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instructors: Ruth Ann and Wald Amberstone
This is going to be a very special kind of review - covering a series of Tarot teleclasses that are ongoing for the year 2005. I am going to cheat and "borrow" the promo from the Tarot School site, as they put the essence of the classes much better than I ever could have!
"We're excited to put a new spin on your Tarot studies with this year's series of telecourses we call Imagery and Intuition. Throughout 2005, we'll unlock the treasure chest of the visual imagery of the deck and dive into the mysteries hidden in feathers and pillars and crowns and flowers and all the myriad forms and colors that glow at us from the pictures.
In the process, you will imbibe some alchemy, some freemasonry, some Greek, Egyptian, Christian, Jewish and Pagan symbolism, and it will be almost effortless and a lot of fun. And as we go along, we'll put all this knowledge to use, the way we always do, with a whole range of new, intuitive, experiential, creative and divinatory techniques.
2005 is going to be a great year at The Tarot School and we hope you'll join us!."
I am going to review each month's classes, so that you will be able to get a feeling for how this material fits into your own studies, and how expansive the Tarot really can be. (Note: the Rider-Waite Tarot, or a Rider-Waite clone, is strongly suggested for use during this class.)
The subject for the first class was Crowns. We were asked to pull the following cards from our deck before class: High Priestess, Empress, Emperor, Hierophant, Chariot, Justice, Death, Temperance, Tower, Ace of Swords, Four of Pentacles, and all of the Kings and Queens. As you can see, we had a stellar assortment of cards to work from. Three types of symbolism were covered: universal imagery, esoteric imagery, and Tarot specific imagery. The class started off with a guided meditation, which grounded and centered us, and allowed us to be in the right place to begin our studies. We reviewed the general symbolism for the crown (take the class - I am not giving this away!), as well as its Greek and Latin origins. There is a depth to this subject that is not apparent from general Tarot studies, and is very much worth investigating. There are different types of crowns, and they signify different types of energy. There is the Horns of Isis (the High Priestess), the Diadem of the Zodiac (the Empress), the domed crown (Emperor and Tower), the Papal Tiara (the Hierophant), the celestial diadem (the Chariot), the toothed crown (Justice and the Four of Pentacles), the crown of glory (Temperance), and the styalized diadems that mirror elemental qualities (the Kings and Queens). At the end of the first class we did partner readings, putting to work the energy that we had been discussing. The subject for the second class was Pillars. The cards that we were asked to pull were The High Priestess, the Hierophant and Justice. Wald started the class by reminding us that the entire deck of the Tarot is constructed of symbols, and that they are there for specific purposes. He discussed the dual nature of the Pillar, and its many purposes, which include thigns like defining ordinary versus consecrated space, and acting as gateways, separating one condition from another. From there he went on to the lineage of the Pillar in the Rider-Waite deck, which includes symbols from the Golden Dawn, Free Masonry, Masonic symbolism (i.e. biblical imagery), and femininity. The nature of the Pillar, and the purpose that it serves, was discussed in depth for each of the three cards that we had pulled. Much of this has to do wit h what we are leaving behind, and what we are moving forward into. The subject for the third class was the Rose and the Lily. We were asked to pull the Magician, the Hierophant, the Two of Wands and the Ace of Pentacles from our deck. These two very beautiful flowers represent very different things in the esoteric world. The discussion that evolved was based on astrological associations, and influences on life. The Rose evokes the energy of tolerance and self-determination, while the Lily evokes the energy of virtue, celibacy and self-denial. One of these flowers can bring about new beginnings with a very war-like intensity. The mingled fragrance of both flowers is the essence of divinity. The fourth class was the essence of the Tarot School - pure and simple! Wald and Ruth Ann took the symbols that had been studied (covering Crowns, Pillars, teh Rose and the Lily), and integrated them into the format of a reading. What better ending for a series of classes than to put the information to work in real life situations! As we all listened (and contributed our opinions!)I am sure that everyone felt as I did - that my readings would take on a deeper scope and meaning, and that this class was well worth my time! One piece of wisdom that I will share from this last class - that the images of the Tarot are meant to provoke thought and arouse feelings. That the images of the Tarot are symbolic of our search for truth in all spheres - spiritual, intellectual, emotional, and physical.
Unfortunately, I was not able to make the February classes. However, when the tapes are available, I will be reviewing them.
I am ever so happy to be back in class this month! The first class concentrated on the imagery of the Moon. We were asked to pull the following cards before class: The Two of Swords, the Seven of Swords, the Eight of Cups, the High Priestess, the Hierophant, the Chariot and, of course, the Moon. Wald started the class by pointing out that the Moon is a very powerful symbol, in the real world of the night sky (okay, the sky at all times - but we can see it at night!) as well as in the Tarot. He also pointed out that this is one symbol that has an immense individual significance - everyone can relate to the energy of the moon in some manner. We did a significant exercise where we took a look at what the Moon means to us when drawn on a "card a day" basis. We were asked to pick the Moon that we were most drawn to from the cards in front of us. We then shared with the class what emotions we got from this particular moon. (My choice was the Moon card itself, because it represents the full energy of the Moon.) Wald did a wonderful lecture on the importance of the Moon to humanity. The Moon, the Sun, and the Earth are the first symbolic images used by man. The single most important facet of the Moon is that is carries the energy of the feminine. The Moon represents the goddess and woman within each of us - male and female. It rules cycles, and the dark unknown within us (our unconsious selves). This was followed by a contemplative journey into our inner moonscape, led by Ruth Ann. There are ways to journey, and there are ways to journey. I'll just say that I am always extremely pleased when either Ruth Ann or Wald is up there leading us. Our experiences were shared - and they were all unique to the individual experiencing them. This is really the best way to learn! From here we went back to lecture mode, with Wald talking about how the Moon and its myth and history really moves in all areas of our lives. Ruth Ann then took us through each of the cards, and discussed the energy of the Moon in each of the cards we had pulled. There was a massive amount of information given here, including little tidbits that we know and somehow forget, such as the Two of Swords being Moon in Libra. If you only took one piece of information away from this class, it would be this: that the Moon functions in our lives inwardly, as well as externally. The second class in April covered the symbolic use of the Star. The cards that we were working with were the Ace of Pentacles (as representative of the entire suit of Pentacles), the Devil, the Magician, The Fool, the Empress, the Star, the Hermit, and the Chariot. Wald began the class with a short lecture about the Stars in Tarot as acting in an entirely symbolic manner: they can be seen as esoteric symbols, and the connecting point between the physical world and our inner world. In this manner, the physical world becomes our teacher. Ruth Ann then took us on an inner journey, looking internally to see what our inner stars look like, and what they mean to us. I have raved before about these journeys, and I will take a moment to rave again. These are wonderful exercises, great teaching tools, and lend themselves to leading easily into areas that students may ordinarily not feel comfortable talking about. One thing that we all took from this exercise is the thought that our awareness, or our consciousness, is made up of our responses to both our inner and our physical worlds. Wald took over from there with a lecture on the star as a symbol, and its association with light, benevolence and the Divine. He also pointed out that in the Tarot, the symbolism connected with the star on any given card is diretly connected to its geometric shape. Within the Tarot we have five pointed stars, six pointed stars, and eight pointed stars. He discussed some of the esoteric imagery, such as the six pointed star relating to Above and the world of Spirit, and the five pointed star relating to Below and the physical world. He led a wonderful exercise in which we drew images of the six pointed star, and referenced the points to planets, metals, elements, and the concepts of hot, cold, wet and dry. Ruth Ann then moved on to discussing the stars within the cards we had drawn for this class. We see the geometric shape of the Pentagram in the Ace of Pentacles (as representing the enitre suit of Pentacles), the Devil, and the Magician. In the Empress, the Hermit, the Fool and the Star we see the geometric shape of the Hexagon. In the Star we see the the shape of an eight pointed star, and in the Chariot we see all three geometric shapes. I left this class with a renewed respect for the star symbolism, and the path of perfection that it represents. The third class in April covered pools - the cards that we worked with were the Moon, the Star, and Temperance. Wald began the class by noting that natural pools are exactly what they seem to be. He also noted that it is difficult to find mention of pools in any dictionary on symbolism, with the exception of those dedicated to Esoteric Magick. What made this class so much fun (for the participants, and I think for Wald too)is that most of the information in this class had to come from his own studies and musings. I am not going to give too much information here, except to say that an overlying principle when studying pools is their feminine nature. At this point the class members shared their thoughts on what pools meant to them - referencing pools that were in our lives when we were young. I thought it interesting that pools need to be known through personal experience, rather than talking or reading about them. One important reason for this would be that our experiences become part of our consciousness. Ruth Ann then took us on a very intense journey into our inner pool. We not only journeyed to this pool, we journeyed "into" the depths of the pool. I knew going into this that the experience would be extremely difficult, but that it would bring me needed information from within. This is exactly what happened. I would like to pint out here that everyone has the choice to either go or not go on these journeys. You have to trust ... implicitly trust ... the person leading the journey, and Ruth Ann is someone that I implicitly trust. After the journey , the class shared experiences ... each experience was different, and each experience had something to give the other members. Wald then discussed the process termed "Journey of Emergence and Return". I am not going to go into it here (you need to hear him talk about it to get the correct understanding), except to say that it has to do with journeying down into the unknown, and the assent, or return, that follows. The vessle for this journey is our own physical body, with our experiences being held in our own awareness. In relating this to the pools, we see three levels: the Moon is the lowest level, the beginning of the journey. The Star is the middle level, a great pool of awareness that is expanded through meditation. Temperance is the highest level, and is one-half of a complex symbol relating to spiritual sexuality (the Sun being the other half). We ended the class by doing readings for each other, based on characters and scenarios that Wald created. This was an incredible experience! I don't think Wald will mind if I say that for those of you teaching the Tarot, or for those of you that attend local Tarot group meetings, this is a wonderful tool to play with. Everyone has a good time, and goes away with an expanded view of how to read the cards. The fourth class for April was a wrap-up of the three previous classes. (I like this feature - it gives the students an opportunity to get a grasp on how much they have actually retained from the classes, as well as how to put it to use in their lives. For Ruth Ann and Wald, it gives them a chance to see how effective their work has been.) At the beginning of the class Wald went into the kinds and styles of questions that Seeker's present to the Tarot. This is important, because it helps the reader to determine what their basic reading style is, as well as how to formulate responses to different types of questions. Wald summed this up very well by reminding us that we need to remember, understand and use our knowledge of the Tarot in such a way that it is useful to us as readers, as well as to the Seeker. From here we went on to discuss what this months symbols (the moon, stars, and pools)meant to us. The questions that he presented allowed us to really see how much of the learning we had retained, and much we needed to go back over. A class is not just the time we spend in the class, it is how well we listened, took notes, and asked questions. It is how well we are able to incorporate the knowledge that we have learned into our lives, so that it may become wisdom. If we share knowledge, to me this is a surface sharing. If we share wisdom, there is a much greater depth. (Maybe I need to say this last is my take, not Ruth Ann or Wald's!) Personal note: sending good thoughts to Ruth Ann and Wald for a highly successful Readers Studio. Stay tuned for the next session (mid-May)!
The first class in this months series was focused on the symbol of the horse within the cards. The cards that we worked with were the four Knights, Death, the Sun and the Six of Wands. When we think of horse, we think of their beauty, speed, and power. Wald pointed out that they are also a symbol of freedom for humankind, and a symbol of that which is truly magnificant. Horses have been part part of symbolism, myth and legend in many diverse cultures. They are simultaneously a servent to the Gods (through myth) and a servent here on earth (in many different ways). Horses have from ancient times been considered a valuable form of sacrifice. In the Tarot, the symbol of the horse comes under three headings: Lunar, Solar, and Terrestrial. Each of the horses in the Tarot serves a specific function - and more than that, I am not going to say, as I do not want to give away the store! Ruth Ann took us on two journeys: the first journey was at the beginning of the class, and we were asked to become a horse, to take on an equine body and attitude and see where that took us, environmentally as well as in thought and action. Towards the end of the class, we went on another journey, where we entered one of the cards that we were studying and became either the rider or the horse. In sharing our stories, it became clear that interesting things had happened for each of us. Our next class will be on Wednesday, June 8th. See you there! The second class in this series was on the Sun. What an information packed class this was! Thank heaven's Ruth Ann had the good sense to start the class with a short relaxation meditation. She used either a bell or some type of tuning device that had a deep vibration to it that lent itself to a wonderful meditation. The cards that we pulled to discuss in this class were the Fool, the Hierophant, the Lovers, the Chariot, Death, Temperance, and the Sun. Wald spoke about the Sun in general, and how its meaning, reference, and significance changes from card to card. He also referred to the various systems that we use to define the Sun, such as psychological, scientific, alchemical etc. At its core, the Sun is used to shed light on ourselves, and on the world that we live in. It is a source of energy, and a source of power. Wald discussed the different manners in which we viewed the Sun through various systems (Astrology, Freemasonry, Alchemy,Qaballah, and Science). We then discussed, as a group, in what ways we felt the Sun acted in our lives. Wald and Ruth Ann then worked through the seven cards for the night, discussing the significance of the Sun within each card, and under what basic system it was operating within that card. There was a ton of information here, which you really need to hear in context to get best value from. Our next class will be on June 22nd - Full Moon! In the meantime - sending good thoughts to Ruth Ann & Wald re enjoying their mini-cruise. :) The third class in this series was all about banners as symbols. The cards we worked with were Death, the Sun, and Judgement. Wald started out by defining the three classes or kinds of symbols: (1) natural phenomenon that are invested with symbolism, (2) handmade (i.e. manmade)objects, and (3) objects that are conceived and made for no other purpose than to act as a symbol. Banners fall into the third classification - they carry a very specific symbolic nature. The essence of the banner is two-fold: vertical and horizontal. The vertical nature of the banner is that which supports it and allows it to rise above eye level. The horizontal nature of the banner is that part of the banner that is flexible and carries a symbol on it. Wald went into the history of banners, which goes back farther than most people may realize. Ancient banners were made of animal pelts, and carried the energy of the animal being represented. The purpose that a banner serves is something that we may take for granted, but that carries great import. It acts as a focal point, drawing attention to a specific person, country, organization or cause. In this manner, a banner comes to have an identity and power of its own. It also acts to unify individuals into a group identity. There was quite an interesting discussion on flags as banners, whether the class felt that they could relate to flags, and how they felt about the desecration of a flag. Ruth Ann spoke on the foundation of the Tracing Board of the Royal Arch Degree from Freemasonry, representing the twelve tribes of Israel. She went into the name of each tribe, the color of their flag, and the symbol that was on it. Wald spoke about the General Standard of Freemasonry, which is a shield divided by a green and yellow cross. He described each of the four quarters of the shield, which represent the four principle tribes of Israel, by color, tribe, and symbol. Wald then went into a discussion of each of the main banners in the Tarot: Death, the Sun, and Judgement, what they represented and how they differ. At the end of the class we each worked on what our individual personal symbols would be, and then we discussed them. I was very impressed with the variety of symbolism in the class, and "where" it came from! It was Ruth Ann and Wald's anniversary tonight (June 22nd), and we all wished them a Happy Anniversary, and many more to come! Our next class (on June 29th) will be the fourth class in this series, and will be a wrap-up of the first three classes. I hope to see each of you there when the next series starts! The fourth class in this series covered the integration fo the imagery and symbolism from the last three classes (Horses, Suns, and Banners). Wald did a recap on what had been previously covered: * Horses: In a reading, horses indicate movement. They refer to the history of the issue/question, to what is currently present, and where the energy is going. The three types of horses was covered (Solar, Lunar, and Terrestial), as well as the significance of the horse and rider appearing together. * Suns: Suns represent power - they are the engine that drives all of life. The Sun gives us the power to be, and the power to act. The Sun is half of everything that is (with the Moon representing the other half). * Banners: Banners project identity, they show who adn what someone is, and they act to focus awareness. The remainder of the class was spent giving readings, using the cards that we had been studying. It was amazing what came out of those readings! I was unable to attend the July/August series. Hopefully I will be able to pick up with the next session!
I'm back! I missed the first class (house-sitting for my sister), but picked the series up with the second class, 9/21/05. The focus for this class was on clouds, and what they indicate as imagery. Wald began the class by asking us to determine what we thought clouds were made of. My personal thoughts ran along the line of a gaseous mixture, and thoughts of seeing such clouds from an airplane window came to mind. We ended up defining clouds as suspended particles of ice in air. We then went into the different types of clouds, where they are seen (i.e. high in the sky, or closer to the ground), and how they function (i.e. to bring rain, as indications of a storm, etc). The function that clouds serve in our lives is an provocative one - clouds set the mood for our environment, whether they are clouds in the sky, or clouds of incense being used to set a mood or serve as a sense of protection. In general, we learned that clouds are symbols of change, that they can change their shape (How many of you have laid down in the grass on a summer day and deliberately worked to change the shape of a cloud? Anyone can do this!), and that they act as a veil, hiding what is under them, over them, behind them, or in front of them. In a metaphysical sense, they hide that which is above from that which is below. Clouds can act to obscure, as in clouded judgment, but they can also be symbols of fertility and life. Clouds set the quality of our moods. Now the fun began, as we discussed various Tarot cards, and how the clouds in their imagery served them. For instance, in the World, we see angelic beings in the midst of clouds. In Judgment, the clouds separate that which is visible from that which is invisible, specificaly referencing Heaven. In all of the Aces, and in the Four of Cups, we see a hand appearing as it comes from a cloud, with the cloud acting as a veil. Here we are being given the gift of entire worlds. At the end of the evening, I think we all looked at clouds as much more than the background of a picture. We had a greater appreciation for what they are in real life, and what they can mean to us on a metaphysical level. The third class in this series was held on 9/28/05, and was focused on gardens. Wald announced at the beginning of class that the final classes in this series will be on rivers, towers, angels, and temples. If you are interested in attending these classes (they are phenomenal!), go to: www.TarotSchool.com/Seminars.html. Wald started the class out by defining the essence of gardens - that they act as living metaphores for the state that we call perfection. He talked about the fact that gardens of various types appear literally all over the world, that they appeal to our senses, to our feelings of and need for pleasure, and that they act to give us a sense of relief from the environment surrounding us. Sometimes hearing someone else talk about that which we know allows us to see it from a different perspective. That was certainly the case tonight, as Wald talked about different types of gardens, and what they reflected about the life around them. Chinese gardens reflect the thought that there are three levels to universe - heaven, earth, and human beings (whoa re seen as the "middle kingdom"). They are all about harmony, peace and flow of energy. Japanese Zen gardens are very different - they are sand, gravel and stone. They are places of contemplation. Persian gardens are very formal, meant to give a sense of heaven on earth. They are built around a central pool, from which four streams flow to the corners of the garden. Moorish gardens serve as open living rooms, hidden behind galleries and walls, making use of pools and representing beauty, rest, and serenity. A literal "time out" from the everyday world. Italian gardens are intensely prctical places making use of water and shade. They are built around caves and mountain hollows, with shaded paths leading to fountains. They are filled with statuary and topiary, and act as pure enjoyment for the body and the senses. Many more types of gardens were discussed, including European medeaval gardens, English manor gardens,herb gardens, and the oh so utilitarian vegetable garden. (I have a vegetable garden in the field next to me, and it is lovely! I can enjoy it totally, as it belongs to my neighbor, and I do not have to labor in it!) "Mary" gardens were also discussed, and this was something that I had known about, but never heard referred to by name. These are gardens dedicated to the Virgin Mary, and usually based around one or more statues dedicated to her. These are meditative gardens of a religious nature. The fullest impact comes from this kind of garden when one plans the garden, plants it, nurtures it, and meditates in it. Speaking of gardens - Ruth Ann gave us the link to a Tarot statue garden, which can be seen here: http://www.nikidesaintphalle.com. These are not small statues ... and that is all I am going to say. This is an incredible site! It was a great joy to relate our discussion of gardens to specific cards in the Tarot. The garden of the Magician is noted to be a garden in full bloom, a garden of contemplation, and a true sacred space. The garden in the Seven of Pentacles shows careful attention personal involvement, and perhaps a thought to look for "unexpected reults". The Ace of Pentacles is the quintensential garden card, a "Mary" garden of meditation, indicating a need to slow dow and "take time to smell the roses". We ended the evening with a meditative exercise where we each created our own gardens. My garden, to my surprise, became a Zen garden, one that I quietly walked through, feeling the weight of the world on the decisions that I was making. I did not want to leave this garden. I think this was an excellent tool to be gifted with - the planting of the seed for a garden that we can each return to at any time that we wish, and that holds the energy that we need to support us as individuals. I look forward to next weeks class, as it will be a weaving together of the symbols that have been covered in the past three classes. I hope to see you all there when the next series begins! The fourth class in this series was held 10/5/05 - ufortunately, it was a class that I missed! It is disheartening to miss any class, but the purpose of this class was to bring the previous three classes together, so I was not happy with myself!
The final session for Intuition and Imagery began on 10/26/05, with the discussion of rivers. The class began with a very apt story, told by Ruth Ann, about a Bear, a Rabbit, and a river. I won't tel the story here - you need to hear Ruth Ann's words, in her own voice, but it set a wonderful tone for the evening. Wald followed this with a general definition of what a river is/stands for. He cheated, though. He made us come up with our own definitions first! (His were much more in depth and thought out!)Think along the lines of how they flow, how big they are, what their personalities are. Think springs, glaciers, lakes, swamps, beginning and endings. A big issue here - a river is never static. It is moving, flowing, always fresh - and an important sustainer of life. It is the human population that gathers around the rivers, drawn by their ability to sustain life, that pollutes them with toxic waste. We need to look at what our relationship to rivers is, at what has been done, at what we are doing, and what we can do. The cosmic joke here? We wash away our sins by baptizing ourselves in water! It sustains us, it washes away our sins, and we pollute it. Ruth Ann followed this discussion with an in depth section on the Ganges river, and what it means to its country and its people. The identity of the country and its people is very much caught up with the identity of the Ganges itself. Wald followed this with discussion of mythological rivers, including the Acheron, Cocytus, Phlyethon, Letha, and Styx rivers. Each river is related to a specific them, such as woe, lamentation, fire, forgetfullness, and hate. The most important rivers in the Tarot are invisible. They are connected with the four worlds, the four elements, and the four suits. The path of the High Priestess represents the original waters of Eden. the path of the Emperor represents the river of Fire. The path of the Hierophant represents the river of Earth. the path of the Lovers represents the river of Air. The path of the Chariot represents the river of Water. What do rivers do? They connect what is above to what is below, and they unify us as whole beings. They are sources of many things, including food, water, and power. They form boundaries, act as natural defenses ... and sometimes as obstacles. This session ended with a very empowering exercise. From the cards that we had taken from our decks that had rivers in them, each we chose one card, and entered it to determine what kind of river experience was in that card. I chose the Five of Cups, and experienced the River of Earth. Try this one at home - see where it takes you! Lookign forward to our next class! The second class in this series was held on Wednesday, 11/02/05, and focused on Towers. It is truly amazing how many cards in the deck have towers in them! (Go ahead - take the time right now to go through your deck. :) ) From the rivers of the previous week, which run at ground level or below, and always follow a downward path, we moved to towers, which are constructed from the ground up, with human intent and purpose. Towers as symbols are man made - they are not naturally occuring, as are things like rock formations, trees, and rivers. All symbols, whether they are naturally occuring or man made, carry no meaning by themselves. They carry meaning that is given to them by man, in his quest to answer the question of who he is. As a symbol, the tower speaks of dissent, and of man's search for mastery and power.As Wald pointed out, the natural phenomenon from which a tower srises is its exact opposite - the force of gravity. Without the force of gravity to hold it down, there would be no tower as we know it. Towers carry masculine energy, and are transformative in nature. The energy of the tower is that of the elemental energies of Fire and Air. Towers are all about pride and power, and striving to make onesself a better person. This became evident as Ruth Ann talked about some of the more famous towers from ancient history: The Egyptian Obelisk at Luxor,the Zigaraut of Marduke (which is done in tiers, and not as one solid piece), the Collusus of Rhodes, and the Lighthouse of Alexandria. Wald went on to discuss the purpose that towers can serve in our lives, amongst which are: to spread light and sound, to act as fortresses, to act as prisons, to act as watch towers, and to act as landmarks. Then there is the all inclusive Ivory Tower. ;-) The remainder of the class was spent discussing the towers in the different Tarot cards (did you pull your out yet?), with the class ending on a high note: Ruth Ann leading a meditation on the tower. The third class in this series was held on Wednesday, November 9th, and was focused on Angels. The cards that we were asked to draw were the Lovers, the Wheel of Fortune, Temperance, the Devil, Judgement, and the World. (Side note - it took me a moment to find the angel in the Devil card - I had completely forgotten that the Devil was a fallen angel!) The first forty minutes or so of class were pure discussion. I think this was a very respectful thing to do, as it allowed class members to hear how others in the class viewed angels. Once we had this information, as individuals we knew what we wanted to share, and what we would keep to ourselves, so that we did not cross the lines of another class members beliefs. The questions that Wald addresed were:
1. Do angels exist? The discussion was lively, and a great deal of fun. This is one of those times when I think this class benefits from having a core of people that are regular attendees - we can let our guard down, and talk about what we believe, and why. Wald then went into lecture mode on the background of angels, and on the two distinct evolutionary developments that formed the angelic world as we now understand it. Ruth Ann followed with a presentation on the hierarchy of angels. The foundation of the hierarchy consists of nine choirs, forming three concentric circles surrounding God at the center. The tiers are arranged as follows: tier one consists of Seraphim, Cherubim,and Thrones; tier two consists of Dominions, Virtues, and Powers; tier three consists of Principalities, Archangels, and Angels. Only the choirs of the first tier have direct contact with the divine. The second tier of choirs act as a go-between for the first and third tiers; the third tier of choirs has direct contact with humanity. Each choir has its own duties and responsibilities, adn its own "character". In the Tarot, there are four Archangels represented: Raphael, Gabriel, Michael, and Uriel. Raphiel is associated with the Element of Air, and the card of Judgment. His name means "Healer of God". Gabriel is associated with the Element of Water, and the card Temperance. His name means "Mighty One of God". Michael is associated with the Elemenet of Fire, and the card of the Lovers. His name means "He Who Is As God". Uriel is associated with the Element of Earth, and the card of the Devil. His name means "Light of God". There are two cards in the deck that contain all four Archangels: The Wheel of Fortune, and the World. Wald did an excellent wrap up, going over the questions:
1. What is an Angel? There was a short discussion of Enochian Magick, and of the different meaning that Angels can have when they appear in a reading. They have a very special message for the Seeker alone, and their appearance indicates that things are getting done, getting resolved, in connection with the issue at the foundation of the reading. The class ended in spectacular fashion, with Ruth Ann leading us in an exercise focused on invoking angelic energy. She gifted us with the template for a three card reading that was extremely powerful, and very informative. I was again told by the cards that I am at the wheel of my own destiny. This was not by any means a negative message - I was being told to use my skills, and that reward would follow! I definitely am looking forward to next weeks class! The fourth class in the November teleclasses was focused on Temples. Yes, there are temples in the Tarot! This class gifted us with the 22nd, and final, symbol that was to be covered in this series. How aprapos that it be the temple! In looking at symbols, we are looking at secrets, at something that is not necessarily being shown in a straightforward manner. The secret, to paraphrase Wald, is that there is something to know, but nothing to see! This is the secret about temples and the Tarot - temples are hinted at, but never really seen. (In preparation for this class, each of us went through the cards and picked out what we thought "might" indicate a temple. I was very pleased to note that we all seemed to have picked the same cards - starting with the High Priestess.) What is a temple? Some suggestions that came out in class are that it is a holy space (whether an actual building or a consecraed space outdoors), a place where sacred work is done, and a place where there is an intention that the space be sacred. Often the form of the building acts as a symbol, as well as structures such as a Cross, the Star of David, Bells, or other religious forms. Inside a temple (which for our purposes was defined as a building set aside for formal worship of a specific deity)we see more formal structures, such as a sanctuary, cabinets, the priesthod itself, inner chambers for the priesthood, sacred impliments, an alter, sacred imagery, and a formal entrance. As Wald pointed out, temples are everywhere. They are sacred spaces that contain a mystery, and that mystery is the presence of a resident deity. That deity enters the temple, and infuses the space with their energy. Every temple contains the unknown/unknowable within it. The secret of temples is even harder to define. They have a light that shines within the temple alone, and they act to separate the sacred from the profane. The deity must inhabit the temple for the temple to function as a sacred space. This is called the Temple of Stone. A second secret is that the human body is also a temple. The body is sacred in principle, and needs to be educated, and dedicated, to its purpose. This then becomes the Temple of Flesh. The mystery of the temple is that it is felt, but not seen. The temple acts as a shell for deity, which disappears once it has entered the temple, except for a strong glow. The secret of temples is that they are temples of spirit. In essence, the whole of Tarot acts as a temple, with the cards representing pure spirit. Each of us should work to become that which speaks through us. When we do this, we go beyond the mystery of the Tarot. As Wald worded it, the temple in Tarot is the Temple of Tarot. The cards act as a process of initiation towards enlightenment. The next class will bring the four classes of November together. Even more, it will be the last class of this year long series entitled Intuition and Imagery. It has been quite a ride! The Integration class for Rivers, Towers, Angels, and Temples was held on 11/30/05. Wald started the class by stating that these four symbols capture the essence of the whole Hermetic vision of "As Above, So Below". He followed this with a synopsis of each of the four symbols: of Rivers, equated with a sense of harmony, effortlessness, and continuous ct of faith; of Towers,with their struggle against gravity, acting as a symbol of discontent; of Angels, as unknowable, unseen forces found only through belief; and of Temples, which are implied, and not seen, and t he thought that the Tarot is the Temple, and that God is in the Temple with us. Wald noted that as Tarot readers we manipulate the mystery that lies within the Tarot, and that we fill our readings with the light of mystery. We ended the evening doing ritual lead by Ruth Ann. In this ritual, we each built our own individual Temple with our Tarot cards, using the cards in their natural division (Major Arcana and Minor Arcana, divided into the four suits), along with our birth cards (using the system of determining birth cards that is taught by the Tarot School).I will not say more here, except that the ritual was powerful, and easily done. The year has ended for this series of teleclasses. In 2006 we will be working with the more esoteric side of Tarot. I hope to see many of you there! Corrine Kenner's review of the Tarot School classes can be seen here: http://www.corrinekenner.com. The reviews are well done - click on the on site newsletters to see them. It has been wonderful to have Corrine in this class, sharing her insights. Her site is well worth the visit - and while you are there, sign up for her newsletter! If you are interested in attending the teleclasses, you may sign up for any session. To see what is being offered, go to: www.TarotSchool.com/Seminars.html.
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