... Wisdom teaches tolerance but ...

Today while I was prepping for writing this up, I realised that one of the major battles I have been having since really coming into my own sense of self is that Tarot has become fluffy. 

Not the art of it but the decks, authors just seem to push out these really fluffy decks as if we're going to become offended by some of them, I can name three major cards and several minor cards that could instantly evoke offence but the thing is that they are apart of Tarot History. 

They were developed during a major upheaval in world history, the word arcane means record of ancient knowledge, so not only do the Tarot depict events through history but they are a record of the changes our world has been through.

Wisdom teaches tolerance but today, my wisdom is teaching me to take a very large kipper, dip it in water and then attach the words "Stop It" ... 

This is where my Hermit card comes out, wise enough to know when to say nothing, but old enough not to care and say it anyway. I find that there is no balance of late, well not where I am from anyway, many of the decks I have seen are fluffy, let me hold you hand and tell you everything is going to be fine... 

Whereas the true tarot decks tend to be more, You've frelled up, it's one big messy pile of poo-doo and you're gonna have to clear it up, but here are the things you are going to need to make sure it's cleaned up properly.

The way I see things at the moment are a bit less fluffy and more realistic, Tarot is an amazing tool, tells you exactly what you need to hear at the right time and in the most direct way in other words it's the Yang balance. 

These pseudo-tarot decks or more akin to Oracle decks are more Yin balance. They have the gentle and soft approach to things, where they cushion the blow, it's as if they are saying, oops look you made a mess of things, but hey that's okay, in fact its fine. 

Here is a cookie, and some milk, and don't worry petal, let's look at the lovely clouds all pink and fluffy. Now while you are looking at them, forgive yourself and the mess. There isn't that lovely? Fix the mess? Oh no dearest, I don't fix your mess, I just tell you how lovely things are...

Well okay maybe slightly overkill there but you kind of get the point; I just really need to stress this point here, I do not have anything against them... 

In fact as a collector I have many, MANY variants of these decks, and they have a purpose, most of them are doorstops but it's a purpose... 

Tao is very much about the balance and these stark contrasts are the balance of Tarot, you can't really have one without the other and they actually service a purpose for the user because some don't want to face the realities of the Tarot Decks of old, they prefer the fluffy bunny approach where angels are going to give you sonnets, and words of comfort, it's not as if Angels have ever had to smite, topple towers or evict one of their own now it is... Oh wait... My bad, yeah they have...

Cards of Balance

... Balance within All things is Important ...

Within the Tarot it's important to have balance, true it can be said for all aspects of life but in Tarot there really does need to be a balanced approach and I can't think of two cards that are more apt and to do with the balance than in the Major Arcana, minor cards have their balances as well but my approach with the minor suits is they re-enforce what the Major cards have already told you.

In terms of writing, the minor deck are the character and the major deck is the narrative or the plot. Balance is never more so noticed than within the lovers, you have the union of opposites within this card. 

The beauty of it is although it's represented as male/female and most of the time they are man/woman it isn't defining relationships unless that is the question stated.

It's polarities the male/female, white/black, light/dark or positive/negative of any given situation, in other words it's the yin and yang of a problem or situation.

There is always one inside the other, which is the nature of the union. To understand and also resolve any situation you must be able to see both sides or at least be able to understand perspectives in order to reach a conclusion and resolution that is best suited to any given situation. 

That is why Tarot has to have a balanced approach to it and the questions asked.

Move Along Home

... Direct can be uncomfortable ...

The Wheel is the counter-balance or the nature of things. I tend to see it as the completed union of opposites and in that the wheel turns to like nature it doesn't stay static and much like this post has been. 

The Wheel can be direct and direct can be uncomfortable, at times I am quite blunt and forward its part a change within me where I have stopped with the 'story' or 'explanations' when they are not needed and it is also a dyslexia thing too, I hope this hasn't been too hard to read.