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