Symbolism

Lady Frieda Harris, the woman who illustrated the Aleister Crowley Thoth Deck, called the Tarot "God's Picture Book". I can’t think of a better way to describe it.

If the Divine Mother gave her children a map of the subconscious, the tarot is it. It goes back so far historically, its origin can’t be traced. My guess is the cards survived many permutations before the invention of paper made them publishable. I use the tarot cards as a form of inner query. When I’m confused about something, usually my feelings, or am dealing with a difficult situation, I treat the cards like a 911 hot line to the Goddess.

The symbolism of the tarot is timeless, and can help us unlock the secrets of our higher selves; awaken intuitive channels, if we let it. Just like She did in the stars with astrology, and in the magic of numbers through numerology, Mother not only gave us a tool for divination, She provided us with a path to understanding as we navigate our way through change and transformation. Change and transformation are two great consistencies in life, connected by the promise that She never teaches us more than we are capable of receiving at any given point in our spiritual life. Eventually, bearing witness to the transformational power of the Goddess turns our intent outward to be used for the good of others.

I stopped reading tarot for others because I believe all messages are skewed by the reader’s perception. I don’t believe mere humans are capable of perfect objectivity no matter how hard we try. Therefore, it follows that any advice we give another would be colored by our own experience, our own feelings, or our own prejudice and judgment. Your average spiritual advisor, whose greatest achievement would be compassion, can help with problems of the intellect. At best, their goal should be to pave the way for the Goddess in the life of a willing other, effectively acting as a link in Her grand chain. She calls to all of her children eventually, so it is common to have her work through us. Administering to the soul is best left to the enlightened ones, the experts. I prefer to look within for my answers, as the Divine Mother resides within me. She resides within all of us, which is a great secret or Mystery. When I don’t understand Her message, or more often, when I don’t want to hear it, I have almost 10 years of notes to look back on in search of trends or consistencies that I may have overlooked. If that doesn't work, I bring my needs directly to the Holy Mothers resident on earth at this unbelievable juncture in Earth's spiritual history. Experience is my greatest teacher, and hindsight the great revealer. But the symbols and pictures of the tarot, operating from the same place that dreams do, are the key.

These symbols have followed me in my art and my surroundings from the time I was a teenager. The wands, cups, swords, and pentacles, coincide with the four quarters of the earth that are called upon faithfully by pagans across the globe. Though perhaps not in this order, earth, air, fire, water, or north, east, south, and west, each have specific meanings and tarot correspondences. Wands are the lit fire of ideas, original thought and intention, and are represented by dragons and the serpent. I wear a wand around my neck and it is the Egyptian ankh or key of life, a symbol of personal archetypic mythos, and great cellular memories of ancient Egypt. Are these memories real or fantasy? Ironically, the cardinal points or directions the egyptians assigned to the four quarters differ from what is used today. While disengagement from the world is the highest spiritual path of Hinduism, "be in the world, not of the world", the ankh reminds me to live life to the fullest, remaining positively engaged with the world around me. Cups represent the oceanic depths of emotion, or the grand cauldron of the Great Mother; indeed, the grail, as well, represented most appropriately by sea salt, which is a purifier, like smoking sage, lavender, and chimes. Swords, of the air, symbolize action or the act in a situation, and are represented by incense, and the hawk and other birds, like the Great Blue Heron.

Pentacles, which are an earth symbol, are indicative of manifestation, and represent the fruit of ones labor. Invoking the abundance of Gaia or Mother Earth, its symbol is the sacred cow, also present as the Goddess Hathor. I wear a pentacle around my neck and have every day since I was 16. I wear it for protection. I harbor no fear of the hidden or unseen because I see evidence enough of the dark side in mankind on a daily basis. I have full faith in the protection of the Divine Mother, and I am fully aware of the fickle hand of fate, the turning of the great wheel. My pentacle is silver, and it resonates like quicksilver to the full moon, which is where She takes up residence, so we can see Her, every month in the lunar year. In fact, it is in that monthly cycle that She reminds us that women are participants in the earthbound miracle called life. Then, it is in defiance of that miracle that she brings children to us that we have not birthed, but rather are drawn toward us magnetically in Her great scheme.

The last pure element isn't earth, air, fire or water. It is heretofore unknown or unrecognized publicly, and it is ether. Ether or spirit is the Goddess or Divine Mother herself, wafting almost imperceptibly through our lives, ensuring we walk the spiritual path with practical feet, and waiting for us to truly listen.

I did this painting when I was in high school, between 15 and 16 years old. The original is 16"x24", is done in acrylic paint, and is highlighted in silver metallic pen. It depicts the four quarters, and earth, air, fire and water, with symbols from the tarot. The lady bird figure in the upper left corner is Mother Isis, and the moon as well as the nude goddess figures.

End Note: The piece above, at the very top, is called "Green Witch", and it is 16"x24", done with dots in 1999. It has not been touched up by computer. The green witch holds her pentacle inlaid with imagery from the tarot, the sword, the staff, the heart, and the flame is eternal. This work is inspired by a book called "Faery Wicca" by Kisma K. Stepanich, and the artist who illustrated it, Renee Christine Yates.

HIGH PRIESTESS -- This original is 8.5" x 11", done in pen and ink on water color paper. I was just fooling around, but later discovered she was a goddess figure -- perhaps the High Priestess in the tarot. Dated approximately 1989.