White lies aren’t as pretty as you think…

Recently I was in a friendly banter about lying.. My stance is that lying is an utter detriment to relationships and causes the breakdown of trust and integrity in both parties.

However.. the other half of this banter (who I shall leave nameless) suggests that lying is healthy. He frequently lies in order to keep a relationship intact. According to the other party, he doesn’t need to be honest because as long as anyone around him lives in the world of illusion … all is well.

On the contrary, I disagree!  Goodness knows I tried to explain how deceit affects both people. I even explained that the Bible places lying as a sin on the same level as murder. Through all my attempts he just wasn’t having it.  So I got to thinking. Who else out there thinks that lying is okay ?

I thought it would be a good idea to look up the definition of a lie at Dictionary.com

lie

¹    [lahy]  Show IPA noun, verb, lied, ly·ing.

In tarot, there are many different types of lies represented in the cards, and none seem to be in a positive light; as my lovely banterer would like to believe.

In my Book, A King’s Journey Companion book, I reference different forms of lying..

Ace of Swords Rx- A Lie and negative energies caused by mistrust that are funneled into the Liver.

Two of Swords – Ignoring the lie because the truth is too painful.

Two of Swords Rx – Cheating and Distrust. Secrets are out in the open.

Three of Swords – Regret, pain, separation, loss, hate, betrayal.

Four of Swords Rx – Refusal to get clarity

Five of Swords – Bullying through fear

Six of Swords – Keeping self pity moving around you

Seven of Swords – Deception, Sabotage, Secrets, Betrayal, thievery, Escaping Duty

Eight of Swords – Insecurity and Entanglements (is sometimes a cause for the lies)

Nine of Swords Rx – Gossip, Self-Criticism

10 of Swords – Martyrdom, Stab in the Back, Devastation

If you notice the Ace of Swords starting off on the wrong footing in the reversed position with the initial lie.  This doesn’t mean that the swords are always bad, but if you start off with the suit in the form of a lie, rather than the truth, watch how the energy grows from that point through the rest of the suit until you finally end in devastation.

No lie, even with the best of intentions, will ever grow into a healthy place. Even further, there is not an ounce of strength that will ever be gained inside of a relationship from a lie. It also shows a side of the liar, that is less than honorable.

No matter how much good you think you are doing telling a lie, in the end.. you will only wreak havoc in both your own, and other’s  lives.. as the truth always comes out in some form or another.

Ten of Swords - A King's Journey Tarot

Tarot Archetypal Process in the Kite Runner

I just finished reading Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseni. (What a fantastic book ! I encourage everyone to read it. ) For those of you not familiar with the book, let me give you a very brief overview.

Basically, we are watching the main character, Amir, walk through his life allowing us a peek into his fears, regrets, guilt, and joy through a first person narrative viewpoint. Amir was always afraid to stand up for what was right, and often turned his back on people he loved in order to maintain his emotional comfort level.  He loved his friend, a servant’s son that lived in a hut on his property, but refused to play with him or protect him against bullies, when anyone from his social class was around.

Later on, he would find out that his childhood bully had an influencing role into the destruction of his beloved country, which he had to abandon as a teen for his own safety. He would also find out how karma plays out in one’s life.

When I read this book recently for a book club that I’ve joined, I couldn’t help but see the journey of the Fool play out in this story. I explained in an earlier blog that The Fool’s Journey is a process that every situation must play out, or there will not be resolution to completion.

In Kite Runner the process played out quite well. Amir kept getting stuck between Wheel of fortune, justice, Hanged Man,  Death.. and then he’d get to the Devil.. and BOOM! There he was, back to Hermit.  He kept repeating that cycle until finally, he overcame the archetypal death , temperance and the Devil, then moved forward through the rest of the process.. Tower through World.

Amir struggled with his own demons, and I honestly don’t believe he understood how to let it go (Death) in order to move on. So, when he was being tested through the Devil and Tower archetypes, he crumbled under the weight of his own guilt. There was this karmic wheel that kept coming back to haunt him because he could not make peace with this part of his life.. the betrayal against his childhood friend.

So what helped him get through it?  When faced with Death, once again.. this time his own. He stood up to his nemesis. He fought back, but he was willing to confront the demon, even if it meant his own end, he was willing to finally take the punishment. In that moment, he went through the archetypes quickly and bravely, embracing all the lessons they entailed.

If you’ve read Kite Runner, see how many archetypes you can identify and how his journey took him from a Fool to a King, earning the right to sit on his own throne.

Fool’s Journey Part 1 – The Major Arcana is a Process

I designed A King’s Journey as an expanded journey through the minors. This wasn’t an easy task, as any version I’ve ever read of the Fool’s Journey begins and ends with the Majors.

As I studied the Fool’s Journey over the years, while reading the cards, it became very apparent that no matter where we are in our lives, we are experiencing one of the energies reflected on a Major Arcana card.

The longer I studied tarot it became increasingly clear that all issues go through a pattern / trend that is the Fool’s Journey.  It doesn’t matter if a step is of a short or long duration, we go through a series of steps through every issue / event / experience / situation, etc.  But, if we miss a step (Major Arcana card) it appears that our energy can get clogged or stuck.

Every experience must go through the archetypes reflected in the Major Arcana… in order.

When you understand the process of the Major Arcana, our journey becomes much clearer.  When you are stuck in a particular archetype, such as a co-dependant relationship (the Devil), it becomes clear what happens after that, and what happened just before. Death and then Temperance. The process after is Tower and Star.

How does this work in real time?  If someone has just changed jobs, they are now in the Fool position.. what’s next?  The Magician… learning the trade.  The client needs to get settled in first, and then move to the High Priestess.

What I’d like for you to do is to take out the Majors only, and look at the process of the archetypes. Make sure you lay them out in order!  Ask yourself what happens at each stage in the process.

Love to hear your thoughts, as always

Chanel

Community and Me.. an answer to a question

Today I was reading a blog post by Lisa Lloyd regarding community (You can find it here ) It’s called, A Reflection of the Tarot Community in the Cards.

In the blog she explores the idea of community and asks the questions…Do you have a sense of community?  and What is your role in the community ?

This is a difficult one for me to answer because I have to come to terms with that big ‘F’ word.. ack!  You know, that F-e-e-l-ings word. Ugh!  Feelings are not easy for me to connect with.  Here’s a big thing to admit…. I detach from my feelings and emotions so regularly that I find it difficult to bridge the gap between feelings and logic. But, here goes nothin’.

Do I have a sense of community? 

For many years in many areas of my life…. No.  I have kept myself isolated, and I have trouble reaching out. Thank you PTSD.  I see community as that supportive group hug that surrounds each member in order to help protect and hold  to the standard of the group mind working towards a defined (directly or indirectly defined) purpose.

Over the past year.. I have lost that sense of community within tarot, as the purpose became unclear. Was it my purpose or the purpose of the communnity or both?   I don’t know. But I do know that I began to run out of synch with the community.  This will happen among groups when energy is shifting, and if a role remains undefined or unclear things will change and shift and some energy might even dissipate.

Over the past year I have felt a huge disconnect from the community. Does that mean I hate them? No. Does it mean that I blame anyone?  No. It simply means I need to find my place of belonging in the tarot community once again.

I asked my cards what I should know about the feeling I have over the sense of community… The four of Swords.  That tells all, doesn’t it ?   I needed to take a temporary break from the community for a short period of time while some healing took place, and indeed I did. Energy in my life is changing once again and I’m ready to join hands in the group hug of the tarot community if someone would open up and let me hold hands; I’d love to be a part of the defined purpose of the tarot community…   Helping others grow through guidance and supportive metaphysical insight.  :)

The next question that Lisa asked was.. what is my role in the community ? 

I feel that my role is to help others look at tarot from a different perspective. I also think my role is to be of spiritual assistance to others. I hope it is to be an inspiration on many levels. I belong to other communities in which I advocate and sit on an advisory board and governance board. My hope is to use these skills in the future so it will only be an added benefit to the role I play in the tarot community.

So, let’s hear it…   Do you have a sense of community?   and What is your role in the community ?

A King’s Journey Companion Book

Have you been looking for a new perspective on tarot?

Getting burned out or ‘stuck’ using the same tarot language?

Enjoy new tarot concepts or twists on tarot?

So do I!  But…when I looked around at all the truly wonderful tarot material, I noticed that there hasn’t been a lot of new concepts. I soooooooo craved a new way of experiencing tarot.

I began to open my mind and work with tarot on a different level, which led me to exploring tarot connections within the Celtic Cross symbolism and the Fool’s Journey. The more I became engrossed within the story of the Fool, I began to form a different understanding of the symbols and before I knew it, and expanded viewpoint of the Fool’s Journey with the additional suit of spirit was staring right back at me.

This was an exciting time, as it meant that I could see the path of life lying right in front of me. The entire journey of the Fool was here. I was so excited about sharing this information to my fellow tarot enthusiasts, so I illustrated the story within my deck, A King’s Journey Tarot, and briefly explained this new perspective in my companion book, A King’s Journey Companion Book.

Preview and Purchase A King’s Journey Companion Book 

I sold this book for a short time in a limited edition package with the deck and some other goodies, which is now been discontinued. However,  I have had so many requests for this companion book, that I am now offering it for purchase by itself.. (the deck is not included).

You can use this companion book alongside any tarot deck, as the concepts and nuances that I present only add to your current tarot arsenal of knowledge.

It’s a rather large vibrantly colored book, checking in at 139 8.5in x 11in pages that feature a spiral binding. Yes, every page is in full color!

So, if you are ready to take the plunge into some juicy new tarot perspective, then I invite you to PREVIEW AND ORDER YOUR COPY HERE  

* Black Friday Special * You don’t want to miss this!!

If you’ve been following me over the years, you know I’m a BIG fan of Black Friday Specials.

…… and in case you didn’t know my birthday is also the same week!  This year I turned.. *gulp*  40 (although everyone says they wouldn’t know it to look at me.. I guess those Green Goddess Smoothies are doing their job! )

I feel young.. look young, and well..  I thought let’s give you a special price reflective of the age that I feel and look!  I don’t feel 40, I feel 25..   So, here’s celebrating you and good health!

Starting NOW until Saturday, Nov.  26 2011 at midnight all 30 minute readings will be $25 USD  (reg. $40 ) no matter where you live in the world!

All you have to do is book a reading between now and Saturday at midnight  (schedule it whenever … you CAN schedule in advance)  I will call you anywhere in the world during my appointment hours. Just note that all my times are in Eastern Standard Time Zone.

This is perfect if you are looking for advice, insight, guidance, or just some help through some dodgy situations during the holidays.. this is the perfect time to schedule a reading!

Where Has All the Compassion Gone?

Lately, when I’ve been surfing around the internet reading the news, listening to videos or reading facebook and twitter, I’ve noticed a lot of derogatory comments about how we should handle people in their lowest moments. I’ve never had a thought to harm another, and I’m always surprised at how quickly the masses wish to subject people to pain for their wrongdoings.

I like to think that tarot is a reflection of life. We will go through lessons, joys, and experiential growth. Naturally, my mind turns to tarot to try and make sense of where the loss of compassion happens, and where is that upon the Fool’s Journey in relation to the cards of second chance. I have spoke about the cards of second chance before: the Tower, Justice, and the Wheel of Fortune. (You can find that post here)

What cards are the cards of compassion?

Ace of Cups from Simply Deep Tarot

The first card that I associate immediately with compassion is the Ace of Cups. The vessel is held wide as if to say, “I’ll catch you if you fall, wash you clean and then let you fly freely with love.”  It’s not a trap. It’s more of a big huge cleansing. Compassion says, “I’ll emotionally pick you up when you fall.” With both the Ace of Cups, and the King of Cups, there is a sense of understanding with unconditional love that none of us is perfect, but yet you can still be loved and cared for just as anyone else.

Compassion is a virtue, which I included in A King’s Journey Tarot as it appears in the Seven of Spirit. The virtue is described as ‘unselfishness’.

I ascribe one of the meanings as follows,

“In order to FEEL compassion and empathy, so you can serve others, you  need to detach from your self-serving ego and feel from inside their shoes.”

and

“You are being asked to give of yourself. It is your obligation to help others. You have received, now it is time to give.”

Seven of Spirit - A King's Journey Tarot

One thing that I had to notice was that in order to have spiritual compassion for another, we would have to be passed the exclusive gates of the initiated, according to my rendition of the Fool’s Journey. (You can find this outlined in my companion book to A King’s Journey found here. )

This tells me that unless a person welcomes and embraces all their life experiences, there is little chance they will be escorted into the higher realms as an initiate.

One roadblock does seem to be the collective mind. In the reversed Seven of Spirit the masses are tossing the man’s good effort to the wayside. It’s a selfish attempt to place themselves above someone with misfortune by pulling them further under, rather than climbing out of the pits on their own merit. How do you combat that?  Through personal and honest sharing.  I firmly believe that we should not blame, shame, or guilt people when there is an honest attempt of redemption and asking forgiveness for that which was mistakingly done.

Sharing opens our hearts, which takes us back to the Ace of Cups and the King of Cups. Our hearts becomes a vessel in which to help carry the burdens that have flooded over the rim of someone else’s heart.

Good Faith Action :  When you catch yourself ready to ridicule another, ask yourself what you could have done in that situation, and help them understand it through your eyes.. speaking softly as the King of Cups does, and through personal sharing and unselfishness as in the Seven of Spirit, and ask yourself how you could be of service to them.

Blessings,

Chanel