Becoming the Real Read online

  The following day – literally – I was flicking through the film channels and saw that the film “Volcano” was just ending. I laughed and said to my wife, ‘I don’t believe it’ and clicked on the channel. You can see that of course, as ‘selective bias’ (I just happened to notice it because I was looking for it), but that would not explain what then happened.

  The ending of the movie was just happening on the screen, as Tommy Lee Jones raced away from a TOWER which was being blown up to divert the lava threatening the city. As I watched, the tower started to collapse, and the camera – just to ensure that I was aware of the truly powerful magic of Tarot Life – panned to the explosive charge switchbox, which was labeled TOWER.

  I was literally looking at a Blasted Tower in the film Volcano.

  We cannot promise such literal and strange magick during your own month, but you may actually experience even more weird synchronicities than this! As we bring vision and reality together at this stage, the “veil becomes thin”.

  You should also note any dreams during this time, which may intensify as you drop down into this constant practice.

  We have listed just a few of the infinite possibilities that you may use for turning the tarot inside-out into your life.

  Selecting Your Cascade Card

  The Cascade Card is simply the card which either turns up most during this practice – or most strikingly. At this stage of the gates we cannot possibly predict your personal cascade card, not its manner of communication – if you have been working through all the gates so far, you will be attuned enough to know it when it happens.

  It could be any one of the 78 cards, not just a Major card, as the Tower in the real-life example above.

  It is this Cascade card that you will then pair with your Union card in the penultimate gate to follow next month.

  Every-Day Tarot List

  Page of Pentacles

  Making a small deposit, paying for something, starting a small piece of work. A young child with a coin.

  Page of Swords

  A child with a pretend sword, someone looking out, spying.

  Page of Cups

  Puppy, kitten, child’s temper tantrum, taking the last cake off the plate, fashion designer.

  Page of Wands

  Walking staff, young person setting off on a journey.

  10 of Pentacles

  Busy marketplace, lottery win, bank, stock market trading floor, family gathering, reading of a will, retirement party.

  10 of Swords

  Acupuncture, going into rehab, sudden redundancy, doing a de-tox, backstabbing at work.

  10 of Cups

  Moving into your new home, seeing a rainbow, coming home, appreciating the beauty of life.

  10 of Wands

  Carrying heavy luggage, having to push a car to get it going, painting/decorating the ceiling, cooking food for a dinner party.

  WORLD XXI

  Giving birth, a death, embarking on a journey, child leaving home, a reiki healing treatment, charity work, singing in a choir, facebook, initiation, learning to speak a foreign language, a globe.

  JUDGEMENT XX

  Calling a meeting, being accountable, calling in a debt, appraisal, putting in a tax return, watching a zombie film, admitting you are in the wrong/owning up.

  MOON XVIII

  The moon, dreaming, sleeping, hypnotherapy session, consulting a medium, menstrual cycle, watching the movement of the tide, madness, genius, mysterious moment, liminal experience, a vision, a sleeping cat, seeing an apparition, a drunk person, alcohol, medications, being intuitive.

  9 of Pentacles

  A falcon/bird of prey, a walled garden, a wealthy woman, the gardens of a stately home, independent person, relaxing in the security of your garden, being in charge of your finances/resources, eliciting loyalty/respect, attaining respectability.

  9 of Swords

  Sleepless night/insomnia, nightmares, horror film, depression.

  9 of Cups

  An indulgent dinner out, interaction with a self-satisfied person, a shopping spree, drinking too much, eating too much, saying too much, being the cordial host.

  9 of Wands

  The installment of a security system, guard dog, big fence, lock and key, paranoia.

  SUN XIX

  The Sun, waking up, taking a vitamin D pill, turning light on, roaring fire, positivity, warmth, friendly person, friendly dog, everyone is your friend, positive people.

  STAR XVII

  A celebrity, a ray of hope, a bright thing in the darkness, a star.

  TEMPERANCE XIV

  Controlling ones temper, walking on a tightrope, spirit level, barometer, recycling - sewage treatments (possible to convert into drinking water), ice skating.

  8 of Pentacles

  Work in progress, stonemason, craftsman, hammer, chisel, hardware, shop, perfectionism, concentration.

  8 of Swords

  Trying to walk in impossible killer heels, stuck for words, being paralyzed by fear, public speaking phobia, passive-aggressive behavior.

  8 of Cups

  Walking away from a situation, a sense of movement, watching someone leave.

  8 of Wands

  A post card from a friend, throwing javelins, casting sticks.

  HANGED MAN XII

  Bungee jumping, deep sea diving, cycling without holding onto handlebars, flying in a plane, sky diving, using a zip wire.

  DEVIL XV

  Chains, dog leash, collars, darkness, ignorance, fear.

  BLASTED TOWER XVI

  Volcano, breakdown of a relationship, something toppling or falling over, a sudden surprise or shock, a balloon bursting, stick snapping.

  7 of Pentacles

  Gardening, a complaint letter or call, disappointment, waiting to choose something at the market.

  7 of Swords

  Carrying a few bags but not all of them from your car to the house.

  7 of Cups

  A display, window dressing, being distracted.

  7 of Wands

  Play-fighting, keeping a group of people in place, standing your ground in an argument.

  DEATH XIII

  End of a relationship, Winter and Autumn, a skeleton.

  WHEEL X

  Car wheel, washing machine, Ferris wheel, Catherine wheel, Cart wheel, recycling logo, steering wheel.

  6 of Pentacles

  A charity donation, equally dividing something, being fair, a fair division of labour.

  6 of Swords

  Rowing a boat, crossing over water, taking people somewhere, taxi.

  6 of Cups

  A childhood gift, playing, flowers in pots, tending a small courtyard garden.

  6 of Wands

  A man on a horse, being on one’s “high horse”, crowd-funding, rallying the troops, call to arms, victory celebration, return of soldiers.

  JUSTICE XI

  Weighing scales, see-saw, thermometer, Sword, calibrator, pendulum clock, a judge, referee, TV program ‘Undercover boss’, policeman, jury, an adjudicator, examiner, Work-appraisal, advocate, peace worker, caped crusader.

  LOVERS VI

  Engagement ring, wedding ring, kissing gate, loving cup, Valentine’s Day card, Love-letter, dove, love song, Shakespeare’s sonnet 18 ‘shall I compare you to a Summers day’, Romeo and Juliet, a rose, candle-light, love nest, a case of lust or jealousy.

  EMPEROR IV

  House, Palace, ram, horns, throne, lions, banquet, soldiers, army, country, law, crown, scepter, gold, coins, boss, argument, rules, rule book, whip, dictator, bully.

  HERMIT IX

  A torch, a single lit lamp at the end of a subway tunnel, homeless person, somebody standing at the top of a ladder, mountain climber, astronaut, night-watch man, Sherpa/mountain guide, Lighthouse keeper, desk lamp, compass.

  Knight of Pentacles

  A shire horse, suit of armor, insurance broker.

  Knight of Swords

  A barrister, solicitor, war/news corresponde
nt, writing a defensive e-mail/letter.

  Knight of Cups

  Cocktail-maker, new boyfriend, seductive man/womanizer.

  Knight of Wands

  A patriotic soldier, a young man holding a ski-pole.

  5 of Pentacles

  Church stained-glass window, homeless person, hospital crutches, seeing somebody with no shoes on, hole in your shoe, snow-storm.

  5 of Swords

  Cloudy sky, burglar alarm, surveillance systems, auditor.

  5 of Cups

  Three spilt cups, a waste, something knocked over, a bridge, a mourning figure.

  5 of Wands

  Men on a building-site arguing or discussing whilst holding scaffold poles, five sticks or matches fallen on a table.

  CHARIOT VII

  A horse-rider, rollercoaster, airplane, using the brakes on your car, rowing a boat, Husky dog driver (Dog sledding).

  STRENGTH VIII

  Boiling an egg, Dog-training, taming nature (creating a dam), tug-of-war, petting a cat/dog, Horse-whispering.

  4 of Pentacles

  Full piggy-bank, four coins, city skyline.

  4 of Swords

  A tomb in a church, a man pretending to be a statue in a park.

  4 of Cups

  Someone offering you a drink, accidentally ignoring someone for a moment, being lost in your own thoughts, being interrupted, sitting under a tree.

  4 of Wands

  Invitation to a party, wedding reception, camping trip, gazebo, garden party, bandstand, bus stop shelter.

  HEIROPHANT V

  Teacher; school, college, churchman, ritual celebration, christening, wedding, priest, shaman, religious event, book, bible, professional, doctor, lawyer.

  3 of Pentacles

  Apprentice, student, place of learning, university, college, school, pupil, work in progress sign, learner driver and instructor, somebody holding a ladder for somebody, architect drawing up a design, being in a meeting at work.

  3 of Swords

  Crossed words, three people arguing, three knives on a table, a heart in surgery on a TV show.

  3 of Cups

  A party with women, three women meeting for lunch.

  3 of Wands

  The coast-line, getting a good view from the top of a building.

  EMPRESS III

  Fertility clinic, maternity ward, female head teacher, female head of state; Queen, female gynecologist, generous party host, mother, older sister, aunt, mother of all mothers-grandmother! Mother’s Day, pet giving birth, gardening.

  Queen of Pentacles

  A rich woman, with pets.

  Queen of Swords

  A woman with a quick wit, telling a joke, making a fast decision.

  Queen of Cups

  A poetic or dreamy woman, a woman day-dreaming, a woman holding a large cup.

  Queen of Wands

  A strong woman with clear values. A woman making a stand, a call, a campaign, a woman holding a walking-stick.

  2 of Pentacles

  Juggling, dancing, plate-spinning, waves, a man making narrowly avoiding a fall.

  2 of Swords

  Frustration, not being able to get your jumper over your head, getting lost, not being able to locate your car in a car park, problems driving out of a car parking space (blocked in), caught in a traffic jam, a bad hangover, in two minds, writers block.

  2 of Cups

  Asking someone out on a date, reunion, reconciliation.

  2 of Wands

  Two pens, surveyor at work on road, planning a vacation.

  King of Pentacles

  A rich man, a man holding money bags at a bank.

  King of Swords

  Argumentative old man, control freak, a man holding a sharp weapon, a sword expert.

  King of Cups

  A deep and emotional man, a man reading poetry, a man holding a cup.

  King of Wands

  A strong and decisive man, a man holding a scaffold.

  HIGH PRIESTESS II

  Nun, female priest, priestess, silent place, veil, prayer book, law book, cave, well, moon, Venus.

  MAGICIAN I

  Film director, cooking, TV Chef, Gambler/Hustler, Card-sharp, Magic trick.

  Ace of Pentacles

  Farmer, planting seeds, spade, coin, large golden plate.

  Ace of Swords

  A sword, knife, letter-opener or other bladed object.

  Ace of Cups

  Cup, tear jerker (books/films), love at first sight, setting up a profile with a dating agency.

  Ace of Wands

  A stick, a walking stick, a lit match, a single tree.

  FOOL 0

  Mountain climber, astronaut, shoulder bag, dog, puppy.

  Conclusion

  “For me there is only the travelling on the paths that have a heart, on any path that may have a heart. There I travel, and the only worthwhile challenge for me is to traverse its full length. And there I travel – looking, looking, breathlessly”.

  Carlos Castaneda, p. 185

  As we make our way towards the end of our journey in Tarot Life, we begin to realize how life is full of signs and symbols, and how the symbols and signs of tarot fulfill life. In doing so, we become more powerful readers as we are able to rapidly and fluently convert between these two currencies; events and cards, through the medium of correspondence and experience.

  In living tarot, we stand on the liminal threshold inbetween the world of interpretation and the world of reality; recognizing that perhaps, after all, what we thought was the real world was little more than our interpretation of a vast unknown; the Fool and the World both distinct, yet one and the same.

  In our final two gates, we will cascade and initiate our awareness and reality to greater unity and divine experience.

  You can share your experiences in our social site, Tarot-Town, and ask questions. The site is free with membership of your national Tarot Association, with many other member benefits.

  Bibliography

  Katz, M. Tarosophy. Chang Mai: Salamander & Sons, 2012.

  Katz, M. & Goodwin, T. Around the Tarot in 78 Days. Woodbury: Llewellyn, 2012.

  Katz, M. & Goodwin, T. Tarot Flip. Forge Press, 2012.

  Steinbrecher, E. The Inner Guide Meditation. York Beach: Samuel Weiser, 2006.

  Waite, A. E. Pictorial Key to the Tarot. London: Rider, 1974.

  The Tyldwick Tarot

  The Tyldwick Tarot, whose images grace the covers of this Tarosophy Kickstart series, is a fully complete Tarot deck published by Neil Lovell. It can be viewed and purchased online on the comprehensive and beautifully designed site:

  http://www.malpertuis.co.uk/tyldwick.

  Illustration: The Tower, Tyldwick Tarot © Neil Lovell, used with permission.

  The theme of the deck is that of an elegant house, through which one can wander without “being distracted by a cast of characters” as might be found in other Tarot decks. The cards are beautifully layered and suffused with tonal casts from the international travel that the designer has enjoyed – and not so enjoyed - as described in some fascinating cases which are revealed in the extensive interview on the site.

  The deck reminds us very much of the film, Last Year in Marienbad (1961, dir. Alain Resnais) which is a dream-like excursion into an environment which may or may not be real, in which the characters not so much inhabit the place, but are extensions of the place itself. In the Tyldwick Tarot, the few characters we see are the Court Cards where faces are reflected in mirrors – or perhaps are even looking out from the other side of the mirrors themselves.

  The deck is available for purchase and you can view a straight out of the box review at: http://youtu.be/NX9qzCAdatM or type “Tyldwick Tarot Review” into Youtube.

  We highly recommend this deck.

  Websites & Resources

  If you enjoy new learning, and want many more ways to use your Tarot deck, we encourage you to explore our websites. You are also welcome to join us in your national T
arosophy Tarot Association, where as a member you will instantly receive thousands of pages of materials, and tarot video courses for every level.

  We look forward to seeing you soon on your Tarot journey!

  Join the private Tarot Life Facebook group at:

  http://www.facebook.com/groups/150952695052327/

  There are many threads, questions & answers, examples, discussion and sharing of this life-changing technique.

  If you cannot locate the group, contact us directly at [email protected] and we will be delighted to add you to the group.

  Tarosophy Tarot Associations

  http://www.tarotassociation.net

  Tarot Professionals Facebook Group

  http://www.facebook.com/groups/tarotprofessionals

  Free Tarot Card Meanings & Spreads

  http://www.mytarotcardmeanings.com

  Hekademia Tarot Course

  http://www.tarosophyuniversity.com

  Tarot Town Social Network

  http://www.tarot-town.com

  Tarosophy by Marcus Katz

  http://www.tarosophy.com

  The Tarot Speakeasy Blog

  http://www.tarotspeakeasy.com

  Tarot Book Club

  http://www.tarotbookclub.com

  The Tarot Review

  http://www.thetarotreview.com

  TarotCon International Tarot Conventions

  http://www.tarotconvention.com

  Fortune-Telling Laws

  http://www.fortunetellinglaws.com

  The Original Lenormand Deck

  http://www.originallenormand.com

  Learning Lenormand

  http://www.learninglenormand.com

  Kindle Tarot Books & Series

  Check out all our other books and series for original and exciting ways in which you can use a deck of tarot cards to change your life.

  Gated Spreads Series

  Set 1

  Book 1: The Tarot Shaman (Contact Your Animal Spirit)

  Book 2: Gates of Valentine (Love & Relationships)

  Book 3: The Resurrection Engine (Change Your Life)

  Set 2

  Book 4: Palace of the Phoenix (Alchemy)

  Book 5: Garden of Creation (Creativity & Inspiration)