The Tarot.....too

I have been studying the Tarot for a few years now, and there is such a wealth of information that I cannot consider myself an expert at all. The reason I got into studying it is beacuse of the visual symbols that they hold. As an Artist, my journey takes me into the effect that shapes, colours, symbols, objects and animals have on the human psyche. Using these "keys" in artwork helps me create artwork that may trigger emotions in the viewer.

I am not doing it with the intention of manipulation, but in forming a deeper connection with the message I am trying to portray.

These two peices shown here are my own, influenced by the Fool and Magician Tarot cards from the Rhyder Waithe deck. I find the Tarot an enormous resource with regard to symbolism.
This second one is THE FOOL Lotus Flower. They come from an exploratory series on my spiritual principles...you can see them at 100 Lotus Flowers

There are many ways to study the Tarot.....and the more you find....well...the more you find... :)

The Tarot: A Hidden Book of Magickal Wisdom

The Emperor (Trump IV ) from the Thoth deck

Recently, I decided I would start studying the Tarot seriously. I had a deck since I was 16, but I never really took the time to really *study* it...like card by card...and I was heavily dependent on the Little-White-Book that came with the deck. I read some earlier posts in this blog with regard to Tarot, and it's true, every, little DETAIL on the card is important: from the colours of clothing, to symbols, to the positioning of the characters in the scene, the Tarot is a Deep Well of Knowledge. It looks like a simple tool...a deck of cards, one may wonder of what spiritual use is it? How can it guide you to make better choices in your life, and help you develop spiritually, emotionally, etc.? However, I have seen that the Tarot is a very powerful tool, one that shouldn't be taken lightly. It's a hidden book in my opinion...of course this is my opinion, and there are no facts concerning exactly WHERE/WHY/HOW/etc. the Tarot originated...there are many theories, and all of them may have some truth in them. All I can say for sure is that wherever Tarot originated from, or who created it, and whteher or not it was a actually a simple deck of playing cards that became a spiritual tool or vice-versa, the Tarot is a repository for the Wisdom of the Ages. It is a spiritual tool and should be respected as such...the symbols and images on them are sacred. I have realized that in studying the 78 cards of the Tarot, it leads you into other fields of the Occult arts: Astrology, Numerology, Symbology, the Kabbala as well as other fields of study such as Mythology, Psychology, etc. The deeper you go the more you realize you have to learn...you can spend your life studying the Tarot.

I have also heard of people using them in Magick spells, to predict outcomes for spells and how it'll affect you, for timing etc. I find this to be particularly interesting as I have never considered how Tarot cards can be used in spells. But the images on the cards are very powerful and they contain very deep occult symbology...you could meditate on them for hours and come away with so many spiritual riches. Some decks are more redolent in spiritual imagery than others...the Thoth deck which was done under the direction of Aleister Crowley is a fine example. Also, each card has it's own "energy"...Aces for example are pregnant with the qualities of their elemental suits....and that's another amazing thing. The Magician in the Major Arcana can probably be considered the role model for those that practise magick everywhere: he stands for a willful, confident, strong person who bends the forces of nature to his will: he makes it happen...Air, Earth, Fire, Water all conspire to materialize his goals. The Suits of the Minor Arcana all bear the imagery of 4 predominantly used Magickal tools: Swords/ Daggers/ Athames, Pentacles, Wands/ Staffs, Chalices.


Anyway...I just thought I would make this post here because I think this is a great topic to discuss and I hope it will stimulate some discussion around here, becuz it's been way too quiet as of late. What are your thoughts, opinions, views and experiences?For those of you who have already started studying the Tarot in depth, how are you progressing, and what are some of your insights?

Thought you all may be interested: The House of the Ibis series of lectures conducted by Dolores Ashcroft Norwicki

Hi everyone,

Hope all is well with you all...just thought I'd put this out there; I recently received an email from a friend concerning the House of the Ibis and their 2011 series of workshops that will be conducted by Dolores Ashcroft Norwicki. Ok before I begin, I'm NOT affiliated with this group so don't take this as advertisement; I think it's a good community announcement and it's open to one an all who're interested to attend.

I was told about these workshops from a friend who attended them last year; he attended the Tarot workshops and he highly reccomended them because of the level of detail and attention that was paid to the subject by Ms. Norwicki. I don't know much about this group but I'm very inetrested in these events...

Here is the info for the lectures. I'm planning to attend the Past Life Regression workshop God-willing; I think it will be particularly interesting :)

#2 Circular Road, Mount Lambert, Trinidad, W.I.houseoftheibis@gmail.comMaria 684‐2262 | Angela 684‐2441 | Jean‐Marc 355‐7020 | Ryan 746‐4917 | Samuel 497‐5155‐Nowicki, Director of Studies of the SOL to

“THE AFRICAN TREE OF LIFE”

 

‐

A Weekend Workshop ‐

by

Dolores Ashcroft‐Nowicki

(The Director of Studies of the Servants of the Light Association)

Worldwide Copyright

© 2011. D. Ashcroft‐Nowicki. All rights Reserved.

March 25

th ‐ 27th 2011

The Tree of Life is a basic symbol that can be found worldwide. In the West it is best known

as the Qabalah but in fact almost every country in the world has an equivalent symbol on

which can be placed the local God –Forms, Legends, Symbols and meanings.

Africa has over 50 different countries most of which have their own language, and belief

system, so, to create a single symbol out of so many would be an impossible task. But we

can create something that can act as a container for as many of the African Gods as possible

and use it as a guide.

Why? Because having a spiritual container such as The

Tree of Life helps us to understand the powers each

God Form represents and the way in which they

complement each other. We can try to create those

forms within ourselves and avail ourselves of the

energies they embody. Human Beings were created in

the

original. By meditation, ceremony, and study we try to

bring ourselves as near as is possible while in the flesh.

This means a lot of hard work but it can make us better human beings. We may not be able

to wield so called magical powers but we can make a difference in the world around us and

in our own lives.

The Tree of Life offers us a pattern to live by and enables us to see how different energies

within our physical bodies can be used in everyday life.

that it will use your own ancestral symbols and God

much deeper level than one based on The Western God Forms.

image of God, but without the powers of theThe difference with this Tree is‐Forms and will resonate at a

In order to do this I have had to use multiple Gods on each sphere to accommodate the

many differences. Once completed however it means that you will have a Tree of Life

that is firmly based on African Culture, something that has not been available until now.

Please bring an A4 size pad and some coloured pencils with you.

Date & Time:

Friday 25

Saturday 26

Sunday 27

th March 2011 – 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.th March 2011 – 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.th March 2011 – 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Cost:

$700.00 (Inclusive of Meals)

R.S.V.P.

‐ Limited spaces available!

Contact:

Maria 684‐2262 | Angela 684‐2441 | Jean‐Marc 355‐7020 | Ryan 746‐4917 | Samuel 497‐5155

“THE AFRICAN TAROT”

‐

An Evening Lecture ‐

by

Dolores Ashcroft‐Nowicki

(The Director of Studies of the Servants of the Light Association)

Worldwide Copyright

© 2011. D. Ashcroft‐Nowicki. All rights Reserved.

Tuesday 29

th March 2011

There are many, many Tarot sets, some good and some really bad; some are very strange but there

has, as far as I know, only been one attempt to demonstrate an African Tarot and not a very good

one as that. The most powerful part of a Tarot set is the Major Arcana they pertain to the actual

person using them.

In tonight’s lecture, I want to show you how to create your own Tarot trumps based on African

symbols and ideas, that will help you to get in touch with your own ancestral ties. By creating your

own set you are building a powerful meditation tool that is tuned to your deepest emotions and

inner power.

There is a long tradition of making one’s own magical tools but few people realise that this also

pertains to things like the Tarot. The African Tarot already mentioned and sold by US Games

depicts nothing of the power and great age of the African Group Soul. Far better it is to look at and

discuss each of the Trumps and draw from your own inner spiritual self what you see, feel, and

recognise as your personal understanding of that particular power.

Please bring a drawing pad, some white card, pencils and coloured crayons.

Date & Time:

Tuesday 29

th March 2011 – 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Cost:

$250.00

R.S.V.P.

‐ Limited spaces available!

Contact:

Maria 684‐2262 | Angela 684‐2441 | Jean‐Marc 355‐7020 | Ryan 746‐4917 | Samuel 497‐5155

“SANCTIFYING THE FEMININE SOUL”

‐

A Half‐Day Workshop ‐

by

Dolores Ashcroft‐Nowicki

(The Director of Studies of the Servants of the Light Association)

Worldwide Copyright

© 2000/2011. D. Ashcroft‐Nowicki. All rights Reserved.

Wednesday 30

th March 2011

This presentation is based on an Ethiopian ceremony designed to cleanse and empower the

Feminine principle and is used at many different points in a woman’s life. Before Marriage,

after the birth of a child, the death of a husband and often after menstruation as a cleaning

agent, similar to the Mikvah bath in the Jewish faith.

However in Modern times the practice has been used as a means of softening the skin and

impregnating it with perfumed oils. I have surrounded the practice with chants, movement,

and praise to the Great Mother, the Goddess of Women, and made the whole process into a

celebration of Feminine Power.

Please bring with you a set of clean underwear and a scarf to cover your hair and a 50 mil

bottle of sweet almond oil ‐ Drums, rattles, and sistrums if you have them!

Date & Time:

Wednesday 30

th March 2011 – 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Cost:

$300.00

R.S.V.P.

‐ Limited spaces available!

Contact:

Maria 684‐2262 | Angela 684‐2441 | Jean‐Marc 355‐7020 | Ryan 746‐4917 | Samuel 497‐5155

“HONOURING THE AFRICAN SLAVES”

‐

An Evening Lecture ‐

by

Roger Calliste

(The Director of Studies of the House of the Ibis)

Worldwide Copyright

© 2011. Roger Calliste. All rights Reserved.

Thursday 31

st March 2011

The Atlantic Slave Trade which began in 1440 and continued until 1870 was one of the

worst and most brutal crimes committed against humanity. For four hundred years,

human beings were taken against their will, wrested from a life that they knew with

great brute force and violence and loaded onto ships as cargo to make the most heinous

and life threatening voyage they ever knew. There, upon the ships, treated worse than

animals our forebears, men, women and children were faced with an agony, pain and

suffering beyond belief. Some did not make it and died, others chose to end their lives

by throwing themselves overboard and then there were those who made it to the New

World, a world filled with brutality, pain and sorrow and yet one filled with hope and a

deep and powerful will to survive and triumph amidst this adversity.

This is not an easy presentation to undertake but there is very little that has been done

to give honour to those of our ancestors who sacrificed their lives and their freedom

that we might live. In the Group Soul of the African race, particularly in the Diaspora this

has not been acknowledged amongst those of us who are descendants of these mighty

men, women and children. Instead there has been an attempt to forget the past, and the

despair of a lot of our ancestors.

In this evening presentation we are going to remember this aspect of our history and for

a moment reach back into the not so distant past of slavery and restore and return our

ancestors to the high place of honour they once held. If we light a candle of hope and

honour within the murky past of despair and suffering then we will have helped the

Spirit of the African race towards a greater awareness of healing.

Date & Time:

Thursday 31

st March 2011 – 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Cost:

$250.00

R.S.V.P.

‐ Limited spaces available!

Contact:

Maria 684‐2262 | Angela 684‐2441 | Jean‐Marc 355‐7020 | Ryan 746‐4917 | Samuel 497‐5155

“REINCARNATION AND PAST LIFE REGRESSION”

(The Director of Studies of the Servants of the Light Association)

A One‐Day Workshop by Dolores Ashcroft‐Nowicki

Worldwide Copyright

© 1993/1995/1998/2011. D. Ashcroft‐Nowicki. All rights Reserved.

Saturday 2

The idea of regression and re‐incarnation holds a fascination for everyone. Even if one

does not fear death, there will always be a curiosity about where it leads and a desire to

unravel its mystery. Some rare people can remember many details of a past life and

these will be discussed in this workshop. Others can recall only fragments. For most

human beings there is no memory at all except perhaps a strange, often uncomfortable

feeling of having been there before when visiting a strange place, a new city or even

seeing a face in a crowd.

Some years ago a book was published that seemed to offer a way in which at least some

memories could be brought to the surface. It was called The Christos Technique

For some time it became almost a “Party Game” and some very weird experiences came out

of it. Then, like most things it lost favour, something new took the fancy of the crowds

and it dropped out of sight except…for a few who remembered the times when it did

actually work!

Some 15 years ago Herbie Brennan and I used this technique with a group of trained

occultists and obtained some remarkable results with many of them. However although

the human mind is an amazing piece of technology it also has a very healthy ego and

mixed in with the believable there was an equal amount of the unbelievable and the

frankly ridiculous.

There is within all of us a desire to be a total individual… this stems from millions of

years ago when what we were then would come to be what we are now. At that time our

ancestors shared a group mind and a group soul as do the animals in our modern world.

Evolution and the spark of desire to be able to say I AM rather than WE are brought about a radical change, Individuality.

It is this very gift that can trip us up in The Christos Technique. We WANT to be

different and this often causes false impressions to rise from the subconscious mind.

With this in mind care must be taken to sift the possible from the improbable when

under giong the technique. That said it is a valid and useful one to explore and undergo

providing it is approached with an open mind.

It is many years since I offered this workshop but during that time many people have

become aware of the possibility of re‐incarnation and of what is called Far Memory.

Please bring a small pillow with you and perhaps something to lie on.

nd April 2011

Come with an open mind and be prepared as some experiences might be disturbing for memories cannot be chosen, they will rise up unbidden. Often it is the less happy times that come first, this is because they were learning experiences and we gained wisdom from them.

The technique is quite safe and if a memory is too much for you, you can be brought out

of it easily and quickly.

Date & Time:

Saturday 2

nd April 2011 – 10 am to 5 pm

Cost:

$350.00 (Inclusive of Lunch)R.S.V.P. ‐ Limited spaces available!

THE HOUSE OF THE IBIS

Address:

Email:

Contact:

Dear Companions of the Light,

The House of the Ibis, a daughter school of the Servants of the Light (SOL) is once again

pleased to announce the visit of Dolores Ashcroft our beloved country to conduct a series of workshops along the lines of spirituality and personal development. Please find below the itinerary of events which encapsulates the training that is being offered to the general public:

Great Tarot Site

Hey guys, found this great Tarot Site that I thought I would share with you. I got into the Tarot, not as a means of divination, but because its rich symbology intrigued me. The Tarot represented a resource of human emotions depicted by pictures, and the items, elements and composition all have meaning. Imagine, on the same Tarot Card, say the fool, there is a hidden meaning in whether the figure faces left or right. There will even be different meanings in whether his shoes are red or green.

As an artist, I am excited by its pictoral references, as I learn to convey an emotion with one image, and I can use these in my paintings....then again I was always visual. (attracted to pictures before any other sense)

I find though, that Tarot readings give you results that are in your mind. That is if you are depressed, you tend to pull depressing cards, which doesn't help you get out of the mood funk.
I use Tarot as a self development tool. (google pathworking with the Tree of Life)

Any where, here is a great link which will explain the symbols and their meanings.

http://www.tarotteachings.com/meaning-of-tarot.html