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IT'S IN THE TAROT CARDS:Strength/Fortitude _______________________________________________________ Thursday, January 11, 2001 The waxing moon was spectacular throughout the night! With the transition of the Moon into Leo this is a good time to look at the tarot card most oft associated with the astrological sign of the Lion. A waxing Leo Moon means fun! Card number 11 in the majority of continental decks and number 8 in modern and those post-modern decks that are RWS influenced, Strength: also known as Fortitude, Lust, La Force, Lustre (caveat: the trump numbered 20 and named Judgement is associated with Leo, as well). As the cards in their origins were not numbered it is difficult to 'know' with certainty the "correct order of the cards". This holds true regardless Waite's assertion to the contrary, " ...to introduce a rectified set of the cards themselves and to tell the unadorned truth concerning them, so far as this is possible in the outer circles. WELL! I am most definitely the outer circle and one of those horrors who subscribe to, "...the follies and impostures of past attributes..." and worse yet I discount the many theories, ancient and extant, of the Secret Tradition surrounding the historic tarot. My blasphemous nature goes even deeper, alas; I LIKE the post-modern view of the Tarot as a metaphor for the personal spiritual journey. Thus, the indications (and the working title) of my deck and my tarot table as "The Fool's Journey". I admit it, while I may not always agree or capitulate with modern and post-modern interpretations of the tarot cards, I am fascinated by the cards evolution and actively seek out the last greatest redaction! In early decks the symbolism of the card was frequently dominance-centered, "Strength". The Visconti Tarots shows a rather brutish man bashing the lion with a heavy club. The lion being subdued by overpowering physical force, much as rank and file humankind had been subdued by governments and the European cast system. The modernists gave us the image of a gracious woman astride the lion either opening or closing the gaping maw. The card evolves from dominance, "Strength", to "Fortitude", courage and strength of mind, rather than physical strength. Fortitude, from classical philosophy. One of the four paramount virtues, or cardinal virtues: justice, prudence, fortitude, and temperance. Fortitude, mastery by "moral force". I am drawn to Robert Wang's illustration of card number eight in the Golden Dawn Tarot Deck. The card shows a broad and empty plain with a horizon that seems to stretch endlessly (if somewhat flatly!) and a sky filled with towering, roiling clouds. Approaching the reader from out of this vastness of land and sky comes a tall, well-built, tawny-haired woman. Her posture and stride give the impression of great self-determination and her awareness of her power. Her bare feet trod the landscape with assurance and determination. Her clothing is simple, but conveys her position in society by the colours of her flowing shawl, saffron, and her gown, purple: both colours of royalty. In her right hand is a bouquet of four vermillion flowers. On her left, at arms length, under her fingertips, swaggers a male lion. His full mane indicates his stature and his maturity. His gaze is direct; his partial grimace is a challenge and a warning. His posture is neither confrontational nor obeisant. The woman and her feline companion appear focused. The accompanying little white booklet, written by Wang: "Courage, strength, fortitude. Power not arrested in the act of judgement, but passing on to further obstinancy (sic)." From my tarot table I give you: LUSTRE and STRENGTH are synonymous in the Egyptian hieroglyphs. Lustre, STRENGTH, and FORTITUDE, in this instance, are akin to the glory, radiance, distinction, and splendor, of achievement, reputation, and beauty that glows from within our body, though actions and attitudes. Here The FOOL unites the honour and experience of FORTITUDE, that is humankind's inherent nature. That is, 'nature' indicating an inherent quality, not acquired philosophies. The FOOL examines FORTITUDE systematically and learns to embrace and trust self. Trust then enlarges and is transferred to other aspects of the journey. With maturation and experience, The FOOL learns to acknowledge and to exhibit the manifestation of life that The HIEROPHANT alluded to earlier in the journey. By the ready acknowledgement of the talents, resources and gifts of creativity and human life, The Fool is learning to temper, and damper, the beast that is also part of inherent human nature. Endorsing FORTITUDE creates opportunities to re-new passion, re-invigorate courage, and re-invent the self displayed to the world. We live our lives in a constant state of flux, of change. We must have dominion over the state of change and the destination. FORTITUDE is unlimited, it but requires tapping into it. Patience becomes second nature when FORTITUDE is encourages and reveled in. FORTITUDE is sometimes accompanied by disillusionment and suffering. By reveling in natural FORTITUDE The FOOL can harness re-invigorated courage and either outdistance or overcome obstacles. A smooth road is no challenge. It is the rocky by-way that teaches character and endurance. Travel on. Remember, it's in the cards! __________________________________________________ Other Featured Cards
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