The Fool - Updated commentary

My God this man is about to fall off a cliff! Someone stop him! This might be your first reaction to seeing The Fool. His carefree even oblivious nature makes us want to reach out and help him before something bad happens. Sometimes in life we need to be the fool and not look ahead, but up into the universe. Trust that things will work out fine and that our hearts are light, that we will not fall off the cliff but fly into the sky with the birds. The Fool, what an odd name to give him I think. He is not really a Fool in the sense of someone who is foolish or stupid. He may act foolish at times with the choices he makes though. He is not rational in many ways. He goes with faith rather than reason. Emotion not logic. He rather close his eyes and jump without looking at what is below him. Thats what he is basically doing in the card. But he is not a Fool. He is a free spirited person not bond by rules of mankind. He lives outside man and his rules. He is not programed to fit roles, models, expectations. He is not a rebel because he knows nothing in which to rebel against. He moves with the wind, where ever his hearts wishes to go he goes. The Fool is card number 0, he is full of possibilities.Zero in numerology means energy that's unformed and full with potential. It is both full and empty at the same time. I would associate him in Greek Mythology with Chaos. The initial starting point of the universe. No shape, no order just an abyss. The Fool is at the edge of a cliff on a mountain. In mythological symbolism mountains are connected with the divine realm, were believed to hold the heavens up. Is this Fool actually a God? He does not care about no cliffs, he would not die if he fell. You can connect him with the Protogenoi Aether, the first-born of the elemental gods. He is the personification of the "upper sky," space, and heaven, and the elemental god of the "Bright, Glowing, Upper Air." He is the pure upper air that the gods breathe, as opposed to normal air (Ἀήρ,aer), the gloomy lower air of the Earth, which mortals breathe. There is more to this "fool" then meets the eye, there is much to learn from this god in disguise. That in the end we learn the we are actually the Fool and he is the wisest of us all, for he with his innocence see things through the eyes of a child.

Tarot Reversals

The wacky world of Tarot reversals is a controversial subject among Tarot readers. The views and opinions on how to read them differ. Some readers do not use them all at. First let’s look at why we would or would not want to use reversals. Then I will discuss some ways to read reversed cards.

The Missing Piece

One side of the argument is that reading reversals provides a way to get more information out of the cards. By not using them we may only be getting half the story. Like a puzzle, reversed cards help fill in missing parts to reveal a complete picture. A reversed card adds new meanings for a new level of awareness. This is just one side of the story and there are two sides to all stories, Tarot included.

Reversals are Redundant

For those readers who don’t use reversed cards the reasons come down some of the following. One such reason for not using reversed cards is that you have to remember more meanings about each card. Tarot decks have 78 cards and let’s say you can remember 3 things about each card. That would be 234 meanings for upright cards only. Adding reversals gives a total of 468 meanings. This argument concludes that adding reversals only adds more to remember and is an overload of information to remember.

Another view that some readers hold is that upright cards hold all there is to know about the cards. Good and bad, reversed card are not needed. Reversals can be confusing as some readers argue. Is the tower reversed a sign or relief or a massive disaster? How are we to know what the reversed card is supposed to mean?

How to read a reversed card?

Historically reversed cards have been seen as either a negative turn of the cards from of the normal meanings, or the opposite of its normal.  For modern views on reversals let’s see what some of the prominent readers and authors have to say on the topic.

Mary K. Greer, in her book, “The complete book of Tarot Reversals” explains that a reversed card is a “red flag”. Something is not right and needs attention. Taking this from Ms. Greer, I want you to see a red flag to pop over the card and you should hear an alarm go off in your mind.  Ms. Greer goes on in her book to show her 12 ways to read reversals. I won’t list them all and won’t go deep into the details them, buy the book for that it’s worth it.

1. Blocked or Resisted – The normal energy is blocked, repressed, rejected etc.


2. Projected – projecting denied material onto others.


3. Delayed ,Difficult, Unavailable


4. No or Not (the upright meaning): Lacking - You can reface a standard upright meanings with “no” or “not”. This is a common view on seeing reversed cards as a direct opposite.

Joan Bunning, in her book, “Leaning Tarot reversals” explains that reversed cards can be seen in three phases. Picture a roller coaster as it is going up, reaches the top and rolls down. Ms. Bunning does not agree with the “no” or not” view on reversed cards as mentioned above. She says that a reversed card keeps “its essential nature” and does not become opposite. The three phases talked about in Ms. Bunning’s book are

Absent – Energy of the card is absent

Early phase – It has not been developed. It is weak, but is gaining influence.

Late phase – Energy is on the decline. It is losing power.

Janina Renee, talks about reversals in her book, “Tarot for a new generation”.  She views reversed cards as “having pretty much the same meanings and potential as an upright card, but they are interpreted as being more questionable, more uncertain as having some difficulty in fully expressing their energies…their expression is milder, more low-key”.

One of my favorite and most interesting ways to read reversed cards comes from Thirteen's introduction to reversals, on Aeclectic Tarot (http://www.aeclectic.net/Tarot/). Thirteen describes three common ways a reversed card is seen. Two of which we already know about, opposite and blocked. The third way to read reversed cards is “upside down image” which is described as “where you re-interpret the image given that it is upside-down.” Examples are given, “upright cups are now spilled, and that man in the Ten of Swords - he's actually worse off than when he was upright. Upright, the swords are all in his back - the nightmare had ended, it is over and done with. Reversed, he's on top of them sinking down to their hilts - it's a lingering end, drawn out and torturous. Reading Thirteen’s reverse meanings can bring new interpretations into Tarot reversals.

These are just some ways to read reversed cards. It’s your job as the reader to choose wither or not you wish to use reversed card and how you want to read them. If you are new my advice is to stick to the upright cards to keep things simple. When I started out using Tarot I bounced back and forth from using them to not using them. Now for the majority of the time I use reversals. Sometimes however I get into a mood where I don’t want to read them, because I find them somewhat bothersome.  As I always say there are no laws to Tarot reading, just ideas and suggestions. If you do not want to use them you may want to shuffle the deck in a way so they don’t come up, or when they do come up reversed just turn them upright.

If you find the information above interesting I suggest buying the books I mentioned. They are wonderful books filled with great information.

Angelo Nasios © 2009

Poems of the Arcana

I am making Poems on the tarot cards and would like to share one with you all.

The Fool

Standing at the end of the cliff
As I ponder what if?

Shall I take a leap of faith?
Shall I ignore the signs?

Nothing could go wrong
My spirit is so strong
as my soul sings a blissful song

I am everything and nothing
I am wholeness and emptiness

I am a God among men
So peaceful, in zen

Who says I cannot fly?
I say lets give it a try!
I do not deny
that I could die
If so then this is my last goodbye

I am free from all rules
I am not like other fools

Super Bowl 2009 Prediction

I was right the last 2 years in my predictions so lets try this one more time!!


1 Who has a Better chance at winning?– Pittsburgh Steelers – 6 of Wands
The 6 of wands has a keyword of “victory” and would fit well when trying to find who would win and be victorious. Clearly this is a sign that the Steelers will win.



3 Who has a Better chance at winning?– Arizona Cardinals – The Tower
The cardinals think they will win but there false ideas will fall apart and they will be shocked. They will lose.

Obama Campaign Update

The following reading was done to see what is going on with the campaign and to give advice to help the campaign.

The Current influence indicated by the 9 of wands shows that right now they
are on the defense. The man in the card has created a wall of wands;
this can be to protect himself. Is Obama trying to protect himself? The
man is also hurt, Obama may be hurt (not physically) or the campaign is
hurt. Right now is recovery time for the campaign. So this card would
make sense and also show that they are defending attacks of the
republicans while they recover and respond back.

What should be the focus of the campaign? The Hierophant is a clear card.
What has been their man focus this whole time? Change from the current
ways of politics. This card reflects that notion 100%. Going against
the traditional / orthodox way of things is very clear here. I would
also say that from this card if they want to try and make the other
side look bad this card would tell them to focus on how McCain
has been unwise, untruthful and importantly corrupt.

What can hurt the campaign? The Magician reversed shows me that if Obama is
seen as a liar and that he trying to trick people and deceive them it
will be so bad on his campaign. The more honest and the more he is on
the straight and narrow the better. This is common sense and I like how
the cards pick up on that. Also since this card is about communication,
if Obama losses him communication abilities and losses connection with
the people then that will also be bad.

What can help? The 6 of Swords is a great card that is reflecting the issue,
the people in this card are in a boat and have 6 swords sticking in it.
Now the mood of the card is somber but good. It shows transition. The
issues and problems are not weighting the boat down. The same should be
done in the campaign. They should not let anything that is being said
weight them down. Don't let it affect them. Just go through the waves
and let it pass.

Obama Will be president

I know it to be true just like I know the sun will rise.

Divination and christians - What you did not know

We tarot readers often face a lot of opposition from bible-lovers quoting the ever popular

When
you enter the land which the Lord your God gives you, you shall not learn
to imitate the detestable things of those nations. There shall not
be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through
the fire, one who uses divination, one who practices witchcraft, or one
who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who casts a spell, or a medium
or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead" (Deuteronomy 18:9-11).

Oh man we cannot divine then right? Wrong! Here is something you might have noticed. Christians DO NOT have to follow the rules of the old testament. Like this one from Deuteronomy. Why? The old testament is the Jewish Toarh, and is their rules not the Christians. We follow the teachings of Jesus and to my knowledge Jesus does not bring the issue up. In fact I would say he is pro divination. Here is a quote from Luke,

"And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what
you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and
the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives.
Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be
opened"
Luke 11:9-10

The seeking and looking is that of asking for help and guidance from God, "everyone who asks, receives, everyone who seeks, finds" means that what you are asking for will be answered.

Jesus was a revolutionist in the religious sense, he taught a different message then of the Jewish faith. In the Jewish faith you cannot eat pork, Jesus said that what goes in your mouth will not defile you, what comes out of your mouth will. Meaning what you speak will defile you not what you eat. I dont want to go into a deep debate but I wanted to point this fact out.

I also feel divination is a word that should not be applied to tarot readers anymore, I feel most modern readers have evolved and we have become seekers of enlightenment and guides to those who need help. Everything good comes from God, and we as readers are doing so much good in the word.

So the next time someone says "Its forbidden in the bible" tell them we are exempt from the old laws, and if they wish to follow them they need to follow every single law, and there are a lot of them and by modern standards no one can follow each one of them.

Plain and simple

Obama VS McCain

Barack Obama
August 4, 1961

John McCain
August 29, 1936


Barack Obama is now the democratic nominee and John McCain is the republic nominee for the 2008 presidential election. So for this reading I will be looking at Obama and McCain and what they bring to this election in terms of their personal qualities and what would help them win and who would most likely win.

1) What qualities does Obama need to express more to better his chances at winning the election?
The Emperor reversed

For me seeing the emperor reversed means that Obama needs to express his change from the old administration that has been viewed by many people as a “tyranny”. Because the emperor is a card of authority, structure and order Obama should show himself as someone who does not think in those terms, he needs to express his reforms on the government’s structure and change the view that the USA is a “tyranny” and we try to rule over others. Logic and rationality are other key words to this card and I feel Obama should express that he is more open to ideas that may seem irrational in a sense, not saying they are irrational but people may think they are when they are not truly.

2) What qualities does McCain need to express more to better his chances at winning the election?
The Hierophant Reversed

This is somewhat the same as Obama but a little different. The Hierophant is about traditions, what is “orthodox”. He relates to groups and organizations. I feel that from the reversed card McCain should express that religion will be separate from his administration unlike the current administration. This card would also suggest that McCain should step out of traditional thinking of his political party. He needs to express what makes him stand out and what is unique to him over all others.

3) Obama’s strength
5 of Swords

With the 5 of swords Obama will go and do battle and win or lose he won’t fear. It shows that he can stand up on his own and take care of himself in this political blood thirsty environment. Obama has been attacked a lot in his campaign and this card shows he is in a environment of discord but is tough enough to battle on. He knows what battles to pick and when to speak.

4) Obama’s weakness
2 of Swords

Here with the 2 of swords Obama can become indecisive and unsure of what options to pick. He can tend to get stuck in the middle of a conflict. Often this card means you are ignoring the facts or what is in front of you. This can mean that Obama may at times ignore facts that in turn would hurt him. This would imply going on with faith so to speak over facts. Also I see the 2 of swords as blocking your emotions or hiding distress. This goes well with the 5 of swords, for he can deal with the stress but however he is deals in the wrong way.

5) McCain’s strength
4 of Swords
Oddly enough I think this card can mean that he would bring troops back home. This card is called “rest from strife” that means rest from fighting. Does that mean war would be coming to an end? It seems odd and the common view is that McCain would say in Iraq for another “100 years”.



6) McCain’s weakness
5 of Pentacles Reversed

Change can come with McCain but I feel that financially he can’t help with the economy.


7) Would Obama win the election?
The World

The world card is a clear sign of “yes” Obama with this card supports him very much and it is one of the very clear signs for a “yes”.


8) Would McCain will the election
The hanged man

No I do not think McCain would win from this card.

9) What role does Hillary play?
9 of cups Reversed
Some may be thinking “She lost why care about her?”, well just for the fun of the reading I wanted to see what is going on with her in the election even though she lost. When I saw this card I feel like she is the “unhappy spoiled child” lol this is a card of getting your wish and being happy with everything, reversed and she is upset and “stomping her feet” going “I wanted to win!!”. Even though she is supporting Obama she is doing it grudgingly.

I guess I was right about Hillary

So from the reading that I did and that the fact that the "chariot" came up for reversed for Sen. Clinton my first reaction was to see a failure. My gut reaction was correct and Obama has won. But Like i said in my last update Obama's card "9 of Pentacles" reversed it is not wonderful. I am going to have to do a reading On McCain and compaire it with Obama to see what it says.

I will keep you all up to date as the race continues.

Update on World Tarot Readers

As of march 16th 2008 I have become the owner of World Tarot Readers, the free reading website. We have moved our site to www.WorldTarotReaders.net but the old address will still direct you to the new one. Please visit by. Put in a request, read your tarotscope and more!