Donnaleigh: Tiering and Tearing of Religions
On February 26, 2010, Mary K Greer wrote a provocative blog describing how, in California, freedom of religion actually functions on a two-tier basis, and that some religions do not have the same rights as others.
Mary’s insightful blog on second tier religions can be read HERE.
This article struck me at a core level, and made me wonder how much “freedom of religion” actually exists in the great melting pot of the world, the United States. Is there separation of church and state? The disturbing idea that certain religions continue to function as oppressors to other religions seemed in itself a very bigoted and un-spiritual or “un-Godlike” action.
I decided to ask Tarot what it thought of this law and what would be advised to California and other states who may function on a level of oppression where human rights to a choice of spirituality or religion become contingent on whether you are one of the “big hitters.”
Tarot had much to share.
I decided to choose a Christian deck (Shining Angels Tarot) as my main reading deck, as I thought the slant of the reading might be interesting and perhaps reflective of what some of the bigger religions might see in this law. I thought perhaps we might see wafts of the Christian deck defending itself and receive some insight through that. I was surpised at what this deck actually did bring through. I then used the Deck of Shadows as my adjunct deck, to bring out the shadow that follows the light.
A picture of the spread is as follows:
Each vertical row represents one card position, with 3 cards in each position to get the cards to “talk” to each other at a higher level.
SITUATION: King of Swords (tilted to 1:00), Faith, Illusions
CHALLENGE: 6 of Swords (tilted to 9:00), Resurrection, Hate
ADVICE: 5 of Swords (tilted to 1:00), Death, Cross the Threshold
LIKELY OUTCOME: 4 of Swords (upright), Forbidden Love, Fear
For those who are intersted, I do read reversals and I do read tilted cards. For me, a right tilt means a pushing or over-exertion of that card’s energy, and a left-tilt represesnts an under-exertion of that card’s energy.
Now let’s translate these cards together and see what undertones Tarot holds regarding the issue of unequal religions.
The first thing I can’t help but notice is that every card here is of the suit of Swords, the air element: how we think. It isn’t something you can hold in your hand like a rock or pentacle, we are talking about philosophies, beliefs, spirituality and laws. It is a powerful pointer to this element to see so many in this spread. Perhaps there is a little too much “sharpness” here.
SITUATION:
The King of Swords is the perfect card to arise when we look at legalities, lawsuits, or arguments about how to manage a situation and create rules. Being forward-tilted, this is an over-exertion and over-use of this energy. The meaning of this card, according to the Shining Tarot’s little white book, suggests “God is King.” And what a powerful first card to draw when we look at how the state of California is creating a dictate to citizens. I always say, “The first card down is the most important,” and this card creates our themes.
We are seeing powerful authority here, interventions, what is perceived as justice, and … listen carefully to the next word: “loyalty.” This has to do with established thought and loyalty to that through by creating a heavy-handed push toward one’s personal beliefs. And is it just me or do we see that this King’s scale seems out of balance. He is creating this law with a benevolent face, as if he is doing it out of great loyalty to something, out of the goodness of his heart, rather than for ill. Yet, that scale….
The adjunct cards seen here from the Deck of Shadows show how this King is focused on Faith. He creates this law with great strength and courage, he has familiarity with a certain strain of prayer, and he is absolutely sure that what he is dictating is for the highest good and is fair. Yet…look at the complementary card beside it that creates a more realistic balance. There is a grand illusion before us. There is deceit, hushed secrets and a perspective about magic and witchcraft. Isn’t it ironic that the word “prayer” falls in the same central position on one card as the word “magic” on its alternate? Is this a mirror image? Or are we seeing the unbalanced scale here? I tend to see a magnifying glass as the icon that lies under the word “magic.” What is being scrutinized?
CHALLENGE:
The 6 of Swords is tilted to the left, showing an under-exerted push of this card’s energy. Typically, this is a card of slow movement, but pushed to the left, we are seeing a step backward, or no forward motion. She is looking through her book of law…or is that her Bible…or can she tell the difference? She is looking off to the right instead of what is likely written before her. Is she creating her own agenda? This card tilted this way suggests she is proceeding with caution, and if this is not a flashing yellow traffic light, it is an outright red one. She is all about following the rules and if we think of the word “exodus” here to think of the traditional 6 of Swords and its movement, this is instead a “keeping as is.” She is not ready to make a passage, to transfer to new ideas, to shift out of her current mode of traditions and beliefs. She is tightly bound within her 6 swords, framed by their way of thinking.
Again, it is interesting to look at the contrast of the two cards that came up in the Deck of Shadows: Resurrection versus Hate. While one group feels they are resurrecting the law and retreating from what could be evil or harmful (that which they hate?), they create a law that in their minds is one of redemption. Yet the balancing card here speaks of Hate, of severity, of severing, of amputating, of rage (perhaps this is what the Pagan community feels as a result of being persecuted?). Truly, it is madness, truly contrasting cards that have a hard time meeting in the middle. The dove icon on the bottom of the left Deck of Shadows card suggests it is done in the name of spirituality. The ball and chains I can’t help but see in the icon on the right speaks of something quite different.
ADVICE:
The 5 of Swords that arises here shows an unfavorable situation and asks us to look pointedly at it. There are hidden adversaries, there are agendas, and this is clearly a “no win” situation as it is. In the Shining Angel deck, this card is called “The Angel of the Night,” and asks us to look at where we are “in the dark.” This is a card of battle, and it asks us to consider keeping this law book open to fight for fairness, to consider an inequality, to consider civil rights of all involved, not only those who fall within a certain belief system.
Mary Greer describes the 5 of Swords as “an empty victory” or “unfairness.” She also mentions it can indicate “personal or political strife, or being divisive and unethical.” Spite and humiliation rise with this card in the traditional Waite-Smith deck, and there is a rather abusive feel to it. But here the angel opens her arms as if to think her motives are for a larger good. Despite being tangled in her own swords, they are a part of her from which she can’t extricate.
The Deck of Shadows again brings forth contrasting cards, but in a different way. This time the key words agree, yet the subtexts have now shifted positions, setting a new balance. The “Death” card in Tarot is traditionally the great transformer, the big shift, a complete ending of one way of thinking and a rebirth with completely new agendas. This card asks us to look at transitions that are necessary, to look at the tears inequality brings, and to look at the lies we have been telling ourselves.
The “Cross the Threshold” card is very much like the Death card, stepping over the threshold from what was to what could be. Noticing the distance between two or more entities and seeing things from a more objective eye. Pledge to bring together what is truly “the way.” Balance.
LIKELY OUTCOME:
This card is a very important one in the spread, as it suggests the ongoing trend of what is likely to happen. This card traditionally is a very meditative and sleepy card. In the Waite-Smith deck, it even takes place in a church under a stained glass window. In this card, a boy is confined in what looks like a teeepee of swords an (interesting nod to Earth-based religions), as he looks like he is taking refuge from a great mother who appears to be nurturing him from behind as if she is “doing what is best” for him. But his soul has been hurt. At this young age, he knows better, and there is no escape. We are still in the toddler phase of this fight and the bigger entity here is the one with the wings. The roots on those rocks are bound tight and have taken may years to take hold, and he appears small in comparison, despite the discomfort. He’s trapped in his small enclosure of stone walls, and even smaller enclosure of swords, of trying to hang onto the way he things and hold it upright around him as a protective barrier. But mother angel looks in and watches his every move. When he comes out into the open, he is still at her disposal, even though her belief is that she is protecting him.
This card suggests the solution is still far off and that a difficult undertaking is at hand.
Mary K. Greer herself says that the 4 of Swords is a card that shows “the need for healing,” for pacifism, and for organizing our thoughts. She says it is a card that can represent prayer, which makes it the second time the word “prayer” has reared in this tarot spread. Perhaps we should think of this word on a more global scale.
The Deck of Shadows brings a common message in both cards here. A love triangle is evident: First Tier Religions, Second Tier Religions, and The Law. People are seduced by what they think they know and detached by that which feels unfamiliar to them. It is natural for people to fear that which they don’t understand or that which looks or seems “different.” But does that mean one is right and one is wrong?
Fear is the motive here, and keeping the status quo is the safe alternative to those who are used to being in control. Strong attachments bind them (think Devil Card here, which is an interesting contrast in itself to this war of religions). Great pain is felt because the balance remains off, and we are haunted by memories of thousands of years of religious persecution that continue even today.
More people have died in the name of religion than have died in all the world wars combined, and as intelligent and progressive as humanity likes to consider itself, an archaic hand of control remains over the law of religion and who has rights. This may be one war that wages until the end of time.
Donnaleigh
Hear my tarot podcast at www.TarotTribe.com
And join me every Friday on Storm Cestavani’s weekly Psychic Friends Live Show
