Great point

Thank you for taking the time to share this

As Tarot Readers we get to meet a large cross-section of people – the more the better – and if we are smart about it, we will always be learning more about ourselves through our clients.

I agree – great point! Thanks for sharing

Thanks you for your kind words

Another note about understanding The Devil and The Hierophant. They are the the representation of karma, not the result. If life were a movie, they would neither be the production or the picture. They are the cameras. Whereas the Heirophant is the closeup that enhances your significance as you determinedly plow through lifes obstacles,(for better or worse), the Devil is the panoramic view that makes everything else significant and shows you trying to walk down the busy city sidewalk while being jostled to oblivion

Very interesting!!!

I like the way you connect them as the “representation” of Karma, not the “result”. I also agree with “the time required for a greater cycle set to come together with the influence of the Devil”. I’ve often found that an aspect of the Devil can be representative of “time” – in business for instance. At the very least, the Devil would indicate “time” as a concept central to a reading – much like the Hermit, or the Hanged Man.

Great comment

Thanks for dropping

…a day where it relates to my own morning Tarot meditation.

…check out one of Lionel’s awesome Tarot meditations: Better Reading With Lightening Round Tarot

I consider these ‘difficult’ combinations to be invitations for some meditation, and I will often use the phenomena itself as a read on my client’s situation. For example, I often will take some extra time in silence while I imagine ways to relate them elegantly, and if I can’t I have said, “I want to find an elegant way to connect these cards, but there’s something stuttered, difficult about them appearing together. Perhaps in your life, there is a contrast, a schism that has made things much more complicated than usual.”

What a great approach. I like the way you use this to involve the client

Thank you for your kind words

I’m finding that I usually get a flash of insight after about 4 days of things percolating in the back of my mind. The light bulb suddenly flickers on and I slot another piece of the puzzle into place. I’m really enjoying how the layers of meanings for the cards are growing and expanding!

As Tarot Readers we get to meet a large cross-section of people – the more the better – and if we are smart about it, we will always be learning more about ourselves through our clients.

Great post. I really like how your associating your cards here. The Devil’s karma is particularly difficult in any reading, and it is especially important to refer to the absence of elements when you encounter it. I refer the casual reader to Alison’s post,.

When I refer to the greater cycle I’m always talking about the bigger picture. In this case the bigger picture just happens to be The Hierophant’s big brother. The Hierophant is the pure karma residing in the lesser cycle of the major key. The problem is that when we get to the devil, the drawn energy is more diffuse and subsequently affects us both directly and indirectly for a greater length of time. In the circumstances surrounding The Heirophant, the effects are more noticeable, and therefore more easily resolved.

Another note about understanding The Devil and The Hierophant. They are the the representation of karma, not the result. If life were a movie, they would neither be the production or the picture. They are the cameras. Whereas the Heirophant is the closeup that enhances your significance as you determinedly plow through lifes obstacles,(for better or worse), the Devil is the panoramic view that makes everything else significant and shows you trying to walk down the busy city sidewalk while being jostled to oblivion. Of course, the key to this scene is whether or not you were walking because you were determinedly driving and happened to plow into another car. By the way. You may want to check and see if your wallet survived the rather violent jostle.

One more little thing. Let’s not confuse the time required for a greater cycle set to come together with the influence of the Devil. That would be Temperance. Hehe! This was the hardest card I ever had to learn. It took a very long time. I know, “Of course,” right. lol. But if I hadn’t learned it that way I may not have the depth I do today. Crazy big little world for sure. Again, great post Doug. I’m anxiously awaiting your next.

Love and Light,
Bulal

I consider these ‘difficult’ combinations to be invitations for some meditation, and I will often use the phenomena itself as a read on my client’s situation. For example, I often will take some extra time in silence while I imagine ways to relate them elegantly, and if I can’t I have said, “I want to find an elegant way to connect these cards, but theres something stuttered, difficult about them appearing together. Perhaps in your life, there is a contrast, a schism that has made things much more complicated than usual.”

I’ve had amazing results with this technique; Clients will suddenly volunteer helpful details, like new loves they aren’t sure what to do with, sudden travel needing to balance with a stable job, fears about their way of life – all sorts of things!

So I suppose one solution is to see the reader’s difficulty as its own solution – Whatever the specific combination is, something in the reading is shouting, ‘HARD!’

Thanks again, your blog has become on of my favorite inspirations for my own Tarot writing

Thanks for dropping by

What a great example – it’s amazing how sometimes things have to be really obvious before we notice.

Back when I first started reading Tarot cards, I had a whole bunch of people with almost identical ‘problems’ as me. It took me a while to notice that it was almost like giving myself a Tarot reading. As soon as the, “the ol’ lightbulb went on over my head” the clients changed and the cycle continued.

Thank you for sharing