By Sarah Taylor
After a reading that provoked strong emotions last week, I decided to take a different approach to the Weekend Tarot Reading and introduce and work with a new deck every four or five weeks. Hopefully it’s more inclusive, avoids any single deck outstaying its welcome, and makes use of the fact that there is a deck to suit every predilection. (We’ll also be taking a more in-depth look at some of the decks over the coming weeks as the tarot column resumes a twice-weekly publishing schedule.)
In the meantime, for the next few Sundays, I will be reading from the Xultun Tarot deck, which has popped its head round the door here at Planet Waves every now and then. The Xultun deck was created nearly 40 years ago by artist Peter Balin.
As the story goes, one of his guests at a dinner party suggested he create a tarot deck, and at the point where Balin was telling her “how crazy I thought she was,” the major arcana appeared to him in a vision. He sequestered himself thereafter and over the next three months the deck came to painted life.
The Xultun Tarot is unusual because its major arcana (the 22 cards associated with the broader, archetype-driven themes that affect us at a soul level) can be assembled to form a single picture — which is how Balin painted them. Seen this way, it is easier to feel the interconnectedness of the cards and what they represent; they work together to weave a picture of the soul’s evolution, and it is both horizontal (linear) and vertical (lying outside space-time) in nature.
The three cards this week are The Priestess, the Servant of Cups and The Planet Venus — more typically known as The High Priestess, the Knight of Cups (or the Prince in the Thoth Tarot, who made an appearance last weekend), and Judgement. That’s two major arcana cards, and one court card. This is no small-fry reading we are dealing with.
The first thing I find interesting is that the two figures of the Priestess and the Servant are facing the same way — towards Venus and the feathered serpent that descends from the skies in front of the planet. When the major arcana is looked at as a whole, the feathered serpent has descended from The Bound Man card — The Devil in other decks.
This is a relationship reading — or, more generally, a reading about relationship. There is a difference in that the former tends to be associated with ‘romantic’ relationships, and my sense here is that it cannot be limited to that.
Something that was birthed by agreement between two people, or the clash of the conscious and the unconscious — or both — who came together to experience what lay in the shadows is now taking shape by the light of Venus. Nevertheless, this isn’t all lovey-dovey in nature: The Planet Venus card is ruled by Pluto, and so the nature of that Venusian energy is stirred up by an overarching energy that is both destructive and creative — the necessary ending that makes way for new beginnings.
In the Rider-Waite Smith Judgement card, figures who have been entombed in coffins rise up, rejoicing, their arms stretched out to the heavens, where an angel is blowing a trumpet. There are obvious biblical overtones to the imagery, but Judgement in the tarot is about redemption. What imprisoned the two people in The Bound Man has been transmuted; the chains of the unconscious have been broken; release through change beckons.
To the left of The Planet Venus, we have the Servant of Cups, kneeling as if making an offering to the harbinger of change. In last week’s reading, the Servant (there the Prince) represented immature love — love for love’s sake, love that skims the surface, not fully cognizant of the depths that love requires you to go to when you are called to maturity.
Here, it looks like the Prince has been brought to his knees by the earlier experience of The Bound Man. He has lived and understood the depths and, by doing this, has realised what love is through the knowing of what it isn’t. Now, he is in obeisance. He is humbled — as are we all humbled when we are brought face-to-face with a part of our nature that we find hard to accept, and when it enables us to plunge into our emotional depths to redeem it, and ourselves. The Servant represents an acknowledgement of this journey, and an offering up of himself to a love that is archetypal in nature: Venus herself.
Finally, at far left, The Priestess, knowing witness: our intuitive nature, partnered with Spirit, that guides us to this encounter. She is housed in the darkness, under the stars, but the colours of her card at the far right are the same as those in The Planet Venus. She provides us with safe passage into our meeting with Judgement. The Priestess doesn’t shout, operating in the shadows as she does. Her voice is a whisper, but it is unapologetic and unequivocal. You’ll know her when she speaks to you.
Listen to what your intuition tells you, especially in matters of the heart: it, above all things, knows what it is doing.
If you want to experiment with tarot cards and don’t have any, we provide a free tarot spread generator using the Celtic Wings spread, which is based on the traditional Celtic Cross spread. This article explains how to use the spread.
I just wanted to add, a week ago I did a 3 card spread (rider waite deck) and I had the Knight of cups, High Priestess, and The Star. When I read this article, it felt like a mirror to my own reading. As if mine was the entrance into the great mystery to find grace and healing, and this was the exit out, all watched over by the High Priestess. Even last weeks reading (and with the suggestion of a downward spiral) was a cautionary sign post to keep going and trust the interior message that I received at the poolside with the Star maiden behind the veil of the great Woman.
“The Priestess’s correspondence is the Moon, and the Servant of Cups is Scorpio/Pisces.’
…Makes complete sense from my seat! As you started out righly noting, “This is no small-fry reading we are dealing with.” Sarah, thank you for adding this.
Very interesting, everyone. It all works in together, even the discussion, comments concerning the selection of the cards relates. Here’s to relationships in unity…’Emergence’- rising up to action. Much to think about, including Eric’s trajectory of the week.
Sarah, thank you for your reply and comments. Exciting about the new research. I look forward to the article and learning more about the astrology/tarot connection!
A – thx. Perfect reminder linking perception to time in further unraveling the Karma/dharma question for me. ” I think — if i learned anything this past spring — i have a more solid sense that not all “endings” really end anything, so much as open something up to a new level of growth and grounding.”
“And isn’t it curious that the servant of Cups is elevated vis the other two cards? I read the figure as rising up. So this week, instead of a downward dragging energy, we have a servant of the heart, supported by, as Sarah says, Higher Intuition, being met by Kulkulkan, a figure who is *the* source of all power in MesoAmerican mythography.”
i’ll be contemplating this, too.
sounds good to me, mysti!
Thank you for adding a very rich interpretative layer, mystes – very helpful personally too.
Amanda – I wish you love and expansion in your panning out phase 🙂
funny, this paragraph took me right back to the month leading up to and including the Venus transit. namely, it seems to speak to a relationship in my life and where i am sensing it may be at this point (though i don’t get the impression the other person senses it the same way):
“Something that was birthed by agreement between two people, or the clash of the conscious and the unconscious — or both — who came together to experience what lay in the shadows is now taking shape by the light of Venus. Nevertheless, this isn’t all lovey-dovey in nature: The Planet Venus card is ruled by Pluto, and so the nature of that Venusian energy is stirred up by an overarching energy that is both destructive and creative — the necessary ending that makes way for new beginnings.”
absolutely fascinating to me that p. sophia was able to link one of the cards to that same time.
wow.
combine all this with friday’s horoscopes, and gee whiz… i may not be able to ignore my intuition after all. (haha) the question — as always — is how whatever transition(s) is coming up will pan out.
i think — if i learned anything this past spring — i have a more solid sense that not all “endings” really end anything, so much as open something up to a new level of growth and grounding.
we’ll see…
Greetings Sarah, et al… Lovely deck, I am happy to see you working with the Xultan again. Perhaps unsurprisingly, this week’s spread *still* feels like both ends are tending to the middle. With the High Priestess and Kulkulkan flanking Cups, it is almost an inversion of last week’s elemental order! High Priestess draws down the stars (are those supposed to represent the Pleiades?) and Kulkulkan (the plumed serpent) is the Morning/evening star of Venus. And the Cup (last week’s outliers) are firmly placed between.
Curiously, when I first clicked on this yesterday, another browser window opened to Darkstar astrology, and Marina’s frontpage article was on Ophiuchus, the 13th sign on the ecliptic. Couldn’t help but see Venus/Kulkulkan through that lens. According to lore, the serpent revealed to Ophuichus how to bring the dead back to life. This, according to Marina, is the “real meaning of occult knowledge.” Maybe, maybe not. I am convinced that the 13th sign and its serpentine energy is exiled from the Zodiac for other reasons, and that it has less to do with managing death (the goal of the Golden Dawn people, for example) and more to do with instigating the moment of Awakening. (Which, despite Rob Brezney’s protestations, *is* a real thing… Well, maybe not ‘thing’ thing. But yes, Real.)
And isn’t it curious that the servant of Cups is elevated vis the other two cards? I read the figure as rising up. So this week, instead of a downward dragging energy, we have a servant of the heart, supported by, as Sarah says, Higher Intuition, being met by Kulkulkan, a figure who is *the* source of all power in MesoAmerican mythography.
Impressive.
I’ll be pondering how to integrate these images into the week’s astrology.
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Anyway,
Holiday, eco11, carecare7, Alex, Paolo, P. Sophia – thank you all for your comments! 🙂
eco11 – Yes, last week was quite a week, wasn’t it?! The reading is resonating for me and only now coming into its own, and I’m wondering what to do with that. And the comments helped me confront a personal issue (separate from anyone who commented) in a way that bore tremendous fruit. My training is enabling me to take my emotional reactions to all outside ‘events’ and try and follow the threads back into me; often, I can find at least some of what caused the ‘pull’ in the first place. It is the process of withdrawing projections. As The Stones are so often quoted as singing, “You don’t always get what you want …”
The Xultun cards are definitely of a different medicine than the Thoth, but I’d ask you not to be fooled by their very stylised imagery: they pack a punch. They are the first deck I ever worked with, and I used them exclusively for three years. They have a lot to say; they just say it in another language. You might not feel any of this when you look at them, which means the deck is probably not one that’s going to hook into your intuition as well. Coming back to it felt like returning to an old friend in a new way, and I am feeling an edge to the Xultun that my eyes weren’t attuned to previously. Great stuff!
“I saw here the judgement card in image, as a literal acting out of the two other cards in complete unquestioning unity.”
P. Sophia, your observation is spot on for me. You say you are a beginner, but there is a complexity to your interpretations that is impressive. Keep at it!
Yes, there is another, astrological layer, but it’s one I have only come to recently too. I will be doing my own research before I start writing an article on it, but there will be an article. 🙂
The only thing I would add is that there feels to be some link back to the Venus transit in this reading too – that’s what came to me anyway. The Priestess’s correspondence is the Moon, and the Servant of Cups is Scorpio/Pisces.
http://planetwaves.net/pagetwo/daily-astrology/about-participating-in-our-commen-area-discussion/#more-58839
…FYI carecare7
Please remember the many visitors to this site and respect their right to enjoy constructive, and hopefull productive, conversation.
Cheers
Alex
Sarah, Thank you for another beautiful, provoking reading. It is a gift you share with us. I like to look at the cards first to fully feel and absorb intuitively. Then I better weave your experience and insights which just brings home.
Upon first look, immediately in the Priestess, I felt a divine blessing, a direction clearly being given by the feminine power.
In the Servant of cups, an offering in action by the masculine role.
I saw here the judgement card in image, as a literal acting out of the two other cards in complete unquestioning unity.
I was glad to see this card again. I remembered it also came up in one of your readings during the Sun’s Transit of Venus in May. I was as moved then, as now by the illustration. Was again struck by what I saw as the ‘dragon’ image. It felt/feels like the holy spirit with it’s breath of God – visually blowing on the earth. The living creatures and green growing things responding to Venus’ descending proclamation. I see representing a universal, selfless, acceptance: (in) emergence of matter and spirit -in unity.
When I saw the Judgement card this time however, I was also reminded of a passage I came across just last month while looking for information in understanding Karma/ dharma in my chart and read the interpretation of Lunar nodes- by Dane Radhyar.
“…Thus, the North Lunar Node represents the point of intake of spiritual cosmic energies; and it was called the “Dragon’s Head” — the nodal axis being symbolized by a dragon.
Sarah, I am relatively new to understanding tarot and actual personal astrology chart study, just since April. Please excuse my novice, but I had no idea the tarot cards were also categorized with the planets. Another layer…makes even more interesting. You mentioned Planet Venus card is ruled by Pluto? Can you please explain the symbolic development relationship of the studies briefly? Hopefully there are others who may be interested as well.
Connecting the Judgement Card in the reading to Pluto, here’s one thought found, Dane R interprets relatively:
“Pluto, in some cases at least, shakes up and reorganizes the materials of our mind in response to collective or cosmic impulses, etc”.
Sarah thanks again. Any further thoughts, appreciated.
Yes – thank you for another beautiful reading, dear Sarah. Whatever the polemics about the cards last week – it was one of the most wonderful readings ever, for me – and its truth and beauty still rings in my ears and help me through a rather dark night of the soul these days.
“carecare7.. I suggest you look closely at your motivations..”
::::laughing::: Alex, you are SO predictable. Really. :::chuckling:::
Thank you as always dear Sarah. You are a gifted reader of the Tarot in its multitude of expressions. Although I was thoroughly enjoying your Thoth articles, I am always interested in what you write and how you weave a beautiful fabric of wisdom.
carecare7.. I suggest you look closely at your motivations..
Regarding this:
“I too was disturbed by the pressure of last week.”
I found this:
“Stress is like spice – in the right proportion it enhances the flavor of a dish. Too little produces a bland, dull meal; too much may choke you.”
~Donald Tubesing
Or this one:
“In contrast, fear societies are societies in which dissent is banned.”
Natan Sharansky
That pressure may have been an important growth promoter for some. Balance is so important; some pressure and some easement and some fear and some trust, all things in balance as the Hopi say. Even imbalance and balance.
Dissent and disagreement are important aspects of open dialogue. It is a good thing this website allows some pressure because the changes Sarah have made as a result are refreshing. Thank you, Sarah for being open to your readers’ ideas.
Well said eco11. I too was disturbed by the pressure of last week. But I especially appreciate that opportunity has been taken to transmute that tension in a fresh rotating approach.. Thank you Sarah for another timely reading, one that demonstrates great integrative understanding across the decks.. 🙂
Hi. I sort of anticipated this change and thought about this deck and expected to see it this week.
I too like a variety of decks, but disliked the angst and pressure of last week that seemed like it could be possibly intimidating to you in your choices. I also wished it would have been a conversation with the dissenter or, perhaps more of one, but seemed like there was a wall, perhaps with good reason, but then it wasn’t much of a discussion for understanding that way. Black and white.
But me, I don’t *know* that much, but I do trust my intuition and find that working first with my own and then listening to you, Sarah, and then to the conversations and comments here often grows my understanding. And when it is just a different opinion that I have no “aha” moment in, well I respect that we will not always all be of the same or similar understandings.
Like in art, you can read the various experts and often learn from them, but the ability to interact with the art itself, trusting yourself to do so is an even more awesome journey because you then have the possibility to wake up your own inner world interacting with the outer symbols.
Some of the cards that I have seen in the past in this week’s deck have knocked me out, but these are more like poke-man to me.
My intuition doesn’t soar today, but then, that happens too.
Like so many others here, I trust your instincts and hope very much that all the emotions and charge from some over last week doesn’t mess with your beautiful gifts of these layouts and your offering of your readings here.
Again, thank you.
I enjoy seeing the different tarot decks, wonderful article. I’d also like to add that you, Sarah, are so talented I think you could lay out business cards and divine a meaningful answer.
I trust your talentz!