This month when we were asked to write about something we were passionate about, I initially was thinking about topics specifically related to acupuncture. However, Tarot is something I have been passionate about after purchasing my first Tarot deck when I was a teenager. Many years later, after completing my acupuncture qualification and then the three levels of Esoteric Acupuncture training, I discovered an amazing avenue where I could incorporate two things I absolutely love; acupuncture and Tarot.
Tarot is a tool that has been around since the mid-15th century in Europe and then spread around the world, however its origins are obscure. Common playing cards are related to Tarot, sharing the four suits and court cards. From about the late 18th century Tarot cards have been used for predicting the future (divination), guided meditation and in a range of metaphysical (Qabalistic) or memorisation activities.
Within a Tarot deck you have 78 printed cards split into two groups. The Major Arcana, or greater secrets, consists of 22 cards whilst the Minor Arcana, or lesser secrets, contains the remaining 56 cards.
The Major Arcana cards, numbered 0-21, can be looked as the more major events in ones lives and these can be viewed as life lessons or spiritual signposts in your life. The Major Arcana cards include imagery such as The Fool, Strength, The Empress, The Sun or The World. These cards hold a greater meaning then those listed in the Minor arcana which relates to the everyday nitty gritty of life.
The Minor Arcana has 56 cards split into the four suits of 14 cards. These suits are wands, cups, swords and pentacles and they can be transferred to the standard suits in a deck of cards; clubs, hearts, spades and diamonds.
- Wands represents the element of fire and relates to physical energy, action and movement.
- Cups represent the element of water and relates to emotional energy, love, imagination, creativity and our intuition.
- Swords represent the element of air and relates to our intellect, thoughts, idea, logic and understanding.
- Pentacles represent the element of earth and relates to the physical world, learning, finances and the material world.
The cards with all the variations that can be dealt can seem confusing at first, however the rich symbols within each card work directly on your subconscious mind. This then turns the Tarot into a deeply symbolic journey of understanding as the depth of each card becomes more relevant and the various layers can be interpreted.
Using Tarot as a tool allows us to support physical, emotional, mental and spiritual growth that allows us to change and learn on a deeper level. Tarot can be used for divination but it is not its only purpose. A Tarot spread with numerous cards can illuminate the lessons to be learned from a situation, a few cards can tap into your subconscious mind when meditating or individual daily cards can be useful to interpret the symbols of a card and how they relate to your day at the beginning of the day, or at the end to mentally unwind.
Once we start looking deeper within the Tarot and the lessons involved within each set of cards you discover that cards are cyclic. We all start at 0 with The Fool in the major arcana, and travel throughout the remaining 21 cards until we reach The World, which is the conclusion of the cycle, only to start over again with the journey of The Fool. The same happens with each of the suits of the Minor Arcana, starting with the Ace and ending with the King.
“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it”
– George Santayana
Looking at the cycles within the Tarot allows us to really learn from a situation and to look at the underlying causes or possible lessons we can learn. We can then have a more conscious involvement in our lives, working to improve ourselves and learning from our past to evolve. Not repeating the same lessons over and over, but moving forwards in our lives and spiritual experiences.
Within an Esoteric Acupuncture treatment, Tarot is used as an adjunct to give direction, purpose and meaning to the session. It can be brief, or if there is interest a longer interpretation can be arranged. Esoteric Acupuncture is a style of acupuncture that works on the deeper levels of the body to promote balance and direction your life. It can be used as maintenance or a tune up and incorporates an esoteric acupuncture pattern on the back of the body, then the front of the body, which can then be combined with a standard Chinese Medicine pattern to help with core issues.
I’m really passionate about Tarot and Esoteric Acupuncture.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact me for further information or to discuss these amazing topics.
Simon is available for consult on Monday, Friday and Saturday at Mornington Chinese Medicine.
To book your appointment please call us on ph: 5973 6886