This is the seventh 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 seventh Birth Card pair up is the Tower/Chariot.
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 Tower/Chariot duo: “Releasing ego and old structures, grounding yourself in the present and the day to day of life ” To my left is the Tower, to my right is the Chariot, and to the Chariot’s right we have Mr. Lotterhand. Thank you all for being here. Tower, you may begin.
The Tower: I would like to thank Mr. Lotterhand and the Chariot 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, what does Tower energy represent to you? So many people are afraid of it, yet it certainly serves a purpose.
Jason C. Lotterhand: The Tower represents all of the rationalizations and excuses that we use in life. Think of the Tower this way – each brick represents a word in our life. Together, those bricks form a self-imposed prison around us. Blasting away these bricks manifests a rebirth in our life … it makes room for new energy to move in and take root. Traditionally, this blast blindsides us, but that is only because we are not acting on what is going on in our life. In the process, we move from ordinary consciousness into a consciousness that is completely different from our environmental conditioning … one that emancipates our spirit.
The Tower: What function does the lightening bolt serve?
Jason C. Lotterhand: The Tower is something that we erect in our minds. We build up our ego with words. The lightening bolt traces the descent of the Life Power through the Tree of Life. It is the weapon that destroys our intellectual pride so that we can access our inner wisdom. This is a joyous transition, when we think about it. The fuss is caused when we fight to hold on to outdate or misinformed beliefs.
The Tower: What do the 22 yods around the Tower symbolize?
Jason C. Lotterhand: The 22 yods around the Tower symbolize the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet. They are seed images … archetypal ideas with enough energy within themselves to come to expression on the physical plane. The represent the “word” of what is going to be. They are organized to show the Logos at work. The ten on one side form the pattern of the Tree of Life, and the twelve on the other side signify the zodiac. When our awareness connects with each archetype, this special energy becomes available to us.
Fool: Thank you, Tower, and you, Mr. Lotterhand. Chariot, you have the podium.
The Chariot: Thank you, Fool. I would like to thank the Tower and Mr. Lotterhand for being here, and the Fool for acting as host.
Mr. Lotterhand, can you explain to us why the Chariot represents the middle way?
Jason C. Lotterhand: The Chariot is the Way of the Self, and it is in the middle because that is the place of mastery. The Self is the master in each of us. The Self is the Charioteer, the rifer in the vehicle of personality. This Tarot image is a mirror of yourself. The Chariot Key summarizes all of the Keys in the first row of the Tableau, The Magician is our self-conscious, the High Priestess memory, the Empress is active imagination, the Emperor our ability to live by the Law of life, the Hierophant is our intuitive faculty,, while the Lovers symbolizes discrimination.
The Chariot: What purpose do the sphinxes represent?
Jason C. Lotterhand: The sphinxes represent primary factors in the victory over the Inner Self. The white sphinx is the “I like it” side of the desire-nature. The black sphinx represents the “I don’t like it” side. The Charioteer holds the invisible reins of the mind. Think of the sphinxes as representing our senses. They are the link between the Being and the Being’s fulfillment.
The Chariot: The Chariot represents control. Is control a good thing?
Jason C. Lotterhand: It is, because the focus of control for each individual is on their own personal senses. In order for our vehicle to move, we have to persist. The Chariot will ground you and tell you who you are.
The Chariot: Do you have any final thoughts for our audience?
Jason C. Lotterhand: In the Tower we see power, and we learn to chip away at the illusions of the ego. Through the Chariot we find balance, and expression of our true self.
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/) .
© October 2012 Bonnie Cehovet
Perspectives On Tarot 