The Contract Tarot – Wisdom of Runes

This is the Wisdom of Runes. It replaces the Kings/Knights in traditional decks.

Kings are about authority. However, this authority is full of wisdom, service, and action.

Let’s take a closer look at this card.

Immediately, you can see that it is evening in this card. There is a nearly full moon (wisdom of intuition) and a raven (intelligence, curiosity, keeper and bringer of secrets)  flying over a black horse wearing a pinkish (purity)/red (passion) cloak bowing in service. A golden (wisdom) flame (action) illuminates the night to such a degree that yellow (compassion) and red (perfect love) tulips (signify eternal life) are the blanket upon which this horse treads.

This King is wise. He knows his wisdom is derived from service to others, from passion and compassion, and from illumination through action. He is bold and decisive, confident in his passion and wisdom.

The symbols across the top of the card are Fire, Leo, Fire.

The Runes below the Fire sign on the left are Thurisaz (the warrior who combines consciousness and wisdom, awakening of the will to action), Ansuz (creative wisdom, inspiration and divine communication, order), Nauthiz (understanding resistance in the process of creating, mysteries of necessity), and Jera (understanding the natural cycles and rhythms of life, peace, prosperity and plenty). The Runes below the Fire sign on the right are Ihwaz (communication between levels of reality, mysteries of life and death), Berkano (hidden sanctuary in times of need, mastery of silence of listening and protecting), Laguz (mastery of emotion, development of prophetic wisdom), and Inguz (integration of the four selves – physical, mental, emotional and spiritual – for wholeness, storage and transformation of power).

The Tree of Life path is Tiphareth (beauty) in Atziluth (emanation).

What do you see in this card? How would you interpret it?

Until tomorrow… Love, light and blessings!

The Contract Tarot – Aspiration of Runes

The Aspiration of Runes represents the Knight and/or Prince in other decks. The Knight/Prince cards are all about movement, travel, progress and represent a young adult or teenager. Aspiration suits all of these characteristics. Movement, travel and progress are not undertaken unless an aspiration is being met. You must want to go somewhere to get there. Young adults and teenagers always aspire to be more than they are… it is inherent in the process of maturation.

So, let’s look at this card more closely.

The image of a black horse rearing on a stage with a pink backdrop and fire at his feet appears in the foreground. Behind the stage are the pyramids of Giza and the sun is rising in a lavender hued sky. There is a plane flying over the pyramids.

When I put this image together, I took part of traditional cards and meshed it with my intuitive inspiration to bring more to the aspect. The dark horse is from traditional cards. He is full of action and spirit, much like teenagers or young adults. Behind him is the pink backdrop of youth and purity. The fire is also full of action but it is moot because it does no damage. The pyramids of Giza stand behind the curtain and represents the aspiration of many travelers. They are the last of the original seven wonders of the world still evident. The sun rising speaks for itself. The sun aspires to overtake the darkness on its journey across our skies. The plane signifies traveling at speed. Many choose this form of transportation as it will get them to their destination much faster than most other modes of travel.

If you pull this card, know that this represents an aspect of the Querent. Either the Querent in relation to a teenager or young adult or the energy of aspiration or the Querent in relation to travel, movement, action that is speedy and may be in too much haste. Usually the card following this one will shed more light on whatever the Querent brings to you. Movement goes somewhere and it is usually forward movement (the next card) rather than backward movement (the card before). You will find that there is a need for recognition or applause for effort tied with this card. It demands to be noticed.

Let’s look at the symbols on the card. Down the left side of the card are Air, Sagittarius, Fire. There is some debate between different trains of thought as to whether this is Fire of Fire or Air of Fire. I used Air of Fire.

Down the right side of the card are the Runes Inguz (internal growth, expectation, movement without change), Nauthiz (self-reliance, achievement through effort, personal development and life lessons), Wunjo (accomplishment, prosperity, blindness to danger).

The Tree of Life path is Chokmah (wisdom) in Atziluth (emanation).

What do you see in this card? How would you interpret it?

Until tomorrow… Love, light and blessings!

The Contract Tarot – Inspiration of Runes

The Inspiration of Runes represents the Page and/or Princess in other decks. These are typically thought to be childlike and messengers. If there is no young person in the Querent’s life or the Querent doesn’t have a childlike or youthful attitude, chances are this card will indicate a message(s) for the Querent.

Let’s look a little more closely at the card.

In the foreground, we see a tiger cub climbing out of the card. Flames rise behind the cub and an owl flies overhead. The background is the pale purple/lavender color of spiritual inspiration. It flows down to a pinkish (youth and purity) color before it is consumed by flames.

This suit represents taking action. You cannot use runes with casting them – you must act. While the background speaks of inspiration, the owl and the tiger are taking action in the foreground as are the flames because they are in the action of burning.

The owl represents wisdom and insight being brought your way. The tiger cub represents youth and Leo.

The symbols on the card at the top are Cancer, Leo and Virgo. The elemental symbols are Earth of Fire. The Runes below Cancer and Earth are Kenaz (transformation, offspring, new information) and Dagaz (bold change of illumination, invisible transforming power). The Runes below Virgo and Fire are Algiz (courage in the face of fear, protective teaching force that promotes independence) and Ansuz (Divine inspiration, open paths to communication).

The Tree of Life path is Malkuth (kingdom) in Atziluth (emanation).

What do you see in this card? How would you interpret it?

Until tomorrow… Love, light and blessings!

The Contract Tarot – 4 of Runes

Fours are all about authority and stability.

Let’s look at this card a little more closely.

In the image, you see the front door to a house. Fireworks are seen in the blue sky above the house and a robust path leads to the front door.

The glyphs for Venus, fire and Aries can be seen down the left side of the card. The runes for Jera (harvest, prosperity), Inguz (the inner child, inner growth) and Sowilo (success, life purpose). The Tree of Life path is Chesed (mercy) in Atziluth (emanation).

This is the card of action and completion. This card celebrates the struggles from the 3 of Runes and brings us to fulfillment, fruition, completion and celebration! It isn’t the end of the journey but a time to breathe in stability in the knowledge that what you sowed before is being harvested now and this should bring you joy! This is the card of celebrating all that wonderful work with your family and letting that love and warmth embrace you. This is the time to solidify family ties and bonds before you begin the next stage of your journey.

Until tomorrow… Love, light and blessings!

34: Striding forward with… action

Action is key to any progress – backward or forward.

I have been creating a Tarot deck based on the Thoth Tarot and adding a twist similar to the Lenormand Oracle.  I have learned a great deal over the past month or so and learn even more when I am creating. I visit numerous references when I have a question that I need to clarify. The hardest part is adding the verses to the cards. It becomes a personal, spiritual journey when I contemplate the verse.

Nothing, however, would be accomplished without action. I do reach occasional road blocks with this process. Whether it is gaining clarity to construct the card or the verses, there are times when I have to just begin it. Just begin. I find when I take action and just begin, the blocks crumble and I make progress.

I share with you the card I have just finished, the Chariot. Please understand and respect the copyright associated with this deck.

There is a lot going on this card but let’s take a look at it.

You can see four pillars and a celestial canopy is at the top. There is a chariot, two horses, an hourglass, a lingam, a magickal sceptre and four crabs. One of the crabs is on top of the urim and thummim. In the background is a vast body of water and a sailing ship. There is a plane in the sky. The sky is golden orange.

The verse reads: “Cross the Abyss, Travel to new beginnings, Harness your energy To self assertion and victory. The Chariot waits For you to begin it. Get clear on your goals, Set your plan, Obstacles crumble With spiritual growth at hand. Introspection is your driving force, Achievement is your aim, You have the vision of artistic expression To create and live The life of your dreams.”

What do these symbols and words mean to you?

The card is in Cancer, Water is the element and the Hebrew letter is Chet (Fence). The path on the Tree of Life is Binah (Understanding) to Geburah (Severity).

What do you think these symbols add to the card?

As I create this deck, I am adding the images to my artist page on FB. If you’d like to see the cards I’ve created thus far, please visit: https://www.facebook.com/jean.hamiltonfford.artist I will also be sharing more of them here. I’d appreciate your feedback on these cards.

I am creating this deck to accompany a book (novel) I am writing based on the Tarot. I look forward to sharing this journey with you.

Until tomorrow… Love, light and blessings!

29: Trailblazing… knowledge is power?

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about knowledge. I often hear that ‘knowledge is power’ and yet, I can’t help to think that knowledge, in and of itself, is not power. When I come to this realisation, what follows is the question, ‘When is knowledge power?’

I’m sure you can figure this one out for yourself. But, to help this post along, I will presume to answer the question myself. ‘Knowledge is power only when it is acted upon/applied.’

What does this mean to you? How are you applying or acting upon the knowledge you possess? Do you share it? Do you keep it silent? Do you apply it in a way that alters something else to improve it or destroy it?

Today, I have drawn the 4 of Cups – Luxury. I am using the Thoth Tarot illustrated by Lady Frieda Harris.

This is such a lovely card! It reminds me of a Tiffany lamp.

Let’s look at it a little more closely. Look at the background sky… it is dark and foreboding, like a storm is on its way. The water is vast and there is no hint of stable ground. The Moon is in Cancer in this card. The pink petals of the lotus open and water bursts forth filling the top two cups with square bases firmly resting on lily pads. These cups fill and overflow, filling the bottom two cups with square bases resting on very little and suggesting instability. There is the infinity symbol in the bottom fretwork suggesting the sea is infinite.

This card is all about water/emotions. It is a card suggesting hedonism, addiction, escapism and these can create a huge weakness as they overwhelm the emotions. This card is a warning to moderate and beware attitudes towards seeking pleasurable pursuits. It is easy to be so consumed by pleasure and pleasurable things that , life strides boldly into our existence and announces itself with little warning unsettling our cups of luxury to the abyss of lack and poverty.

Wow! Okay, I think I get this message and will heed it! Today, I will be about working and keeping a balance in my activities, thoughts and deeds. How about you? What will your day bring? Will you luxuriate in your past accomplishments at the price of future endeavors? Will you succumb to pleasure and forego balance?

Until tomorrow… Love, light and blessings!

28: Trailblazing… a different perspective

I started today quite pleased that I had successfully created 3 out of 78 of the Tarot cards. The Fool, Death and The Universe cards are three of the main characters in the book I am writing.

Several things struck me about these three cards.

They are all part of the same endless cycle.

There is newness in every day, in every task we undertake, in every breath, in every person we meet.

There is death in every day, in every occurrence of surrender, in everything we throw away, in every character we delete from the page, in every day when we arise.

There is completion of tasks, a finality to every day, to every project, to every endeavor, to childhood.

The perspective is different every single time. Nothing is the same except the cycle. How you choose to enjoy this never ending journey is where true joy or deep despair can be found. Do you embrace newness, change, difference, breathing? or do you find yourself rigid, resisting and holding your breath? Give yourself permission to breathe! Give yourself permission to experience and find wonder, beauty and joy!

Today, I have drawn the 6 of Disks – Success! I am using the Thoth Tarot illustrated by Lady Frieda Harris.

This card is beautiful and full of magick!! Just look at it… it looks like a supernova! Can you see the layers, the depth, the beautiful colours and striking textures? The sharp stiletto of the points of the star… the soft, rounded edges to the circles… the beautiful rose in the centre is so full of brilliant!

There is so much to see here in this dominantly hexagram shaped image. First, the Rosy Cross in the centre. This is the Sun in Tiphareth showing 49 blue-lined petals on five red-lined squares. This is surrounded by the six planet orbs arranged in a formation reminiscent of the Tree of Life. The energies of Geburah (severity) and Chesed (mercy) within Tiphareth (beauty). This is the Moon in Taurus in a happy arrangement.

This card is all about success. There is balance and fertile energies manifesting in the material world.

This card speaks to me about success but not in a get-rich-quick way. The layers I see are bubbling with energy and lie behind the brilliant image to which our eyes are immediately drawn.

This card is telling me to lay firm foundations (the very deep colours of the background in this card – it looks like the colour of soil that has been furrowed and plowed).

This card also tells me that great energy is required to get things going (the red-orange colour of Taurus) and to keep things sustained (the blue colour of the Moon) before, in a brilliant explosion of everything coming together to transform action into something of substance (the stiletto rayed explosion of the star), success can be manifest and found (the brilliant image of everything ordered to produce the light of the Sun – the Rosy Cross representing Tiphareth).

Success can be sweet but it can also come with thorns and needs to be respected and handled carefully. All the energy expended to create success can exhaust and weaken the participants to a point where success cannot be maintained. Weeds will grow and choke off further growth and development if success is not tempered with planning for viability and sustainability. Fertiliser is occasionally needed, hoeing is required, sometimes supports are required to help hold up the heavy blooms that sweeten our garden. Watering is needed, praise from the light of the sun and cool breezes to temper the heat of the day.

How do you perceive success? Is it a brilliant explosion borne from energy and action? Is it the end result of laying a good foundation and planning for viability and sustainability? How do you measure success? What does it look like to you?

Until tomorrow… Love, light and blessings!