The High Priestess- The Dark Night of the Soul

With every sunny day must come the dark clouds and the rain. The High Priestess, embodied in the Mythic figure of Persephone represents the many facets of this in our lives, such a loss, grief, tragedy, love, spirituality, peace, severity and transformation. Persephone symbolizes for me the dark night of the soul.

I remember sitting in the living room of an elder woman whom I admired greatly. My spiritual mentor and friend Joan was a very faithful and deeply spiritual person, who'd been through so much difficulty and suffering through her life. She reminds me of the High Priestess, in that she was in the state of grace and balance that comes from patience and intuition. My friend always had a joyful, kind, grateful and very compassionate heart.

As we sat talking over cups of tea, I asked her why it seemed that some folks went through so much tragedy and grief, yet others seemed unscathed and dodged all the hurtful bullets of life. She replied yes, this did seem to be true, but pointed out that those who do experience more than their share of heartache, come away with a deeper understanding of life, and are offered, if they accept, the gift of compassion toward others, because they know what it means to not only survive but thrive because of what has happened to them, not simply in spite of what has happened to them.

Within my heart I knew this to be true, but somehow when she verbalized this truth it became even more real to me. Perhaps because she inspired me with her grace, inner strength, courage, faith and gratitude.
When we share with another what we've been through we impart a strength to the other who had walked a similar road and who also come to understand what that dark night of the soul really means.

It's pointless to compare ourselves to others and ask ourselves why them and not me. What's more important is to identify with the feelings of another. Helping each other this way brings great rewards, instead of being resentful and envious of someone who has a seemingly perfect life. We never really know what another is going through and we can't assume or judge, but we can empathize, show compassion and open ourselves to transformation.

Eight of Cups - Are You Exercising Your Kindness & Generousity Muscle?

Not unlike Persephone seen here in the Eight of Cups, we all at some point, descend into the underworld of the unconscious, it is a spiritual experience that changes us, in an emotional, and/or spiritual way. In life when there is a circumstance, such as the dark night of the soul, or situations that might appear hopeless and hapless, it is difficult to think that we will ever see the light of day, because everything is out of our control, and there appears to be no way out. There is a way out.

After we emerge from this darkness, into the light we are transformed, into a new person that has gained a deeper empathy, allowing us to be kinder, and more generous people.

Research has concluded that kindness and generousity are the two determining factors that strengthen the bonds between human relationships. It may sound to us that this makes very reasonable sense, and we should certainly be able to behave accordingly, to turn toward one another in respect, instead of turning away. Much of the time reality does not bare this out, when you see how many relationships end in feelings of contempt, and even hatred, in particular when we see the state of the world full of war and violence.

That said, kindness is a like a muscle and the more we use it, the stronger it becomes and it affects those around us in a positive manner. Just as hate breeds more hate, kindness in turn breeds more kindness and generousity. So let's be kind and generous to one another.

"Be kind; everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.". 
                                     Ian Maclaren

Page of Pentacles - Finding Emotional Security

This young Page of Pentacles is gently holding one very large golden pentacle in his hands, depicting a hopeful future and represents all good things of the earth.

We all are in search for emotional security and we need to have hope in our lives, with the realization we can make our own destiny in finding happiness in life. In doing so, it doesn't mean we naively go through life with blinders over our eyes, without taking into serious consideration the struggles and difficulties in life. We all know times in our lives when we experience the dark night of the soul, until the light comes.

The message this young page brings is the encouragement to care and nurture ourselves in a gentle manner and to have a patient approach. It's often referred to as learning to re-parent ourselves.

People, places and the accumulation things outside ourselves does not bring us emotional security or happiness. If we can have our basic needs met, then we have much to be grateful for, and having an attitude of gratitude is what brings a deep, true, and lasting emotional security and happiness. If we need help, we need to ask. This is all part of caring for ourselves.

The Hanged Man - The Dark Night of The Soul

The Hanged Man always brings me back to the fist time I had a reading. My friend who was a very good reader, had used the Celtic Cross spread for my reading. I don't remember the placement of The Hanged Man, but I sure do remember my reaction to seeing this card. I was in a precarious relationship that would change my life, and was not going to end well, though I couldn't see it then. I had been and was going to continue to experience this kind of "dark night of the soul", that this card represents.

At this time, I knew nothing about Tarot, or the cards and their meanings. I couldn't begin to imagine what this one meant, but I was pretty convinced it couldn't be good, seeing this poor shackled soul, hanging from a rocky cliff, upside down, having next to no clothes on, with an Eagle seemingly in attack mode.

 The Greek myth is pretty gruesome about Prometheus. He defied the law of Zeus by stealing the fire of the gods to give to man. Prometheus means "foresight", and this Titan had the gift of prophecy. He had a profound sympathy and compassion for the plight of humankind.

The Hanged Man is a deeply relevant card for me. It is very much representative of what St John of the Cross talks about in his poem , The Dark Night of The Soul, and going into the unconsciousness of the psyche, experiencing great suffering and then coming out the other side transformed. Out of the darkness of the night, comes the light.

This poem illuminates the deepest kind of self-sacrificing love between the Lover and the Beloved, between humankind and God. I love this poem and Loreena McKennitt's interpretation is so touching and beautiful.

Loreena McKennitt - The dark night of the soul

Upon a darkened night
the flame of love was burning in my breast
And by a lantern bright
I fled my house while all in quiet rest
Shrouded by the night
and by the secret stair I quickly fled
The veil concealed my eyes
while all within lay quiet as the dead

Chorus
Oh night thou was my guide
oh night more loving than the rising sun
Oh night that joined the lover
to the beloved one
transforming each of them into the other

Upon that misty night
in secrecy, beyond such mortal sight
Without a guide or light
than that which burned so deeply in my heart

That fire t'was led me on
and shone more bright than of the midday sun
To where he waited still
it was a place where no one else could come

Chorus

Within my pounding heart
which kept itself entirely for him
He fell into his sleep
beneath the cedars all my love I gave
And by the fortress walls
the wind would brush his hair against his brow
And with its smoothest hand
caressed my every sense it would allow

Chorus

I lost myself to him
and laid my face upon my lovers breast
And care and grief grew dim
as in the mornings mist became the light
There they dimmed amongst the lilies fair
There they dimmed amongst the lilies fair
There they dimmed amongst the lilies fair

Ten of Swords - " For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

Drawing the Ten of Swords today, after drawing the Nine of Swords yesterday, made perfect sense to me as we see Orestes beaten down and overcome by the torment of the Furies. Athene the goddess of Justice has come to put a stop to this ancient curse with clarity and vision.

I was also having my own continuing battle with the Furies again, but I took time for impartial reflection, and saw the end of a difficult situation, which this card represents.

Finally with some patience, my hacked pay pal and bank account issues are straightened out, and over. I really didn't want to have to make the calls, listening to muszac and being put on hold for long lengths of time, but if I knew didn't, I'd end up in another kind of mess.

When human beings have their feet to the fire, then and only then it seems, do we get the motivation to take action. Sadly this sometimes can feel too little to late. It's why those wise adages, proverbs and sayings exist, like, "Why put off tomorrow what you can do today?'

If you choose to maintain hope, fight a good fight, and come out the other side, you feel triumphant and proud that you've see things through to their conclusion. Many of us are good at beginnings and endings, but are unable to follow through with the middle bits, and we give up.

 If we didn't have struggles we couldn't feel the triumph that comes from overcoming. If we didn't have the darkness, we'd never be able to experience the warmth and light of the sun. Darkness is good, as is light.

What makes you weak should make you strong, when you can follow through and overcome.
Like Orestes, I think I need a nap!

The Lovers - " The Age of Loneliness "

The Lovers

Every time this card comes up my heart gives a little flutter immediately followed by a reality check. So many of us are in love with love. We've bought into that romantic ideal that isn't reality based, but comes from the rhetoric and myth making.

Truth being, this card doesn't represent this kind of relationship, but represents and is in reference to companion-ability, respect, and love based on the hard work of being whole interdependent people, not co-dependent. This kind of interdependent relationship is rare.

The Lovers, a Major Arcana card embodies choice, earthly and divine love and reminds me of Psyche and Eros who have been through what is often referred to as being the Dark Night of the Soul and have come out the other side stronger and secure within themselves now having  a relationship built on a solid foundation, because they have chosen to invite into their lives the God of their understanding and they share this in common with one another. We all have the choice to make. I have chosen solitude but not loneliness.

George Monbiot says our society is living in what he calls, " The age of  loneliness. "
It is my experience that if I do not choose to maintain conscious contact with the God of my understanding, the result in my own isolation, loneliness, and unhappiness. If this is what I bring to other relationships I will continue to be lonely, which is some ways is worse in my opinion. We can be alone but not suffer unbearable damaging loneliness. Being involved in relationship with someone who either cannot or will not give you what you want or need is completely crazy making.

Three of Swords - In Weakness, Strength

Usually this card conjures up images and feelings of sorrowful heartbreak, and great loss. The idea of having swords piercing the heart is gruesome, and disturbing to say the lest. However, in spite of, and even because of this heartache and loss, we can now heal and choose to thrive, releasing a strength, wisdom and compassion toward others, who are experiencing similar tribulations, because we have known the dark night of the soul.

 It may feel like all is lost and we are overwhelmed by despair and desolation. This is not true, and much can be gained, if we can see what is to be gleaned from heartache, within the depth of our soul. We can develop a strength of character, finding in our weakness, strength. There is a resolution.
 We must take care of ourselves, and the path is being cleared and illuminated, so we can find our way ahead.

 Words by St. John of the Cross; arranged and adapted by Loreena McKennitt

Music by Loreena McKennitt
Upon a darkened night
the flame of love was burning in my breast
And by a lantern bright
I fled my house while all in quiet rest
Shrouded by the night
And by the secret stair I quickly fled
The veil concealed my eyes
while all within lay quiet as the dead
CHORUS
Oh night thou was my guide
of night more loving than the rising sun
Oh night that joined the lover
to the beloved one
transforming each of them into the other
Upon that misty night
in secrecy, beyond such mortal sight
Without a guide or light
than that which burned so deeply in my heart
That fire t'was led me on
and shone more bright than of the midday sun
To where he waited still
it was a place where no one else could come

CHORUS
Within my pounding heart
which kept itself entirely for him
He fell into his sleep
beneath the cedars all my love I gave
From o'er the fortress walls
the wind would his hair against his brow
And with its smoothest hand
caressed my every sense it would allow
CHORUS
I lost myself to him
and laid my face upon my lover's breast
And care and grief grew dim
as in the morning's mist became the light
There they dimmed amongst the lilies fair
there they dimmed amongst the lilies fair
there they dimmed amongst the lilies fair