Mystical Tarot Realms
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The Star: Aquarius
Mr. M and the Allies of Aquarius
"What are you seeing this moment on this path?" Mr. Mellifluous asks Claire.
Claire replies, "On this path, I see a woman kneeling down, pouring water from a pitcher in her right hand into a pond and water from a pitcher in her left hand onto the earth."
"Good," Mr. M replies. "Notice that one large, central star floats above her head and seven other large stars float nearby. The seven white stars correspond to the seven primary chakras of the aura. After purification, the seven stars shine brightly without any veils to dim them; the eighth star reveals a kind of consciousness that exists after purification of the energy centers: the consciousness of the higher self. With this higher awareness, the woman rejuvenates the inner and outer worlds.
"The ibis, symbol of Thoth, perches in the tree behind the woman. Thoth is the great God of magic and communication who manifests thought. Sothis, the celestial Isis, associated with Sirius, the star that appears just before the Nile floods, pours the higher consciousness of the Goddess into the Kingdom. The Goddess works with Thoth, the great magician, who crafts the forms that ensoul the forces. She is Isis as Venus, the Goddess who creates beauty and harmony and manifests divine love in the Kingdom. Hathor marries Horus, Venus and Mars experience a passionate love affair, these Goddesses containing the power of the life-force, the power to create magnificent beauty and harmony through love.
"Associated with Aquarius, this path leads to the seventh Emanation on the Tree of Life. We are traveling today toward the realm of Venus, in other words, the Emanation of beauty and nature, of music and and art and love. Love in the lower realms is often unstable, so you can expect to encounter some conflict as we seek out the allies of Aquarius associated with the Star."
Five of Swords: Venus in Aquarius, Mars in Geburah (Power)
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Soon they encounter three men who had been sword-fighting. The victor controls five swords as if he has won other battles as well.
"Why are they fighting, Mr. M?" Claire asks.
"People find all sorts of reasons to fight, some noble, some selfish, some stupid. Since we are in the realm of Venus in Aquarius, I suspect that this fight has something to do with love, an emotion that as I mentioned can be a destabilizing force in the lower realms. But it might be something even deeper than that: One person has what others want, power or money or land or even love.
"Aquarians are visionary and far-seeing. This ability is beneficial if the Aquarian is fighting for the highest good. Otherwise it can turn into senseless conflict, with the winner sooner or later becoming a loser, and revenge becoming the main motivation in a vicious cycle. In the realm of Aquarius, it is possible that the winner here is using his skills for the common good. Higher love might be motivating him, a love for his fellow human beings or his community. In this world, we must sometimes fight evil to maintain harmony, which is why the ability to manifest the energies of Mars is so important.
"Venus is a Goddess of love at all levels. Notice that there are losers here but no blood on the ground. The winner is not running after the losers to stab them or chop them up. He has simply relieved them of their swords. The winner has neutralized the others. In other words, the winner might be neutralizing negativity or evil to create balance, an act of sacrifice and harmonizing love."
"I hope so, Mr. M!" Claire exclaims.
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Six of Swords: Mercury in Aquarius, Sun In Tiphareth (Beauty)
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Mr. M and Claire go on a boat ride and encounter a man, woman, and child heading for the nearby shore.
"Why are six swords standing in the bow of their boat?" Claire asks.
"Swords sometimes symbolize danger or a threat of some kind, but they also suggest protection. The number six signifies an association with the Emanation of the Sun known as Beauty, the sphere of the higher self, the sphere of sacrifice and harmonizing love.
"Is that a family, Mr. M?" Claire asks.
"The boatman is using his skills carefully and calmly to steer his passengers toward the shore in the distance. He might be the father. We are in the realm of Mercury in Aquarius. The boatman has developed the ability to focus (a quality of Mercury), which can help to maintain and protect the most basic social connections, such as families and friendships, or it can lead to new shores for the individual and humanity in general (a quality of Aquarius). Intense focus is the key to getting from one point to another, literally and figuratively. The boat slides quietly and smoothly across the water, and the quietness hints at an aspect of Mercury's role as the messenger of the Gods. The conscious mind sometimes receives unexpected knowledge or insights from deep in the subconscious mind, where the higher self resides, when the mind is still. The boatman's pole goes deep into the water to push the boat forward.
"I think he's receiving messages about how to protect his family," Claire states.
"Maybe so," Mr. M murmurs. "Maybe so."
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Seven of Swords: Moon in Aquarius, Venus in Netzach (Victory)
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Still in the realm of Aquarius, Claire and Mr. M approach an army encampment.
"Is that man stealing swords?" Claire wonders out loud.
"He looks a bit silly, so maybe he is performing some kind of prank, which could have serious consequences for him if the soldiers catch him. Carrying those sharp swords can't be easy for him either.
"The Moon and Venus are a major influences here, so he might be experiencing some form of lunacy, or perhaps he is attempting to impress some woman with his bravery, for after all, Venus is the Goddess of Love and the moon is a symbol of romantic love.
"You almost always see something deeper, Mr. M. Is there something more?"
"Well, we are in the realm of Aquarius, and Aquarians often have complex reasons for their choices. We might laugh at his silly, unstable efforts, but perhaps that is the point. He's not wearing a uniform, so he doesn't appear to be a soldier. He seems more like a fool or a jester than a lunatic driven mad by love. What do you think, Claire? Do you think he is trying to make a point?"
"Maybe he's making a point about war," Claire replies.
"You could be right. He seems to be prompting each of us to ask the question, 'Which crime is worse? Stealing a few swords in a effort to end the killing? Or killing an untold number of men, women and children so that a handful of people gain more power and wealth? Is stealing swords to stop the blood-shed worse than stealing land soaked with the blood of thousands or hundreds-of-thousands or even millions?' Considering the possible sacrifice this man might be making, this act seems based in higher love or the divine madness of a Fool, or perhaps both."
"I sure hope he doesn't get caught," Claire whispers.
"Me too, child. Me too!"
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All stories, illustrations, and music Copyright © 2023 by Jim Robbins.
Five of Swords: Venus in Aquarius, Mars in Power
THE LORD OF DEFEAT
Nathan, when riding his horse by the sea, came upon a warrior engaged in a sword-fight against two other men. The warrior fought valiantly, like a great knight, but Nathan had never seen or heard of him before. Suddenly in one quick, expert move the warrior took away the swords of the two other men. Nathan was surprised that the warrior did not kill or capture his two attackers. The fight ended without bloodshed as the attackers stumbled away.
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King of Swords
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Impressed, Nathan continued on his journey and came upon the King of Swords. Nathan dismounted and bowed as he approached the King. "I serve thee always, my King, but I have a question."
The King gazed at him. "Yes, my devoted knight. What is your query?"
Nathan responded, "Your Majesty, I just saw a warrior take away the weapons of two men who were attacking him. He did not harm them, and they simply limped away."
"That is not uncommon," the King responded. "Every true knight finds different ways to neutralize conflict and evil."
"But why didn't he teach them a lesson?"
Tipping his sword slightly to the right, the King responded, "Sometimes removing a person's ability to harm others is the lesson. As a knight, you must decide when to escalate and when simply to remove the potential for negativity. Some people want to elevate themselves by performing great acts of evil, and they idolize other people who break the rules and manage to get away with it. They want to believe themselves stronger or more violent or richer than others and above all the rules. In other words, they want to feel superior to others. Some of them do this by performing acts of evil in secret, alone or with others. This usually stems from terrible trauma, abuse, betrayal, upheaval, abandonment, and loss that they have experienced. As a knight, you need to be able to recognize the depths of negativity and evil within other people. Some people might attack you out of desperation, but some might wish to elevate themselves by showing others that they can harm you because they know that some people admire others who show this tendency for destruction and lawlessness. As a knight, you need to recognize this tendency and neutralize dark forces appropriately for the highest possible good. Sometimes that means taking weapons away or isolating people from the rest of society until they develop greater understanding and compassion, and sometimes that means working with great spiritual beings such as Angels and Archangels to neutralize the dark forces within yourself and others. In other words, instead of causing bloodshed, you can be a spiritual warrior. I'm sure the holy man in the castle has shown you how to do this."
Nathan replied, "Yes, your Highness, but on the spiritual level I am not yet as skilled as the holy man."
"Being a masterful spiritual warrior requires you to make the most difficult kind of transformation: from selfishness to compassion. Puffing up the self can often lead to unnecessary conflicts and bloodshed. Through harmonizing love and compassion and sacrifice, you learn to neutralize dark forces to create balance in order to avoid catastrophic physical conflict.
"Do not judge yourself too harshly. It is those who strive for harmony and beauty and truth and justice who become most keenly aware when they might have solved a problem on the spiritual level instead of resolving a problem through violence, and it is through the recognition of their own lost opportunities to act with compassion that they eventually become more aware of their higher self. People who are aware that they live in a community that includes not just the entire realm but the rest of humanity and the natural world may not be the strongest or the richest or the most famous or the most handsome or beautiful, but they are usually the ones most likely to neutralize negativity and dark forces to create balance instead of resorting to bloody conflict. Remember that people neutralize dark forces to create harmony in their own way, and remember that many of them may not be of your ethnicity or race. As a knight, it's important to be able to identify people who wish to harm you, but it's also as important to find spiritual warriors who do not cause bloodshed but who are skilled in human nature and act from the higher self, people who, whether considered great warriors or not, act with compassion for the highest possible good."
"I will remember thy sage advice, your Highness, so that as a knight I may serve thee effectively and with compassion." Nathan bowed, then mounted his horse and rode into the forest.
The Empress: Venus
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The holy man in the castle had shown Nathan how to create a positive living image with the Five of Swords as an example of how to transform a negative situation or energy into a positive one. The holy man had confided that the Five of Swords is not generally considered to be one of the most positive cards in the deck, but with an understanding of the benefits of neutralizing dark energies to create balance, he said, you can make a living image of the card's central figure. The way to do this, he said, is to find a living image in the modifying cards associated with the card, in this case The Star (Aquarius) and The Empress (Venus), for The Star represents the spiritual principle of the awakening of the heart, and The Empress represents the marriage of heaven and earth. For this ritual, the holy man chose the figure of the woman in The Star, who represents cleansing and compassion and the awakening of the heart.
The Star: Aquarius
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Nathan got ready to create an artificial elemental of the The Star with the Tarot Pentagram Spread. First, since Air is an active element, he used the Active Invoking Spirit Pentagram while laying down the foundation cards, starting in the lower right corner of the pentagram, moving to the upper left corner and continuing from there. After he placed all of the cards, he tapped each card in the direction of the Active Invoking Spirit Pentagram, making sure to tap the one in the position of Fire in the lower right corner to complete the pentagram.
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Foundation Cards with The Star and the Modifier
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Then he placed The Star in the middle of the pentagram, saying, "The Star, Aquarius," and tapped the card.
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Pentagram for Spirit
(Click on the Star Above to go to the Tarot Realms Store Page.)
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Then Nathan drew the Active Invoking Spirit Pentagram and the spirit wheel in brilliant white above The Star on the altar, charging the pentagram and the symbol in the usual way with the Sign of the Enterer.
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Invoking Pentagram for Air
(Click on the Star Above to review the LBRP and the SIRP.)
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Then, since Aquarius is an Air sign, and the Five of Swords represents Venus in Aquarius, Nathan placed The Empress on the Ace of Swords. After that, he drew an Invoking Pentagram for Air directly over the Active Invoking Spirit Pentagram, charging the pentagram and the symbol of Aquarius in the usual way. At that point, he imagined the symbol of Aquarius becoming the living image of the figure in The Star, and she came alive as a full-length figure. As Nathan visualized the living image, he imagined that sylphs flowed from the Archangel Raphael and filled the living image while at the same time tiny points of winged light flowed from his own aura and filled the living image as well.
Nathan then tapped The Star and stated, "Aquarius, the opening of the heart." Then he tapped The Empress and stated, "Venus, the marriage of heaven and earth." After gazing at the two cards for a moment, he stated, "Help me to experience compassion for all people and all life and become a masterful spiritual warrior by living in my higher self and neutralizing dark energies to create harmony and balance whenever possible."
Then he ended by saying, "So mote it be!" Before he finished the ritual, he imagined for a few minutes the star of the higher self shining brightly above his own head. Then he finished with the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram.
From that point on, Nathan unexpectedly envisioned the bright star of the higher self above his own head, and he knew that he too could become a masterful spiritual warrior.
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All stories, illustrations, and music Copyright © 2023 by Jim Robbins.
The Tower: Mars
Mr. Mellifluous and the Allies of Mars
Mr. Mellifluous asks, "What do you see?"
Claire responds, "I see a tower hit by lightning and a man and a woman tumbling head first to the ground."
"A horrifying sight, I know!" Mr. M replies. "But remember, without truth there can be no progress on the spiritual path."
"Mr. M, do you think there might be some reason the tower was struck by lightning?" Claire asks.
"I can speculate. Those two have lived in their high tower separate from the community of all life for so long, and now their insulated world is being blasted apart by a lightning bolt from the God Mars.
"People continue to be struck by lightning everyday. The ego is inevitably shaken up by higher consciousness. We think we might escape the lightning bolt by hiding in a tower, but we can’t escape forever. Mars will sooner or later hurl down the lightning bolt and blast the tower apart. After the God strikes the tower without mercy, we tumble a long way. We’ve glimpsed the Fire, and now the Fire sees us. It comes relentlessly to burn us up until nothing remains but the higher self. The false demands of other people burn up in the fire of the spirit. The Yods of will-power flame all around us. We live in the higher truth, and no one, no one can stop us.
"The 27th path of Mars is both disruptive and illuminating. This path forces an examination of the way we normally process reality in the conscious mind and leads ultimately to a reintegration of the self. This stage is a process of self-examination and self-sacrifice, which leads to the realization of the existence of the higher self.”
“Isn't it enough to know that the higher self exists, Mr. M?”
“Living in the higher self is a little more challenging than simply being aware that it exists. The ego is concerned primarily with survival and gratification, not sympathy and union. The ego can dominate the soul and often drives it deep into the subconscious mind, so deep that many never even become aware that the soul exists. The ego is willing to compromise spiritual values such as truth for security and status--the higher self is not. Those who insist on truth, for instance, are often treated as troublemakers or traitors and are occasionally even martyred. Fortunately or unfortunately, once you live in the higher self, it is extremely difficult to turn back and remain dominated by the ego, even though it might be far more challenging to live from the perspective of eternity in the higher self.
"The higher self, often enough, shakes us up without any apologies whatsoever. At times Mars is like Shiva, burning away everything except the essence of the soul. When Mars burns the transitory away, the spirit remains.”
"Are we going to see a lot of upsetting things on this path, Mr. M?" Claire asks.
"Some, but not nearly as many as you might expect," Mr. M replies. "In fact, we are about to experience aspects of Mars that might surprise you!"
Three of Pentacles: Mars in Capricorn, Saturn in Binah (Understanding)
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"Mr. M, why are these people wearing funny clothes?" Claire asks.
"One of them, a master mason, wears an apron as he labors on the religious edifice. The apron is yellow, associated with Air, symbolizing the use of mental energy. A monk is wearing a robe and the architect is wearing a style of clothes that you might consider a bit odd these days. If you can see beyond appearances, you might notice that the three are consulting with each other, which suggests that the best work combines mental and spiritual understanding with technical skill.
"Notice that the design contains pentagrams and equal-armed crosses, both of which evoke the harmony of the elements, but they also suggest the process of creation itself. In the design, the three pentagrams are within an upward pointing triangle, symbol of the element of Fire, and the flower is within a downward pointing triangle, symbol of the element of Water. The tiniest hint of a line across the upward triangle suggests the element of Air, and the edifice itself symbolizes the element of Earth. In other words, our friends are bringing energy down through the planes of manifestation. It begins with an inspiration from the invisible Aether. Then Fire establishes the spiritual will to start the creative process. The designs are then created in the imagination, associated with Water. They then use technical knowledge, associated with Air, and eventually realize the designs in form, associated with Earth. On this path, the master labors to realize his visions within the material plane, influenced by Mars in Capricorn as well as Saturn, meaning that the energy is earthed (Capricorn) and restricted in form (Saturn). Feeling the influence of Mars, he carves away whatever is not essential, which results in what we see before us, a magnificent cathedral. The same process applies to the creative process in almost every effective endeavor. Perhaps most importantly, our friends reveal an understanding of the significance of the spiritual principles represented by the symbols. Because they have internalized the spiritual energies, our friends can give the energies definite and appropriate form, providing necessary links for maintaining community."
"I had no idea that Mars was so important in the creation of stuff!" Claire exclaims.
"Indeed, Mars is a powerful influence on many levels," Mr. M replies.
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Nine of Swords: Mars in Gemini, Moon in Yesod (Foundation)
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"Why is that person so sad, Mr. M?" Claire asks.
"Hard to say exactly, but a few signs suggest the reason. She is sitting up in bed, hands covering her face. Nine swords hang horizontally over the bed, three of which, as she bends forward, seem to pierce the four energy centers related to the spiritual dimension of the self: the crown, the third eye, the throat, and the heart. At first glance, your ally might appear to be suffering from the effects of cruelty, which is a vice stemming from the unbalanced energies of Mars, or she might be suffering from grief, which is a common result of the constant change associated with the Moon. However, on the level associated with the element of Air in the ninth Emanation, the influences of Mars and Gemini can also be felt on a deeper level. The scene suggests that a blockage of the life-force between the higher and lower energy centers in the aura causes the despair. Stress and trauma from dysfunction and cruelty can close or block the energy centers, known also as chakras. Gemini symbolizes the dual nature of the self, the physical and spiritual aspects of the human being, and it appears that our friend for some reason is no longer aware of the spiritual side of her nature.
"She is covering her eyes, blinding herself to the spiritual dimension and its relationship to the physical dimension of the self, hence the blackness in the background. All levels of being are connected, and this is no different in the chakra system of the aura. One of the great powers of Mars on the physical level is the balance of the higher chakras with the lower chakras, the life-force flowing harmoniously throughout the whole system, both upward and downward. When a blockage exists between the spiritual and physical levels, the life-force on the lower levels, which includes romantic love (associated with the Moon), is adversely affected, and weakness and psychological suffering can result. It’s no accident that for our friend the spiritual dimension is blacked out and the lower half of the body is covered.
"There is always hope, however. On the blanket are red roses, red symbolically associated with both Mars and romantic love. Also on the blanket are astrological signs, a reminder that the psyche always has the potential to balance the life-forces and regain the health of both mind and body."
"I hope she feels better soon!" Claire blurts out.
"Me too," Mr. M replies.
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Five of Cups: Mars in Scorpio, Mars in Geburah (Power)
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"This fellow also appears quite distraught. At the moment, he seems focused only on loss. The influences of both Mars and Scorpio can be felt here. Mars is known for conflict and the accompanying sense of loss, and Scorpio is associated with deep transformation related to death and rebirth, which can occur on any level--physical, emotional, mental, or spiritual. Your ally, though seemingly unaware of the two cups still standing behind him and the bridge over the nearby stream that leads to some building--possibly a stable new beginning--in the distance, is developing wisdom related to loss and transformation in a world where change is the only constant, and loss of all kinds--including a sense of identity--is inevitable. Calcination, the heating of a substance in a crucible, is the first stage in the alchemical process of spiritual growth which leads to the gold of the Higher Self. Our friend is faced with a choice: wallow in sorrow, abet the forces and continue spiritual growth through the process of purification, or cross the bridge to search for something new."
"He looks so deep in thought. I hope he makes the right choice!" Claire exclaims.
"Our friend will find something new whatever decision he makes, for good or ill."
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Seven of Wands: Mars in Leo, Venus in Netzach (Victory)
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"Our friend above towers at the edge of a cliff above six adversaries. Our friend is experiencing the influence of Venus, which is unstable on the lower planes, so he might seem at first to be foolishly taking on a much greater force in an act of valor doomed to failure, but the key to his valor lies in understanding the influences of Mars in Leo. Mars linked with the Fire sign Leo suggests that your ally has a courageous, indomitable spirit. Moreover, the power associated with Mars in the sphere of Venus reveals the power of the life-force linked to the potency of the individual. The influence of Venus on the lower planes might be unstable, but the association of Mars with Venus on the spiritual plane leads to a power sublimated into great courage and strength--as long as the life-force is not obstructed in any way. Combined with the fiery courage of Leo, the energies of Venus and Mars on the spiritual plane might lead to a victory against much greater forces."
"I think he is really brave. He does have an indomitable spirit, Mr. M! He just might win!"
"He just might."
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Two of Wands: Mars in Aries, Zodiac in Chokmah (Wisdom)
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"This man doesn't look sad at all. I think he seems happy with himself," Claire states.
"He is, in his own way, a kind of hero. He is not intimidating, like some great warrior, but he has the air of a master. Mars, like the ram (Aries), represents the sheer power and potency of the life-force, but Mars is not just power--Mars also burns away what does not serve you. Mars restricts and channels and disciplines power so that it can be used effectively. Our friend, in other words, stands with the power of the life-force balanced within himself. Within his sphere of sensation, he has complete dominion of his own world. But our friend also looks upon and draws from the vast potential of creative energies in the world and the spiritual dimensions. Recognizing possibilities, our friend, in dominion of himself, maintains the unobstructed power of the life-force for his creative endeavors. He is self-actualized, which is the basis for his heroism."
"I like him, Mr. M!"
"I do too!" Mr. M smiles.
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Ten of Cups: Mars in Pisces, Four Elements in Malkuth (The Kingdom)
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"Mr. M, there is that happy family again! I'm so glad to see them!" Claire cries. "Are they somehow being influenced by Mars?"
"Remember that Mars burns away negativity, allowing the power of the life-force to manifest on all levels, bringing with it happiness and well-being. The cleansing power of the life-force reaches even into the deepest depths of the heart and mind. No hidden disorders distort the happiness of our friends. They live joyfully and abundantly in a stable home environment."
"I like Mars a lot better now! I would even consider him a friend, Mr. M."
"He is certainly a good ally to have," Mr. M replies.
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The Burners: Unbalanced Energies of Mars
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"Who is that freaky person riding on that strange flying horse?" Claire asks.
"He is one of the Burners, someone who manifests the unbalanced energies of Mars. Stay far away from the Burners. Those horrible devils sear and scorch you and glow as they blister and broil you. Their flames ignite hatred and anger. They want to light you on fire so that you burn everything around you down to the ground. They want to burn up your very soul so that nothing of you remains. More than anything, they love ashes."
"I want to fly far away from them!" Claire exclaims.
"Yeah, let's get a move on, right now!" Mr. M urges.
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Temperance: Sagittarius, featuring the Archangel Michael
(Click on the Archangel Above to go to the Tarot Realms Store Page.)
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"Is that an angel, Mr. M?"
"That is the great Archangel Michael, ruler of the element of Fire. In the presence of the Archangel, you might feel a sense of the oneness with all creation, a sense of harmony and balance that transcends human understanding--a sense nearly impossible to explain because of all the conflict in our world. As you experience that feeling, you might understand that sacrifice is involved, the sacrifice of the attachments and desires that bind you to aspects of your personality that cause imbalance."
Suddenly the Archangel speaks: “The higher self knows the harmony of all creation, and it struggles through sacrifice to balance all the forces within all the dimensions of the self. The higher self balances all forces within the transitory and the eternal. The higher self knows the divinity within the manifested world, the underlying unity of all creation.
"You may call upon me to neutralize unbalanced forces with divine, holy Fire. Remember the other Archangels of the elements as well, Raphael, Gabriel, and Auriel. They heal and cleanse and bless with divine love the unbalanced forces within you. They help to bring unbalanced energies into harmony at the most basic levels of your life.”
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All stories, illustrations, and music Copyright © 2023 by Jim Robbins.
Six of Swords: Mercury in Aquarius, Sun in Tiphareth (Beauty)
THE LORD OF EARNED SUCCESS
As Nathan was riding through the Tarot Realm, he noticed a man guiding a boat containing two passengers, a woman and a child, across a lake. The boatman quietly and skillfully propelled the boat toward the distant shore. Suddenly Nathan had a vision of six swords standing in the bow of the boat in front of the woman and child. Were the swords in his vision suggesting that the woman and child needed protection or that they were escaping a dangerous or threatening situation? Nathan couldn't be sure. The vision of the swords was startling, but the boatman remained focused on his task and his passengers remained calm. Then Nathan remembered that a sword can symbolize the mind's ability to cut through what isn't important in order to focus on what truly matters. The fact that Nathan was envisioning six swords suggested that his vision had something to do with the sixth Emanation on the Tree of Life of sacrifice and harmonizing love known as Beauty. Nathan closed his eyes for a moment and tried to sense what forces might be influencing the situation. He sensed The Sun, which made sense since The Sun is associated with Beauty, the sixth Emanation, but he also sensed other forces. The boatman's pole plunging deep into the water over and over to propel the boat forward suggested a strong force of some kind, but Nathan wasn't sure why. Suddenly, he thought of Mercury, the messenger of the Gods, who communicated profound messages from Universal Consciousness into the individual conscious mind. Since the boatman was transporting the woman and child to a distant shore, Nathan also thought of Aquarius, a force that provides the ability to envision the future in imaginative and constructive ways. These were just flashes of intuition, and Nathan wanted to trust his intuition more, so he continued riding through the realm, hoping to find the King or Queen of Swords.
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Queen of Swords
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Impressed, Nathan continued on his journey and came upon the Queen of Swords. Nathan dismounted and bowed as he approached the Queen. "I serve thee always, my Queen, but I have a query."
The Queen gazed at him. "Yes, my devoted knight. How can I help you?"
Nathan carefully described what he experienced by the lake. Then he stated, "I sensed the subtle forces of The Sun and Mercury and Aquarius. Can you tell me if I am right, your Highness?"
Holding her sword straight up and down, the Queen responded, "One way to check the veracity of an intuition is to compare the intuition with the mythological principle associated with each subtle force. For instance, do you remember the mythological principle associated with The Sun?"
Nathan thought for a moment. "Yes, it is 'The Awakening of the Mind.'"
"Do you see how that might apply to the situation?"
"Yes, your Majesty. Since The Sun is associated both with the sixth Emanation known as Beauty and with Path 30, which connects The Foundation, the ninth Emanation, with Splendor, the eighth Emanation, the principle of 'Awakening of the Mind' suggests greater intellectual understanding as well as a greater openness to the spiritual dimensions. Moreover, your Highness, sacrifice and harmonizing love, both associated with The Sun, are important in accomplishing any significant task."
"Very insightful, my brave knight. Do you remember the mythological principle associated with Aquarius?"
"'The Awakening of the Heart, which indeed does apply because compassion is also often important in accomplishing a significant task." Nathan paused. "But there is something else: the opening of the heart can help a person imagine different ways of solving a problem and envisioning the future for the highest possible good. The subtle force of Aquarius can take you to distant shores that others have not yet even imagined."
"Yes, indeed, my valiant knight. Do you remember the mythological principle associated with Mercury?"
"Yes, your Highness. The mythological principle is 'The Creation of the World.' Each one of us creates the world through our ideas and beliefs and feelings every moment. Sometimes Mercury, the messenger of the Gods, sends us profound messages that help us to create the world in a meaningful, productive, and harmonious way for the highest good. Mercury is associated with the Logos, the meaning at the heart of all creation, a meaning that manifests every moment in our realm."
"Well spoken. I think you can trust your intuition, my friend, but if you have any doubt, go to the heart of the matter: remember the mythological principle."
"Yes, your Highness. Thank you for helping me trust my intuitions. I serve thee always." Nathan bowed, then mounted his horse and rode into the forest to perform a ritual.
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The Magician: Mercury
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The holy man in the castle had told Nathan that he could use three modifiers associated with a Number Card in a Tarot Pentagram Ritual: two cards associated with the decan and one card corresponding to the Tree of Life. The holy man had confided that sometimes you want to focus on only one or two cards but that three modifiers together can add great power to a Tarot Pentagram Spread, especially if you concentrate on the mythological principle in each card.
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The Sun
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Nathan first identified the decan associated with the the Six of Swords, in this case The Star (Aquarius) and The Magician (Mercury), The Star representing Aquarius and the spiritual principle of "The Awakening of the Heart," and The Magician representing Mercury and the "The Creation of the World." Then he decided to add The Sun because it represents "The Awakening of the Mind." Together they represent an awakened heart and mind that creates balance in the world and knows the harmony, abundance, and magnificence of the human spirit even during what might be considered risky or dangerous or merely common or insignificant tasks.
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The Star: Aquarius
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Nathan got ready to create an artificial elemental of the The Six of Swords with the Tarot Pentagram Spread. First, since Air is an active element, he used the Active Invoking Spirit Pentagram while laying down the foundation cards, starting in the lower right corner of the pentagram, moving to the upper left corner and continuing from there.
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The Passive and Active Invoking Pentagrams
After he placed all of the cards, he tapped each card in the direction of the Active Invoking Spirit Pentagram, making sure to tap the one in the position of Fire in the lower right corner to complete the pentagram.
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Foundation Cards with The Star
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Then he placed The Six of Swords in the middle of the pentagram, saying, "The Six of Swords, Lord of Earned Success, Mercury in Aquarius, The Sun in Beauty," and tapped the card. Next, he included the three modifiers on the Ace of Swords: The Star, representing Aquarius, The Magician, representing Mercury, and The Sun.
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Modifiers with The Six of Swords: The Star and the Magician and The Sun
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As he placed the first modifier on the Ace of Swords, he said, "The Star, Aquarius, the awakening of the heart." Then he tapped the card. As he placed the second modifier on The Star, he said, "The Magician, Mercury, the creation of the world." Then he tapped the card. As he placed the third modifier on The Magician, he said, "The Sun, the awakening of the mind," and tapped the card.
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Pentagram for Spirit
(Click on the Star Above to go to the Tarot Realms Store Page.)
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Then Nathan drew the Active Invoking Spirit Pentagram and the spirit wheel in brilliant white above the Six of Swords on the altar, charging the pentagram and the symbol in the usual way with the Sign of the Enterer.
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Invoking Pentagram for Air
(Click on the Star Above to Review the LBRP and the SIRP.)
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After that, he drew an Invoking Pentagram for Air directly over the Active Invoking Spirit Pentagram, charging the pentagram and the symbol of Aquarius in the usual way. At that point, he imagined the symbol of Aquarius becoming the living image of the figures in the Six of Swords, and they came alive as full-length figures. As Nathan visualized the living image, he imagined that sylphs flowed from the Archangel Raphael and filled the living image while at the same time tiny points of winged light flowed from his own aura and filled the living image as well.
After gazing at the cards for a moment, he stated, "Awaken my heart and mind so that I create a world of magnificence, harmony, and abundance for the highest possible good." Next he said, "Then return to the element of Air, doing no harm. So mote it be!" Before he finished the ritual, he imagined for a few minutes his heart and mind totally awakening so that he could create a world of magnificence, harmony, and abundance. Finally, he finished with the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram.
From that point on, Nathan often unexpectedly experienced greater compassion and an expansion of consciousness, and he knew that he too could experience a world of magnificence, harmony, and abundance in his daily life.
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All stories, illustrations, and music Copyright © 2023 by Jim Robbins.
