Thursday Night Tarot – Temperance/Hierophant

This is the fifth in a series of conversations between the Birth Card pairs and Jason C. Lotterhand, through “The Thursday Night Tarot”, (edited by Arisa Victor). The host for this series is the Fool, representing the individual taking the journey. The fifth Birth Card pair up is Temperance/Hierophant.

Fool:  Welcome to this series of conversations. Information discussed here is based on Jason C. Lotterhand’s work, as presented in “The Thursday Night Tarot”. Something to keep in mind before we enter into the following conversation is the theme for the Temperance/Hierophant duo: “Bringing balance to life, balance between freedom and adaptability, and the need for roots, security and structure within the realms of society, community, and spirit.” To my left is Temperance, to my right is the Hierophant, and to the Hierophant’s right we have Mr. Lotterhand. Thank you all for being here. Temperance, you may begin.

Temperance: I would like to thank Mr. Lotterhand and the Hierophant for being here, and the Fool for hosting this series. As we all know, Birth Cards work in pairs. However, we all carry our own identity. Through Mr. Lotterhand’s work, we hope to clarify who we are to those who carry our energy.

Mr. Lotterhand, you state that I represent the principle of guidance. What exactly does that mean?

Jason C. Lotterhand: It means that as you walk the Path, you are not alone. Your Inner Self is right there with you, acting as a Guide. The Archangel that represents our Innermost Self is the Archangel Michael.  Whenever you are lonely, commune with your Inner Self. The availability of the Inner Self as a guide is the main message of Key 14 (Temperance).

Temperance: On the Tree of Life, I go straight up the middle pillar and resolve into the High Priestess, which joins Kether (One Self) at the top. Why is this important?

Jason C. Lotterhand:  The High Priestess represents mind and memory. We need to remember at all times who we truly are, in relation to all of life.

Temperance: What is the significance of my gold background? Can we equate this with illumination?

Jason C. Lotterhand: Symbolically, gold reprents value, and is the metal of the Sun, which corresponds to light. The zodiac sign associated with Temperance is Sagittarius, the Archer. Here we see energy and idealism focused on religion, philosophy, and higher education. The path of Temperance takes an individual beyond who they are, beyond their own immediate environment, beyond separate ego and into universal mind.

Fool: Thank you, Temperance, and you, Mr. Lotterhand. Hierophant , you have the podium.

Hierophant: Thank you, Fool. I would like to thank Temperance and Mr. Lotterhand for being here, and the Fool for acting as host. You refer to me as an “inner teacher”. Can you talk a little bit about that, please.

Jason C. Lotterhand: We all need an inner teacher, and you certainly fit the bill, Hierophant. You connect us with the invisible world of spirit, which is an invaluable gift. All the guidance that we really need, that is essential to our well being, comes from our intuition. This same intuition leads us to better things in our life. Key 5 (the Hierophant) follows Key 4 (the Emperor) for a very good reason – we must exhaust our powers of reason before we can call on our intuition. Intuition then helps us through the big questions in life. Intuitive guidance brings us to wanting what we need, on both material and spiritual levels.

Hierophant: What do you mean when you say that Key 5 is the “still, small voice”?

Jason C. Lotterhand: In order to listen we need to still our mind. The voice that comes out of this stillness is the voice of intuition, the voice of our inner self.

Hierophant:  I get asked this all the time! Please tell our audience what the gesture that I am making means!

Jason C. Lotterhand: LOL I imagine that you do get asked that a lot! Your gesture is called the gesture of esotericism. This symbolizes the fact that you are teaching the mysteries.

Hierophant: Why do you call the Voice of Silence the most eloquent voice of all?

Jason C. Lotterhand: The Voice of Silence is the most eloquent voice of all because it allows you to listen. The Inner Voice never overrides reason. The intuitive ability inherent in the Hierophant brings together bits and pieces of information and shines a light on the intellectual process. In essence, intuition opens up the mind.

Hierophant: Do you have any final thoughts for our audience?

Jason C. Lotterhand: The Tarot is in essence an inner path, which emphasizes intuition. Our inner teacher is trying to help us live the best life possible. We can appreciate life only when we know what it is all about.

Please note: These are, of course, imaginary conversations. The information has been taken from “The Thursday Night Tarot”, Jason C. Lotterhand, edited by Arisa Victor, Newcastle Publishing Co. Inc, 1989. Any errors in translation are mine, and mine alone.

Images are from the Tarot Lovers Tarot (Karyn Easton, http://paranormality.com/) .

 © September 2012 Bonnie Cehovet

 

Thursday Night Tarot – Death/Emperor

This is the fourth in a series of conversations between the Birth Card pairs and Jason C. Lotterhand, through “The Thursday Night Tarot”, (edited by Arisa Victor). The host for this series is the Fool, representing the individual taking the journey. The fourth Birth Card pair up are Death and the Emperor.

Fool:  Welcome to this series of conversations. Information discussed here is based on Jason C. Lotterhand’s work, as presented in “The Thursday Night Tarot”. Something to keep in mind before we enter into the following conversation is the theme for the Death/Emperor duo: “Learning to detach from the physical world, and release all expectations. The ability to take a leadership position, and own one’s power.” To my left is Death, to my right is the Emperor, and to the Emperor’s right we have Mr. Lotterhand. Thank you all for being here. Death, you may begin.

Death: I would like to thank Mr. Lotterhand and the Emperor for being here, and the Fool for hosting this series. As we all know, Birth Cards work in pairs. However, we all carry our own identity. Through Mr. Lotterhand’s work, we hope to clarify who we are to those who carry our energy.

Mr. Lotterhand, you view me as one of the archetypes that indicates change in an individual’s life. Can you expound on that a bit, please.

Jason C. Lotterhand: Change can be a scary thing at times, but it is an integral part of life. The image of a skeleton represents an individuals Self, that part of you that is beyond personality and physical body. The faces on the card represent our sub-conscious and self-conscious.  We need to remember that the Self lives beyond any form of phenomenon.

The skeleton is the support for everything that goes on in our personal vehicle (our body).

Death: I am scary to some people, yes?

Jason C. Lotterhand: The thought of physical death – of leaving the physical plane – is frightening  to many people. Remember this – you are not going to die … you are going to change.

I have made the comment that fear (as in fear of death) belongs on the Tree of Life. It is one of the names of the fifth center. Fear puts us into a protective mode. When we consciously allow this fear into our lives, it becomes healthy for us – as in making us a bit more aware when we drive, a b it more aware of who and what is around us. We are in essence protecting ourselves.

When we address our fears, we take away the ability for that fear to drain our energy, and take over our life.

Death: Do you have any last words for our audience?

Jason C. Lotterhand: Death carries the number thirteen. In many traditions, this number represents bad luck, so, from the outer point of view, Death is hard to grasp. In the Cabala, which represents the inner point of view, thirteen is the number of love and unity. By looking at Death in the conventional sense, we miss the inner meaning.

Fool: Thank you, Death, and you, Mr. Lotterhand. Emperor, you have the podium.

Emperor: Thank you, Fool. I would like to thank the Death and Mr. Lotterhand for being here, and the Fool for acting as host. Thank you, Mr. Lotterhand,  for regarding me as a benevolent figure! You state that I embody the Logos. Can you talk a bit about that for our audience, please.

Jason C. Lotterhand: The Logos is the Divine Reason that guides the universe. The Emperor embodies this guidance in his thoughts, and his actions. His archetype carries the power to look at ourselves, the power of Self to look at all aspects of itself. If you are looking for a tool for spiritual advancement … here you go!

Emperor: You state that “reason” is my primary keyword. How do you mean that?

Jason C. Lotterhand: Divine Reason goes beyond understanding. We are not expected to understand what God is planning. Reason as applied to the Emperor talks about applying reason to our own universe – the physical world. In essence, we are setting our own house in order. We are liberating ourselves – eliminating that which we do not want in our house. The law of life is that we either rule, or we are ruled.

Emperor:  Key 4 is entitled the Constituting Intelligence. What does that mean?

Jason C. Lotterhand: In simple terms, nothing exists without being constituted. We are originally constituted by the Divine – whatever we call it. We each carry that same ability to constitute within us. In coming into our true selves, we are literally writing our own “constitution”. Remember – Reality exists, and we are part of it. There is no separation of powers between us and Life Itself.

Emperor: What does it mean when we say that Logos is the Word?

Jason C. Lotterhand: The Word is in essence a vibration. As such, it has the qualifications to become a thing … to take physical form. Through the Creative Word, we call all things into being. The Word is both vision and voice.

Emperor: Do you have any final thoughts for our audience?

Jason C. Lotterhand: The archetype of the Emperor is one that we can call on to help us see the true vision of ourselves. The throne that the Emperor sits on is known as the Cube of Space … i.e  the whole universe is his throne. (Note: The High Priestess also sits on a cube.) The Cube of Space is very conducive for studying complex relationships.

Please note: These are, of course, imaginary conversations. The information has been taken from “The Thursday Night Tarot”, Jason C. Lotterhand, edited by Arisa Victor, Newcastle Publishing Co. Inc, 1989. Any errors in translation are mine, and mine alone.

Images are from the “Tarot Lovers Tarot”, by Karyn Easton (http://paranormality.com)

© September 2012 Bonnie Cehovet

 

Thursday Night Tarot – Hanged Man/Empress

This is the third in a series of conversations between the Birth Card pairs and Jason C. Lotterhand, through “The Thursday Night Tarot”, (edited by Arisa Victor). The host for this series is the Fool, representing the individual taking the journey. The third Birth Card pair up are the Hanged Man and the Empress.

Fool:  Welcome to this series of conversations. Information discussed here is based on Jason C. Lotterhand’s work, as presented in “The Thursday Night Tarot”. Something to keep in mind before we enter into the following conversation is the theme for the Hanged Man/Empress duo: “Accepting what fortune brings you, versus creating your own destiny.” To my left is the Hanged Man, to my right is the Empress, and to the Empress’ right we have Mr. Lotterhand. Thank you all for being here. Hanged Man, you may begin.

Hanged Man: I would like to thank Mr. Lotterhand and the Empress for being here, and the Fool for hosting this series. As we all know, Birth Cards work in pairs. However, we all carry our own identity. Through Mr. Lotterhand’s work, we hope to clarify who we are to those who carry our energy.

Mr. Lotterhand, you say that I represent the “power of stillness. What exactly does that mean?

Jason C. Lotterhand: The outside world demands that we be on the move. Remaining still is just something that we are not encouraged to do. However, one of the most important things that we can do is to find the stillness and quiet within. No words, no things …  just absolute stillness. When you are no longer concerned ab out anything, then you have reached this thing called stillness.

As the Hanged Man, you represent the inner aspects of life. You exist outside of ordinary experience, in your own zone. With you, an individual reaches a level of superconsciousness.

Hanged Man: You say that I represent the principle of “reversal”. Can you please explain that to our audience.

Jason C. Lotterhand: The principle of reversal is based in the individual’s attitude. There is a turning away from the world, not to reject it, but to allow oneself to interpret life from an inner perspective. A whole new ballgame! Focusing outward assumes that the individual knows all of the answers, while focusing inward is dependent solely on  the Life Power.

It is good to practice the reversal of thoughts, as it helps us appreciate our subconscious. In working with reversal exercises we break away from believing that certain things are so, and certain things are not so. We come to accept what is going on in the proper spirit. Internal changes will lead automatically to external change.

Hanged Man: Do you have any last words for our audience?

Jason C. Lotterhand: A small thought here concerning meditation, which is one way to still the mind. Through meditation, we look at everything we are, and then we dissolve it. Meditation helps us to consciously get where we want to go.

Fool: Thank you, Hanged Man, and you, Mr. Lotterhand. Empress, you have the podium.

Empress: Thank you, Fool. I would like to thank the Hanged Man and Mr. Lotterhand for being here, and the Fool for acting as host. Mr. Lotterhand, you note that I represent the Divine Mother. Why is this important?

Jason C. Lotterhand: The Christian Fathers made the decision long ago to ban Isis. However, it wasn’t that easy. She still exists, and we are in a time when the feminine principle is being recognized for what it is. The woman within each of us is our creative imagination.  We not only receive inspiration here, but also the ability to nurture our creations. The ultimate place to find knowledge and information is nature herself.

Empress: How does Venus represent me as an archetype?

Jason C. Lotterhand: Venus represents love and desire. Binah’s symbol is the cup, the Holy Grail, which receives the message that is transmitted from the other side of the Tree. The heart is the main symbol for the Empress. It represents the law of Mother’s Love. To connect with the Empress, with feminine wisdom, we must approach through love.  The fire of love is found in the Empress’ heart.

Empress: Isn’t Venus also the patroness of the arts?

Jason C. Lotterhand: Yes, indeed she is. The Empress knows all of the laws, and is capable of producing all the transformation. In this respect, the Empress rules all of the Arts and Sciences. She contains all of these different ways of expressing life. The Empress brings us success and victory, and carries our regenerated self.

Empress: Can you explain to our audience how I am different from the High Priestess, as we both represent subconscious energy.

Jason C. Lotterhand: You and the High Priestess do both represent the energy of the subconscious. The energy is the same, the difference is in activity. The Empress comes into being as the result of intercourse between the High Priestess and Spirit.  The High Priestess represents the abstract aspect of substance, while the Empress represents nature, and everything that goes on within nature.

Empress: Do you have any last words for our audience?

Jason C. Lotterhand:  Our self-consciousness is already merged with our subconscious. Nothing happens without the Divine Pair. In the case of the Empress, her partner is the Emperor. Essentially, one is defined in terms of the other.

Please note: These are, of course, imaginary conversations. The information has been taken from “The Thursday Night Tarot”, Jason C. Lotterhand, edited by Arisa Victor, Newcastle Publishing Co. Inc, 1989. Any errors in translation are mine, and mine alone.

Images are from the “Tarot Lovers Tarot”, by Karyn Easton (http://paranormality.com)

 © September 2012 Bonnie Cehovet

 

Thursday Night Tarot – Justice/High Priestess

This is the second in a series of conversations between the Birth Card pairs and Jason C. Lotterhand, through “The Thursday Night Tarot”, (edited by Arisa Victor). The host for this series is the Fool, representing the individual taking the journey. The second Birth Card pair up are Justice and the High Priestess.

Fool:  Welcome to the second episode in this series of conversations. Information discussed here is based on Jason C. Lotterhand’s work, as presented in “The Thursday Night Tarot”. Something to keep in mind before we enter into this conversation is the theme for the Justice/High Priestess duo: “Bringing life into a sense of balance – analyzing and synthesizing of ideas. Learning to trust in yourself, your intuition, and your psychic abilities.” To my left is Justice, to my right is the High Priestess, and to the High Priestess’s right we have Mr. Lotterhand. Thank you all for being here. Justice, you may begin.

Justice: I would like to thank Mr. Lotterhand and the High Priestess for being here, and the Fool for hosting this series. As we all know, Birth Cards work in pairs. However, we all carry our own identity. Through Mr. Lotterhand’s work, we hope to clarify who we are to those who carry our energy.

Mr. Lotterhand, you talk about my purpose as that of holding equilibrium, and that I am the exchange point through which the other Birth Cards transmit their energy. What exactly does this mean?

Jason C. Lotterhand: Justice (Key 11) deals with the concept of equilibrium as being of great importance. Spirit works through Justice to direct everything within ourselves, and within the physical world. Justice acts as our subconscious … it is always there for us, often to save us from ourselves. Work and Action are two of your keywords. The Sword of Severity is a tool given to us to define what we want in life.

Justice: How do we find out what it is that we really want in life?.

Jason C. Lotterhand: It is very simple – through the process of elimination. What we see as obstacles we eliminate. This is how we learn discrimination. Discrimination allows us to know what we want, and to define it in a very precise manner.

Justice: You state that when obstacles are in our way, we are not happy, and that when we are not happy, it is the same as being ill. How do we cultivate happiness – i.e. wellness?

Jason C. Lotterhand: Wellness underlies the total experience of the Tarot. Through Justice, we learn to nurture our health by being careful. This means eliminating anything in your life t hat run s counter to the laws of nature. You can, of course, ignore this, but there are consequences!

Justice: Do you have any last words for our audience?

Jason C. Lotterhand: Bringing balance into our lives means not cultivating any one aspect of yourself at the expense of other aspects. The key is to approach life as a gourmet, not a gormand!

Fool: Thank you, Justice, and you, Mr. Lotterhand. High Priestess, I am turning the podium over to you.

High Priestess: Thank you, Fool. I would like to thank Justice and Mr. Lotterhand for being here, and the Fool for acting as host. Mr. Lotterhand, you indicate that I represent the Divine Mother on the Tree of Life, and the feminine principle in the Cabala.  (Note: This is the spelling from the book, “Thursday Night Tarot”.). How does my energy work in people’s lives?

Jason C. Lotterhand: Interesting question! Energy means very little if it is not applied. In the Cabalistic world, the universe is mind-centered, mind-constructed, and mind-supported. This is the nurturing principle – our minds are supported by the Great Mind. The power in Key 2 (the High Priestess) represents the subconscious, and the feminine element. This energy is meant to respond to the self-conscious, male oriented energy typical of Key 1 (the Magician). The relationship between these two archetypes is crucial.

Without an exchange between male and female principles, nothing happens in life. Nothing. The principles are equal to each other – one is not stronger, or above the other. The High Priestess protects us, and always reminds us that we are born of mind, and that we ARE mind.

High Priestess: Please explain to our audience how the element of water come to represent my energy.

Jason C. Lotterhand: Water represents the unconscious – as water flows, so does our unconscious. It is one of the main symbols for the High Priestess. Water contains everything in solution, and can precipitate anything out of itself. Mind does not change … it holds all things in potential. (This is the mystery of the High Priestess. My thought, not Mr. Lotterhand’s.) The mind is endlessly fruitful, but we have to learn how to use it.

High Priestess: Alchemists are among my favorite people. Could you talk about them for a moment, please?

Jason C. Lotterhand: There are two types of people. One type of person will find extraordinary things within themselves. The second type of person is referred to as an alchemist – they are interested in knowing the nature of Reality. This is, indeed, the spirit of science, and is at the heart of every scientist. Their wisdom comes from intuition. From the point of view of the Tarot, their wisdom comes from the High Priestess, the guardian of the mysteries. The key to connecting with the High Priestess is to still the mind … then information will flow from her to us.

High Priestess: My crown is representative of the phases of the moon. Please tell ou audience why this is important.

Jason C. Lotterhand: The phases of the moon represent cycles … in this case, the cycles of life. Within the High Priestess is the principle of duplication – necessary for any type of reproduction. Her law insures continuity of life.

High Priestess: Do you have any last words for our audience? Jason C. Lotterhand:  We create the life around us. We are creating illusion. Through the use of meditation we can access the energy of the High Priestess. Through her, we see the whole picture of ourselves, who we are, where we came from, where we are, and where we are going. We come to an educated response to “What is it that I really want?”

Remember – the Divine Mother loves and guides us all!

Please note: These are, of course, imaginary conversations. The information has been taken from “The Thursday Night Tarot”, Jason C. Lotterhand, edited by Arisa Victor, Newcastle Publishing Co. Inc, 1989. Any errors in translation are mine, and mine alone.

Images are from the “Tarot Lovers Tarot”, by Karyn Easton (http://paranormality.com)

 © September 2012 Bonnie Cehovet