contend with on-going wars, oppressive dictators, and human trafficking. Even now we seek equal rights and benefits for women and continue to deal with unfair labor practices.

Edith Hamilton, in her book, “Mythology,” (Little, Brown, 1940) points out the status of Justice in early Greek myths. Zeus was the supreme ruler and on the right was Themis (goddess of divine justice) and Dike (goddess of human justice) was on the left. Sculptures of a blindfolded Themis holding scales and a sword can often be seen standing in front of courthouses. Her daughter Astraea, (Virgo) associated with innocence and purity, is represented by the scales as a symbol for Libra. Ancient Egyptians portrayed the weighing of the human heart against a feather in their version of the scales of justice. A heart too heavy with guilt tipped the scales.

Frederick Douglass, the great abolitionist, in a speech given in 1886, spoke passionately about freedom for slaves:

“Where justice is denied, where poverty is enforced, where ignorance prevails, and where any one class is made to feel that society is in an organized conspiracy to oppress, rob, and degrade them, neither persons nor property will be safe.”


In the quest for justice, Mahatma Gandhi led a national non-violent revolution against the oppression and exploitation of the people India by British Colonialism during the 1930’s, and succeeded. Even in Biblical times, the story of Deborah and her General, Barak, tells of their battle for freedom from cruel oppression in the defeat of the ruling Canaanites. (Judges 4-6)


A stately woman holds scales containing two small figures: an angel on the left (clemency) and a man posed for a fight on the right (punishment) in Giotto’s painting of Justice in the Arena Chapel in Padua, Italy.

Justice in Tarot of Cosmic Consciousness shows opposing spirals of centripetal and centrifugal forces on the scales against a light and dark background. My inspiration for this reversible motion comes from the writings and pictures of archaeologist Marija Gimbutas, of ancient clay goddess figurines covered with spiral symbols from Old Europe times: “…concerning the regenerating life-force or cyclical change between life and death.” (“The Language of the Goddess,” Harper & Row 1989)

The Justice card signifies finding a balance between opposing forces—as in law courts—life and death issues are weighed and resolved, disputes are settled, criminal behavior is prosecuted, and adjustments are made by maintaining balance and equilibrium; especially in our own lives. The essential meaning of the Justice card is that we can tap into the ability to expose, analyze, and then eliminate wrong-doing. It is the weighing of Truth—of good versus evil, understanding cause and effect, and doing our best to reach a fair and equitable outcome. Then justice will be done.

The Wheel of Fortune

The Wheel of Fortune: Destiny and Fate

“Round and round it goes and where it stops nobody knows.”

When we think about the symbolic meaning of The Wheel of Fortune card in the Tarot, the question comes up: Are events in our lives inevitable and providential subject to the randomly turning wheel of fate? With the passage of time, who or what determines your fate? You’ve probably asked, “Why am I here? What is my purpose in life? Why do bad things happen?” Why are some people more successful than others? We can have a deep discussion about the answers, but first let’s look at all sides of the question.

One’s fate is in the mind of the person. What happens next is based on the choices we make regarding our opportunities, possibilities, and life style changes. “For most of us, it’s easier to celebrate or bemoan our fate than it is to take responsibility for our choices.” [Gail Fairfield, “Choice-Centered Relating and Tarot,” Weiser, 2000, p.8.] It seems each new generation must learn certain inevitable lessons in living this life, so it’s important to recognize the forces that impel us forward or hinder our progress. An older person who has already experienced many of life’s tests and trials may see the same lessons repeated over and over again by each upcoming generation. This cyclic activity is comparable to earth’s seasonal changes that we experience as spring, summer, fall, and winter every year, but with new ramifications.


When you get The Wheel of Fortune in a reading there are two sides to consider. Maybe it’s paying attention to a golden opportunity knocking at your door. Or it could mean the opposite effect and you go down the wrong path. Depending on your choices, you may not recognize your good fortune and so it slips away. An early painting of The Wheel of Fortune is seen in the manuscript Carmina Burana (1230 AD). Four people are portrayed ascending and descending on the rim of a wheel while the goddess Fortuna unrolls two empty scrolls in the middle. Fortuna is also depicted turning a crank in some illustrations. In a positive mode, one figure moves upward on the wheel toward success while, in a negative sense, a forlorn figure falls off to his/her doom. Someone on the bottom is ground under as the wheel rolls over him. However, there is a figure at the top seated on a throne wearing a crown.


In another context, Matthew Fox discusses the spiritual meaning of Hildegard of Bingen’s painting of a “Cosmic Wheel” (Universal Man) in writing about her work. [“Illuminations of Hildegard of Bingen,” Bear & Company, 2002]. In the twelfth century, she painted a fiery wheel with a divine personage in the center, and animals, fish, clouds, rain, stars, around the inner ring. The elements and planets are included on the outer rim. Fox quotes her as saying, “Out of the original source of the true Love in whose knowledge the Cosmic Wheel rests, there shines forth an exceedingly precise order over all things and, this order which preserves and nourishes everything comes to light in a way that is ever new.”


The Wheel of Fortune in “Tarot of Cosmic Consciousness” depicts twelve signs of the astrological zodiac divided by propeller-like spokes in a 360° circle. Light rays shine down from above and bubbly mysterious waters lurk below. The symbols of the zodiac appear on a color wheel in the center with 36 colored decans around the outer rim. In modern astrology, the interpretation of constellations and planets can be seen in relation to natural rhythmic cycles documented by sensitive equipment as recurring patterns in the human body. Science has revealed the electrical rhythms of brain and glandular cycles, which may be the result of electromagnetic vibrations and invisible radiation. What is the driving force behind these cycles? This may better explain the meaning of planetary associations with the constellations of earth’s orbit, which were originally viewed by the ancients as the divine behavior of the gods. [Refer to “The Compleat Astrologer” by Derek and Julia Parker, Bantam Books, London, 1975].


If the Wheel of Fortune comes up in a reading, be prepared for unforeseen changes in your life and allow yourself to do something completely different. Chance encounters, surprises, and the unexpected may occur now and wise choices are especially important, because what you choose to do could change the course of your life for better or worse.

The Hermit

The Hermit/Crone: Path to Enlightenment

After her Grandfather’s funeral, a little girl called up her Grandmother and said: “Grandma, are you dead yet?”     

I’ve chosen to paint The Hermit card of Tarot of Cosmic Consciousness with a sense of peacefulness and hope seen in the Newgrange tomb in Ireland. Yes, in reality it was formerly an ancient burial chamber, but symbolically, it is full of expectation. All is not dead yet. At the Winter Solstice, sunlight slips in through a crack in the rocks and illuminates the interior walls, which are covered with swirling, busy carvings. They look a lot like enlarged fingerprints. This card is about seeking enlightenment that comes from a retreat to find peace within by quieting the mind; being “dead,” so to speak, to mental machinations and illusory imagining.

Winter is a good time to contemplate “The Hermit” card when we would rather hibernate, or sit by the fire and read a good book. Haven’t you longed for a time to be by yourself, to just sit and think, or sleep, or cry, and just do nothing? In a world bustling with people, cars, work, computers, TV, cell phones, and the din of everyday living, it’s hard to find a peaceful moment. With The Hermit, we imagine the old stereotype of a person who goes off to meditate in a cave or tiny cell somewhere in solitude. What does this card mean? We associate it with austerity, stillness, quiet, peacefulness. There is nobody there to harass, flack, argue, pressure you, or to rush around with, as Shakespeare said: “much ado about nothing.” The meaning of The Hermit in traditional Tarot decks is about a person who has become enlightened—the “wise one”—standing on a mountaintop lighting the way for those on the path below.


There are two different concepts to explore in thinking about The Hermit. One is rooted in the Buddhist tradition: of being in a state of mindfulness through prayer and meditation, where everyday actions and thoughts are seen as impermanent, temporary, and illusive. The devotee is seeking “Nirvana” or release from suffering on the Wheel of Life, Samsara, by transcending all transient desires. In the practice of Zen, mindfulness means being alive to the present moment and living in the “now” without all the excess baggage of constantly reliving the past and rehearsing for the future. Our human mind babbles to itself every minute, whereas, to retreat and meditate in quietude, gives it a rest, and we can assimilate the totality and deeper meaning of our experiences.


The other concept is discussed by Corrine Heline in “The Bible & the Tarot” (Devorss, 1993) where she explains the raising of Lazarus, the widow’s son at Nain (nine, the number of The Hermit) (Luke 7:11). She links it to the Ninth Initiation in the Mysteries of Life and the biblical legend of Elijah. In a symbolic sense, Lazarus was lifted out of a state of being “dead”—into Cosmic Consciousness—revealing the spiritual immortality of mankind.


The hexagon star painted in the center of the tomb is sometimes referred to as the “Key of David” (Isaiah 22:22). I have used it as a symbol of the Light of a Higher Consciousness and divine order occurring in the Hermit’s enlightenment. The Light has dawned in the darkness of the cave and now he/she, The Hermit/Crone, bestows Light and provides guidance for others on the spiritual path. Life is cyclically renewed again and again. With this card in a reading, we have seen the Light.

Strength

Strength: The Chakras

“Know thyself.” The essential meaning of the Strength card is in knowing who you are spiritually and physically. It implies a lot more than just mastery of the mind and the body. A lot of people go to a yoga class for health reasons: to fine tune spiritual consciousness and improve bodily functions. The Strength card in “Tarot of Cosmic Consciousness,” consists of seven colorful chakras from the yoga tradition. What is a chakra? These are whirling vortexes of subtle energy located within the body, related to the major nerve centers of the spine. The term “Chakra” originated in Hindu literature—the “Upanishads,” many centuries ago. Anodea Judith, in her book, “Wheels of Life,” (Llewellyn Publications, 1988) says: “At the inner core of each one of us spin seven wheel-like energy centers called Chakras…Chakras are centers of activity for the reception, assimilation and transmission of life energies.” It seems we can also find spiritual strength in our bodies through activating these electrical energy forces.

Yogic practitioners believe we can start these centers in motion through meditation and yoga exercises. The seven Chakras depicted here are in a rainbow color arrangement, starting at the bottom: 1.) Muladhara – (red) root, base of the spine, large intestine, survival mode; 2.) Svadisthana – (orange) abdomen, reproductive organs, womb; 3.) Manipura – (yellow) solar plexus, digestive system; 4.) Anahata – (green) heart, lungs, arms; 5.) Visuddha – (blue) throat, neck, shoulders; 6.) Ajna – (indigo) eyes, eyebrows, face; 7.) Sahasrara – (violet) top of head, cerebral cortex.

The usual representation of the Strength card in older decks, such as the Waite deck, is a woman holding a red lion. Who is she and what does the lion represent? There are several possible answers. The Lion is a symbol for the sun, Leo, power, strength, and animal nature. “Cyrene” of Greek myth, was a form of the ancient Mother Goddess. She tamed lions and is depicted accompanied by lions. Barbara Walker discusses her importance in “The Secrets of the Tarot” (Harper & Row, 1984). In Alchemy, sulphur is referred to as a red lion and is part of the alchemical and metaphysical process of transmutation. The purpose is to improve human nature.

Giotto, in the allegorical fresco, “Fortitude,” painted a woman with a lion skin tied on her shoulders and a lion on her shield. Another of Giotto’s paintings, “Injustice,” may illustrate a story from the New Testament Apocrypha about St. Paul and St. Thecla, which might have some bearing on why “Justice” and “Strength” are sometimes switched in the 8th and 11th positions in Tarot. St. Thecla was a Christian martyr thrown into a lions den for being a disciple of Paul, but there she was protected by a lioness. The women of the city protested her abuse and called this unjust punishment (an injustice). At the bottom of Giotto’s fresco, “Injustice,” a nude woman (possibly St. Thecla, as her story continues) is about to be ravished by her captors, but she is swallowed up by a cave in a rock out of their reach. (See “Signs and Symbols in Christian Art,” George Ferguson (Oxford Univ. Press, 1966) In Greek myth, Cybelle, another form of Cyrene, was the goddess of caves. Hercules, in Greek myth, defeated the Nemean lion as the first test of his “Twelve Labors.” Samson killed a lion with his bare hands (Judges 14:5). Daniel was unharmed in the lion’s den. This card stands for courage in overcoming adversity, based on gaining knowledge of oneself and one’s capabilities.

The Chariot

The Chariot: Chariots of Fire

Be ready to stretch your imagination in this discussion of “The Chariot” card of Tarot of Cosmic Consciousness. Here you can fantasize about all the heroes/heroines and superstars in your life as we explore a realm that resembles science fiction. In examining the meaning of Chariot cards in older Tarot decks, we encounter a mythology where stories of heroes and the gods was the stuff of poets. The Grecian gods in ancient myths all had chariots that flew in the sky: a clue to the belief in the powers of the gods. So to bring The Chariot card up to date, I have painted it in the context of a modern myth—UFO’s—those mysterious round disks we have seen going by in the night sky. So far these “unidentified flying objects” have defied explanation.

After much research, I have concluded it’s best to not assume anything about what UFO’s may be. Since the 1940’s, we have wondered if they are spacecraft piloted by weird creatures from some other world. Much has been written about what UFO’s might be. Maybe they are ancient “Vimanas” described in the Indian epic, “Mahabharata” Or are they vehicles that carry souls to an afterlife? Or are they just gas blasts from earth as it moves through space—like motorcycle back-fires. Who really knows?

In older decks, such as the Waite deck, a victorious hero is parading in a chariot drawn black and white sphinxes (controlling negative and positive forces). In bas reliefs from the ancient Near East, we see Egyptian and Assyrian warriors riding in military chariots pulled by horses. The meaning of The Chariot card is usually about the victor riding in a triumphal parade celebrating a mission accomplished—a job well done—cheers, applause! But now our streets and highways are crammed full of engine driven metal “chariots” transporting ordinary people everywhere, so we have to look some place else to find those superheroes in our lives—ahah!—UFO’s!

Carl Jung, in the last years of his life, wrote about UFO’s in “Flying Saucers” (Harcourt & Brace World, 1959). He saw them as symbols of a modern myth concerning humanity’s desire for unity and wholeness. He said, “The present world situation is calculated never before to arise expectation of a redeeming supernatural event.” He goes on to say, “The psychological experience that is associated with the UFO consists of the vision of the ‘rotundum,’ the symbol of wholeness and the archetype that expresses itself in mandala form.” So are the people who see UFO’s having mass hallucinations? Or is this something more than a technological engineering mythology? Jung also wrote that the 12th century Abbess, Hildegard of Bingen, in her “Fourth Vision,” painted 30 fiery red circles flowing into the body of a child in a woman’s womb. Hildegard envisioned the souls of mankind as fireballs! So is that what we are seeing—flying souls—something we only see in a Star Trek episode?

Perhaps they are “Merkabahs" (Merkava) a Hebrew word meaning “chariot;” part of the mysticism of the Kabbalah. This is a secret process of meditation combining breathing, verbalization and visualization techniques. The Merkabah is a spiritual transport to a higher dimension. Aryeh Kaplan in “Meditation and Kabbalah” (Samuel Weiser, 1982) writes that the purpose is to attain: “…the highest mystical experiences.” Astral projection might be a way to describe this experience. This is plenty of food for thought; nevertheless, The Chariot card symbolizes victory in passing the tests and trials of living this life and, in finding ways to manifest the utmost of one’s potential.



The Lovers

The Lovers: Merging or Separating

Let’s start where all relationships begin: “I love you” or “I hate you.” I was sitting at my desk at work one day and suddenly a little boy, about three years old that I had never seen before, appeared in the doorway. I looked at him and he looked at me and he said, “I don’t like you.” I work in a home office and some people were guests upstairs that I didn’t know about. (There was a lot of tittering in the background from another worker.) Yes, that’s how fast it happens. It was the beginning of an estranged relationship.

Why is “The Lovers” card in Tarot of Cosmic Consciousness painted as two overlapping circles? It’s here we take another step into Sacred Geometry. The one is dividing into two—or—is it two merging into one? For some lovers, to merge is an attempt to return to an original sense of spiritual oneness. On the other hand, for others, it’s something to escape from. Is the glass half empty or is the glass half full?

In the biblical story of creation, Adam and Eve (as the first couple) got into trouble right away. What went wrong? In “The Lovers” card of older Tarot decks such as “The Builders of the Adytum,” or the Waite, Colman Smith deck, Adam and Eve, archetypal figures from Genesis, are depicted standing in front of 2 trees. It’s explained that behind Eve is the “Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil,” and behind Adam is the “Tree of Life.” In the story, because they disobeyed and ate of the “Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil,” they experienced duality and the separation of opposites. Just try discussing this story for an invigorating evening sometime (Eve-ning, pun intended). Did Eve recognize that evil, in the form of a talking serpent, was trying to entice her, but then she went ahead and fell for it? Was Adam just being naive and opportunistic for falling for it too? (Is this the meaning of the metaphor of “The Fall”?)

Michael Schneider says in his book, “Beginners Guide to Constructing the Universe” (HarperCollins 1995): “Polarized thinking encourages our sense of separation and deflects our vision from the world’s—and our own—inherent unity.” I ask, how do we function in a state of togetherness? We connect with each other through mutual agreement, negotiation, cooperation and compromise. Most everyone wants to have an intimate relationship. Usually we are relating to another person or group of persons in some fashion. Gail Fairfield says in her book “Choice Centered Relating and the Tarot,” (Samuel Weiser, 2000) “Once a commitment has been made and is well defined, the dance of intimacy (or closeness) and autonomy (or separateness) begins.”

The two interlocking circles look like a division but, can also be a reflection. In a metaphysical context, it could mean a spiritual reflection of the infinite One. The circle repeats itself. A new shape is formed—the “Vesica Piscis,”—which is an oval mandorla with pointed ends. This has long been acknowledged as a female symbol of the womb where living beings are formed in a mysterious process of exponential cellular growth.

In Sacred Geometry, the intersecting circles represent the beginning of two-ness. While drawing the “Vesica Piscis” we begin a process of thinking about how things come into being. To experience this for yourself, start with a pencil point on paper and place a compass on that while contemplating cosmic concepts such as the One Being. Next, draw the circumference of the circle—and think of the origin of the universe, the planets, stars, and especially your own beginning. Cell division has begun. 1 becomes 2, 2 becomes 4, 4 becomes 8, and so on. This isn’t a “chicken or the egg” situation. “The Lovers” represent the profound secrets behind the beginning and multiplication of life.

The Hierophant

The Hierophant: The Golden Rectangle and Nature’s Mysteries

When analyzing the meaning of The Hierophant we enter the realm of Nature’s complex mysteries. In Tarot of Cosmic Consciousness, The Hierophant reminds us to become aware of the creative impulsion that activates the blueprints behind all life forms. Therefore, we think of cellular organization and processes of growth. Now we are impelled to see the wonders of the underlying structure of plants, land animals, and sea creatures—from simple amoebas to intricate coral reefs. In this context, The Hierophant is an icon for a teacher of Nature’s holistic organizing principles. We are prompted to become keenly aware of, and grateful for, our earthly environment. Michael Schneider in his book, A Beginner’s Guide to Constructing the Universe, asserts that “…every natural pattern of growth or movement conforms inevitably to one or more simple geometric types.” At this point, I like to look at Bruce Rawles website, Sacred Geometry Design Sourcebook for a complete guide to Sacred Geometry.

Historically, in ancient Greece, The Hierophant was High Priest for Demeter (Ceres) Goddess of agriculture, whose presence was celebrated by an agrarian culture in Eleusinian shrines. She was worshipped by the farming community as Mother Nature: the cyclic source for seed-planting (grains and vegetables) then sprouting, flowering, and producing fruit, which in turn, bear seeds for the return to earth. And we know plants continue to reproduce themselves from their seeds over and over again. And by the way, many flowers and fruits manifest 5 petals or seeds in arrangements of five. Why? What does that mean? What are Nature’s rules for biological development?


According to British biologist Rupert Sheldrake in his book, The Rebirth of Nature, he says, “The cosmos is like a growing organism, forming new structures within itself as it develops…it tells us that everything is related.” He discusses the proposition that what was once thought of as Nature’s laws, are really forms of memory: this he refers to as “morphic resonance,” a state that involves holistic organizing principles bound together in a state of “oneness.” The Hierophant is here in the Tarot to remind us to take notice of that.


We are taken back by the metaphor of The Hierophant to celebrate the powerful activity of Nature’s cosmic creative processes. We are urged to pay attention to the stages of growth and change as they actually happen. For instance, such wonders of self-organization can be seen in a chambered nautilus shell where each chamber, constructed by the sea creature inside, is approximately 1.618… times larger than the next chamber. And we can certainly see the outcome of self-replication demonstrated by all those cute little rabbits multiplying themselves again and again. Then there is the riddle of specification: Why does an elephant always produce another elephant, and not a horse or a chicken? Yet, the possibility of a mutation makes evolutionary change possible. We see the attributes of self-realization in humans and primates since they are able to examine themselves in a mirror. (On the other hand, my cat won’t even look at himself.) What other animals can also recognize themselves?


The painting of The Hierophant in Tarot of Cosmic Consciousness is based on a Golden Mean Spiral—a symbol of unending evolution—painted within a Golden Rectangle made up of little squares. The equiangular spiral is revealed as arcs drawn through a series of “whirling squares.” These qualities represent the “Golden Section” or the Golden Mean described by Euclid in the 47th Proposition called “the measure of gold.” To the Greeks in ancient times, mathematics and geometry was a way to interpret the laws of Nature. Such knowledge was considered sacred and was a highly guarded secret.

In the 17th century, after Descartes discovered it, the architect Jacques Bernoulli, defined the properties of the “Golden Mean Spiral” or equiangular spiral as it is called. The spiral unfolds because of a principle of growth and it can grow larger exponentially, becoming larger and larger, ad infinitum. The spiral growth of many life forms approximates the ratio of 1:1.618… called the Phi ratio. It is a series of numbers that may continue on forever, although the creature or plant experiences a limited form of growth. For instance, in counting the rows of seeds in the head of a sunflower, we sometimes see 89 long rows and 55 short rows. When 89 is divided by 55, believe it or not, the answer is a ratio of 1:1.618… a numeral of infinity. This leads us to a study of the “Fibonacci series:” 1+1=2; 2+3=5; 3+5=8; 5+8=13, and so on, yielding the same Phi ratio. These are just some of the lessons The Hierophant of Tarot of Cosmic Consciousness has in store for us. Perhaps this will start you on your way in discovering the underlying secrets of Nature.