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The Tarot, Terrorism And Global Warming: What The Tarot Has To Say About The Modern World

I wanted to write this article to demonstratehermit stands here to remind us of the
how the ancient philosophy behind the Tarotlimitations of analysing the world as a
is still relevant to us today, and to showwhole.WORLD TRADE AND FINANCE - Wheel of
how these ideas can be used to illuminate ourFortuneThis card reminds us that life can be
modern world. Whether or not the Tarot hasa bit of a lottery and fortunes can go up as
any mystical power I believe a lot can bewell as down. It often depicts someone
learned from the view that it gives of thepartying whilst someone else (or is it the
universe, which goes back to antiquity. Assame person later in time?) plummets to his
someone who teaches and practices Tarot Idoom. It is a stark reminder and warning of
also wanted to create a guide to help peoplethe fragility of life. In the week after the
understand the meanings behind each card, by9/11 attack Wall Street remained closed for
reframing tarot in a modern context which canseveral days, and nobody knew what was going
be related to more easily.When someoneto happen. It was clear the markets were
receives a Tarot reading the cards offergoing to slump but would they go into free
meanings that are universal but also personalfall? Were the US and world economies to be
to the questioner. If one was to carry out adragged into a downward spiral of recession?
reading for the state of the world, how thenOur modern lives depend on financial markets
could the reader interpret the cards? Whatand world economies. The card is a reminder
are the pressing issues for us all at thisnot to be complacent.INTERNATIONAL LAW -
time? I asked myself this question and,JusticeThe meaning is simple: that is the
whilst thumbing through the pack, theneed for justice, judgement and good decision
meanings became quite obvious and stark tomaking. The card perfectly illustrates the
me. Below I have listed these meanings forneed for international cooperation over rules
the 21 Major arcarna or trump cards.FREEDOM -and legal matters.WORLD POVERTY - Hanged
The  FoolManThe Hanged man represents sacrifice,
giving up and letting go. His message is that
TECHNOLOGY  -  The  Magicianthe way to get your needs met is to give up
trying and let go - a philosophy that fits
RELIGION  -  High  Priestesswith many religions. This idea doesn't square
with the way many of us behave in the west,
HUMAN  RIGHTS  -  The  Empressas our sacrifice might entail giving up some
of our material comforts that could help
STATE  POWER  AND  SECURITY  -  The Emperoralleviate world poverty. The way the G8
countries behave regarding poverty in Africa
TRADITIONALISTS VS MODERNIZERS - Theit seems this may be too much to ask. If,
Hierophanthowever, we were to listen to the message of
this card, we might realize that sacrifice is
INTERNATIONAL  RELATIONS  -  The  Loversthe way forward and that maybe with a
prosperous third world we might actually gain
WAR  AND  CONFLICT  -  The  Chariotin the long run.GLOBAL WARMING - DeathThe
image of the reaper is a reminder that life
WORLD  POLITICS  -  Strengthexists in cycles and that all things come to
an end. It speaks more of change than actual
INNER  WORLD  -  The  Hermitdeath, and how this change can be painful.
There seems little doubt that the world
INTERNATIONAL  LAW  -  Justiceclimate is moving into a new phase. These
climate cycles have always existed - such as
WORLD  POVERTY  -  Hanged  Manthe various ice ages - but never has the
change been so rapid or man made. This change
GLOBAL  WARMING  -  Deathwill inevitably result in the deaths of
individuals and of species. Global warming
THE  MISSING  ELEMENT  -  Temperancemay be one of the biggest challenges we have
faced in our history.THE MISSING ELEMENT -
TERRORISM  -  The  DevilTemperanceOne of the most interesting cards
in this exercise is Temperance, as it is
GENETIC  ENGINEERING  -  The  Towerdifficult to fit its meaning into a modern
context. The card signifies moderation or
INTERNATIONAL  COOPERATION  -  The  Starself-restraint, but the word temperance
itself is rarely used today. We have even
THE INTERNET AND THE INFORMATION AGE - Thechanged the word 'temper' to mean its
Sunopposite, thus losing its traditional
meaning. It is difficult to find many
POWER  AND  CORRUPTION  -  The  Moonexamples of moderation in the modern world.
Perhaps this is a flaw of the world's media,
POPULATION  -  Judgementchoosing to report so many headline hitting
stories rather than stories of a more gentle
THE ENVIRONMENT - The WorldIncidentally ifnature. This is especially the case with
you wish to read the complete articlestories regarding acts in the name of
alongside images of the cards there is anreligion: so much of what we hear is in
illustrated version on my website at - Therelation to radicals and fundamentalists that
FoolAs card number zero in the pack the Foolwe miss the numerous incidents of kindness,
represents all that is new, free andlove and care in the world. We are therefore
innovative. In medieval times the courtleft with an unbalanced view of the state of
jester was someone who was not expected toour world.TERRORISM - The DevilThis is
follow the same rules and conventions asperhaps one of the most straightforward
everyone else and so was free to beinterpretations. The Devil has always been a
spontaneous and creative. The Major Arcanafigure of fear, a corrupting influence that
is often described as a journey through lifehas no compassion or feeling for others.
starting at the childlike simplicity andUnfortuneately we live in a world where a few
freedom of the Fool and ending with cardindividuals wish to induce this level of fear
number 21 - The World. However, for many inin others, motivated by self-interest or
the world, freedom or lack of it, is a bigwarped philosophies. Sadly they can become
political goal which they need to achievetrapped by world-views which can convince
before they can start theirthem their philosophies are right. This
journey.TECHNOLOGY - The MagicianTechnologyperhaps is the definition of evil; and
is now the backdrop to all our lives and tostrangely often done in the name of
those who don't understand it or haven'tGod.GENETIC ENGINEERING - The TowerWhen
witnessed it before it seems like magic. Whencreating this list there was such a
people first saw inventions such as movingtemptation to make this card about the 9/11
images or photography some believed it to beattacks. I have heard that some people have
witchcraft or some kind of trickery. On themade this connection but I think this is
card the Magician shows a powerful figuretaking the card at face value rather than
performing his tricks with us as histrying to understand its full meaning. The
audience. He is about to make things happencard in the modern deck actually makes
before our eyes that we never thoughtreference to the Biblical story of the Tower
possible. The message of this card is that ifof Babel. The card does stand for upheaval
you know what you are doing and you have theand disruption but it also warns of the
energy of commitment behind you, you candangers of over-stretching oneself and
achieve incredible things. This is agetting involved in things beyond one's
valuable lesson for the modern world.RELIGIONunderstanding. In Genesis the tower is struck
- High PriestessThe High Priestess is a womandown; 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 theout and made to speak in different languages.
greater meaning behind everything. She is anIf for ancient people the tower represents
antidote to the dangers of materialism thatdiversity, then for us in the modern world
can stem from the technological ability anddiversity is represented by the human gene.
energy of the Magician.HUMAN RIGHTS - TheGenetic engineering now gives us the power to
EmpressThe Empress is a ruler that respectsdo what may be thought of as challenging the
her subjects. She is a motherly figure whoauthority of God. We could do worse than
believes in nurturing and caring rather thanlook at this card for advice on this
controlling and dictating. It is perhaps anmatter.GLOBAL COOPERATION - The StarThe Star
unusual card considering its historicalin the Tarot refers to a way forward and to
origins. We tend to see this regard forhope for a better future. When I was growing
individual human rights as quite a modernup, hope for the future seemed to centre
enlightened view. The Tarot's values howeveraround the space program. It was the only
are timeless and not subject to fashion.STATEarea over which the then two super-powers
POWER AND SECURITY - The EmperorThe Emperorwould cooperate. Maybe this was because the
has a different approach than that of theexpense became too much for one nation, or
Empress. He is an old-fashioned ruler whomaybe as I like to believe because when one
believes in running his empire efficientlylooks to the stars it makes our differences
and systematically. He believes in lookingdown here on Earth seem less important. It
after the many and not compromising for thecertainly does seem that if human beings are
needs of individuals. One of the big debatesto progress then we must embrace
at this time is how much power should thecollaboration. The card reminds us to hold
state have? Many argue that with the greaterthe star as a symbol for hope, and whether it
need for security at home and abroad we needis a star of David or a star of Islam
a government that is strong and which fromshouldn't matter.THE INTERNET AND THE
time to time is willing to lessen the humanINFORMATION AGE - The SunThis card represents
rights of a few in order to safeguard theknowledge and understanding. When we
majority. Others disagree, arguing the stateunderstand something we are enlightened and
has too much power and should behave morethat's what the sun does to the earth: it
like the Empress. This argument willshines light on dark corners and illuminates
probably never be resolved and so these twothe globe. One of the most significant
cards sit side-by-side in the deck remindinginventions of the last forty years which
us of this dilemma.TRADITIONALISTS VSbrings knowledge and illumination to the
MODERNIZERS - The HierophantThe essence ofworld is the internet. It is interesting to
this card is about doing things in anote that the internet has been made possible
conventional way and following traditionalby lasers transmitting information through
wisdom. The Heirophant asks 'The conventionalhigh-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 thisalso depicts a happy couple who could be
age of individualism where people want to dolovers: the inference being that
things their own way the message of theunderstanding 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 tobeen available to so many. The couple on the
because there are times when it is better tocard reminds us however, that unless this
fit in and go along with the crowd; andknowledge is used to build closer links
sometimes being different isbetween people, it is a waste of time.POWER
ill-advised.WORLD PEACE - TheAND CORRUPTION - The MoonThe word 'lunatic''
LoversTraditionally this card shows a manderives from the belief that the moon's rays
making a choice between two women and itshad the power to intoxicate and send people
message is that, like love, most things inmad. In the modern world one of the most
life come down to a matter of choice. If wedangerous forms of intoxication is that of
are in a relationship with someone it ispeople becoming drunk on power. We see this
because we chose to be with them and we arethroughout the world where leaders are
choosing to stay with them. The same is truecorrupted by their power and become
for all the relationships we have withself-aggrandizing tyrants. We also see it in
people. Also, whether we find ourselvesthe board-rooms of multinational companies
fighting, loving or being distant from otherswhere individuals can be seduced by the love
is down to our choosing. If we are to applyof money and the power it brings. The card
this idea to the modern world it seems clearitself refers to corruption and confusion and
that peace and harmony are not things whichto all the dark dealings that happen hidden
just happen but that many active choices needfrom the light of day. It has the opposite
to be made in pursuit of them.WAR ANDmeaning to the Sun; thus the antidote is to
CONFLICT - The ChariotThis card needs littleshed light wherever possible.POPULATION -
explanation. There have always been wars andJudgementWith shrinking resources and rising
probably always will be. There is thereforebirth rates, population control must be one
no need to put this ancient card into aof the most pressing world issues for this
modern context.WORLD POLITICS -time. This card speaks of a judgement day
StrengthAlthough this card often depicts awhen things come to a head and decisions have
man wrestling a lion, the strength referredto be made: when the result of our actions
to here is strength of will and couragegood or bad must be accounted for. In the
rather than physical strength: the ability tojudgement day myth all the people that have
endure and overcome difficulties. In fact itever lived are risen back to life. Best
could be seen as the strength of will andestimates would put this at about 107 billion
character to resist the temptation to usesouls!THE ENVIRONMENT - The WorldThe World
physical force to solve a problem. Forcard simply represents fulfillment and
today's modern world many problems could becompleteness. Having the World at one's
solved by a stronger political will andfingertips means having everything one could
greater courage. Perhaps one day more worldpossibly want. The problem with having
leaders will realize that there is somethingeverything we want however, is that this is
stronger and more enduring than militaryusually at the expense of the planet. The
might.THE INNER WORLD - The HermitIn tryingcard's meaning of completeness and
to write this article about how each of theself-containment is a reminder that we must
Tarot cards says something about the state ofget what we want in a way that is
the world and how we are as a gloabalsustainable. This is the final card of the
society, there is one card that seems toMajor Arcana and the end point for our
shout out against this idea. That is the cardjourney. This is our home and we cannot get
of the hermit. The hermit advocatesaway from it until death; so we should look
withdrawal from the world, suggesting thatafter it.Fred Street is the creator of a
the inner world is more instructive for usfree Tarot reading site which offers a wide
and within our scope to change. Therefore therange of readings online and by email.



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