TdM Majors reflections - VIII LA JUSTICE and XVIII LA LUNE

I often have problems with interpreting VIII Justice, not only in TdM. She's somehow transparent to me, a "you get what you deserve" card.
But let's see who we have here. We see a lawful and powerful woman. She's ruthless with her sword and in that she reminds me of Queen of Swords. She probably has less feelings and more respect for the law and rules. Her elbow, however, disturbs me. She's bending the scales... She could do that to help you, but also to take advantage on you. But maybe she wants to show us, that justice is not only about cold and dry law. It's possible to something against the rules and still do the right thing.

Now we have number XVIII, LA LUNE. It correlates to VIII as the opposite, I think. I like this card a lot, even though it often shows me difficult or sad things.
Justice is the world of the sunlight and order - and The Moon shows us the night and chaos. As we know, dynamic the chaos is more fertile than orderly proper environment. The world of LA LUNE is home to all about ourselves that we cannot explain, that we don't ourselves understand. There are illusions and dreams, there is depression, but there is also special wisdom coming from the abyss of our soul.
The two towers on the card... I imagine the scene is taking place outside of city walls - outside the orderly world. The animals, creatures of instinct, take control. The Moon shines on everything and everyone, not distinguishing between creatures and objects.
I really love this card.

LA JUSTICE is the radiant creature that casts a shadow - LA LUNE. They cannot be separated. Only together they catch balance. Without The Moon, Justice would lack depth and understanding of human motives. Without Justice, The Moon would disintegrate in chaos, in insanity.

Court cards meditation - Queens

Like before, there's an English and Polish version.

Queen of Wands and Queen of Cups

An extrovert and an introvert. Queen of Wands acts in the outside world, she emanates with energy. Queen of Cups focuses the light inside herself, she's quieter, she has her own inner world and she lives in that world more than in the real one. Queen of Wands likes to act, to dominate; Queen of Cups - to feel and and watch from a distance.

Queen of Wands and Queen of Coins

Queen of Wands acts quickly, Queen of Coins takes her time with making a decision. Queen of Wands often shows off her power, Queen of Coins is content with being aware that she has the power.

Queen of Wands and Queen of Swords

Queen of Wands acts much more on the impulse than Queen of Swords. She gets easily excited about new plans, which Queen of Swords prefers to calmly examine and analyze first. Queen of Wands bursts with emotions, Queen of Swords keeps them to herself.

Queen of Swords and Queen of Coins

Queen of Swords is an ascetic, Queen of Coins likes luxury and is very down-to-earth. She is, however, warmer than Queen of Swords. She understands the hardships of everyday life better and she's not so very much upset, when what happens doesn't match her ideals. Queen of Swords is ready for intellectual dispute, which doesn't suit Queen of Coins - mainly because she's not interested in it.

Queen of Swords and Queen of Cups

The first one uses her head to think - the latter feels rather than thinks, with whole her being. She doesn't distinguish between thinking and feeling. She can't make up her mind easily, because her moods change so quickly. Queen of Swords judges her situation with cool mind and rarely changes her mind. She uses less words to express her thoughts than Queen of Cups needs to express her feelings.

Queen of Cups and Queen of Coins

Queen of Cups is a dreamer and a romantic soul, Queen of Coins is a pragmatic woman - they could be a good team together. Queen of Cups is easily swayed by her moods, Queen of Coins is more stable. Queen of Cups has a role of a heroine of a drama, Queen of Coins is her attentively listening friend.

Polish text:

Królowa Buław i Królowa Kielichów

Ekstrawertyczka i introwertyczka. Królowa Buław działa w zewnętrznym świecie, promieniuje energią. Królowa Kielichów skupia światło w sobie, jest cichsza, ma cały swój wewnętrzny świat, który przeżywa bardziej, niż rzeczywisty. Królowa Buław lubi działać, dominować, Królowa Kielichów – odczuwać, pozostawać na pozycji obserwatorki.

Królowa Buław i Królowa Denarów

Królowa Denarów działa szybko, Królowa Denarów zastanawia się dłużej. Królowa Buław często zaznacza swoją siłę, Królowa Denarów zadowala się świadomością, że ją posiada.

Królowa Buław i Królowa Mieczy

Królowa Buław jest dużo bardziej impulsywna niż Królowa Mieczy. Łatwo zapala się do pomysłów, które Królowa Mieczy woli najpierw spokojnie przeanalizować. Królowa Buław bucha emocjami, Królowa Mieczy zachowuje je dla siebie.

Królowa Mieczy i Królowa Denarów

Królowa Mieczy jest raczej ascetką, Królowa Denarów lubi dostatek i twardo stąpa po ziemi – jest jednak cieplejsza od Królowej Mieczy. Lepiej rozumie prozę życia i nie przejmuje się tak bardzo, gdy coś nie zgadza się z jej ideami. Królowa Mieczy jest gotowa do intelektualnych dysput, do których Królowa Denarów raczej się nie nadaje – głównie dlatego, że nie wydają jej się interesujące.

Królowa Mieczy i Królowa Kielichów

Pierwsza myśli głową, druga czuje całą sobą, nie oddziela myśli od czucia. Królowa Kielichów nie potrafi być zdecydowana, bo zmienne są jej nastroje. Królowa Mieczy na zimno ocenia sytuację i  z reguły pozostaje przy swoim zdaniu. Ujmuje swoje myśli w mniej słów, niż Królowa Kielichów ujmuje swoje uczucia.

Królowa Kielichów i Królowa Denarów

Królowa Kielichów to marzycielka i romantyczka, Królowa Denarów to kobieta praktyczna – tworzyłyby dobry zespół. Królowa Kielichów łatwiej poddaje się nastrojom, Królowa Denarów jest bardziej stabilna. Królowa Kielichów to bohaterka dramatów, a Królowa Denarów to jej cierpliwie słuchająca przyjaciółka.

How should I treat myself these days?

Recently I had a hard time in my life and made my family worry a lot - and also to help me a lot. I'm feeling like I should recover as fast as I can, so I won't be a burden anymore, but there are some moments when I overdo things and thus I experience a breakdown from time to time. I asked my cards how I should treat myself these days and indeed they showed me that I haven't recovered yet.

I pulled 9 of Coins, 3 of Coins, Page of Cups.

I should realize I'm still weak and I have health issues (as 9 is connected to VIIII The Hermit, an old man, and to the physical world in Coins). I should take care of myself and try to built my health back (3 - III The Empress - growth and Coins again). I shouldn't treat myself too harshly or blame myself. Instead I should relax more, be more understanding and treat myself more like a defenseless child (pure Page of Cups).

Court cards meditation - Kings

One day (probably already a year ago) I did a meditation on court cards. To understand them better, I used a method of comparison. How does one King differ from another? I used my mp3 player to record what I'm saying and then wrote it all down. Then I translated it to English from Polish, so forgive me for odd choice of words and strange grammar constructions...

I used Crystal Tarot for this purpose. And under the English text there's the original Polish one for anyone reading in Polish :)

King of Wands and King of Cups
King of Wands is more imperious and determined. He thinks less about what others think or feel - his orders are to be obeyed. He has an aura of strength, he's a good leader.

King of Cups is more brooding - he tries to understand others and he also forgives more. He sees people more as partners than his subjects. He's very willing to counsel. His actions are slower.

King of Wands and King of Coins

King of Coins is more rational. He does what will bring profit for him, not what he would like to do. King of Wands is more energetic and he doesn't give his subjects too much time to think for themselves.

King of Wands and King of Swords

King of Wands needs less time to make a decision than the King of Swords. His choices are less logical, more instinctive. Sometimes he has a caprice to be generous, much less so the King of Swords, who doesn't forgive easily.

King of Swords and King of Coins

King of Swords loves the process of devising a plan, he forms and improves them, until they're perfect. He's quite ruthless in his opinions on others. If someone got into trouble because of their own stupidity, he won't help them. He also doesn't accept taking irrational, illogical actions.

King of Coins is much more down-to-earth. He has no use for deliberating on thousands of possibilities just for the pleasure of deliberating. If he's doing something, his goal is always very clear. He acts in the real world, in the given circumstances and he adjusts his actions to them. He doesn't try to change them.

King of Swords and King of Cups

King of Swords judges everything according to rules and law. King of Cups looks deeper, into his subjects' souls and takes his people's motives into consideration. He rules with feeling, King of Swords - ruthlessly, though theoretically he's just.

King of Cups and King of Coins 

King of Coins also broods less than King of Cups. He judges other by his own experience and that's all. King of Cups is more understanding, he cares for others' motives and he deliberates on them in his heart.

Król Buław i Król Kielichów

Król Buław jest bardziej władczy i zdecydowany, mniej myśli o tym, co czują czy myślą inni - jego rozkazy mają być wykonane. Roztacza aurę siły, jest dobrym przywódcą.

Król Kielichów więcej rozmyśla - stara się zrozumieć innych i więcej wybacza. Widzi w ludziach bardziej partnerów, niż poddanych, chętnie doradza; jego działania są powolniejsze.

Król Buław i Król Denarów

Król Denarów jest bardziej racjonalny. Robi to, co mu da korzyści, a nie to, co mu się podoba. Król Buław jest energiczniejszy i nie daje poddanym czasu na samodzielne myślenie.

Król Buław i Król Mieczy

Król Buław krócej się zastanawia przed podjęciem decyzji, niż Król Mieczy. Robi to mniej logicznie, a bardziej instynktownie. Miewa też kaprysy dobroduszności, co raczej nie przytrafia się Królowi Mieczy, bo Król Mieczy nie wybacza zbyt łatwo.

Król Mieczy i Król Denarów

Król Mieczy uwielbia snuć plany, cyzeluje je, aż będą doskonałe. Jest dosyć bezwzględny w ocenie i jeśli ktoś wpadł w tarapaty przez własną głupotę – raczej mu nie pomoże. Nie akceptuje też nielogicznych działań.

Król Denarów dużo bardziej twardo stąpa po ziemi. Nie rozważa tysiąca scenariuszy tylko dla przyjemności rozważania. Jeśli coś robi, ma to jasno określony cel. Działa w świecie rzeczywistym, czyli w zastanych warunkach, dostosowuje się o nich, zamiast zmieniać je na siłę.

Król Mieczy i Król Kielichów

Król Mieczy ocenia wszystko według zasad, litery prawa. Król Kielichów zagląda w głąb, w dusze poddanych i bierze ich pobudki pod uwagę. Rządzi z wyczuciem, Król Mieczy zaś – bezwzględnie, choć teoretycznie sprawiedliwie.

Król Kielichów i Król Denarów

Król Denarów również mniej rozmyśla, niż Król Kielichów. Ocenia innych wedle swojego doświadczenia i na tym koniec. Król Kielichów jest bardziej wyrozumiały, uwzględnia motywy innych i rozważa je w swoim sercu.

Going back to my roots

This time it's not about tarot, but it's still about doing divination with cards, so I decided to put it here. Thanks to jmk for the inspiration!

My Grandma used to read from regular playing cards, using only 24 of them (9, 10, J, Q, K, A). She learnt from her mother in Poland. When she was small, she imagined - or did she imagine? - that she had a Gypsy ancestry. Once I asked her to tell me the meanings and I wrote them down. Here's the translation.

The best days for reading the cards are Tuesdays and Fridays.

♣

Ace♣ - worry, illness (e.g. Ace♣ and 10♣ combined - a serious problem, even death hazard)

10♣ - longer journey

9♣ - short journey

♠

Ace♠ - your home

10♠ - a lot of vodka drinking!

9♠ - drinking a bit

♥

Ace♥ - a wedding, a great joy

10♥ - a big joy

9♥ - a small joy

♦

Ace♦ - a letter

10♦ - big money

9♦ - small money

Court cards

Kings - elder men

K♣ - dark/brown hair, serious and solemn

K♠ - black eyes, black hair

K♥ - dark blond hair

K♦ - light blond hair

Queens - women

Jacks - young men, bachelors

Q♣, J♣ - dark/brown hair

Q♠, J♠ - black hair

Q♥, J♥ - dark blond hair

Q♦, J♦ - light blond hair

How to do a "board" reading:

(I call it "the board reading", Grandma just says "the reading").

Shuffle the cards, cut into three. Look under each pile to see the bottom card, interpret.

Put the cards back together, lay them all in three rows, 8 cards each. Your starting point will be the significator card (one of the court cards you chose for the querent). Then travel with your finger through the "board" made from the cards counting to three (in fact Grandma would count "3-4-5", but it still makes three moves...) - you can go up, down, to the sides, change direction etc. The direction you choose depends on your intuition. When you stop at a card, it becomes your new starting point, then move three cards from it etc.

Pile reading:

Can be used as an initial reading before the more detailed "board" reading.

Shuffle the cards and cut them into 5 piles (they don't have to be even). Take each pile into your hand and start interpreting the sequence of cards.

The meaning of the piles are as follows:

1. For me.

2. For the house.

3. What I don't know.

4. What I don't expect.

5. What will happen to me.

Solitare:

use to answer a yes/no question. Put two cards on the table, these will be beginnings of two columns. Lay a card on each of the cards. Whenever the same number/court card appears on the top of another, remove these two and fill the space from the other column - if not, put more from the pile. Your  answer is yes, if you're able to remove all cards from the table.

My year card for 2015

My year card for 2015 is VII The Chariot (I summed my birthday day and month with 2015, then summed the numerals until it gave a number between 1 and 22). It should be the time to be active, to win my goals. I will have a lot of energy and maybe a lot of travelling this year. I will regain some control over my life and gain courage for everyday struggles.

TdM Majors reflections - XV LE DIABLE and IIII L'EMPEREUR

I wanted to write down some reflections on the Tarot de Marseille Majors. I chose XV that I like a lot and IIII that I don't really like. I thought it a good exercise and opportunity to think deeper about the cards. Tarot de Marseille catches my heart by it's minimalistic look, but there's the Devil in the details!

 I must admit, I absolutely love LE DIABLE card from TdM! First of all, it's totally weird and thus making a person uneasy. It warns us about indulging in carnal pleasures, but also shows how deeply the flesh and its desires are connected to our human nature. The two horned creatures hide their hands - hands, with which we can perform so many things animals cannot. The creatures go into the world of animal instincts. We're bound to this devil/goddess and denying it, averting our eyes won't make it disappear. Moreover - it would make matters worse. Denying our own nature is lying to ourselves and stops us from finding illumination. Only after we acknowledge needs of the flesh, after we learn to respect them, can we go further on our path.

Personally I think this card holds an important lesson for me, for I used to dismiss needs of the body as less crucial to my development.

 Whenever I see the L'EMPEREUR card, I sigh inwardly. It seems that I'm a numerological Four and somehow it doesn't make me happy. I have a feeling Fours are boring, down-to-earth and stubborn. No place for imagination and adventure. I subconsciously see the Emperor as an oppressing ruler, who always wants to have his way. I'd like to find in me some warmer feelings for him.

The Emperor is well organized and likes to plan in advance, what let's him to be in control of his life. He has a strong personality and shows the way for others, he's leading the way. He learns from past events (he's facing left, the "past" direction) and uses this knowledge to built better future. In my Jodorowsky-Camoin deck (I'm using the CBD TdM in this post - it's great quality, it's free for non-comercial use and webpage-friendly! Thank you, Yoav Ben-Dov!) his eagle sits on the egg we previously see with LA PAPESSE: the Emperor builds his rule on wisdom and wise counseling.