| I wanted to write this article to demonstrate how | | | | fragility of life. In the week after the 9/11 attack Wall |
| the ancient philosophy behind the Tarot is still | | | | Street remained closed for several days, and nobody |
| relevant to us today, and to show how these ideas | | | | knew what was going to happen. It was clear the |
| can be used to illuminate our modern world. Whether | | | | markets were going to slump but would they go into |
| or not the Tarot has any mystical power I believe a | | | | free fall? Were the US and world economies to be |
| lot can be learned from the view that it gives of the | | | | dragged into a downward spiral of recession? Our |
| universe, which goes back to antiquity. As someone | | | | modern lives depend on financial markets and world |
| who teaches and practices Tarot I also wanted to | | | | economies. The card is a reminder not to be |
| create a guide to help people understand the | | | | complacent.INTERNATIONAL LAW - JusticeThe |
| meanings behind each card, by reframing tarot in a | | | | meaning is simple: that is the need for justice, |
| modern context which can be related to more | | | | judgement and good decision making. The card |
| easily.When someone receives a Tarot reading the | | | | perfectly illustrates the need for international |
| cards offer meanings that are universal but also | | | | cooperation over rules and legal matters.WORLD |
| personal to the questioner. If one was to carry out a | | | | POVERTY - Hanged ManThe Hanged man represents |
| reading for the state of the world, how then could | | | | sacrifice, giving up and letting go. His message is that |
| the reader interpret the cards? What are the | | | | the way to get your needs met is to give up trying |
| pressing issues for us all at this time? I asked myself | | | | and let go - a philosophy that fits with many religions. |
| this question and, whilst thumbing through the pack, | | | | This idea doesn't square with the way many of us |
| the meanings became quite obvious and stark to me. | | | | behave in the west, as our sacrifice might entail |
| Below I have listed these meanings for the 21 Major | | | | giving up some of our material comforts that could |
| arcarna or trump cards.FREEDOM - The Fool | | | | help alleviate world poverty. The way the G8 |
| TECHNOLOGY - The Magician | | | | countries behave regarding poverty in Africa it seems |
| RELIGION - High Priestess | | | | this may be too much to ask. If, however, we were |
| HUMAN RIGHTS - The Empress | | | | to listen to the message of this card, we might |
| STATE POWER AND SECURITY - The Emperor | | | | realize that sacrifice is the way forward and that |
| TRADITIONALISTS VS MODERNIZERS - The | | | | maybe with a prosperous third world we might |
| Hierophant | | | | actually gain in the long run.GLOBAL WARMING - |
| INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS - The Lovers | | | | DeathThe image of the reaper is a reminder that life |
| WAR AND CONFLICT - The Chariot | | | | exists in cycles and that all things come to an end. It |
| WORLD POLITICS - Strength | | | | speaks more of change than actual death, and how |
| INNER WORLD - The Hermit | | | | this change can be painful. There seems little doubt |
| INTERNATIONAL LAW - Justice | | | | that the world climate is moving into a new phase. |
| WORLD POVERTY - Hanged Man | | | | These climate cycles have always existed - such as |
| GLOBAL WARMING - Death | | | | the various ice ages - but never has the change been |
| THE MISSING ELEMENT - Temperance | | | | so rapid or man made. This change will inevitably |
| TERRORISM - The Devil | | | | result in the deaths of individuals and of species. |
| GENETIC ENGINEERING - The Tower | | | | Global warming may be one of the biggest challenges |
| INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION - The Star | | | | we have faced in our history.THE MISSING ELEMENT |
| THE INTERNET AND THE INFORMATION AGE - | | | | - TemperanceOne of the most interesting cards in |
| The Sun | | | | this exercise is Temperance, as it is difficult to fit its |
| POWER AND CORRUPTION - The Moon | | | | meaning into a modern context. The card signifies |
| POPULATION - Judgement | | | | moderation or self-restraint, but the word |
| THE ENVIRONMENT - The WorldIncidentally if you | | | | temperance itself is rarely used today. We have |
| wish to read the complete article alongside images of | | | | even changed the word 'temper' to mean its |
| the cards there is an illustrated version on my | | | | opposite, thus losing its traditional meaning. It is |
| website at - The FoolAs card number zero in the | | | | difficult to find many examples of moderation in the |
| pack the Fool represents all that is new, free and | | | | modern world. Perhaps this is a flaw of the world's |
| innovative. In medieval times the court jester was | | | | media, choosing to report so many headline hitting |
| someone who was not expected to follow the same | | | | stories rather than stories of a more gentle nature. |
| rules and conventions as everyone else and so was | | | | This is especially the case with stories regarding acts |
| free to be spontaneous and creative. The Major | | | | in the name of religion: so much of what we hear is |
| Arcana is often described as a journey through life | | | | in relation to radicals and fundamentalists that we |
| starting at the childlike simplicity and freedom of the | | | | miss the numerous incidents of kindness, love and |
| Fool and ending with card number 21 - The World. | | | | care in the world. We are therefore left with an |
| However, for many in the world, freedom or lack of | | | | unbalanced view of the state of our |
| it, is a big political goal which they need to achieve | | | | world.TERRORISM - The DevilThis is perhaps one of |
| before they can start their journey.TECHNOLOGY - | | | | the most straightforward interpretations. The Devil |
| The MagicianTechnology is now the backdrop to all | | | | has always been a figure of fear, a corrupting |
| our lives and to those who don't understand it or | | | | influence that has no compassion or feeling for |
| haven't witnessed it before it seems like magic. | | | | others. Unfortuneately we live in a world where a |
| When people first saw inventions such as moving | | | | few individuals wish to induce this level of fear in |
| images or photography some believed it to be | | | | others, motivated by self-interest or warped |
| witchcraft or some kind of trickery. On the card the | | | | philosophies. Sadly they can become trapped by |
| Magician shows a powerful figure performing his | | | | world-views which can convince them their |
| tricks with us as his audience. He is about to make | | | | philosophies are right. This perhaps is the definition of |
| things happen before our eyes that we never | | | | evil; and strangely often done in the name of |
| thought possible. The message of this card is that if | | | | God.GENETIC ENGINEERING - The TowerWhen |
| you know what you are doing and you have the | | | | creating this list there was such a temptation to |
| energy of commitment behind you, you can achieve | | | | make this card about the 9/11 attacks. I have heard |
| incredible things. This is a valuable lesson for the | | | | that some people have made this connection but I |
| modern world.RELIGION - High PriestessThe High | | | | think this is taking the card at face value rather than |
| Priestess is a woman of God who sits in silence and | | | | trying to understand its full meaning. The card in the |
| contemplation. She seeks understanding and looks for | | | | modern deck actually makes reference to the Biblical |
| the greater meaning behind everything. She is an | | | | story of the Tower of Babel. The card does stand |
| antidote to the dangers of materialism that can stem | | | | for upheaval and disruption but it also warns of the |
| from the technological ability and energy of the | | | | dangers of over-stretching oneself and getting |
| Magician.HUMAN RIGHTS - The EmpressThe Empress | | | | involved in things beyond one's understanding. In |
| is a ruler that respects her subjects. She is a | | | | Genesis the tower is struck down; and the |
| motherly figure who believes in nurturing and caring | | | | punishment for challenging God's authority is that the |
| rather than controlling and dictating. It is perhaps an | | | | people are cast out and made to speak in different |
| unusual card considering its historical origins. We tend | | | | languages. If for ancient people the tower represents |
| to see this regard for individual human rights as quite | | | | diversity, then for us in the modern world diversity is |
| a modern enlightened view. The Tarot's values | | | | represented by the human gene. Genetic engineering |
| however are timeless and not subject to | | | | now gives us the power to do what may be thought |
| fashion.STATE POWER AND SECURITY - The | | | | of as challenging the authority of God. We could do |
| EmperorThe Emperor has a different approach than | | | | worse than look at this card for advice on this |
| that of the Empress. He is an old-fashioned ruler who | | | | matter.GLOBAL COOPERATION - The StarThe Star |
| believes in running his empire efficiently and | | | | in the Tarot refers to a way forward and to hope |
| systematically. He believes in looking after the many | | | | for a better future. When I was growing up, hope |
| and not compromising for the needs of individuals. | | | | for the future seemed to centre around the space |
| One of the big debates at this time is how much | | | | program. It was the only area over which the then |
| power should the state have? Many argue that with | | | | two super-powers would cooperate. Maybe this was |
| the greater need for security at home and abroad | | | | because the expense became too much for one |
| we need a government that is strong and which | | | | nation, or maybe as I like to believe because when |
| from time to time is willing to lessen the human rights | | | | one looks to the stars it makes our differences |
| of a few in order to safeguard the majority. Others | | | | down here on Earth seem less important. It certainly |
| disagree, arguing the state has too much power and | | | | does seem that if human beings are to progress then |
| should behave more like the Empress. This argument | | | | we must embrace collaboration. The card reminds us |
| will probably never be resolved and so these two | | | | to hold the star as a symbol for hope, and whether |
| cards sit side-by-side in the deck reminding us of this | | | | it is a star of David or a star of Islam shouldn't |
| dilemma.TRADITIONALISTS VS MODERNIZERS - | | | | matter.THE INTERNET AND THE INFORMATION |
| The HierophantThe essence of this card is about | | | | AGE - The SunThis card represents knowledge and |
| doing things in a conventional way and following | | | | understanding. When we understand something we |
| traditional wisdom. The Heirophant asks 'The | | | | are enlightened and that's what the sun does to the |
| conventional way has been tried and tested and it | | | | earth: it shines light on dark corners and illuminates |
| works, so why try to reinvent the wheel?' In this | | | | the globe. One of the most significant inventions of |
| age of individualism where people want to do things | | | | the last forty years which brings knowledge and |
| their own way the message of the Hierophant is not | | | | illumination to the world is the internet. It is interesting |
| always a popular one. However, he is still worth | | | | to note that the internet has been made possible by |
| listening to because there are times when it is better | | | | lasers transmitting information through high-speed |
| to fit in and go along with the crowd; and sometimes | | | | fiber optics. Thus, the internet, in effect, is made of |
| being different is ill-advised.WORLD PEACE - The | | | | pure light. The card also depicts a happy couple who |
| LoversTraditionally this card shows a man making a | | | | could be lovers: the inference being that |
| choice between two women and its message is that, | | | | understanding between people is the key to |
| like love, most things in life come down to a matter | | | | harmony. Never before has so much knowledge been |
| of choice. If we are in a relationship with someone it | | | | available to so many. The couple on the card reminds |
| is because we chose to be with them and we are | | | | us however, that unless this knowledge is used to |
| choosing to stay with them. The same is true for all | | | | build closer links between people, it is a waste of |
| the relationships we have with people. Also, whether | | | | time.POWER AND CORRUPTION - The MoonThe |
| we find ourselves fighting, loving or being distant | | | | word 'lunatic'' derives from the belief that the moon's |
| from others is down to our choosing. If we are to | | | | rays had the power to intoxicate and send people |
| apply this idea to the modern world it seems clear | | | | mad. In the modern world one of the most |
| that peace and harmony are not things which just | | | | dangerous forms of intoxication is that of people |
| happen but that many active choices need to be | | | | becoming drunk on power. We see this throughout |
| made in pursuit of them.WAR AND CONFLICT - The | | | | the world where leaders are corrupted by their |
| ChariotThis card needs little explanation. There have | | | | power and become self-aggrandizing tyrants. We also |
| always been wars and probably always will be. There | | | | see it in the board-rooms of multinational companies |
| is therefore no need to put this ancient card into a | | | | where individuals can be seduced by the love of |
| modern context.WORLD POLITICS - | | | | money and the power it brings. The card itself refers |
| StrengthAlthough this card often depicts a man | | | | to corruption and confusion and to all the dark |
| wrestling a lion, the strength referred to here is | | | | dealings that happen hidden from the light of day. It |
| strength of will and courage rather than physical | | | | has the opposite meaning to the Sun; thus the |
| strength: the ability to endure and overcome | | | | antidote is to shed light wherever |
| difficulties. In fact it could be seen as the strength of | | | | possible.POPULATION - JudgementWith shrinking |
| will and character to resist the temptation to use | | | | resources and rising birth rates, population control |
| physical force to solve a problem. For today's modern | | | | must be one of the most pressing world issues for |
| world many problems could be solved by a stronger | | | | this time. This card speaks of a judgement day when |
| political will and greater courage. Perhaps one day | | | | things come to a head and decisions have to be |
| more world leaders will realize that there is something | | | | made: when the result of our actions good or bad |
| stronger and more enduring than military might.THE | | | | must be accounted for. In the judgement day myth |
| INNER WORLD - The HermitIn trying to write this | | | | all the people that have ever lived are risen back to |
| article about how each of the Tarot cards says | | | | life. Best estimates would put this at about 107 billion |
| something about the state of the world and how we | | | | souls!THE ENVIRONMENT - The WorldThe World |
| are as a gloabal society, there is one card that | | | | card simply represents fulfillment and completeness. |
| seems to shout out against this idea. That is the card | | | | Having the World at one's fingertips means having |
| of the hermit. The hermit advocates withdrawal from | | | | everything one could possibly want. The problem with |
| the world, suggesting that the inner world is more | | | | having everything we want however, is that this is |
| instructive for us and within our scope to change. | | | | usually at the expense of the planet. The card's |
| Therefore the hermit stands here to remind us of | | | | meaning of completeness and self-containment is a |
| the limitations of analysing the world as a | | | | reminder that we must get what we want in a way |
| whole.WORLD TRADE AND FINANCE - Wheel of | | | | that is sustainable. This is the final card of the Major |
| FortuneThis card reminds us that life can be a bit of | | | | Arcana and the end point for our journey. This is our |
| a lottery and fortunes can go up as well as down. It | | | | home and we cannot get away from it until death; |
| often depicts someone partying whilst someone else | | | | so we should look after it.Fred Street is the creator |
| (or is it the same person later in time?) plummets to | | | | of a free Tarot reading site which offers a wide |
| his doom. It is a stark reminder and warning of the | | | | range of readings online and by email. |