XXI. Tarot is to Engage Life, Not Escape It
Life is our Temple.
Heaven is Hid in our Images and we Abide in the Sanctuary.
We should use Tarot to Take Us Beyond Ourselves, not See in it an Endless Series of Selfies.
So, at last, we might come to realise that this World is the Answer we have always sought.
Remember then, from the very beginning, we are wayfarers and our journey takes us to the very end, where we will switch off the lights together.
There is no Escape, simply an Everlasting Day.
This will never be any different, from the beginning to the end.
Extended Commentary
The most valuable knowledge has always passed through the most unlikely of hands. The secret can only be hidden in plain sight because it is so simple – tarot is the moving likeness of eternity, it is time in our mind made real. When we consider the past, present and future, we make images and these images are in the cards when we lay them out – past, present and future. We remain, here and now, looking at the cards, perhaps waiting for revelation. Yet it is this. We are here. This is our temple. It is real.
Practice
Welcome to your final lesson of the 21 Principles of Tarot.
In Lesson III we used three cards to illustrate our connection to the World.
We now return to that method and add to it a timeline.
This is where we have been leading you, from the Empress (3) to the World (21).
For this reading we draw NINE cards and lay them out FACE DOWN in a 3 x 3 Square.
We first read the centre column. The centre column is the PRESENT, with the top card our challenge, the middle card our resource and the bottom card our lesson.
THE PRESENT
We read these exactly as we did in the 3rd lesson. You can now go back and review all the lessons if you wish, before conducting this reading.
Turn over the first card, saying … “My present challenge is …”
Interpret this card as a challenge.
Turn over the second card, saying … “However, I have the resource of …”
Interpret this card as a resource.
You can also say “This card shows me what I can draw upon and it is telling me I can draw upon …”
Turn over the third card, saying … “And when I do, I learn the lesson of …”
Interpret this card as a lesson.
THE PAST
We now turn up the three cards in the left column, reading these as the PAST in order to see how the situation has arisen and gain more context.
We do this by simply using the past tense in exactly the same sentences:
Turn over the first card, saying … “My challenge was …”
Interpret this card as a past challenge.
Turn over the second card, saying … “However, I had (found) the resource of …”
Interpret this card as a past resource.
You can also say “This card shows me what I drew upon …”
Turn over the third card, saying … “And when I did, I learnt the lesson of …”
Interpret this card as a past lesson.
THE FUTURE
We now turn up the three cards in the right column, reading these as the FUTURE in order to see how the situation has arisen and gain more context.
We do this by now using the future tense in exactly the same sentences:
Turn over the first card, saying … “My challenge will turn into …”
Interpret this card as a future challenge.
Turn over the second card, saying … “However, I will benefit from the resource of …”
Interpret this card as a future resource.
You can also say “This card shows me what I can draw upon …”
Turn over the third card, saying … “And when I do, the outcome will be (or the problem avoided) …”
Interpret this card as a future outcome or avoidance of problem.
EXAMPLE
“My present challenge is how to develop my new work [3 of Pentacles]. I have the resource of experience and knowledge of my subject [King of Swords]. And when I do, I learn the lesson of taking delight in it [Ace of Cups]”.
“My challenge was that I was over-active and got into conflict [Knight of Rods/Wands]. However, from that, I can now see I found the resource of exposing ignorance [Devil]. And when I did, I learnt the lesson of making clear-cut decisions [Ace of Swords]”.
“My challenge in the future will be carrying the responsibilities and not being overburdened [10 of Wands]. However, I will benefit from the resource of direction – being able to delegate and do one thing at a time [Ace of Wands]. And when I do, the outcome will be success and good leadership [6 of Wands]”.
You have now, in your 3-week journey, come to understand the 21 Principles of Tarot and experience many methods for your practice.
We wish you a full deck of possibilities and encourage you to join us for a lifetime of further discovery in the Tarot Association.
There is just one more thing, nothing really, for those of you who wish to take one little leap.