It does seem curious that as the Daily Tarot series ends on a Sunday, the final card is Judgement. Judgement is known as the karmic card. That is, “as you sow, so shall you reap.” This card signifies judgement day and represents karma.
Judgement represents the result of the seeds you’ve previously planted as well as past efforts that are now being rewarded. Judgement indicates renewal and revival; dormant matters are now coming back to life.
When you draw this card, a general feeling of rejuvenation is given. Now is the time to be happy with new beginnings afoot. Liberate yourself from old attitudes or patterns of behavior. Make choices and do so without blaming yourself or others.
Judgement tells us it is time to “get off the fence,” to make choices, and wake up to new possibilities.
The second to last card in the daily Tarot series is The Hierophant. The archetype of the Hierophant is knowledge and education. This card may indicate receiving help from a wise, trusted person, such as a mentor, teacher, or religious figure.
The Hierophant frequently refers to large institutions, such as hospitals, educational establishments or churches and suggests conformity and conventional, set ways of working or thinking where it is difficult to implement change.
Where the Emperor represents material and worldly matters, the Hierophant represents the spiritual aspect; following traditional values and moral ethics or the need to find deeper meaning to life in exploration of spiritual matters.
When you draw the Hierophant, it indicates that traditional values are appropriate for any actions but also that your inner spiritual soul needs expression.
The Fool is one of my favorite cards in this Tarot deck because of his joyful and fun-loving attitude. The Fool is the zero card; the very moment before creation which indicates unexplored potential. Zero also represents the endless circle and cycle of life; that without beginning or end. Alpha and Omega.
The Fool represents unexpected opportunities that will suddenly appear and that bring welcome changes. It tells us to remain open as we will need to make a major choice seemingly out of the blue. However, one negative aspect of the Fool is the implication that we are afraid of making choices out of fear of making the “wrong” choice.
When drawn, the Fool is a reminder to listen to the voice of our inner child that recalls the excitement of new adventures and stepping into unknown territory. It asks us to take a leap of faith, to travel along unknown paths, to let go of worries and self doubt, and to grow as a result of the experience.
If you are confused about making a decision, the Fool tells you that it’s time to believe in yourself and trust your heart. Sometimes resistance is more foolish than risk.
The Fool represents new beginnings and childlike enthusiasm for life. The Fool signifies the unpredictable; that life is full of surprises and anything goes.
The Hanging Man is the most mysterious card in Tarot. The Hanging Man can indicate self-sacrifice; we need to let go of something in the short term to gain something considered far more beneficial in the longer term.
The Hanging Man tells us that life seems to be in a period of suspension. We need to take this opportunity to look at matters from a fresh and different perspective which may bring a possible solution through better understanding.
It is time to let go of emotional baggage so you’ll soon be released from any pain or emotional hurt because you are opening your mind to living for the moment, not for the past.
The complexity of the Hanging Man invites you to do exactly the opposite of what you think is right to do and thereby gain results.
Today, the Strength Tarot card jumped out of the cards remaining in the deck. Strength represents a pure expression of our female qualities.
In this deck, we see a beautiful maiden and a lion. The lion, the king of the jungle and a symbol of male energy, appears to have been tamed by the maiden. The lion is an expression of inner strength but is controlled and manifested with the more gentle, feminine qualities of our nature.
Strength reveals that you have a reserve of inner strength that provides you with more power than you realize which is expressed through quiet determination. Feminine qualities such as patience and diplomacy combined with courage will achieve required results and bring success.
When this card is drawn, be prepared to forgive and forget or to accept someone needs more space or that you can’t always have your cake and eat it too.
Strength can also symbolize feminine charms to which men succumb.
One of the most liberating pieces of advice I’ve received came during a workshop with Dayle Doroshow. As Dayle was demonstrating a process she said “And if you can’t fix it…feature it.”
How is that for a freeing motto?
How often have you made a mistake somewhere during the process of your creating? You look at what just happened and, perhaps after an expletive or two, you might claim defeat and toss the piece into the trash or add it to the pile of “I’ll fix it later” pieces.
Depending on the extent of the goof-up, you might be able to squish the clay and start over. Works on canvas can be repainted or get another layer of gesso.
But sometimes the goof up isn’t evident until the piece is finished. This happens to me periodically when making my wine bottle stoppers. The wood core is covered and all the edges sealed. Into the oven it goes and after it is cured and removed from the oven, then I see it…the dreaded air bubble.
Crap!
Air bubbles on the stoppers typically result when the clay did not make adequate (that is, secure) contact with the wood core. When they appear, it is usually near a seam making the bottle stopper look like it has a wart.
Sigh.
Sometimes the air bubble can be removed and possibly repaired. More often than not, that isn’t the case and the stopper gets tossed into a pile for some reuse project. However, the other day the muse practically knocked me over with an idea.
Froggies or other creatures as embellishments to hide the offending stopper wart, er bubble. The structural integrity of the bottle stopper remains intact and now the stopper has even more personality.
Froggie creature pair
Froggie Creature
Another instance where I’ve had to apply the “If you can’t fix it…feature it” motto happened to some pyramid shaped Santas. Originally flat on the bottom, I decided to give Santa a lift and added a pair of boots. Most of the updated Santas were fine but a few were a little tipsy. This is often part of the challenge when working with a triangular shape that is balanced on two feet instead of three. (Yes, creating a three-legged Santa did cross my mind.)
My first idea was to give Santa a devil tail or perhaps attach a bag of goodies that had spilled its contents. Instead, I came up with this:
Santa on Skis
Santa needed a quicker way to get around the North Pole. So he slapped on some skinny boards and started cruising around. Wouldn’t you know it, he got distracted by some elves building a snowman and found himself entangled in a set of Christmas lights. But he stayed upright the entire time!
Santa Front
So if you can’t fix it…feature it, work with it, adapt it, hide it, manipulate it; try not to toss it. See if you can re-invent it.
If you have a piece of art that you’ve reworked from its original design, send me the link and I’ll be happy to share it here.
And thank you Dayle for this great piece of advice.
Today’s Tarot card is The Moon, a complex card because it represents illusionary situations, possible deceptions and feelings of uncertainty. Emotions are highly charged and fluctuating at the moment.
When the Moon is drawn, feelings of intuition and gut instincts are heightened; dreams become more vivid as the subconscious reveals itself to us. It may also indicate that we are so wrapped up in our emotions that we don’t have a clear, rational view of the truth of a matter.
The Moon warns us to be watchful but to not act in haste. We should take our time until the situation has revealed itself more clearly. It is important not to jump to conclusions. On a positive note, the Moon tells us to trust in deeper realms and to remember that mystery permeates life at all times.
Today’s Tarot card is The Emperor, the fourth card in the Major Arcana and symbolic of stability, logic, and reason. The male archetype is the counterpart to the female Empress. The Emperor represents authority, fatherhood, and leadership.
In a reading, the Emperor is a sign of financial stability, ambition, authority, and achievement. You need to keep a calm head at this time, to make decisions based on facts, and to not be overly influenced by emotions.
The Emperor is a powerful card and a good omen for business and career matters. It may also represent a powerful male influence. When your inner Emperor is activated, you are ambitious and manage your affairs efficiently. The Emperor reminds us that structure, organization and the rulebook get us the best results. It is time to look at things with a clear head.
Musings from the Moonroom 