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