Tarot Research
Strictly Supernatural: Tarot and Astrology - 1997 TLC Special - exploration of tarot narrated by Christopher Lee
Looks at astrology first
Says the time and place of our birth determines the trajectory of our lives
Everyone knows their zodiac signs and many look at horoscopes
Astrology is known as the “Queen of sciences” (is it really tho lol) - An effort to combine science and philosophy into an explanation of destiny
Horoscopes are designed to be like a “weather report” for the events of someone’s day
12 Zodiac signs - people born under the same sign are said to share the same characteristics
A true horoscope looks at more than just the sun sign. It’s a natal chart - a map of where the planets were at the time of your birth.
From this chart an astrologer can make predictions about the type of person you are, the challenges you’ll face in life, likely professions, and more.
Can be drawn up for anything that has an origination date and place -including countries, buildings, projects, etc.
Explanation of creation of a natal chart using an astrological table
Look at time, date, and place of birth. Translate the time in London at that time because all planetary tables are calculated for London (lmfao alright). Go to the table of houses and use this information to look up the rising sign - the sign rising over the Eastern horizon when someone is born. This is as important as the sun sign. Mark this on the left hand side and fill in the rest of the zodiac on the rest of the chart.
The chart is then divided into houses. Each house refers to aspects of life like money, relationships, work, etc.
Look at where the planets were at the person’s time of birth. Books are sold with this information dating back 100 years. Document the planetary positions on the chart according to nearest degree.
Examine which planets are aligned with which zodiacs and houses on the natal chart. These planets will have influences on each area of life according to the zodiac / house they’re associated with
Angles and distances between planets in a chart (called aspects) can be difficult or easy. Difficult aspects mean emotional turbulence or conflict and vice versa.
Can be used to make decisions about a new endeavor, planning according to a projected natal chart
No horoscope declares absolute knowledge of the future, only the possibility and conditions for events
Goal is to help you know yourself better and so better handle conflict and stressors
Belief that charts cannot predict a couple’s happiness but can reveal potential problems.
Others use astrology to inform medical decisions
Some investment houses use astrology to make financial decisions. Look at the horoscope of the business, the business’s country of origin, the country’s currency, etc.
3000BC early Mesopotamia, Babylonia
Astronomers noticed that the planets seemed to follow erratic paths, sometimes moving past each other quickly, other times slowing down or going backwards. First discovery of planetary orbits.
Recorded patterns between orbits and events on Earth.
Believed that the universe was alive and that nature was talking to them. Natural forces were their gods and goddesses. The planets represented the gods. The closer a planet was to Earth, the more strongly people on Earth were affected by it.
Astrology was a formal course of study in Elizabethan English scholarship
There was court astrologer who served as an advisor to the royal court of England
People went to an astrologer when making major life decisions, when they suffered a loss, or when seeking guidance on romance and family matters
Astrology and historical figures
Persian astronomers saw an unusual grouping of planets and referred to their notes. An astrologer said this would happen and would mark the birth of a new king. They astronomers set off and were led to Jesus and Mary (the three wise men)
Alignment of Jupiter (associated with kings) and Saturn (associated with the jewish community) occured in the constellation of pisces (associated with Bethlehem). These two planets aligned three times in one year. This “triple conjunction” in pisces only takes place once every 900 years. This led to the prediction of a king of jewish origin was to be born in Bethlehem.
Associations aren’t explained. Feels like “yadayadayada…. boom. prediction was accurate.”
Hitler employed an astrologer to guide his decisions during the war. His advisor told him a specific battle was likely to end in a British victory. Hitler didn’t like this and imprisoned him. Went forward with the plan anyway and lost the battle.
Reagan had an astrological advisor who predicted the assassination attempt on his life. She would determine specific times for the president to fly out to meetings. She predicted an attempt on his life in the winter of 86-87 according to the movements of uranus and saturn. Reagan stayed in the white house for 4 months as a result. She also advised him that it would be beneficial to do business with the soviet union.
Princess Diana used astrology frequently, choosing to focus her self growth in areas that indicated difficulty in her natal chart.
Statistical evidence (an extremely loose application of the term evidence lol)
The Mars effect (?) seems to exist among professional athletes
A parent with Mars rising is likely to have a child with Mars rising
Theory that planetary movements impacts magnetism, and we respond to magnetary changes in the way that tides respond to the moon.
Psychologist input
Jung believed there was a link between planetary movements and earthly events, but not that one caused the other. Instead he believed there was a dynamic relationship between the two.
A psychologist interviewed for this documentary says she believes people know their zodiac signs and so act according to the personality traits they believe they should have, rather than inherently having those traits.
Reading a zodiac is more than just looking at the math of planetary alignment - it also requires reading a person’s body language and emotions. This implies that astrology is less about science and more about learning to manipulate someone’s reactions with “predictions”.
Tarot
Believed to be a system of divination, a philosophical system
Anyone can learn to do it - Learn about the symbols and the history, but then learn to allow intuition to guide interpretation.
History of the tarot
Imagery suggests connection to the east and filtered into Europe through trade
Some speculate that it started in the holy land and brought back to Europe during the Crusades
However the first tarot cards didn’t show up in Europe until 2 centuries after the last crusade so this can’t be the case
Some say they originated in Northern Italy in the early 15th century
First documented in 1442 but were likely invented in the 1420’s
They were not used to predict the future, they were just a card game. This was a game played among wealthy families and they would pay to have their cards hand painted.
Cards were eventually simplified and created en masse - one of the first popular decks was the Marseilles deck
Unclear when it became a divination tool but it makes sense - games of chance (like dice) are often attributed to fate, cards just became a way to read this fate
Romani are often credited as the earliest tarot readers
Some believe they originated in Egypt and each card represents a text from the egyptian libraries that was destroyed. 78 pages that were destroyed now appear as the cards (The book of Toth)
The egyptians believed that some books had spiritual powers, this is the basis for claiming the cards are the reincarnation of spiritual egyptian texts
The church did not like the tarot lol
In the late 1800s there was a revival of spiritualism in Europe. Mysticism became wildly popular.
Some started to recognize similarities among different spiritual belief systems (the tree of life in Kabbalah and the fool’s journey, for example)
Alastair Crowley and his obsession with magic / the occult
Became popular in the united states in the 1960’s. They are sold by the millions now each year, with updated artwork but still maintaining the integrity of the original imagery
The tarot deck reflects the stages and challenges of life’s journey
The pictures on the cards have meanings - intended to inspire emotions because they reflect basic human experiences.
The rectified tarot deck - the Rider-Waithe tarot deck was painted in 1909. The artist painted while listening to classical music. She was the first to put a picture on every pip card, before her the only cards to have images were the Major Arcana.
Structure for a tarot deck
78 cards made up of two Arcana
Major Arcana
22 cards. Represent archetypes and universal symbols
0- The fool is the only unnumbered card - he represents starting life’s journey. The Major Arcana, numbered 1-21 are the stages that the fool passes through in his life journey. This gives the Major Arcana cards meaning
1 - The Magician - The power of the mind, pointing to heaven and the earth. Acting as the conductor between heaven and earth. He teaches the fool to create new opportunities and ideas. Card implies that the querent must be creative in finding solutions.
2 - The High Priestess - represents the fool’s spiritual mother. May represent an unknown admirer or secret lover
3 and 4 - The empress and emperor - implying the fool’s parental figures. Represents family and leadership, respectively.
5 - The heirophant - the fool’s spiritual father. Teaches the fool humility and passion. Signifies someone who is greatly respected by the querent.
6 - The lover - represents the fool being faced with choice of romantic interest - one woman who is the calm / steady option, the other representing passion and lust. This card refers to making decisions with practicality and intentionality.
7 - The chariot - one of the most turbulent cards of the tarot - two beasts pulling in different directions. The fool cannot progress until he resolves an inner conflict.
8 - Justice - suggests solutions for the fool’s dilemmas. Wisdom and reason. Legal solutions.
9 - The hermit - the fool learns the value of solitary reflection. Taking time to stop and think.
10 - The wheel of fortune - the fool learns that everyone experiences change in life and not often under our control. The next cards take him into the underworld.
11 - Strength - The fool learns about self discipline, a call to develop self control and restraint
12 - The hanged man - The fool meets a hanged man and speaks with him about his situation. He learns to question values and look for new solutions. Suggests that sacrifices may be needed, a change of perspective.
13 - Death - Means change, not literal death. The fool learns not to be frightened of change, to embrace the challenge.
14 - Temperance - represents the balance of heart and mind. The fool needs this balance to face the temptations of the underworld now that he understands the changes he is going to face.
15 - The devil - enslavement to evil. Indicates danger and threat. The fool must face that he has a darker side.
16 - The tower - represents the shattering of old illusions. A period of huge change. The fool is forced to see that major things must change in his life
17 - The star - suggests new opportunities, a new start. The fool is facing a fresh start after the upheaval of death, temperance, the devil, and the tower.
18 - The moon - the fool discovers the sensitive side of his nature. Represents dreams and inspiration.
19 - The sun - optimism and joy. Represents that things are starting to work out for the fool.
20 - Judgement - a chance for redemption. Indicates an opportunity for assessment. The fool faces the end of his journey and must examine the trajectory of his life journey.
21 - the world - symbolizes true enlightenment, completion. The fool has finished his journey and passed all of his tests. He understands himself better after this journey.
Minor arcana
56 cards. These are the predecessors to modern playing cards
The cards are divided into suits that represent parts of society
wands represent the peasants - take on the meaning of work and enterprise
coins - represent merchants - business and finance
cups - represents the church - spiritual matters and matters of the heart
swords - represent the military - represents conflict and difficulties
Numbers also have meanings
When cards appear in reverse it changes the meaning of the card to be the opposite/somehow exaggerated
The location of the card in the spread also changes the meaning of the card
Spreads
3 card spread - past, present, and future. Pull cards from each pile to clarify the message for each time period.
Great Figure of Destiny - one of the largest spreads ever devised. incorporates all 78 cards in the deck. Cards on the right represent the Querent’s past.
Celtic Cross (10 card spread)
Steps for a tarot reading:
shuffle the cards while focusing on the question
Sometimes the reader prefers to mix, sometimes the querent is asked to mix the cards (if the querent is asked to mix they cannot deny the way the cards are ordered and must face hard truths)
The shuffle is significant and often started in a ritual (lighting candles, unwrapping the cards, etc.)
The cards are laid out in a chosen spread and interpreted according to the question asked
Looking at the cards and studying the imagery / meditating on the cards is helpful in self reflection. The cards are intended to be empowering - what do you need to let go of / embrace / build up in yourself?
Some say success is dependent on the reader’s psychological skill, not the cards. Regardless, all agree that the reader needs to be able to intuit the story and the querent’s needs.
Beginners are advised against trying to interpret their own cards for this reason. They haven’t yet developed that intuition.
