The Contract Tarot 20: Release

“I find Release In the Universe! Resolution and renewal Weave into unity In the vast expanse of Spirit! See Life in the reflection of reality Unlimited possibility Childlike healing Loving and giving Rewards and revealing The humanity of the Soul Release!“

This card is the amalgamation of the Angel/Judgement card and the Aeon. What do you see in this card?

The volcanic eruption that you see is mirrored in the cosmic volcanic eruption captured by NASA in the cosmos. So there is eruption on earth and in the heavens. A lemniscate appears in the eruption signifying an eternal cycle.

While the imagery in this card appears simple, the meaning is profound. This is about an eruption, a release, a resolution, renewal… This is about spiritual awakening, making a decision and, in the making of the decision, releasing your mind, heart and soul from the conflict of decision making and getting on with implementation of the result. This is about breaking a habit, erupting from your shackles, your limitations and releasing the energy to make room for renewal and growth. This is about fully realising the cycle of growth: from decay of a belief or value to shedding it to adopting a new, more resourceful belief or value. We have to die to ourselves, just a little bit, to shed our skin, to push beyond our self-imposed boundaries to grow. There is release, there is eruption, there is abundant energy in this exercise.

The symbols on the bottom of the scroll are (from left to right): the Hebrew letter of Shin (tooth), the elemental symbol of Fire and the astrological symbol of Pluto.

The Tree of Life path is from Hod (Splendor) to Malkuth (Kingdom).

What do you see in this card? How would you interpret it?

The Contract Tarot 19: The Sun

“Awaken your Spirit With the rising Sun! Let it liberate your soul! It is the powerhouse Of the earth’s creativity and growth It is the harbinger of good fortune It is the life power of positive energy Its glory brings you abundance Be in harmony Be in gratitude Be in bright And dancing confidence Awaken your Spirit!“

Let’s take a closer look at this card! What do you see?

It is dominated by environment. The sun is rising over the mountains and reveals life! A serene lake, abundant and blooming flowers. Two butterflies alight and two flamingos (flying horses) are making their way across the lake. Hot air balloons have taken flight and a rainbow blesses their way. The signs of the zodiac can be seen in the rainbow.

The Sun represents emancipation and freedom. The mountains signify the walls of the material world, the limitations of being earth-bound. The lake is the waters of redemption. The rainbow signifies enlightened consciousness and the signs of the zodiac within it represent the highest and most spiritual qualities of each sign and the limitless Universe. The butterflies represent the soul, liberated and free. One butterfly is red, signifying Fire and one is yellow, signifying Air. The balloons represent the journey from the terrestrial to the celestial. The flowers signify the fertile earth. The flamingos are known as flying horses. They are white with red in their wings.  They represent the transit from this world to the world to come. They are crossing over.

The symbols at the bottom of the scroll (left to right) are: the Hebrew letter Resh (head), the elemental sign for Fire and the astrological sign for the Sun.

The Tree of Life path below the scroll is from Hod (Splendor) to Yesod (Victory).

What do you see in this card? How would you interpret it?

Until Monday… Love, light and blessings!

The Contract Tarot 18: The Moon

“Can you feel the pull Of the moon? The dog and the wolf Howl, their natural instincts rule. Be guided by your intuition Don’t let illusion deceive you. Beware your secret and hidden fears Develop your unknown talents Introspection leads to new consciousness Let the instinctive energy Overwhelm you! Meditate! Peace, be still.”

Let’s look at the card more closely.

The dominant thing is the full moon. The mountains provide a sheltered environment and a path can be seen winding its way into the distant mountains. Two pillars stand guarding the entryway to the mountains. Along the pathway, there is a dog and a wolf howling at the moon!

The moon is all about psychological and emotional development. It speaks to the innermost, primal parts of us and encourages us to follow the path through the pillars that guard the unknown. The dog and the wolf howl our fears as we walk that path. Our greatest fears can be conquered by facing them in the stillness of our soul as we allow the moon to reflect our shadow side  and cast silvery light upon it. This is the point of breathing into the soul and quieting the mind and emotions to hear that still small voice that guides us through unknown pathways. We are vulnerable here only if we listen to the fears pronounced in the howl of the dog and the wolf.

The symbols at the bottom of the scroll (left to right) are: the Hebrew letter Qoph (back of head), the elemental sign of Water and the zodiacal sign of Pisces.

The Tree of Life pathway below the scroll is from Netzach (Victory) to Malkuth (Kingdom).

What do you see in this card? How would you interpret it?

Until tomorrow… Love, light and blessings!

The Contract Tarot 17: The Star

“The Star shines upon us In its infinite splendor Thought radiates and Spirit manifests The external world fades Be inspired, connect with the Divine Be true to yourself, your star will shine Life is wisdom, clear vision, revelation Find your soul’s purpose, use your gifts Surrender to your destiny With faith, hope and peace All is soul, all is life.”

Here you see the Star, Sirius, in its heavenly home. This picture is a basin. It is an environment in the valley of mountains. There is a stream in the foreground and a pitcher fountain can be seen sitting at the edge of the stream. There is a butterfly in the wildflowers and the Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil can be seen in the background.

This is a serene, womb-like setting. The mountains aren’t obstacles but are beckoning us to climb and see ourselves from an entirely different perspective. The Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil appear here to let the viewer know they have everything they need already inside of themselves. The pitcher fountain feeds the stream and delivers the waters of Life and the gifts of Spirit. The butterfly represents the soul alighting on wildflowers and being fed and touched by the wild things, nature, the things that nourish and give it rest. The Star shines over all of this. This Star illuminates all the dark places of our shadow side and let’s us see ourselves clearly. It is thought that radiates and calls to the Divine in all of us encouraging us to love and nurture our souls and shows us the mysteries of the Universe that exist in all of nature and ourselves.

The symbols at the bottom of the scroll (left to right) are: the Hebrew letter, Tzaddi (fish hook), the elemental symbol for Air, the zodiacal symbol for Aquarius. The Tree of Life path just below the scroll is from Netzach (Victory) to Yesod (Foundation).

What do you see in this card? How would you interpret it?

Until tomorrow… Love, light and blessings!

The Contract Tarot 16: The Tower

“The Tower comes down all around you And with it Core beliefs that no longer serve you You are struck down Your soul is laid bare Let the lightning of comprehension Destroy errors and ignorance Release your illusions once and for all The rainbow of enlightenment Answers the call of your soul Clear your karma Achieve equilibrium As the dust settles around you Allow the energy To create anew.”

Let’s take a look at this card.

It seems quite simple, doesn’t it? A red sky (the color of Mars and fire), a dry and spartan landscape with lightning flashing, a tower falling and a rainbow illuminating possibility all appear quite simple and straightforward. But this is the card of the Tower.

Whether the Tower is brought crumbling down due to a bolt out of the sky or by having foundations taken away, this card tells us that something fundamental is shifting, crumbling and falling away. It happens quickly and without warning almost blindsiding us and knocking the wind out of us. However it happens, it challenges our core beliefs and shakes us from complacency and illusion. Once the dust settles, we can see a rainbow.

The rainbow of enlightenment reminds us that, to see what is on the horizon, we have to remove all the rubbish in the way. Sometimes, this means our own core beliefs need to change as the old are no longer valid and no longer serve us. Sometimes, this means that we have to open our eyes to the expectations we have placed on others and ourselves, the expectations we have about another’s behaviours, attitudes or how they should ‘be’ for us and around us. Sometimes, we just have to let go of the clouds we have around us buffering us from the outside world and face the outside world instead. When we do, we see more clearly and that is our reward ~ clarity, insight and enlightenment. Is it easy or pretty? Usually, not. Is it painful? Most of the time.

The symbols on the bottom of the scroll (left to right): the Hebrew letter Peh (mouth), the elemental symbol for Fire, and the zodiacal symbol for Mars. Below the scroll, the Tree of Life path is Netzach (Victory) to Hod (Splendor).

What do you see in this card? How do you interpet it?

Until tomorrow… Love, light and blessings!

The Contract Tarot 15: The Devil

“The Devil stands upon your world He keeps you oppressed And in bondage. He seduces you With material obsession And keeps you Fixated on fear and confusion Pain is addictive Weakness predictive See the secret so you can live Love is the key To the Gate of Magick, Death, time and evil Do not exist.”

This card is stark and cold. It is meant to be that way.

Let’s look at the card.

The background is Orion’s belt. There is snow everywhere. The Markhorby goat (signifying strength) has a reversed pentagram (taking the place of the third eye or spiritual enlightenment) on his forehead. His spiral-shaped horns represent the energy of the universe found in all things from the double helix of DNA to spiral galaxies. He stands on a black marble cube (domination of Matter) fronted with a caduceus (signifying creative energy). This cube is balanced on a globe of the earth (representing the domination of Matter over Spirit). Two blue-flame torches appear on either side of the cube (torch on the left is the torch of intelligence; torch on the right illuminates the higher Path in the magical world).

The symbols on the bottom of the scroll (left to right): the Hebrew letter Ayin (eye) , the elemental symbol for Earth and the zodiacal symbol of Capricorn. The Tree of Life path is from Tiphareth (beauty) to Hod (splendor).

This card is about materialism, obsession, bondage and addiction. This is a card that helps you become aware of those things that no longer serve you of which you need to let go. It is a bittersweet card as it is painful to let go of addictive habits and things but the reward is freedom from obsession and neediness and the emptiness that comes from being materialistic.

What do you see in this card? How would you interpret it?

Until tomorrow… Love, light and blessings!

The Contract Tarot 14: Art of Temperance

“Step onto the path Breathe in your surroundings Drink from the fountain the essence of life Wisdom and understanding Guide your experience Through the rainbow of enlightenment Employ alchemical art right from the start To reveal the map you will follow Adjustments, moderation, Balance, synthesis Combines and harmonizes The changes you will find In the Art of Temperance.”

When you first look at this card, the dominant feature are the two mountains (twins) and the volcanic activity from one. If you look a little more closely, you notice the rainbow and the fountain. Even more closely and you will see the arrow on the path, the raven and skull and the rosy cross on the fountain.

In some cards, an angel is pouring  liquid from two cups. In other cards, an Androgyne is pouring two liquids into a cauldron. In either, this liquid represents opposites: fire and water; solar and lunar; colours of the rainbow; conscious to  sub-consciousness; masculine and feminine; past and future; active and passive; or red and white gluten. This is represented by the fountain in the foreground – broken vases that allow liquid from the rainbow to trickle from one level to another. The raven drinks from this liquid and the raven and skull represent the ‘dead head’ the waste product of this alchemical operation. The rosy cross on the fountain ties this ‘essence of life’ to the body and unfolding consciousness.

The rainbow not only feeds the fountain but represents enlightenment as the Sun shines through the water in the atmosphere (the union of conscious to unconscious). It also represents the present, the here and now.

The arrow on the path is the arrow of Sagittarius. The mountains in the background represent active and passive; the volcano represents the cauldron – the harmonious union of the five elements, the fire.

The symbols at the bottom of the scroll (left to right): are the Hebrew letter Samekh (tent-prop), the elemental symbol for Fire and the zodiacal symbol for Sagittarius. The Tree of Life path is Tiphareth (beauty) to Yesod (foundation).

What do you see in this card? How would you interpret it?

Until Monday… Love, light and blessings!

The Contract Tarot 13: Death

Death is here! Death is now! Turn your scythe Into a plough! Rip open your soul Transform your will Let go of ego Renew your self. Change, grow, Behold Death!“

While this card is seemingly light on imagery, there is enough here to help anyone understand the basics of this card. Let’s dive into it!

There are a few images competing for dominance here. The scythe, the eagle, the skull and the blue lotus  are all vying for the eye, albeit in a rather balanced and comfortable way.

The scythe represents the figure of death. The skull indicates the physical body once decay has finished. The snake, scorpion and eagle are the tripartite Scorpio. They represent the cycle of life and death: creation and incarnation. The scorpion is trapped between the lily and the lotus and represents the mortality of the  body between the alpha and the omega. The snake is the kundalini energy that sparks creative energy. The eagle represents the energy involved in the creation of life. The tripartite images also represent stages of matter: scorpion (ice); snake (liquid) and eagle (gas).

There is a storm brewing in the background and the ploughed earth is eager for a drink of water. The brown earth is ready to germinate seeds that lie just below the surface. Just as we are eager to fulfill our potential through change and transformation, a sip of imagination and creativity is all that is needed to spark change and transform ourselves and our environment. Small things (changes)  make big impacts (transformations). The sacrifice we make to this transformation is to let go of our ego, to be vulnerable and malleable.

The symbols at the bottom of the scroll (left to right): the Hebrew letter Nun (fish), the elemental sign for Water and the zodiacal sign of Scorpio. The Tree of Life path is from Tiphareth (beauty) to Netzach (victory).

What do you see in this card? How would you interpret it?

Until tomorrow… Love, light and blessings!

The Contract Tarot 12: The Hanged Man

“Sacrifice your perspective Embrace the divine Your life will be in suspense until then It is only a matter of time Before your spiritual limbo With redemption comes to an end Cross the bridge that spans the abyss Of your understanding The Hanged Man waits for you To move beyond your limitations He shares this secret Let go, accept your destiny!”

Let’s dive in and take a good look at this card.

The things that stand our here are the bridge, the bat and the environment… but don’t miss the snake coiled on a rock and waiting for the bat to let go!

The verse on the cards say a lot about the imagery. I chose a bat because they are the ‘natural’ hanged man, Bat Man (thanks Roxi)! The bridge crosses the abyss. The snake is the snake that is wrapped around the ankle of the hanged man in some decks.

The bat is the hanged man. The nimbus indicates enlightenment from a different perspective. The bat’s eyes are open, it is aware of its position and surroundings. This is not sacrifice or martydom but life suspended until the sleeper awakens.

The bridge crosses the abyss. It is a way to the other side from this life to the Divine; from darkness into light; crossing waters (emotions) that would, in a heartbeat, become a torrent and consume us should we choose to wade through them.

The snake represents manifestation and material things and it is waiting for the hanged man to let go and drop near enough for the snake to strike and overwhelm him in material matters.

This card is about letting go of material gain and emotion and gaining a new (divine) perspective. This is about choosing to step onto the bridge, from darkness to light. It is possible to move beyond the limitations of material things and emotion and release those things that would hold us back and keep us anchored to the abyss of our own creation.

The symbols on the scroll (from left to right): the Hebrew glyph Mem (water), the elemental sign for Water, the zodiacal sign for Neptune. The Tree of Life path is from Geburah (Severity) to Hod (Splendour).

What do you see in this card? How would you interpret it?

Until tomorrow… Love, light and blessings!

 

The Contract Tarot 11: Courage

“Have Courage when your strength Begins to fail you Breathe deeply into your soul And let it sustain you. Your lustful desires Those wild and deeply Burning fires. Screw up your courage Own the day! Take heart, have faith And trust that your way is clear. Gently conquer your fears! With lustful, strong Courage!“

Let’s dive into this card and take a good look at it.

The most dominant aspect of this card is the lion (Leo). This animal is confidently looking at the viewer with a gaze that captures your attention. Above the head of the lion is the lemniscate. There is courage and raw challenge – the reference to strength – in this gaze that demands your attention. The red roses are the roses of desire – the reference to lust. The green hilly background is pierced with a yellow sky. There is power and unity in this image. The power of the yellow sky and the lion against the unity of the whole and the roses that unify in their growth and their density. There is aspiration here to thrive and to face your fears with confidence and courage. All of the meaning could lie with the lion: raw animal instincts, courage, confidence, movement and speed when needed, laziness when wanted, survival, aspiration, density, unity (pride of lions), force, gentleness, etc.

The elements at the bottom of the scroll are (left to right): Teth (serpent), elemental sign for Fire, zodiacal sign for Leo. The Tree of Life path below the scroll is Chesed (mercy) to Geburah (severity).

What do you see in this card? How would you interpret it?

Until tomorrow… Love, light and blessings!