The Tarot Your Guide to Tarot Mastery

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The Tarot Your Guide to Tarot Mastery This edition s theme is based on the card called The Devil. Have you heard that saying, The devil s in the details?

1 The Tarot Your Guide to Tarot Mastery This edition s theme is based on the card called The Devil. Have you heard that saying, The devil s in the details? It usually means that if you overlook seemingly unimportant things in plans or schemes, then they might cause serious problems later on. It suggests paying attention to the details so that the fine print doesn t come back to bite you. In this card there are many symbolic details that are wise to heed. Based upon Eliphas Lévi s image of the Goat of Mendes (also known as Baphomet), the card called The Devil is considered by many to be a symbol of evil. However Lévi intended this image to be symbolic of the absolute containing the male and female forms of creation. The horns on the heads of the male and female figures show that their minds are shackled to The Devil through their fears, ignorance, and negative thoughts. The tails and chains symbolise the animalistic nature of the couple. But in the same way that their bodies are only loosely held through physical means (the chains are quite slack around their necks) we know they are only bound to existing conditions through a limited understanding of their true nature. It is said that a chain is only as strong as its weakest link, and this is true of this card when you have awareness of the fears and negativity that binds you, these bonds become weaker and if you make a determined effort to bring about change, you will finally be able to deal with those issues that are restricting you. Tarot Blessings, Don McLeod Page 1 Editorial Page 2 Webinar Review Page 3 Book Review Page 4 Tarot Gatherings Page 5 Invitation to a Free Tarot Talk Page 6 Workshops and Classes Page 7 The Lovers & The Devil Page 8 Interpretations for The Devil

Who really designed the Rider-Waite Tarot cards? In this webinar by award-winning Tarot author Mary K.

The main intention of the webinar is to work out how many symbols of the cards came from the artist (Pamela Colman Smith) and how much can be credited to the acknowledged designer, Arthur Edward

The Queen of Cups represents the Grail Maiden and the Knight is a Grail Knight.

The suit of Wands is described as the story of Perceval (Parsifal), which is about a mystic on an adventurous quest. In that myth the wand is a lance or spear from which fiery blood flows.

2 Who really designed the Rider-Waite Tarot cards? In this webinar by award-winning Tarot author Mary K. Greer, we are led on a journey of exploration to discover the stories behind illustrations in the Minor Arcana cards. The main intention of the webinar is to work out how many symbols of the cards came from the artist (Pamela Colman Smith) and how much can be credited to the acknowledged designer, Arthur Edward Waite. According to Greer, the suit of Cups and the suit of Wands reflect the myth regarding the journey of Joseph of Aramathea and the search for the Holy Grail. The Queen of Cups represents the Grail Maiden and the Knight is a Grail Knight. The King is therefore the Fisher King hence the symbols of the fish in the background of the card s image, and the fish pendant around his neck. The suit of Wands is described as the story of Perceval (Parsifal), which is about a mystic on an adventurous quest. In that myth the wand is a lance or spear from which fiery blood flows. This wand/spear is also reminiscent of the flowering staff that Joseph of Aramathea planted at Glastonbury to signify the resting place of the Grail. There does seem to be relevant symbols from the Grail stories popping up in the imagery of these two suits. For example, in the Perceval myth, he kills the Red Knight and assumes the red armour and horse of his victim maybe this part of the story is shown by the colour tones in the clothing of the Knight of Wands. However, in this webinar it s also suggested that the suit of Swords is based on a Masonic story about a character called Hiram Abiff and this is where Mary s theories fall apart as the links require a big stretch of the imagination and Greer contradicts herself a few times re the symbolism. The suit of Pentacles is supposed to relate to the story of Masonic initiation, illustrated with the stages of Masonic development to become a Master Mason. Once again, there are some symbolic references that could relate to this, but her arguments for this conclusion are not very convincing. At the end of the webinar someone commented that Mary was, Keeping tarot fresh and alive. Mary replied, Here we are, more than 100 years after Waite wrote these things and it s been sitting here waiting for people to recognise the stories. I commend Mary for taking a leap of faith to present these findings, but I think there s more to be discovered regarding the true origins of the stories behind the artwork. As with the other Tarot webinars that I ve reviewed, they are great for gaining a fresh perspective on the cards, and it s worth the price for the many insights offered, but I m reluctant to say that it achieved all that it intended. This webinar is available from Global Spiritual Studies. See their website here for more details, or to purchase this webinar as a download or as a DVD set of two discs.

In her book Tarot Masters, Kim Arnold (founder of the UK Tarot Conference) has created a delightful collection of Tarot wisdom.

Mark Ryan, Mary K. Greer, Rachel Pollack, Sasha Fenton, and many more! And it has been beautifully illustrated with Kati Oppermann s line drawings of all the cards.

In a similar manner, Kim asked a selection of her favourite Tarot writers (thirty-eight in total) to describe how their adventure with Tarot began.

The second half of the book continues with a similar format, except those writers were able to choose a card that they loved or loathed.

3 In her book Tarot Masters, Kim Arnold (founder of the UK Tarot Conference) has created a delightful collection of Tarot wisdom. It features articles from the biggest names in the Tarot world: Alfred Douglas, Caitlin Matthews, Carrie Paris, Ciro Marchetti, Corrine Kenner, John Matthews, Juliet Sharman Burke, Lyn Howarth-Olds, Mark Ryan, Mary K. Greer, Rachel Pollack, Sasha Fenton, and many more! And it has been beautifully illustrated with Kati Oppermann s line drawings of all the cards. Tarot Masters was inspired by Lyn Howarth-Olds Letters to the Past Tarot project, in which Lyn asked 22 Tarot authors to write a Tarot-related letter to someone from days gone by. In a similar manner, Kim asked a selection of her favourite Tarot writers (thirty-eight in total) to describe how their adventure with Tarot began. She also assigned a Major Arcana card for each author and asked them to write about the image and to give an interpretation of the card. The second half of the book continues with a similar format, except those writers were able to choose a card that they loved or loathed. Each writer only has about three pages to describe their card, and to tell their story of what stirred them into picking up their first deck of Tarot, so you might expect to skim through this book fairly fast but no, you ll be reading and stopping and contemplating each of the interpretations given for these cards. And then you ll reread them before moving to the next one because there will be so many insightful phrases that will change the way that you look at the cards from that moment on. For example, words from the very first chapter resonated within me as I read about The Fool. Kim Arnold wrote that chapter, and the following sentence gave that sparkle of enchantment that you get when you gain new awareness of the card s energy The main aspect of The Fool is that the road ahead is full of potential and invites change. However, the way we handle that change dictates whether the experience will be positive or negative. It s such a simple, yet beautiful explanation for that card s meaning, and one that will be remembered by me for a long time. Caitlin Matthews connects her card The Empress with the Celtic Triple Mothers, while her husband John sees The Emperor as, the Green Man, King Arthur, the Emperor of Rome and the god of change and fecundity. Kim Arnold also wrote the chapter for the card called The Devil. She explains that this card, brings to the forefront our fears, negativity, pessimism and attachments, and signifies overindulgence and addictions. When The Devil appears, we must decide if we have allowed ourselves to be restrained by the chains that bind and, if so, work out how we can release them. Whenever I see The Devil in my own reading, I know I have allowed myself to be overburdened and I need to look at how I can restore the balance of work and play. At the start of this superb collection of stories, Kim mentioned that she hoped that the book would become a legacy and inspire future generations of Tarot enthusiasts. I believe that it will live up to this ideal. It s a treasure-trove of useful interpretations from the world s most influential and inspirational Tarot Masters on the planet, and it s destined to become a must-have book on any Tarot reader s bookshelf. Edited by: Kim Arnold Published by: Hay House, 2013 ISBN: Price: 9.99

Adelaide Tarot Gatherings The Tarot Guild of Australia is sponsoring these gatherings and meetings are held on the last Wednesday of each month.

For more information on each monthly event, contact Martha on 0403 276 319 or email: marthaadams0@gmail.com Venue: St John s Spiritualist Church 271 Carrington Street, Adelaide Starting time is 7 p.m. Cost is $5 For a state-by-state listing of monthly Tarot gatherings around Australia, see the Guild s website: www.

com The Major Arcana Would you like to awaken your spirit to the powers of the Major Arcana cards? On Sunday 13th April I m running a new and very special Tarot workshop.

4 Adelaide Tarot Gatherings The Tarot Guild of Australia is sponsoring these gatherings and meetings are held on the last Wednesday of each month. Meet like-minded enthusiasts to share, practice, and discuss your favourite spreads, decks and authors. You don't need to be a Tarot expert. All are welcome! For more information on each monthly event, contact Martha on or marthaadams0@gmail.com Venue: St John s Spiritualist Church 271 Carrington Street, Adelaide Starting time is 7 p.m. Cost is $5 For a state-by-state listing of monthly Tarot gatherings around Australia, see the Guild s website: Learn how to combine Tarot and Palmistry in an innovative, five week course, held once a week at Hahndorf, S. A. Only $190 Trev: witchabilia@hotmail.com The Major Arcana Would you like to awaken your spirit to the powers of the Major Arcana cards? On Sunday 13th April I m running a new and very special Tarot workshop. Come along if you d like to discover the true meanings of the Major Arcana. There ll be activities, demo readings, and a meditation all designed to deepen your awareness of this powerful, spiritually-uplifting part of the deck. The workshop will be held at Crystal Wave, 677 Grange Road, Grange, S.A. I am restricting this to a small number of people, so that I can give lots of individual attention, so places are extremely limited...book now!

An Invitation to a Free Tarot Talk* An Introduction to Tarot Sunday 4 th May 2 p.m.

@ Crystal Wave, Grange With each passing year, my interest in Tarot deepens, but I seem to be moving further away from doing readings about

By exploring the spiritual aspect of the Tarot, and by putting this knowledge into practice in your everyday life, you can make steady

You will awaken to your true nature a peaceful state of mind, which is free from anger and criticism.

5 An Invitation to a Free Tarot Talk* An Introduction to Tarot Sunday 4 th May 2 p.m. to 3 Crystal Wave, Grange With each passing year, my interest in Tarot deepens, but I seem to be moving further away from doing readings about the future, and I am more inclined to explore Tarot s ability to lead a person to higher levels of spiritual development. By exploring the spiritual aspect of the Tarot, and by putting this knowledge into practice in your everyday life, you can make steady progress towards personal enlightenment. You will awaken to your true nature a peaceful state of mind, which is free from anger and criticism. When you have assimilated an awareness of your true self, happiness and harmony can develop in your life. Tarot is not just for fortune-telling. Its esoteric energies can enhance your spiritual development, helping you to gain clarity about your personal circumstances, and bringing awareness of your true self. The journey of The Fool to The World is a noble adventure, and Tarot is an enlightening way to explore the many paths leading to your spiritual awakening. At Crystal Wave on 4 th May I ll be giving a talk called An Introduction to Tarot. In this presentation I ll be detailing how Tarot is a method of discovery between the reader and the person having the reading. I ll be talking about using Tarot in your everyday life and for spiritual purposes too. And I ll be giving a demonstration of Soul Readings. Come along you might be given a free reading on the day! The talk is from 2pm to 3pm at Crystal Wave, 677 Grange Road, Grange. *Gold Coin Donation (for charity) Tarot Quiz Q: What is the symbol etched into the palm of The Devil?

6 Tarot Simplified a workshop with Don McLeod Sunday 18 th May, 2014 from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Held at Crystal Wave 677 Grange Road, Grange, SA How Tarot Works Demystifying Tarot Insightful Tarot Spreads Learn Easy Interpretations Practical & Spiritual Uses By the end of this workshop you will feel comfortable using Tarot cards and you will have a better understanding of their meanings. 4 hours training for only $75 Requirements: Rider-Waite Tarot Deck Bookings essential: Phone Elite Tarot Coaching One-to-one sessions are available for personalised, professional Tarot coaching with Don McLeod. Each elite coaching session goes for two hours and provides tips and techniques to give you confidence in doing readings and making interpretations. MisterTarot@yahoo.com.au The coaching fee is $99 Personalised Classes Want to learn Tarot with your friends? Get a group together and I ll come to you! MisterTarot@yahoo.com.au Don McLeod s Tarot Workshops 2014 Want to get serious about learning Tarot? This year I am running a series of workshops to help you become a more confident reader. If you ve already been to one of my Tarot Simplified classes, or if you have a good understanding of the basics of Tarot, then you re welcome at these workshops. April 13 The Major Arcana Understand the role of the Major Arcana in readings. Discover the meanings of the Major Arcana. Realise the significance of the Major Arcana as a model for spiritual growth and personal enlightenment. Do spreads using only the Major Arcana. June 15 The Minor Arcana See the Minor Arcana as expressions of your daily life. Become familiar with the suits and their elements. Connect with the card s meaning through its number. Understand the role of the Court cards. August 24 The Court Cards See the Court cards as people in your life. Discover the types of people shown in these cards. Learn about the attitudes of the Court cards. Discover the emotional maturity of each card. Do readings featuring the Court cards. Gain a clear understanding of Court card meanings. October 19 Tarot Spreads All will be held in the workshop room at Crystal Wave from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. These workshops are only $75 each. Bookings are already open... Phone to reserve your place.

The Lovers and The Devil Compare the picture on the card called The Devil with the image of The Lovers. The opposing forces between the two cards are revealed.

7 The Lovers and The Devil Compare the picture on the card called The Devil with the image of The Lovers. The opposing forces between the two cards are revealed. Instead of daylight, there is the danger and intrigue of night. The angel is the antithesis of the winged Devil. The same couple are shown, but their lower nature is represented in the card of The Devil. Instead of being free, the couple are fettered to a stone block. And this carved base to which they are attached, contrasts with the natural mountain in the background of the other card. Grapes are at the end of the tail behind the woman fruits that symbolise the earthly realm, rather than the Tree of Knowledge which was in The Lovers card. The tail of the man has been lit by the flaming torch. This looks similar to the flame-like leaves from the Tree of Life shown in the other card, but this time it represents lust and desire at the base chakra. The Lovers is card number 6, and The Devil is card number 15, which numerologically adds to 6 also. So, The Devil is another version of The Lovers a dark and disturbing aspect of commitment and the connections between men and women and their inner natures. The Spiritual Lesson of The Devil The card known as The Devil does not represent an evil being with horns and a tail it is simply about fear, for this is what is found in the Underworld. This Underworld is the realm of consciousness you would rather not consider. It s the area of the mind storing your suppressed fear and negativity. In order to be a complete person, you must face and deal with self-doubts, so they do not overwhelm you at a later date. To be enlightened, means you recognise the darkness, or shadow within. Once you have journeyed into the depths of your soul, discovering the fears and anguish residing there, your spiritual lesson is to acknowledge the part they have played in shaping your present heart and mind. Like an Alchemist, with the fiery tools of awareness and forgiveness, you can transmute these emotions into a regenerative power of spiritual rebirth.

Interpretations for The Devil The Devil is about greed, materialism, and addiction. He represents unhealthy connections to an idea, a person, or bad habits.

Adam and Eve are chained to this block of stone, so this card represents attachment and allowing ourselves to ignore responsibility while we indulge in unhealthy passions or excess.

The emphasis of this card is physical or psychological force, guilt, obsession, violence, and repression. This card also suggests people who try to dominate or control you.

Capricorn is the sign associated with the card called The Devil. Mister Tarot is on Facebook! Visit here and click Like to get all the latest Tarot news.

The beginner may feel somewhat alarmed at the mass of explanatory matter there is for him to study, but once the information has been acquired, the would-be cartomancer will find he possesses a sense

8 Interpretations for The Devil The Devil is about greed, materialism, and addiction. He represents unhealthy connections to an idea, a person, or bad habits. It can show the longing for material possessions, or wealth that is used for power. In the Rider-Waite Tarot we see a winged Devil perched upon a black stone. Adam and Eve are chained to this block of stone, so this card represents attachment and allowing ourselves to ignore responsibility while we indulge in unhealthy passions or excess. On an inner level, The Devil represents the deep-seated, instinctual aspects of our physical and sexual desires. The Devil can symbolise repressed fears or needs which must be overcome. The emphasis of this card is physical or psychological force, guilt, obsession, violence, and repression. This card also suggests people who try to dominate or control you. Tarot Quiz Q: What is the symbol etched into the palm of The Devil? A: The symbol on The Devil s right hand is the glyph of the planet Saturn, which has rulership over the Capricorn zodiac sign. Capricorn is the sign associated with the card called The Devil. Mister Tarot is on Facebook! Visit here and click Like to get all the latest Tarot news. We have here a detailed and exhaustive method by which the cards may be read. The beginner may feel somewhat alarmed at the mass of explanatory matter there is for him to study, but once the information has been acquired, the would-be cartomancer will find he possesses a sense of power and comprehension, that will give both confidence and dexterity to his attempts to unravel the thread of destiny. - Professor P. R. S. Foli, Fortune-Telling by Playing Cards, 1903 If you no longer wish to receive this newsletter, simply send an to: MisterTarot@yahoo.com.au with the word unsubscribe in the subject area. Copyright on all articles in this newsletter belong to Don McLeod unless specifically stated otherwise. One does not become enlightened by imagining figures of light, but by making the darkness conscious. Carl Jung

The Tarot Your Guide to Tarot Mastery

The Tarot Your Guide to Tarot Mastery This edition s theme is based on the card called Death. If you realize that all things change, there is nothing you will try to hold on to. If you are not afraid of