| The 78 card Tarot deck is based upon an ancient | | | | ages - but never has the change been so rapid or |
| philosophy, which can bring startling insights when | | | | man made. This change will inevitably result in the |
| applied to the modern world. This article explores | | | | deaths of individuals and of species. Global warming |
| these ideas in the context of current global issues | | | | may be one of the biggest challenges we have faced |
| such as international politics, global warming, terrorism | | | | in our history. |
| etc. For anyone interested in world affairs or learning | | | | TERRORISM - The Devil This is perhaps one of the |
| more about the Tarot. I wanted to write this article | | | | most straightforward interpretations. The Devil has |
| to demonstrate how the ancient philosophy behind | | | | always been a figure of fear, a corrupting influence |
| the Tarot is still relevant to us today, and to show | | | | that has no compassion or feeling for others. |
| how these ideas can be used to illuminate our | | | | Unfortuneately we live in a world where a few |
| modern world. Whether or not the Tarot has any | | | | individuals wish to induce this level of fear in others, |
| mystical power I believe a lot can be learned from | | | | motivated by self-interest or warped philosophies. |
| the view that it gives of the universe, which goes | | | | Sadly they can become trapped by world-views |
| back to antiquity. As someone who teaches and | | | | which can convince them their philosophies are right. |
| practices Tarot I also wanted to create a guide to | | | | This perhaps is the definition of evil; and strangely |
| help people understand the meanings behind each | | | | often done in the name of God. |
| card, by reframing tarot in a modern context which | | | | GENETIC ENGINEERING - The Tower When creating |
| can be related to more easily. | | | | this list there was such a temptation to make this |
| When someone receives a Tarot reading the cards | | | | card about the 9/11 attacks. I have heard that some |
| offer meanings that are universal but also personal to | | | | people have made this connection but I think this is |
| the questioner. If one was to carry out a reading for | | | | taking the card at face value rather than trying to |
| the state of the world, how then could the reader | | | | understand its full meaning. The card in the modern |
| interpret the cards? What are the pressing issues for | | | | deck actually makes reference to the Biblical story of |
| us all at this time? I asked myself this question and, | | | | the Tower of Babel. The card does stand for |
| whilst thumbing through the pack, the meanings | | | | upheaval and disruption but it also warns of the |
| became quite obvious and stark to me. Below I have | | | | dangers of over-stretching oneself and getting |
| listed these meanings for the 21 Major arcarna or | | | | involved in things beyond one's understanding. In |
| trump cards. | | | | Genesis the tower is struck down; and the |
| FREEDOM - The Fool | | | | punishment for challenging God's authority is that the |
| TECHNOLOGY - The Magician | | | | people are cast out and made to speak in different |
| RELIGION - High Priestess | | | | languages. If for ancient people the tower represents |
| HUMAN RIGHTS - The Empress | | | | diversity, then for us in the modern world diversity is |
| STATE POWER AND SECURITY - The Emperor | | | | represented by the human gene. Genetic engineering |
| TRADITIONALISTS VS MODERNIZERS - The | | | | now gives us the power to do what may be thought |
| Hierophant | | | | of as challenging the authority of God. We could do |
| INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS - The Lovers | | | | worse than look at this card for advice on this |
| WAR AND CONFLICT - The Chariot | | | | matter. |
| WORLD POLITICS - Strength | | | | GLOBAL COOPERATION - The Star The Star in the |
| INNER WORLD - The Hermit | | | | Tarot refers to a way forward and to hope for a |
| INTERNATIONAL LAW - Justice | | | | better future. When I was growing up, hope for the |
| WORLD POVERTY - Hanged Man | | | | future seemed to centre around the space program. |
| GLOBAL WARMING - Death | | | | It was the only area over which the then two |
| THE MISSING ELEMENT - Temperance | | | | super-powers would cooperate. Maybe this was |
| TERRORISM - The Devil | | | | because the expense became too much for one |
| GENETIC ENGINEERING - The Tower | | | | nation, or maybe as I like to believe because when |
| INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION - The Star | | | | one looks to the stars it makes our differences |
| THE INTERNET AND THE INFORMATION AGE - The | | | | down here on Earth seem less important. It certainly |
| Sun | | | | does seem that if human beings are to progress then |
| POWER AND CORRUPTION - The Moon | | | | we must embrace collaboration. The card reminds us |
| POPULATION - Judgement | | | | to hold the star as a symbol for hope, and whether |
| THE ENVIRONMENT - The World | | | | it is a star of David or a star of Islam shouldn't |
| Incidentally if you wish to read the complete article | | | | matter. |
| alongside images of the cards there is an illustrated | | | | THE INTERNET AND THE INFORMATION AGE - The |
| version on my website at | | | | Sun This card represents knowledge and |
| TECHNOLOGY - The Magician Technology is now the | | | | understanding. When we understand something we |
| backdrop to all our lives and to those who don't | | | | are enlightened and that's what the sun does to the |
| understand it or haven't witnessed it before it seems | | | | earth: it shines light on dark corners and illuminates |
| like magic. When people first saw inventions such as | | | | the globe. One of the most significant inventions of |
| moving images or photography some believed it to | | | | the last forty years which brings knowledge and |
| be witchcraft or some kind of trickery. On the card | | | | illumination to the world is the internet. It is interesting |
| the Magician shows a powerful figure performing his | | | | to note that the internet has been made possible by |
| tricks with us as his audience. He is about to make | | | | lasers transmitting information through high-speed |
| things happen before our eyes that we never | | | | fiber optics. Thus, the internet, in effect, is made of |
| thought possible. The message of this card is that if | | | | pure light. The card also depicts a happy couple who |
| you know what you are doing and you have the | | | | could be lovers: the inference being that |
| energy of commitment behind you, you can achieve | | | | understanding between people is the key to |
| incredible things. This is a valuable lesson for the | | | | harmony. Never before has so much knowledge been |
| modern world. | | | | available to so many. The couple on the card reminds |
| HUMAN RIGHTS - The Empress The Empress is a | | | | us however, that unless this knowledge is used to |
| ruler that respects her subjects. She is a motherly | | | | build closer links between people, it is a waste of |
| figure who believes in nurturing and caring rather than | | | | time. |
| controlling and dictating. It is perhaps an unusual card | | | | POWER AND CORRUPTION - The Moon The word |
| considering its historical origins. We tend to see this | | | | 'lunatic'' derives from the belief that the moon's rays |
| regard for individual human rights as quite a modern | | | | had the power to intoxicate and send people mad. In |
| enlightened view. The Tarot's values however are | | | | the modern world one of the most dangerous forms |
| timeless and not subject to fashion. | | | | of intoxication is that of people becoming drunk on |
| WORLD PEACE - The LoversTraditionally this card | | | | power. We see this throughout the world where |
| shows a man making a choice between two women | | | | leaders are corrupted by their power and become |
| and its message is that, like love, most things in life | | | | self-aggrandizing tyrants. We also see it in the |
| come down to a matter of choice. If we are in a | | | | board-rooms of multinational companies where |
| relationship with someone it is because we chose to | | | | individuals can be seduced by the love of money and |
| be with them and we are choosing to stay with | | | | the power it brings. The card itself refers to |
| them. The same is true for all the relationships we | | | | corruption and confusion and to all the dark dealings |
| have with people. Also, whether we find ourselves | | | | that happen hidden from the light of day. It has the |
| fighting, loving or being distant from others is down | | | | opposite meaning to the Sun; thus the antidote is to |
| to our choosing. If we are to apply this idea to the | | | | shed light wherever possible. |
| modern world it seems clear that peace and harmony | | | | POPULATION - Judgement With shrinking resources |
| are not things which just happen but that many | | | | and rising birth rates, population control must be one |
| active choices need to be made in pursuit of them. | | | | of the most pressing world issues for this time. This |
| GLOBAL WARMING - Death The image of the | | | | card speaks of a judgement day when things come |
| reaper is a reminder that life exists in cycles and that | | | | to a head and decisions have to be made: when the |
| all things come to an end. It speaks more of change | | | | result of our actions good or bad must be accounted |
| than actual death, and how this change can be | | | | for. In the judgement day myth all the people that |
| painful. There seems little doubt that the world | | | | have ever lived are risen back to life. Best estimates |
| climate is moving into a new phase. These climate | | | | would put this at about 107 billion souls! |
| cycles have always existed - such as the various ice | | | | |