A collection of archetypal images that resonate with phases in my life:
Why Tarot Cards?
The Tarot Deck is a collection of archetypal images. During the developmental phase of my life I was keenly aware of the archetypal energies I was encountering. I found that contemplating a picture that illustrated a particular energy made it much easier to identify that energy's influence, feel my connection to it, and consciously integrate that energy into my life.
As I was working through the pages in the Journey section of this site I noticed that many of the pages focused around a single theme. I also noticed the alignment of those themes with the archetypes illustrated in the Tarot deck, so I included the cards as a visual representation of what was going on. I further noticed how all those isolated experiences combined together to form a larger program of learning toward the goal of incorporating all these energies within my self and my life.
The images remind me of a time and place in my life. Times and places in my life remind me of the images. Linking them together allows the two processes to work together.
The Fool — Entering the World
A carefree youth strolls down a mountainside holding a white flower, accompanied by a white dog, and about to step off a cliff.
Traditional Interpretation
The beginning of all things, living in a state of pure, childlike (but not childish) innocence.
What it Means to Me
The fact that The Fool is card number zero speaks to its symbolism. This is what exists before all else, and without which all else is meaningless. The arrival of the Innocent into the world is what triggers all of the events that are about to transpire. Being a card without a real number also implies a spiritual element to this card — as the zero is outside of the world of real numbers, but our number system depends on the zero to function, so too is The Fool outside the world of human experience, but without it the physical experience could not exist.
The Fool comes from the mountain top, implying heaven. He is childlike, but not childish. He is pure. He is open. He is free. He will have challenges (as the cliff before him attests) but he will approach them with a pure heart (symbolized by the white flower) and will have assistance in avoiding or overcoming them (as the white dog beside him promises).
Place in my Journey
The logical place for this card is at the beginning. This is a state that we all share. What happens next is what makes us different.
Page of Cups — Learning The Way of The Heart
A young man stands near the sea happily holding a cup from which a fish is emerging.
Traditional Interpretation
A young, creative, and sensitive person who brings a positive message of love.
What it Means to Me
The Page in any suit signifies a beginner. In this case we see a novice learning the ways of the emotions — particularly around relationships. The most curious element of the image is the fish emerging from the cup, which traditionally represents the subconscious. The fish is connected to the large body of water in the background of the image. The cup is the means through which the Page is connecting to that which is larger. In the idea of the Page learning about relationships there is also the notion that through 'meeting the world' he is also 'meeting himself'.
Place in my Journey
When I first went to college in 1983 I very consciously wanted to learn new and different ways to meet and relate to those around me. Since this was a conscious choice I saw myself as very much the novice learning a new practice from the beginning.
Page of Swords — Learning The Way of The Mind
A young man stands on a windy plain with a sword held upward, looking for something to engage.
Traditional Interpretation
A state of mental clarity and concentration looking for a focal point.
What it Means to Me
The Page in any suit signifies a beginner. In this case he is the beginner in his mind. The Swords represent the world of thought and ideas. The Page is holding his sword at the ready, but there are no enemies in the picture. He is also inexperienced with the sword, so he is only practicing at this point, trying to learn how to handle the sword.
This image to me invokes a quest for knowledge and understanding. The whole notion of 'doing battle with ideas' is bound into it as well. The student that wants true understanding must be prepared to be challenged by the ideas they encounter. If they are going to gain real understanding then they must have the discipline to use the sword to cut away what is not useful or true to get at that which is.
Place in my Journey
The quest for understanding seems like a most appropriate image for setting out on a serious course of study. For me entering college was just such a time. I wanted to learn and I wanted to gain proficiency in applying my mind like a sword to cut through to the heart of the matter.
Page of Wands — Learning The Way of The Body
A young man stands on a flat, sandy plain, contemplating the staff he is holding.
Traditional Interpretation
Someone taking on a new role that is a little bigger than he or she is ready for.
What it Means to Me
The Page in any suit signifies a beginner. In this case he is the beginner in manifesting something new. The suit of Wands is about action and making something happen. It's as if The Page has just found the Wand and is not sure what to do with it, but he's going to figure something out. There's a sense of discovery here, partly because he appears so interested and partly because he appears to be in a place devoid of growing things. It's also interesting that the Wand is a bit taller than he is, suggesting that he's not quite "up to the task", but still willing to give it a go.
Place in my Journey
Perhaps it is the similarity with The Wand in the Page's hand to the way in which a novice rower first contemplates an oar, but this image aligns with my experience with Crew. Making something happen and taking on a new challenge that is taller than yourself both fit in very well with this experience. Certainly the sense of being a novice did, since you were actually called that and were very conscious that you still had a lot to learn each time you went out on the water.
Page of Pentacles — Learning The Way of The Soul
A young man stands in a field before a mountain, holding aloft a Pentacle.
Traditional Interpretation
One who is starting a new pursuit, but still has much to learn.
What it Means to Me
The Page in any suit signifies a beginner. In this case he is a beginner at manifesting what he wants to create in the world. Pentacles traditionally signifies manifestation, so in this case the figure is contemplating a single realized thing. The fact that he is standing in a lush green field implies that he is in an environment that will supply him with the materials he needs, but he needs to figure out how to turn that into what he wants it to be.
Place in my Journey
There is an alchemical association with the Pentacles for me. The symbol of the pentagram appears in astrological, mathematical, and philosophical disciplines, symbolizing many different things, but all of them centered on the balanced union of the natural world. In my life this was about finding people and ideas that balanced those that I already had. In both high school and college I discovered that spending time with diverse people who thought differently than I did expanded my thoughts and my outlook on life. I learned to seek out these people as their presence in my life pushed me to expand my view of people and what's possible in life.
4 of Cups — Choosing What's Not in Front of You
A man sits under a tree facing three cups before him, while a fourth is offered magically from the sky.
Traditional Interpretation
One who is dissatisfied with his current lot, but not aware of all options on offer.
What it Means to Me
The figure in the image is clearly dissatisfied with the three options (cups) before him. He does not seem to notice the 4th cup yet, which implies that the image is of the moment that it appears. He has not yet recognized it for what it is: the solution that he is seeking. The fact that the solution is being offered out of thin air implies that it is either divinely offered, or springing from natural forces beyond what the man possesses on his own.
Place in my Journey
Occasionally you feel 'led' to do something. The leadings often go against prevailing wisdom, but still feel like the right thing for you. I felt this way about my deciding to take a year off from college. There were many people who told me I was crazy, and I couldn't give a clear account of exactly what I expected to accomplish. I just knew that it was what I needed to do. I had come to trust the inspirations that spring out of nowhere, and so I followed it.
The Hanged Man — That Which Holds Us Back
A man hangs upside down from a tree, yet he appears calm and serene, even angelic.
Traditional Interpretation
One who is in a state of temporary inaction for the purpose of gaining insight or perspective.
What it Means to Me
The Hanged Man is clearly 'strung up', but yet he appears to be happy and content. It's as if he is either complicit, or at least acquiescent, to his current situation. This implies that he sees value in what he's doing, even though it has taken away his independence and mobility for the time being.
Place in my Journey
I use this image to represent the year that I spent living and working at home after my first year at college in 1984. I put myself into self-imposed hiatus from school so that I could gain perspective on what I was doing with my life and what I wanted to do with the investment that I was making in college. It was not fun in many ways, but it was what I chose to do and I knew that it was the most valuable thing I could do in the long run.
2 of Swords — Choosing Among Competing Ideas
A blindfolded woman sits facing away from the sea holding two swords crossed in front of her.
Traditional Interpretation
One who is resisting making a decision between two equally difficult options.
What it Means to Me
While the swords are identical there is one deciding factor in the picture: The Moon. Even though the woman is blindfolded the suggestion is that she can sense the presence of The Moon and 'leans' toward it in her decision. The fact that her dominant hand (the one folded away from her body) has subconsciously pointed toward the moon already implies that the decision was made before this point, but she has to consciously realize it.
Place in my Journey
This image is about making a major decision using internal faculties (intuition) rather than external ones (sight). The implication is that it's more about knowing what you really want than deciding what you 'should' do. This brings to mind my decision to go back to UNH after returning from Ireland. I didn't have a clear direction externally to go back, in fact there were many obstacles to my returning (no job, no home, no classes). It was what I truly wanted though, so it was the right choice for me.
6 of Wands — Triumphant Entry
A man bearing a stave decorated with garlands rides a white horse in a procession.
Traditional Interpretation
A hero's welcome, a celebration of success, and ability to move forward.
What it Means to Me
The figure on horseback is being honored, as shown by the wreath on his stave as well as the white horse on which he's riding. I can't help feeling that all is not well though; the figure faces away from the viewer, which implies something hidden. I get the sense that the figure is watching something else that has yet to happen, or which he is uncertain about. The events are not finished unfolding. The other figures appear to be watching, but I don't get the sense that they are celebrating as much as interested in how events will unfold as well.
Place in my Journey
Returning to New Hampshire after being home for a year felt like a triumphant return. I had gone away to try to accomplish something and I thought that I had done just that. I was eager to get myself back on track. There was more to come, though it could not be seen from where the figure sits at this moment.
8 of Pentacles — Working Your Craft
A man is absorbed in his tasks at his workbench. The town sits behind him in the distance.
Traditional Interpretation
One who is fully consumed in his solitary work.
What it Means to Me
The figure is fully engaged in what he's doing, cranking out pentacles. The town in the distance suggests that he is connected to the community, but not in the middle of it. This says that he is solitary and not distracted. He knows what he needs to do, he has found a place where he can do it undisturbed, and he is setting about his work.
Place in my Journey
Once I returned to New Hampshire I settled in to 'work my craft', going to school, working, and enjoying being with people that inspired me. This image sums up how I felt about that time in my life.
7 of Wands — Fighting Unseen Enemies
A man stands on a hilltop with a stave in his hand while fighting multiple staves coming from below.
Traditional Interpretation
One who is being accosted by unseen enemies below and must fight to hold his position.
What it Means to Me
The figure on the hill is clearly defending himself from an attack from below, but from whom? Nothing of the attackers can be seen, other than the staves. This implies that they are not necessarily people. Having the attack from below suggests that it is from within. Curiously, the man has two different shoes on. This implies that he is not 'sure of his footing' in a metaphorical sense, which also contributes to the idea that the reason he has conflict is because of something about him more than something about others.
Place in my Journey
The image of fighting unseen enemies from within speaks directly to how I felt the fall after moving back to New Hampshire; I was fighting a discord that I could not see, but which I could not escape. I needed to get on firm footing to be able to address these forces. That started with figuring out what they were.
8 of Cups — Looking for What's Not There
A man is walking away from 8 cups along a rocky shoreline beneath an eclipsing Sun and Moon.
Traditional Interpretation
An event that compels one to leave valuable things behind in pursuit of something more important.
What it Means to Me
The 8 cups the figure is leaving behind seem to represent something of significant quantity and yet, he is still walking away. We cannot see what he is walking toward, so the focus is on what he leaves behind. The Sun and Moon are clearly in conjunction at the top left — an eclipse is happening which is driving the decision.
Place in my Journey
When I realized that I needed to go on a psychological quest things in my life were going well in other areas. I had friends, I had a job and a home, I was having a good time. I knew that there was something more valuable to be had if I could gain a deeper understanding of myself though. I left everything else behind and went to seek it. It was a bit scary at first, but in the end it was the best thing I could have done.
The Hermit — That Which Helps Us Through
An old, cloaked man stands atop a mountain and holds a lantern aloft to illuminate someone or something unseen below.
Traditional Interpretation
A person or force that guides the way to deeper knowledge or understanding.
What it Means to Me
The Hermit represents a guide. It could come in the form of a person, a group, or an idea. It is exactly what we need at the time, though it often does not appear that way at first glance. It has the ability to illuminate the trail ahead of us and help us navigate the road that we are on.
Place in my Journey
During my first winter in Portsmouth in 1986 I set out on an inward quest. I didn't know what I was looking for, how to go about it, or what the ultimate goal was. I was climbing blind. During that process I seemed to encounter people, ideas, insights when I needed them and I always found a way forward.
The Sun — The Birth of Wonder
A happy child with a wreath of flowers and arms outstretched rides a white horse beneath a large sun.
Traditional Interpretation
The Sun represents a state of joy, happiness and success. The happy child represents a person who is in a very positive place.
What it Means to Me
Were the child real it would most likely fall off the horse, so this image is clearly symbolic. The image projects purity and innocence (the naked child) a state of union with the world (riding a white horse) receiving abundance from the world (flowers behind him/her) and benevolence from the heavens (the warm sun smiling down). This image represents a state of childlike grace.
Place in my Journey
I use this image to illustrate the feeling of the Summer of 1986 in Portsmouth. I had come through a dark winter that was full of deep emotional digging through my inner baggage. The season that followed was correspondingly light and joyful as I re-entered the world with a lighter load and greater appreciation for life. The pure, joyful innocence of the time matches the feeling of the image.
7 of Pentacles — The Harvest of Your Labors
A man stands leaning on a hoe and contemplating the garden growing before him that is bearing fruit.
Traditional Interpretation
One who is diligently working to build long-term value in something, resting and considering what he's grown.
What it Means to Me
The figure is clearly contemplating what he has grown, but his face is a bit inscrutable. Is he happy with his harvest, or should there be more? Is he tired from labor or disappointed? The harvest seems quite fruitful and healthy — which would seem to be the goal, but there is something uncertain about how he sees it.
Place in my Journey
The image of the gardener is very appropriate to my time in Portsmouth. It was a time of planting new ideas and attitudes and tending them to encourage growth. The events that grew out of those efforts felt very much like the fruits of my labor because they were literally the outgrowth of the psychological processes of exploration and contemplation.
2 of Wands — Looking Beyond Current Riches
A man stands on a high wall holding a staff in one hand and a globe in the other. He is looking off into the distance over water.
Traditional Interpretation
One who is about to leave one place to pursue a vision of a far-off destination.
What it Means to Me
The man is clearly a rich man, who literally 'has the world in his hands', while standing in fine clothes on the parapet of a massive house. The picture implies that it is his own. Yet with all this wealth he is looking off into the distance, which makes me very curious what could have his attention.
Place in my Journey
This image reminds me of trying to make the decision whether or not to leave Portsmouth. I had an abundance of riches where I was (the staff on the wall, the house, the clothes) but there was something that called me away (the staff in the other hand and the globe). The fact that he's holding a globe in his hand makes me think he wants to travel, which makes him very much like me — willing to give up what I had in Portsmouth for the dream of traveling the world.
He has the materials, but now he needs to decide where to manifest his life. It looks like he's already made his decision.
2 of Cups — Commitment to Another
A man and woman stand together beneath a Caduceus each holding a cup, which they appear to be offering to each other.
Traditional Interpretation
A deeply committed, communicative relationship.
What it Means to Me
The image of this couple clearly speaks of a commitment along the lines of marriage. It's hard to see anything else where the cup is featured so prominently. The usage of the Caduceus symbol (where two snakes wrap around the staff) in ancient Greek and Roman times represented commerce, trades, communication, and negotiation. (The association with medicine is actually a mistaken one as the Rod of Asclepius, which is what is supposed to be depicted has only one snake.)
Place in my Journey
I spent a lot of time and energy pursuing a quest for freedom, both in terms of freedom to travel and freedom from commitments. Having fully explored that I was eager to settle down and commit to a partnership with another person. This image is a very good illustration of what I was looking for from settling down with Jules in Seattle. It speaks to a commitment to a person, a place, and a relationship.
4 of Wands — Community Celebration
Four staves with strung garlands appear before a group of celebrants with a castle in the background.
Traditional Interpretation
A process of becoming harmoniously integrated into one's community or extended family.
What it Means to Me
It could be a wedding, but more broadly I see a community celebrating itself. The holding of bouquets or wreaths above the heads of the two figures in the center of the staves implies a victory or achievement of some kind. The other people off to the left imply a group that is celebrating along with the two guests of honor. It's not clear who the celebrants are or what the occasion is, but the feeling of joy and success seems clear. The fact that the staves and garlands represent a gateway symbolizes a matriculation of some kind.
Place in my Journey
The feeling of this card resonates with how I felt coming off the road and back into community, both on a singular level with Jules and on a larger level with a community in Seattle. I was leaving one kind of life and entering another.
10 of Cups — Emotional Completeness
A couple stands beneath a rainbow of cups while two children dance next to them. Behind them is a peaceful-looking home.
Traditional Interpretation
A state of harmony and alignment with family, community, self, and the world.
What it Means to Me
This is a picture of emotional completeness and fulfillment. While not everyone's image of perfection, this image shows a couple with a happy and healthy family, a beautiful home in a beautiful place, and a sense of fullness and emotional abundance. The number 10 implies completeness and the cups refer to the emotional situation.
Place in my Journey
There's not much more to say about this image — this is the happy ending we're all looking for.