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