Thursday Night Tarot – World/Empress

This is the twelfth and final conversation, 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 twelfth Birth Card pair up is World/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 World/Empress duo: “Completing inner work, bringing together the diverse parts of ones life, the ability to feel comfortable in the external, physical world because the Seeker is at one with themselves. The ability to give and receive love, and to live from a snese of trust.” To my left is the World, to my right is the Empress, and to the Empress’s right we have Mr. Lotterhand. Thank you all for being here. World, you may begin.

World: 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, just the very title “The World” indicates a sense of connectedness and completion. What does that term say to you?

Jason C. Lotterhand: The World is our oyster, it truly is! When we have reached the World, we have gone through seven stages of spiritual unfolding. Who we see in front of us is a New Being, the Being that walked through all of paths of the Major Arcana, and assimilated the lessons. The image on the World is you, when you are free to enjoy yourself, and dance the dance of life. Your ego trip is over, and you are living and functioning in a higher realm of consciousness. Take a timeout to enjoy this time!

World: Who and what does the figure of the dancer represent?

Jason C. Lotterhand: The dancer is our Innermost self, Master of all of the twenty-two Intelligences associated with the Tree of Life. The ellipse surrounding the dancer is Life Itself in the form of a victory wreath. We are victorious over the challenges that life has presented us with. We are a microcosm … we contain all of the powers inherent in the cosmos.

World: Should we look at the fifth dimension as a kind of consciousness?

Jason C. Lotterhand: By all means! The fifth dimension is superconsciousness. It can be seen as a point wherein the unity principle is concentrated. Everything is encoded at that point, and all creation comes from it.

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

The Empress: Thank you, Fool. I would like to thank the World and Mr. Lotterhand for being here, and the Fool for acting as host.

Mr. Lotterhand,  In what way does the Empress represent Venus?

Jason C. Lotterhand: The Empress represents that aspect of Venus as the “desirable one”. She balances the male principle found within the Emperor. She is the part of life that we can touch and get close to.

The Empress: Why is the heart the main symbol for the Empress?

Jason C. Lotterhand: Venus embraces the heart with her right (active) hand, indicating that love is her primary concern. If you want to connect with the Mother, you have to practice love. The Dove that represents the Holy Spirit is seen moving in the heart (not the head).

The Empress: Is the red triangle on the Empress dress associated with desire?

Jason C. Lotterhand: Yes. It is the fire of Chokmah that is hidden within the body of Binah. This is the explanation for the Empress always being seen as pregnant. The red triangle represents ou sacred inner life.

The Empress: Do you have any final thoughts for our audience?

Jason C. Lotterhand: One last thought – the Empress rests her foot on the Moon to indicate a conscious understanding of the cyclic nature of life.

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 ).

 © November 2012 Bonnie Cehovet

 

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Thursday Night Tarot – Judgment/High Priestess

This is the eleventh 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 eleventh Birth Card pair up is Judgment/High Priestess.

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 Judgment/High Ptiestess duo: “The ability to observe, to the point of making good judgment in an objective manner. The ability to access ones intuition, to communicate, and to accept new ideas. ” To my left is Judgment, to my right is the High Priestess, and to the High Priestess’s right we have Mr. Lotterhand. Thank you all for being here. Judgment, you may begin.

Judgment: 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, Judgment has quite the image, with the angel, trumpet, and all. Yet Judgment can be very misunderstood. What does the archetype Judgment represent?

Jason C. Lotterhand: When we reach Judgment, we have moved beyond the conventional universe. We emerge from this three dimensional universe into the fourth dimension, where there are no limits. We are living and experiencing things on a completely different level than the ordinary. Our consciousness has expanded to include an inner awareness of ourselves.

Judgment: What does the coffin represent? That can be a bit off-putting to some people!

Jason C. Lotterhand: The coffin represents three dimensional existence, which has us literally “boxed in”. When we leave the confines of the coffin, we leave these constraints behind and move to a higher vibrational level. Please note: we are still living in the physical world, we simply perceive it, and interact with it, in a different manner.

Judgment: What is the symbolism of the flag attached to the trumpet?

Jason C. Lotterhand: This is the same equal armed cross that appears on the High Priestess. The flag suggests where we can find our answers.

Fool: Thank you, Judgment, and you, Mr. Lotterhand. High Priestess, you have the podium.

The High Priestess: Thank you, Fool. I would like to thank Judgment and Mr. Lotterhand for being here, and the Fool for acting as host.

Mr. Lotterhand,  Can you talk a bit about the High Priestess as the chief feminine principle in the Cabala, please.

Jason C. Lotterhand: The High Priestess is the Divine Mother on the Tree of Life, enthroned in Binah, Root of Water. She is the responsive nature in life that makes magic possible. She is referred to as Universal Mind. Think of it this way … the universe is mind-conceived, mind-constructed, and mind-supported. Our mind is sustained by the Great Mind. She represents the Sub-Conscious, the feminine element that corresponds to the Self-Conscious that we find in the Magician. There must be an exchange between male and female before anything can happen.

High Priestess: Is the archetype of the High Priestess as distant as some people make her out to be?

Jason C. Lotterhand: The High Priestess is in actuality very tender hearted. She protects us because we are her own … we are born of mind. We often say “I have a mind.” We could just as well say “I am mind.” The nature of mind is the nature of spirit.

High Priestess:  What does the symbols of water bring to the archetype of the High Priestess?

Jason C. Lotterhand: Water flows around the High Priestess. It represents our sub-conscious, and the unknown. Water holds everything in solution. In a like manner, the mind holds all possibilities.

High Priestess: Do you have any final thoughts for our audience?

Jason C. Lotterhand: The equal armed cross is reminiscent of Hecate, the Greek goddess of crossroads. She was also a patroness of magic.

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/ ).

 © November 2012 Bonnie Cehovet

 

 

Thursday Night Tarot – Sun/Wheel of Fortune/Magician

This is the tenth 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 tenth Birth Card pair up is the only triplicate Birth Card – the Sun/Wheel of Fortune/Magician.

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 Sun/Wheel of Fortune/Magician triplicate: “Dealing with the concept of time in all of its forms, and the change that comes with it. The Sun gives us clarity where there was darkness, as it moves across the sky. The Wheel of Fortune works in cycles, with past, present, and future intertwined. The Magician creates time, and has the ability to suspend it. ” To my left is the Sun, to my right is the Wheel of Fortune, to the Wheel of Fortune’s right is the Magician, and to the Magician’s right we have Mr. Lotterhand. Thank you all for being here. Sun, you may begin.

The Sun: I would like to thank Mr. Lotterhand, The Wheel of Fortune, and the Magician 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¸ Can you tell us a little bit about the basic energies of the Sun? What can we expect from this archetype?

Jason C. Lotterhand: How do you feel about the Sun ? It provides light and warmth, and carries a sense of joy and happiness with it, don’t you think? The Sun can be seen as a joyful process, the process of the self growing (flowering) into itself. Remember, the Cabalistic method of attainment is that we come to enjoy the simple and beautiful things in life in the here and now … they are not something that is a promise for another time. From the viewpoint of the Cabala, there is no difference between our inner and our outer light. All is one!

The Sun: What does the wall that the children are dancing in front of in this card represent?

Jason C. Lotterhand: It represents accumulated wisdom. The children are having such a great time simply because they have moved beyond the need to accumulate wisdom. The children are living in the Now!

The Sun: Is the Sun our source of spiritual awakening?

Jason C. Lotterhand: In a word … yes. The Sun is our source of illumination, in the sense of illuminating our physical world with light, and in the sense of illuminating our spiritual world with wisdom.

Fool: Thank you, Sun, and you, Mr. Lotterhand. Wheel of Fortune, you have the podium.

Wheel of Fortune: Thank you, Fool. I would like to thank the Sun , the Magician, and Mr. Lotterhand for being here, and the Fool for acting as host.

Mr. Lotterhand, How does the energy of the Wheel of Fortune support our life?

Jason C. Lotterhand: Through the concept of rotation, or movement. Everything is constantly moving (spinning). Every activity that you and I take part in is supported by this spinning wheel of energy. Here we see the forces of both involution and evolution. Consciousness descends into denser and denser areas of physical life, until it makes a little U turn and starts ascending back up into the more “rarefied” atmosphere.

Wheel of Fortune: How does the Wheel of Fortune relate to Ezekiel’s vision?

Jason C. Lotterhand: The (prophet) Ezekiel saw the pattern of life as wheels within wheels. In his vision, the four sacred animals came from astrology. This was part of the religion at that time, and tied in with the seasons and the sun. The orange coloring in the wheel indicates that it is fueled by a solar source. Key 10 (the Wheel of Fortune) is attributed to Jupiter, who rules change of form … energy moving from one form of manifestation to another.

Wheel of Fortune: Does meditation with the Tarot and the Cabala offer a way of resolving inner conflicts?

Jason C. Lotterhand: In a word … yes. If your meditation is focused on understanding yourself, and what is going on around you, you will resolve any inner conflicts that you may have.

Fool: Thank you, Wheel of Fortune, and you, Mr. Lotterhand. Magician, you have the podium.

Magician: Thank you, Fool. I would like to thank the Sun , the Wheel of Fortune, and Mr. Lotterhand for being here, and the Fool for acting as host.

Mr. Lotterhand, What function does the archetype of the Magician serve in the Tarot?

Jason C. Lotterhand: The Magician shows us, first of all, how to contact Life Force (note the bringing down of energy from the spiritual world into the physical world through the gesture of his upraised wand). The Magician, in the form of our Self-Consciousness, recognizes that all of his powers are derived from the basic reality that is the universe. Here also we see the techniques of concentration and dedication. The Magician shows us how to liberate ourselves through mental methods.

Magician: How does the Magician help us to remain attentive to the higher power?

Jason C. Lotterhand: People readily see that the archetype of the Magician is an ideal, not something that they will see in the everyday world. To make a success of your life, you have to assume the role of the Magician … you have to BE the Magician. You have to act on your capabilities, and move forward in an orderly fashion. The Magician gives us the elemental tools that we need to do this.

Magician: Don’t we have to want to transform, before we can transform ourselves?

Jason C. Lotterhand: Yes, we do. This is the purpose for the Magician living in the house of desire. The red roses surround him in the form of an arbor, creating a private place in which to practice his magic. (Interesting note here: Lotterhand talks about the desire nature being reflective of experiences gone before.)

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

Jason C. Lotterhand: Life is ever moving, ever evolving. We are the masters of our own destiny. What we focus on, what we fill with intent and purpose, is what manifests in our life.

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/) .

© November 2012 Bonnie Cehovet

 

Thursday Night Tarot – Moon/Hermit

This is the ninth 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 ninth Birth Card pair up is the Moon/Hermit.

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 Moon/Hermit duo: “Finding ones own truth, and connecting with ones self. ” To my left is the Moon, to my right is the Hermit, and to the Hermit’s right we have Mr. Lotterhand. Thank you all for being here. Moon, you may begin.

The Moon: I would like to thank Mr. Lotterhand and the Hermit 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, can you please explain why the Moon carries such a dichotomy of energy?

Jason C. Lotterhand: The Moon takes us up through an evolutionary process to the Peak of Understanding. Here spiritual and physical evolution go hand in hand. Here we see the dichotomy of the tamed self versus the wild self, represented by the two figures in this card – the dog and the wolf. Another way of looking at this dichotomy is intuition versus illusion. Definitely a dichotomy that leads to attention being paid to “hidden information”.

The Moon: What do the 18 yods in the image of the Moon represent?

Jason C. Lotterhand: Wow! They represent a tremendous amount of Life Force, and act as symbols of the Archetypal World. They are the ideas that are the guiding principles of evolution. The Moon is the agency that develops ideas. The Yods raining down in the card of the Moon illustrate the descent of grace.

The Moon: Can you talk a bit about the dog being tame by nature, and the wolf being seen as wild by nature, please

Jason C. Lotterhand: Our tame and our wild natures are aspects within ourselves that act as poles. We constantly move between these poles, but we need to remember not to go too far in either direction.

Fool: Thank you, Moon, and you, Mr. Lotterhand. Hermit, you have the podium.

Hermit: Thank you, Fool. I would like to thank the Moon and Mr. Lotterhand for being here, and the Fool for acting as host.

Mr. Lotterhand, what does the Hermit represent?

Jason C. Lotterhand: The Hermit represents the Cosmic Self, and also our own True Self. Remember, our major goal in life is to identify with our Inner Self … i.e. we strive to “be” ourselves!

Hermit: Can you talk a bit about the lantern that I carry, please.

Jason C. Lotterhand: I know what you are getting at, Hermit. The light from your lantern is not so that you can see … it is to act to draw Seekers to you, so that you can share your wisdom. Remember, each of us has all of life itself within us, to teach us and guide us. The six pointed star in the Hermit’s lamp symbolizes Tiphareth on the Tree of Life. The upward pointing fire triangle corresponds to the Three Supernals, while the downward pointing water triangle represents their reflection in substantiality. Together, Fire and Water create the Light of Beauty, which guides us through our whole life.

Hermit:  What is transcendence?

Jason C. Lotterhand: Transcendence is the ability to see yourself in a larger context. Life consists of being “in” ourselves. The transformation is at an inner, rather than an outer level.

The Hermit: Do you have any final thoughts for our audience?

Jason C. Lotterhand: We need to have limitations. The creative life as described in the Cabala indicates that we do not attach ourselves to any particular state. We always need to be ready for change, to be willing to expand out lives.

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

 

Thursday Night Tarot – Star/Strength

This is the eighth 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 eighth Birth Card pair up is the Star/Strength.

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 Star/Strength duo: “The ability to control our passions, and our connection to Spirit, which brings us hope.” To my left is the Star, to my right is Strength, and to the Strength’s right we have Mr. Lotterhand. Thank you all for being here. Star, you may begin.

The Star: I would like to thank Mr. Lotterhand and Strength 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, can you explain to our audience what the image on this card represents, please.

Jason C. Lotterhand: The image on this card is one of a woman kneeling on land, with one foot in the water. She holds a jug of water in each hand. From one jug she is pouring water into the water in front of her, and from the other jug she is pouring water into the land she is kneeling on. The woman represents the Divine Mother, supplying us with the function of consciousness that we call meditation. This is a great gift that is open to all of us. When we meditate, we access untapped parts of ourselves.

The Star: What do the stars surrounding the central figure in this card stand for?

Jason C. Lotterhand: The larger central star is symbolic of the Life Power, which is the energizing principle of the entire universe. The seven smaller stars symbolize the seven chakras, which are associated with the seven original planets of astrology, and the seven alchemical metals. The larger star energizes the seven smaller stars.

The Star: What is meditation?

Jason C. Lotterhand: Meditation is simply the ability to focus your mind for extended periods of time. Because your awareness is focused on one thing over a period of time, you are able to take your awareness of it to a deeper level. You will become aware of its true nature, and what that means to you. To do this we need the ability to still our mind, and access information from our super-conscious. This helps us to be balanced and guided in our earthly existence.

Fool: Thank you, Star, and you, Mr. Lotterhand. Strength, you have the podium.

Strength: Thank you, Fool. I would like to thank the Star and Mr. Lotterhand for being here, and the Fool for acting as host.

Mr. Lotterhand, What is the principle behind the card of Strength?

Jason C. Lotterhand: Short and simple – force needs to be mitigated by love for us to be truly victorious.

Strength: Why is Key 8 (Strength) called the Intelligence of the Secret of All Spiritual Activities?

Jason C. Lotterhand: When the suggestions that we make of a self-conscious level reach the subconscious level, the universal machinery is set in motion. Suggestions that we make to ourselves set up a vibrational response in the environment around us.

Strength:  How can we differentiate masculine and feminine, when everything that is manifested contains both energies?

Jason C. Lotterhand: Masculine nature us self-imparting, feminine nature is receptive. The sun shines, while the moon reflects. Unity is the source of polarity. The lemniscate indicates the general tendency toward unity.

The Chariot: Do you have any final thoughts for our audience?

Jason C. Lotterhand: The purple mountain in Strength represents the Great Work. Here we are involved in our own personal evolution, supported by the Life Force.

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

 

Thursday Night Tarot – Tower/Chariot

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

 

Thursday Night Tarot – Devil/Lovers

This is the sixth 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 sixth Birth Card pair up is Devil/Lovers.

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 Devil/Lovers duo: “Dealing with relationships of all types, and the issues connected with them.” To my left is the Devil, to my right is the Lovers, and to the Loverss right we have Mr. Lotterhand. Thank you all for being here. Temperance, you may begin.

The Devil: I would like to thank Mr. Lotterhand and the Lovers 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 bring up a good point when you say that humanity uses me as an excuse for all of the evils in the world. You also state that in the Cabalistic world there is no devil. Can you elaborate on this for a moment, please.

Jason C. Lotterhand: There are demons in all religions. It seems to be a popular pastime. It is also a good way to control people – through fear. I could go on about how we define evil, and how it really is based on concepts that we simply don’t happen to agree with. Anything that opposes our personal will is a devil for us. In Key 15 our Innermost Self appears in the guise of Adversary. It will get after us every time we do something incorrect. We despise this dark angel because it challenges  us. The main teaching for this Key is that nothing in the universe is inimical to Man.

The Devil: Is the Adversary Man’s conscious then?

Jason C. Lotterhand:  Not really. Conscious is a learned thing, and the Adversary is an inner urge that encourages us to evolve, and become illuminated.

The Devil: My posture is similar to that of the Magician. Can you shed some light on this?

Jason C. Lotterhand: The Magician is a white magician, and someone who is humble, and understands that he is an agent of higher intelligence. The invocation of grace is part of who he is.

You, on the other hand, are a black magician. You feel that power comes from yourself. You think of power in terms of ego and personal achievement.

Fool: Thank you, Devil, and you, Mr. Lotterhand. Lovers, you have the podium.

The Lovers: Thank you, Fool. I would like to thank the Devil and Mr. Lotterhand for being here, and the Fool for acting as host. Mr. Lotterhand, you state that I most closely represent Beauty as the central Sephirah on the Tree of Life. Why is this important?

Jason C. Lotterhand: When the Lovers are apart, nothing happens. It takes them coming together to create beauty … it is that simple. Beauty is subtle – that is why this key is connected with the concept of Discrimination. In this way our senses are refined. The Angel blessing the Lovers is represents superconsciousness. It is the conscious and subconscious within that is being blessed. Integration is the blessing, Communication is the beauty.

The Lovers: A short aside here. Why is the snake a positive from the viewpoint of Cabala?

Jason C. Lotterhand: The snake foreshadows spiritual success. In Genatria, the word for serpent has the same numeration as the word for redeemer or Messiah. There is only one Life Force.

The Lovers:  Are the pillars reflected I the two trees in Key 6?

Jason C. Lotterhand: Yes, they are. The Tree of Life behind Adam has 12 flames, representing the twelve kinds of expressions noted by astrologers for thousands of years. The fruits on the Tree of Knowledge behind Eve symbolize the five senses. It is through our senses that we receive joy in life.

The Lovers: Is it possible to be complete without a partner/mate?

Jason C. Lotterhand: The primary thing that we have to remember here is that we have the energy of the Lovers within ourselves. We are complete in and of ourselves … completeness does not cme from another person. Once we come to that realization, we can make the conscious decision to share ourselves with another person, and they can make a conscious decision to share themselves with us.

The Lovers: Do you have any final thoughts for our audience?

Jason C. Lotterhand: Love is unconditional and self-imparting – we do not have to work to generate love, it exists as a universal principle. We simply have to allow it to flow through us.

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

 

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 – Wheel of Fortune/Magician

This is the first 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 first Birth Card pair up are the Wheel of Fortune and the Magician.

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 first conversation is the theme for the Wheel of Fortune/Magician duo: “Accepting what fortune brings you, versus creating your own destiny.” To my left is the Wheel of Fortune, to my right is the Magician, and to the Magician’s right we have Mr. Lotterhand. Thank you all for being here. Wheel of Fortune, you may begin.

Wheel of Fortune: I would like to thank Mr. Lotterhand and the Magician 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 inner whirling, and the part of me that stays still. Can you explain to our audience a little about this.

Jason C. Lotterhand: Certainly. The principle of inner whirling, or rotation, supports every activity that you and I engage in. The stopping and starting of the great wheel (ROTA) represents the forces of involution and evolution. The part of us that is not whirling around all the time is our discriminating consciousness. Lucky fellow is able to be aware of all the whirling without losing his balance. This is symbolized by the Sphinx, and also by the very center of the Wheel.

Wheel of Fortune: Can you explain to our audience what the images in my four corners represent, please.

Jason C. Lotterhand: I would be happy to do that. The Lion represents the archetypal world. The Eagle represents the creative world. The Person represents the formative world. The Bull represents the world of result. These also represent the fixed signs of the zodiac. The Wheel is constructed in the manner of concentric circles, with the archetypal world at the center, followed by th creative world, the formative world, and the world of results.

Wheel of Fortune: Could you please explain to our audience which direction I turn in, and why.

Jason C. Lotterhand: The Wheel of Fortune turns counterclockwise, with the yellow serpent going down on the left representing involution. Anubis, the figure on the right hand side of the Wheel, is then evolving. The Sphinx at the top represents our Innermost Self.

Wheel of Fortune: Do you have any last words for our audience?

Jason C. Lotterhand: The Wheel is what started us off in the first place, and it is what will get us out of all of our difficulties.

Fool: Thank you, Wheel of Fortune, and you, Mr. Lotterhand. Magician, you have the podium.

Magician: Thank you, Fool. I would like to thank the Wheel of Fortune and Mr. Lotterhand for being here, and the Fool for acting as host. These conversations are very meaningful. I would like to start out by asking Mr. Lotterhand to explain to the audience my function on this journey.

Jason C. Lotterhand: Very apt request, Magician. You are the beginning of the Tarot, the individual that starts the Fool along his journey. He shows us how to contact what we consider to be Life Force, The Magician’s upraised wand, which represents our Self-Consciousness, tells us that he recognizes that all of the powers that he utilizes come from the basic Reality in the universe. In essence he is both saluting this super-power, and connecting to it. This gesture shows the technique of concentration and dedication, and keeps us from falling into the trap of the ego.

Magician: Why is my association with Mercury important?

Jason C. Lotterhand: Tarot liberates us primarily through mental methods. Mercury represents the intellect, and brings spark to the processes of the mind. This is very important, as the Magician’s main magic is that of what he can doing simply by wanting to do it! The red robe must be present for magic to happen. Man is a mediator between the inner and outer aspects of life. Man’s power is exercised primarily through his desire-nature. True magic is the magic of the Self.

Magician: What is the key to man’s transformation?

Jason C. Lotterhand: The key to man’s transformation is mastering his inner forces, and wanting change to be there.

Magician: Could you please tell our audience a little bit about the lemniscate (figure eight/infinity sign) above my head.

Jason C. Lotterhand: The center of the lemniscate represents a balance point that harmonizes the opposite sides of the Tree of Life, the Pillar of Mercy and the Pillar of Severity. Here we see that they are not at war, but that they are reciprocal actions of each other.

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

Jason C. Lotterhand: Throught he Magician, we create/manifest through the process of desire.

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)

© March 2012 Bonnie Cehovet