October 2019 – IsleVue

Link: Tarot at Another University Newspaper

October 17, 2019February 7, 2020 John Iacovelli

Today, the newspaper of the University of California at Santa Barbara has run a short feature article regarding tarot. The article is very short, and other than advice “not to overthink it,” it is simply a three card draw (Six of Wands, Seven of Pentacles and Eight of Pentacles) and a few sentences each regarding what each of the cards represent. Short as it may be, the article stands as an indicator that the popularity of tarot, once again, is growing in our society.

Tarotgrams

Tarotgram – The World/Earthrise

October 15, 2019February 7, 2020 John Iacovelli

I think we sometimes forget The World originally represented a supremely religious vision—the New Jerusalem—where we’ll all be (if we’re good, I guess) after the second coming. The place where good has won over evil; where all is divinity and divinity is all. In my increasingly cluttered and disorganized spirituality, I thought the NASA “Earthrise” image might convey something of the original content of that message. It might be generation specific (I was 13 when that photo was taken), but then again, I also thought about putting John, Paul, George and Ringo in the corners.

Tarotgrams

Tarotgram – Chrysomallus/Liebig Trading Card

October 13, 2019February 7, 2020 John Iacovelli

The illustration was taken from a trading card issued by the Liebig Extract of Meat Company. The cards were published beginning in the 19th century, though this one may be from the early twentieth century. It depicts the source story of Aries the ram. It represents Chrysomallus, the flying ram that rescued two children and provided the Golden Fleece. Aries can therefore embody protection, rescue and wealth. The Three of Wands, we’ve noted, is influenced by Aries. Its focus on commerce and trade (sea trade in the RWS illustration) may invoke the story of Jason and the Golden Fleece, which also touches upon Mars (the fleece was kept in a grove sacred to him) the Sun (Chrysomallus was descended from the Sun God), and Binah (the “mother” symbol of the qabala—Hera figures prominently in the Golden Fleece story). All of which are influences upon the Three of Wands.

Elsewhere

Link: The Comfort of Divination

October 8, 2019February 7, 2020 John Iacovelli

An interesting opinion/analysis article regarding divination appears on the web today from the Reporter Magazine of the Rochester Institute of Technology. Karina Le approaches astrology and tarot from a health and wellness viewpoint. The analysis of astrology relates the spatial positioning of the constellations and planets (astrology) as a metaphor of our relationship to the universe. Tarot, it is said, helps people “open up” about what they’re going through. The conclusion is that “the real magic in divination” is the experience of “expanding one’s horizons and thinking more deeply in the introspection of self, and the way we handle our lives.”