“BEYOND FORTUNE TELLING:  NEW TAROT FOR NEW TIMES”   Cont’d from Part 1

Tarot takes us beyond the “herd mentality.” The very organizational structure of a tarot deck gives us a viable roadmap of timeless and universal truths for how to choose and live the “whole life.” Very few such personal maps exist, and tarot may be the most exquisite and appropriate for the 21st century.

Tarot is a rich and holistic map of the psyche that says through its 78 Cards that we have at least 78 different aspects of ourselves that we need to consciously with intention live out in order to be whole — to be happy, healthy, holy, and wealthy. The purpose of tarot is to become all of ourselves through its symbolic and archetypal picture story of the human journey.

In our world today of change, uncertainty, speed, complexity, diversity and even chaos, how do we make correct decisions to navigate our lives? While the oracle of tarot gives us a general map of possibilities, it is our own personal intuition — an immediate and comprehensive little feeling within — that points the way.

Tarot is a tool designed for tapping our natural intuition, for we must intuit what the cards mean to us personally. Intuition is naturally catalyzed by the picture symbols on the cards. And in following our intuition we live authentically in our own truth, which gives us the best opportunity to succeed. Only in our personal authenticity can we find our way to the ultimately fulfilling life.

Picture-symbols, as in the tarot, have always been triggers for intuition, as well as for new ideas and powerful perspectives. As Aristotle wrote, “The soul never thinks without a picture.” The power of the tarot is in the power of the image which sparks our imagination. Picture or metaphoric thinking through tarot is a tried and true way for innovations that work. I have used tarot numerous times with businesses as an intuitive strategic planning tool and brainstorming process.

But neither the tarot map, nor our intuition or imagination get us where we want to go in life. We must walk the talk and take action on the suggested journey. As it is said, “A vision without action is a hallucination.” Enlightened tarot is about acting upon the wisdom of the cards. We must meet the forces of the universe half way by our own steps to co-create what we want.

Continued in Part 3