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Continuing my exploration of the tarot, I am trying out a new spread based on the cabalistic tree of life (also known as the Sephiroth Spread.) Because I haven't worked with this spread before, I am following some advice that I have seen concerning methods for familiarizing oneself with the tarot and doing a reading for a past event of which I have knowledge. The event chosen for this reading? Thresholds 7. :)
The cards were drawn and placed as follows:
1. Kether - 3 of Swords
2. Chokmah - The Hermit
3. Binah - The Fool
4. Chesed - 10 of Cups
5. Geburah - 5 of Wands
6. Tiphareth - 3 of Wands
7. Netzach - 4 of Swords
8. Hod - 6 of Disks
9. Yesod - 2 of Disks
10. Malkuth - 10 of Disks
There is no mention of a signifier card used in this spread, but I felt that the presence of one would help tie things together and show me more about the overall context. I drew The World as the signifier, and felt pulled to place it in the equally unmentioned position of Daath on the Tree.
Kether is the sephiroth of beginnings. Of ultimate conception, of the idea which stirs in the mind before it is imbued with force or form. It is also representative of hidden roots, and the inner realm. The three of swords is a card of conflict, of separation and loneliness. It is a card which represents unexpressed emotion which leaves one feeling cast-off and abandoned. My interpretation of the meaning of this card in this reading is that it is symbolic of the feelings of loneliness and separation that first spawned gatherings like Threshold, of the impulse to gather together as a community so that we don't feel so alone.
Chokmah is the sephiroth of force. It is the energy required to manifest the potential of Kether. Here we find a major arcana card: the Hermit. While this card can mean introspection, it can also mean searching. The hermit walks alone, but he walks with a light outstretched, looking for something. His light also lights the way of others, seeking him. To me, this feels like it represents the experience of otherkin in coming together as a community: searching for others like us, searching for other true seekers, but ourselves coming to embody the things we seek and in so doing lighting the way for others who seek the same. We are the embodiments of the environments we are searching for.
Binah is the sephiroth of form. It is restrictive, but also creative, as it focuses the energies of Chokmah and gives them form according to their function. Here we find the card The Fool, a card which reinforces the message of searching found in the Hermit. The fool's journey leads him to mysteries, and he can represent a physical pilgrimage as well as the start of a metaphorical journey. In this reading it would seem to represent the seekers coming to thresholds, their physical journey in search of the light of truth carried by the hermit.
Chesed is a sephiroth representing the architect, the planner laying the foundations for what will come to pass. It is a sephiroth which represents dominion over the material world, tempered by mercy to produce justice. It is also representative of ideals. The ten of cups represents both the plans of the creator of Walking the Thresholds and the ideal envisioned which it could reach. It is a card representing abundance, gathering, and a joyful sharing of resources. Continuing success. It also refers to cycles completed, journeys finished, and lives well lived in the company of others. Particularly with a sense of family.
Geburah is the sephiroth of severity. It represents both strength and power, and their sources. It can also represent conflict and strife. While the latter seem would seem to be indicated by the martial symbolism of the five of wands, and its title of strife, it also carries the meaning of competition... of trying to be the best, even of trying to outdo oneself. This is the source of much of Walking the Thresholds strength, and seems the most appropriate interpretation of this card in this reading.
Tiphareth is the sephiroth of balance and harmony. It is also the sephiroth of beauty. It is also the sephiroth of spiritual rebirth. It is the sephiroth which tempers and balances the forces of Chesed and Geburah. It is, to my way of thinking, roughly equivalent to the hawaiian concept of pono or the elenari concept of des'tai. It is the gateway to correct action, the true path. As in the previous reading, the three of wands represents preparation completed, past foundations which have set the stage for future change. It also represents leadership that becomes partnership, a solitary pilgrim who will one day walk the path again with others by his side. It represents strength which will become the source of greater strength when shared.
Netzach is the sephiroth of creativity, subjectivity, and the emotions. It also concerns relationships. The four of swords, conversely, represents rest after conflict. A truce where even former opponents may share their thoughts with one another. I believe this represents some of the quelled conflicts that I witnessed at Thresholds, where even those who are not on good terms with one another had a friendly smile and pleasant word during the gathering, setting aside their conflicts in the interest of the positive aspects of the gathering.
Hod is the sephiroth of learning,teaching, communication, objectivity, and rational thought. The six of disks ties in well with this sephiroth as it represents the sharing of abundant resources and knowledge. I believe this refers to the many interesting workshops and conversations which took place at Thresholds and continue even now online.
Yesod is the sephiroth of the moon, connected with the astral plane. It is also connected with illusion, attraction (including sexuality), and one's subconscious or animal nature. (Roughly corresponding to the Ku of the Huna system). It is also the point just before ultimate manifestation. The two of discs symbozes flow, change that takes place while preserving balance. Flexibility and adaptability. Life at the edge of chaos. As it relates to thresholds, this card in this position seems to relate to the idea that Thresholds as a whole is formed from the relationships between many projects being worked on by many contributers. Its life is born in their juggling and interaction. Above all, a dynamic balance must be maintained between them all. It is the illusion of a circle formed by the dancing objects of the juggler, a completion that only exists within our minds eye when we consider the parts together.
Malkuth is the sephiroth of the earth, of ultimate manifestation. It is the tangible result of all that comes before it, the final outcome. Likewise, the ten of disks is the ultimate outcome of the element of earth when taken to its logical extreme: it represents wealth inherited, family wealth built up over time together, a gathering of family and a sharing of their abundance as they celebrate together. It represents the richness that we are creating together through being a part of Thresholds, sharing our knowledge and talents with one another, and creating a lasting institution for the future that we can continue to share together whenever we gather together.
Finally, Daath is the sephiroth of knowledge. It is also the threshold between the light side of the tree and its darker half, the qlipoth or nightside of the tree. The World represents completion, harmony, and fulfillment. It can be seen as representing moving on, the end of a cycle, and the achievement of objectives. But it can also be seen as the start of a new one. In the words of James Bond: "The World is Not Enough." In this position it seems to be both congratulations and admonition... congratulations that Thresholds has indeed achieved its original goals, and an admonition that now is not the time for complacency and more hard work is to come, and new goals will need to be strived for. It may also be a warning, in the position of Daath, that should the cycle stagnate even here at its peak the positive energies of the sephiroth may be replaced by the negative energies of the qlipoth.
This reading did not seem as easy to me as the celtic cross reading from yesterday, but much of that seemed to be because of my own inability to remember the correspondences of the sephiroth. As I looked them up and compared them with the cards drawn, it became easier to see the correspondences between the cards, their positions in the spread, and the overall situation of thresholds. I did not, surprisingly, find any indication in this reading of the reasons for people's feelings of disconnection from each other or the event... I can only conclude that my focus may have been too general, and the spread too focused on other elements, for that aspect of the event to be described. I may attempt another reading tomorrow on that subject, using a third spread which looks to have interesting potentials for resolving the disparate viewpoints people seem to have of that aspect of thresholds. I do not know if it will provide any useful information, but it can't hurt and I do need the practice with the tarot so it is as good an exercise as any.
The cards were drawn and placed as follows:
1. Kether - 3 of Swords
2. Chokmah - The Hermit
3. Binah - The Fool
4. Chesed - 10 of Cups
5. Geburah - 5 of Wands
6. Tiphareth - 3 of Wands
7. Netzach - 4 of Swords
8. Hod - 6 of Disks
9. Yesod - 2 of Disks
10. Malkuth - 10 of Disks
There is no mention of a signifier card used in this spread, but I felt that the presence of one would help tie things together and show me more about the overall context. I drew The World as the signifier, and felt pulled to place it in the equally unmentioned position of Daath on the Tree.
Kether is the sephiroth of beginnings. Of ultimate conception, of the idea which stirs in the mind before it is imbued with force or form. It is also representative of hidden roots, and the inner realm. The three of swords is a card of conflict, of separation and loneliness. It is a card which represents unexpressed emotion which leaves one feeling cast-off and abandoned. My interpretation of the meaning of this card in this reading is that it is symbolic of the feelings of loneliness and separation that first spawned gatherings like Threshold, of the impulse to gather together as a community so that we don't feel so alone.
Chokmah is the sephiroth of force. It is the energy required to manifest the potential of Kether. Here we find a major arcana card: the Hermit. While this card can mean introspection, it can also mean searching. The hermit walks alone, but he walks with a light outstretched, looking for something. His light also lights the way of others, seeking him. To me, this feels like it represents the experience of otherkin in coming together as a community: searching for others like us, searching for other true seekers, but ourselves coming to embody the things we seek and in so doing lighting the way for others who seek the same. We are the embodiments of the environments we are searching for.
Binah is the sephiroth of form. It is restrictive, but also creative, as it focuses the energies of Chokmah and gives them form according to their function. Here we find the card The Fool, a card which reinforces the message of searching found in the Hermit. The fool's journey leads him to mysteries, and he can represent a physical pilgrimage as well as the start of a metaphorical journey. In this reading it would seem to represent the seekers coming to thresholds, their physical journey in search of the light of truth carried by the hermit.
Chesed is a sephiroth representing the architect, the planner laying the foundations for what will come to pass. It is a sephiroth which represents dominion over the material world, tempered by mercy to produce justice. It is also representative of ideals. The ten of cups represents both the plans of the creator of Walking the Thresholds and the ideal envisioned which it could reach. It is a card representing abundance, gathering, and a joyful sharing of resources. Continuing success. It also refers to cycles completed, journeys finished, and lives well lived in the company of others. Particularly with a sense of family.
Geburah is the sephiroth of severity. It represents both strength and power, and their sources. It can also represent conflict and strife. While the latter seem would seem to be indicated by the martial symbolism of the five of wands, and its title of strife, it also carries the meaning of competition... of trying to be the best, even of trying to outdo oneself. This is the source of much of Walking the Thresholds strength, and seems the most appropriate interpretation of this card in this reading.
Tiphareth is the sephiroth of balance and harmony. It is also the sephiroth of beauty. It is also the sephiroth of spiritual rebirth. It is the sephiroth which tempers and balances the forces of Chesed and Geburah. It is, to my way of thinking, roughly equivalent to the hawaiian concept of pono or the elenari concept of des'tai. It is the gateway to correct action, the true path. As in the previous reading, the three of wands represents preparation completed, past foundations which have set the stage for future change. It also represents leadership that becomes partnership, a solitary pilgrim who will one day walk the path again with others by his side. It represents strength which will become the source of greater strength when shared.
Netzach is the sephiroth of creativity, subjectivity, and the emotions. It also concerns relationships. The four of swords, conversely, represents rest after conflict. A truce where even former opponents may share their thoughts with one another. I believe this represents some of the quelled conflicts that I witnessed at Thresholds, where even those who are not on good terms with one another had a friendly smile and pleasant word during the gathering, setting aside their conflicts in the interest of the positive aspects of the gathering.
Hod is the sephiroth of learning,teaching, communication, objectivity, and rational thought. The six of disks ties in well with this sephiroth as it represents the sharing of abundant resources and knowledge. I believe this refers to the many interesting workshops and conversations which took place at Thresholds and continue even now online.
Yesod is the sephiroth of the moon, connected with the astral plane. It is also connected with illusion, attraction (including sexuality), and one's subconscious or animal nature. (Roughly corresponding to the Ku of the Huna system). It is also the point just before ultimate manifestation. The two of discs symbozes flow, change that takes place while preserving balance. Flexibility and adaptability. Life at the edge of chaos. As it relates to thresholds, this card in this position seems to relate to the idea that Thresholds as a whole is formed from the relationships between many projects being worked on by many contributers. Its life is born in their juggling and interaction. Above all, a dynamic balance must be maintained between them all. It is the illusion of a circle formed by the dancing objects of the juggler, a completion that only exists within our minds eye when we consider the parts together.
Malkuth is the sephiroth of the earth, of ultimate manifestation. It is the tangible result of all that comes before it, the final outcome. Likewise, the ten of disks is the ultimate outcome of the element of earth when taken to its logical extreme: it represents wealth inherited, family wealth built up over time together, a gathering of family and a sharing of their abundance as they celebrate together. It represents the richness that we are creating together through being a part of Thresholds, sharing our knowledge and talents with one another, and creating a lasting institution for the future that we can continue to share together whenever we gather together.
Finally, Daath is the sephiroth of knowledge. It is also the threshold between the light side of the tree and its darker half, the qlipoth or nightside of the tree. The World represents completion, harmony, and fulfillment. It can be seen as representing moving on, the end of a cycle, and the achievement of objectives. But it can also be seen as the start of a new one. In the words of James Bond: "The World is Not Enough." In this position it seems to be both congratulations and admonition... congratulations that Thresholds has indeed achieved its original goals, and an admonition that now is not the time for complacency and more hard work is to come, and new goals will need to be strived for. It may also be a warning, in the position of Daath, that should the cycle stagnate even here at its peak the positive energies of the sephiroth may be replaced by the negative energies of the qlipoth.
This reading did not seem as easy to me as the celtic cross reading from yesterday, but much of that seemed to be because of my own inability to remember the correspondences of the sephiroth. As I looked them up and compared them with the cards drawn, it became easier to see the correspondences between the cards, their positions in the spread, and the overall situation of thresholds. I did not, surprisingly, find any indication in this reading of the reasons for people's feelings of disconnection from each other or the event... I can only conclude that my focus may have been too general, and the spread too focused on other elements, for that aspect of the event to be described. I may attempt another reading tomorrow on that subject, using a third spread which looks to have interesting potentials for resolving the disparate viewpoints people seem to have of that aspect of thresholds. I do not know if it will provide any useful information, but it can't hurt and I do need the practice with the tarot so it is as good an exercise as any.