A Meditation on Max Müller's Place in the Study of Tarot

What does Tarot have to do with linguistics?

Well, nothing, you might say. And yet, if you contemplate Tarot and other divination systems, quite a lot. Reading Tarot has often been made akin to reading an everchanging book: every time its pages are opened, a new truth is shown. At the same time, Tarot must be learned like a language. At first, the cards seem strange and remote, but after a while, The Fool and 7 of Wands become close friends of yours, and the interpretation flows easily.

Tarot is an oral art

While many books have been published about Tarot and Lenormand, it is, at its core, an oral art. Just looking at three cards in a spread and acknowledging which cards are layed out does not a reading make. In order to give a reading the purpose it needs, it requires you to voice (or alternatively voice internally and write down) what you see and feel. While writing your interpretations down is a valid option, I like to speak my interpretations aloud. I use a sony voice recorder to record myself speaking about my spread. Only then do I write my findings down. Journalling in itself is very important, to jot down each new thought and new finding; however, Tarot speaks most loudly when it is given a voice.
Nowadays, reading for clients online and by email has become quite prevalent. But the root of Tarot reading is in person, orally, face to face. I believe that reading loudly for myself greatly enhances my Tarot experience.

 

A quote that remains in my head

A few years ago, I visited a lecture on comparative religion at University. I don't recall much of it, and even at the time I wasn't very invested in the subject. However, one single quote that appeared in the PPT remains in my head to this date.

"He who knows one, knows none." - by Max Müller

Photo source: wikipedia

The quote, initially introduced by Max Müller, a german linguist and researcher of Indology, was referring to languages. A person who speaks only one language cannot understand languages in general. The same, the professor said, also applied to religions. A person only familiar with one single religion could never understand the meaning and implications of religions in general.
Or, to make this a problem Aristotle would enjoy: a person who knows one dog doesn't know animals.

The prevalence of the Rider-Waite-Smith system

 The RWS Tarot illustrated by Pamela Coleman Smith remains the single most influential Tarot in the current Tarot community. Even people who do not use the actual RWS deck probably own a clone or close copy of that mother of most modern decks. The RWS deck seems pretty ancient with its over 100 years to speak of, but of course the Marseille type deck is the older, more historical ancestor of all modern Tarot decks.

It made sense for me to start learning Tarot by getting a RWS deck or one of its clones. The meanings are easy to remember because of the images that immediately evoke some kind of emotion. Also, most books in English are written not about all Tarot tradition, but about the RWS tradition in particular. However, getting too stuck on RWS tradition felt like it hindered me from exploring a more advanced knowledge of my cherished decks of cards. RWS is one way of divination. Marseille is its cousin. Astrology and Christian dogma have also formed the cards and our cultural understanding of their meanings.

So just seeing one deck would never be enough for me: dabbling in Lenormand and Kipper, Astrology and minerals, even religious history and the fine arts makes a lot of sense. Exploring the many different facets of Tarot helped me getting a deeper, more comprehensive understanding of my readings. 

Then again, this might be just a subconscious way to justify why I need so many decks. What do you think?

Blessings and balance ~

Peachess

 

Unknown yet familiar: The Petit Prince Oracle

from France to Japan: an intimate journey

"Oracle of Le Petit Prince" by Kadogawa publishing

It was a curious discovery that I made while surfing on amazon.co.jp while I lived in Japan last year: an oracle deck not of Japanese legends or gods (of which there were some) but one about the Little Prince.

Everyone (or at least: everyone I know) has read or at least has heard of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's famous masterpiece "Le Petit Prince". First released in France, this children's book for adults centers on the self-discovery of a lonely prince who lives alone on a planet with a jealous flower for a mother/lover/friend.

Even though I was quite familiar with the tale, it never occured to me how absolutely perfect it is as material for an oracle deck. And apparently, the only ones it occured to is a Japanese book publisher that also publishes tons of popular manga (japanese graphic novels). Strange much?!

The set consists of a solid two-piece box, 44 beautiful, large and glossy oracle cards, and a tiny, black and white little white book (LWB) completely in Japanese.

The cards, suffice it to say, are absolutely stunning. I love Saint-Exupéry's art style, it's so evocative, lonely and dreamy. Simply marvelous.

 

(from left) Le Petit Prince (the little prince), Baobab and Maison (Home/House)

  

(from left) Vérité (Truth), Imagination and Inspiration 

Numbers 13 through 15 build a curious series as seen in the book: what first appears to be a boring brown hat (13) is transformed through Imagination (14) into the Inspiration (15): an elephant having been swallowed by a snake. Genius! 

(from left) Endroit Inconnu (unknown place) and Endroit Important (important place)

These two cards are my favorites! The unknown place, showing some dunes and a flower in the raging desert sun, and the best card of all, the "Important Place": the simple intersection of two dunes by night. This card is so special to me, because it is so personal. Its emptiness gives freedom to the mind to picture any place in the world as your own important place. But at the same time, it stresses the importance of having this "Endroit Important" inside your mind; which is empty, but starlit and clear. A personal, safe place, of your own.

I really hope this deck will be published in English in the future, because it is so beautiful to work with. If you want to own it already (the meanings are pretty intuitive even without understanding of the explanations in the LWB) you can find it here: Le petit prince Oracle

Blessings and balance ~

Peachess

Talismans for Selfawareness

How do you like to relax and float away from the stresses of the everyday world?

Some people enjoy cooking and cleaning, others like to bathe or go jogging in the nature. For some, it depends on the day. One thing is clear though: relaxing is the air the soul lives on.

Nurturing the soul: everyday practice

As a first step to relaxing and finding peace (at least for a little while) each day, it is important to acknowledge the importance of such a step.

So go into you mind palace (or house, or room) and concentrate on your life right now. Are you happy with the amount of time you spend with yourself on a daily basis? Do you have set times and rituals in which your soul is undisturbed and completely separated from other people's demands and worries? Do you intentionally give yourself more time when going through "tasks" like showering or taking a nap? Or do you rush through meals, work and your hobbies as if they are a busy trainstation?

Small altar: my beloved Lapis Lazuli palmstone in vivid blue and gold flecks on top of my favorite glasses cleaning cloth from Vienna, which feauters Queen Elizabeth in a 50s style dress. 

I am an incredibly busy person, but there are some things I never forget. That is: going for a 3 or 4 mile run every 2 days exactly (through the forest, of course), meditating whenever I have the time and carrying around my Lapis in a soft cloth. Where I go, the Lapis goes. Sometimes I even put it under my pillow when I sleep. I gravitate towards this stone like a nun to her rosary and I treat it the exact same way. I clutch it when I'm worried, I worry at it when I'm stressed. Touching and feeling this cool, flat stone carries me instantly to a beautiful place in my mind.

You do not need to own some precious stone or rosary to have a talisman like this: some people (like my sister) have a favorite necklace that never stays at home when they leave. Some have a treasured fountain pen. I have my Lapis.

Why you should also have a talisman

A talisman makes us mindful. When you choose an object to come with you every day, it becomes connected to your desires and intentions. Whenever you come into a situation that stresses you and wants to change who you are into a scared, stressed form of yourself (a fight with a friend, a difficult exam, a health checkup), take out your talisman and allow yourself to be carried away and calmed by an outside force. It is one thing to know you are overreacting - it is another thing to be consoled by someone else. A talisman is there for you when you need to go through difficult situations and emotions by yourself.

It doesn't matter whether you choose a precious ring or an old piece of cloth. Choose a tiny object that will remind you of who you are and what you want in life.

What kind of Talisman do you use?

Blessings and balance ~

Peachess

The Different Faces of the Hermit

An exploration of the inner homunculus

The Major Arcanum number 9 or IX is the Hermit, often depicted as an old man holding a bright lantern into the darkness.

Morgan Greer Tarot

This "old man" vibe is best seen in the Morgan Greer Tarot. The background is simplistic. Dark blue night seems to be falling down from the sky, while the man stands in a wanderers cape on a lonesome rock. He sports a long white beard, not something I could easily identify with. He supports his worn-out frame on a Wand (my birth suit!) And inside his lantern is an actual yellow star that shines brightly. The Hermit is usually associated with being wise and a recluse.

These characteristics are very apparent in the classic Rider-Waite-Smith (RWS) deck, and also in all of its many clones (including the Morgan Greer) and many other decks that follow the RWS tradition more or less closely. While the reclusive nature of the Hermit really appeals to me, the old man image never really left my mind. However, the Hermit ist neither old nor necessarily male:

Using: The Deviant Moon Tarot (Borderless Edition), The Romantic Tarot (Lo Scarabeo - made borderless by me), the Alice Tarot (Baba Studio)

The Deviant Moon deck, created by the marvelous creepy artist Patrick Valenza shows a creature huddled under what appears to be a bridge. The figure seems more Gollum than human; the sex is impossible to identify. The first image I got from this card was "madness" or "insanity". This person is not a recluse by choice: society would never accept this naked being into its bosom. The nakedness is a sign in itself: instead of understanding and applying the rules of society, this Hermit is naked. He (or she) blatantly broadcasts his (or her) insanity and flaws, making him an outcast.
Gollum (which I choose to call this particular Hermit) has more characteristics than just madness, though. His toenails are painted red, as are his lips. These I would understand as rebellious acts against the oppression Gollum faces. Next to Gollum lie a half-eaten skullfish and in the background we see a factory spilling harmfull substances up to the waning moon. The imagery is forceful, the solitude of the Hermit at the same time an exile and freedom from the toxicity of the life others lead. I really love the style Patrick used to create this card.

In the Romantic Tarot, illustrated and colored by Giulia Massaglia, the Hermit features more classic imagery. While the Hermit isn't old (more middle-aged) he is male, sports a beard, and holds a lantern. However, this is were the similarities end. Instead of standing on a lonesome rock, this Hermit is fully integrated into society. He has a house, his own study with pictures (of his family?) and wears normal clothes. He is only a reclus at twilight, when he has a few hours of contemplation to himself. He enjoys these hours spent only in his own mind, and can later rejoin his family and friends. This is a quieter, less bold and less defined interpretation of the Hermit card. While I do like the peaceful tone of this card, I still believe the Hermit was not entirely represented in this deck.

The Alice Tarot by Baba Studio, which is quirky, crazy and flawless, shows the Fake Turtle posing as the Hermit. In the original Alice books, the Fake Turtle is a lonesome, perpetually crying turtle with the head of a cow who unwillingly shares her life story to anyone willing to listen long enough. This Hermit is a Hermit by nature, by fate and by choice. Everything in the Fake Turtle is reclusive, even her head can be drawn back into her body! I really love this interpretation, because it gives a new, fresh light to the Hermit. This representation is nearly comic and quite interesting.

The Twin Peaks Tarot (found on Etsy)

The Twin Peaks Tarot features the agoraphobic character of Harold Smith. In the show, he hasn't left his home in years and prefers to stay inside with his collection of flowers that he treats like family. He is quite mad and mentally unstable. This interpretation of the Hermit, while similar to that in the Deviant Moon tarot, puts a lot of emphasis on the "weakness" of someone pushed out of society. While the Deviant Moon Hermit could be violently crazy, Harold Smith is definitely more likely to self-harm than to attack someone else. Also, his mental instability is something tangible; he is not consistent in his madness, but rather shy and fluctuating, making him a less strong Hermit. That being said, this Hermit knows a lot; he has secret knowledge about the life and death of the series' protagonist, Laura Palmer. Also, he appears quite intelligent and might be an autistic savant, making this a unique twist on the Hermit.

Prisma Visions Tarot

The Hermit in the Prisma Visions Tarot is a remote figure crossing a moonlit bridge over a beautiful, sparkling river. Not much can be seen of the man (or woman) himself, however, much can be deduced by looking at the surroundings. Holding a stick, he is walking alone at night, through a forest, enjoying the quiet. he might be a traveller, or he might be in a state of trance or meditation. His knowledge is the grasping of the deep ties of humanity with nature, and his goal is complete unity. That makes him a wise being, that every student might hope for.

The Hermit as a Homunculus

A homunculus is usually defined as a fully formed miniature human, sometimes believed to reside inside our brains. What if, then, the brain was ruled by a little homunculile Hermit, residing on another level of our consciousness? The Hermit is the madness in us, the recluse, the social reject. But also the remote teacher we look up to, the certain knowledge that we can get out of the darkness, and into the light, all on our own. The idea of having a second, little "me" inside of my brain at first appears strange and frightening - but it also makes some sense. At least to me.

What do you think?

Blessings and balance ~

Peachess


 

Temperance: My Journey

Hello everyone and welcome to my blog!

This is my first entry in my new blog, so I'll start with a quick introduction.

Where do I come from, and where do I want to go?

I'm Peachess and I live somewhere in Central Europe. Even though I've lived most of my life there, I also lived in East Asia for nearly three years total.

I am a dreamer and have been living in my very own fantasy world ever since I can remember. But even though I used to be quite the Hermit (which also happens to be my numerological Tarot birth card!) I now want to share my journey and experience with others, and open up my dream world like a museum for others to visit.

The different faces of  IX: The Hermit. Deviant Moon Tarot, Romantic Tarot, Alice Tarot

In this blog, you will find my experience with Tarot, Lenormand, Kipper and other Oracle decks, with Bonsai and Koto music, with meditation and minerals of all kinds, with friendships and hardships and world travel. At the core, this is a blog about magic and identity. I hope that my journey will inspire you to look at your deck of cards or yur minerals in a fresh, new way and that you can draw strength from my experience. Feel free to comment on my blog, as I am new to this experience and still learning much.

I hope to one day achieve my personal goal of Temperance and quietness. Yoga, cards and my friends inpire me every day to become a better person at peace with herself and the world.

Blessings and balance to you ~

Peachess