transition
The Empowering Symbolism Of The World Card
The World card in the Tarot remains one of my firm favorites. I am all for personal and spiritual growth, the completion of cycles, and new beginnings. The World represents exactly that: the ending of a cycle and pause in life, before the next major cycle begins with the fool.
The journey from the new beginnings of The Fool to the fulfilling endings of The World is a constant evolutionary process in our everyday lives that is represented by the sequence of the 22 Major Arcana cards of the Tarot. The World is the 22nd trump and therefore final card of the Major Arcana.
I have reflected on the imagery of the Rider-Waite version of this Tarot card in great detail. Rider-Waite is probably the most popular and universally recognized Tarot deck. The illustrations by Pamela Colman Smith at first glance appear simple, but the details and backgrounds feature abundant mystical symbolism.
The World pictures an empowered figure within a wreath – traditionally a symbol of victory, success, achievement, and eternal life. The figure holds a wand in each hand, which is reminiscent of the Magician card and the Two of Wands. However, while The Magician holds only one wand, the two wands in the The World card represents fulfillment, wholeness, balance and coming full circle.
The card is framed by four animals on the diagonal. The depiction of these four creatures parallels the four animal symbols used in Christian art to represent the four Evangelists, namely Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. The four animals also represent the zodiac signs of Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius, the four fixed signs in Western Astrology, which in turn represent the classical four elements of Earth, Fire, Water and Air.
Let Your Heart Lead The Way
It is hard to believe that we were all in a worldwide shutdown just a couple of years ago. It has been a difficult and traumatic time for us all, as is always the case with major transition and change.
The global pandemic has played a vital role in transforming the energies in our world. For years, the predominant energy vibration in society has been masculine. We were rushing around in a constant go-go-go mode: egotistically grinding, clashing, and vying for things.
Some of my clients would call me and ask why their friends and relatives have been able to manifest this or that, yet they have not? It was all about comparison, strife, and competition. But our world has since been experiencing a significant energy transformation. With the advent of the global pandemic a lot of changes happened, and very rapidly!
Signs of this energetic shift are now becoming more evident. When I connect with current societal energies, it comes through as much gentler and predominantly female. This is a significant and welcome shift, especially when it comes to manifesting.
Traditionally, much attention was put on thought and the cognitive mind. Manifestation books and programs emphasized how our thoughts, ideas and beliefs function like a magnet to manifest our desires. But what if I told you that the heart is more powerful magnet than the brain?
According to HeartMath Institute Director of Research Rollin McCraty, the heart generates a much more powerful electromagnetic field compared to the brain. “The heart generates the largest electromagnetic field in the body. The electrical field as measured in an electrocardiogram (ECG) is about 60 times greater in amplitude than the brain waves recorded in an electroencephalogram (EEG).”
Seasonal Crystals To Prepare For The Spring
The second half of the winter season, after the solstice, is an ideal time to establish new patterns and laying the groundwork for the coming spring and summer. Now is the ideal time to start adopting healthier lifestyle habits and plant spiritual seeds that will bloom in the months ahead.
Crystal that pairs well with this kind of winter energy work is clear, transparent quartz. It is a metaphysical staple for many practitioners, regardless the time of year, as it facilitates mental and emotional clarity and helps clear out negative energies. However, like a pristine winter pool of icy water, it also does not tolerate shadows and secrets.
Another winter-friendly crystal is selenite, which resembles an opaque spike of white ice. It acts as a cleanser, sweeping away the painful memories of the past and embracing the transition into a new year. Selenite is also closely associated with guardian angels and spirit guides, so it helps us to tap into their guiding wisdom more clearly.
Warmer, more fiery crystals can also help us generate some sparks and bring new heat to even the coldest, most hibernated of intentions. Citrine, with its inviting citrus hues attracts good luck and prosperity to the bearer. This crystal helps us stick to our goals and fulfill our greater purpose.
If you are wanting to increase your creativity and productivity this year, try fiery carnelian, with its sweltering deep orange and red-brown overtures. Its leading energy associations are inspiration, determination, and tenacity. Also, red or fuchsia garnet (appropriately also the birthstone for January) increases motivation and allows us to manifest our goals and aspirations.
Ascending From Our State Of Karmic Poverty
We are all ‘karmic sponges’ at this critical time in human history. God, Source, Spirit, the Universe is holding us accountable now for the karmic buildup that has accumulated over the past 2,000 years and beyond in our ancestral lineages.
This is a very difficult time of transition for humanity, but if we implement spiritual self-care daily, we can sanctify our own karmic load. Not incorporating daily spiritual self-care proportional to one’s personal karmic burden, weakens our power and soul growth.
When I notice that it is becoming overwhelming for me to deal with daily work and life challenges, then I know it is time for me to scale up my spiritual regimen. For me this includes a daily prayer to my Higher Power: “God, this is the best I can do today. I know tomorrow will take care of itself, as I continue my ascension journey. Please sanctify my mind, body and soul beyond what a mere mortal can accomplish in one day.”
Also, when I recognize I need to cut etheric cords with those in my life who don’t deserve my presence, I rise to the challenge and invest the energy instead in proceeding to the next step in my assertion with others.
Remember, each step on your ascension ladder is a small distance upwards. Some of us need smaller intervals between steps, while others may take larger chunks at a time. It doesn’t make the small stepper less worthy of the journey.
Humility, combined with creativity, gratitude, and a joyful spirit, is what invites healing and abundance into our lives. It also liberates people from their self-destructive addictions, lusts, and excesses.
The Spiritual Meaning Of Seeing 222
If you are currently experiencing a spiritual awakening or have been on a path of spiritual awareness you may noticed certain repeating numbers showing up for you more frequently. But why are you seeing a specific number or number sequence over and over again, and what is its spiritual meaning.
When spirit is seeking to get our attention or communicate with us, we experience certain signs and synchronicities, including seeing certain numbers or repeating number sequences, also known as ‘angel numbers,’ that show up in your life in a noticeable way. We begin to constantly see these numbers everywhere, on watches and clocks, road signs, license plates, billboards, addresses, electronic exercise equipment, phone numbers, social media posts, and so on. Each number and number sequence carries its own, unique message and energy signature.
The number 2 is one I have found particularly meaningful. It is a highly esoteric number tied to the informational nature of light and how we perceive the world.
In Tarot, the number 2 is associated with the High Priestess card. She is the keeper of secret knowledge. She understands the esoteric mysteries of the Universe. She also knows knowledge is found in the light code and the high priestess can access this information. She knows how to flow with the universal laws, and how to use these laws to enact what others may view as ‘magic.’
She therefore represents masterful manifestation, and yet also an element of personal sacrifice. The high priestess does not manifest for her own selfish desires. She manifests for the highest and best good of all, even if that means she must integrate lessons and challenge herself to grow spiritually.
The High Priestess understands that the wise man knows himself to be a fool, and that there is always more to learn. She is humble, yet wise. She moves effortlessly within duality, understanding when to speak and when not to speak, when to share her knowledge and when to remain silent. When to spend her energy and when to withdraw.
Looking Back To Move Forward
My favorite quote for this liminal time, at the end of the year and before the beginning of the new year is by self-help author Melody Beattie , who wrote, “The new year stands before us, like a chapter in a book, waiting to be written.” It reminds me that we always have the power to write new chapters and weave new threads into our life tapestry. We truly are the masters of our own destiny.
As a Numerologist I’ve looked at the energy of the vibrations of 2021, a number 5 World Year. It’s been quite the ride as we all know! The energy of the 5 is fast moving, sometimes chaotic, adventurous, dramatic, risky. It is literally ‘mind-blowing’ in many ways as the number 5 is considered to be the ‘mind’ energy in Numerology.
We indeed had to think, and rethink things very deeply over this past year. There have been many starts, stops, pauses, and pattern interrupt, false alarms, recoveries, and amazing breakthroughs.
This year we’ve had to come up not only with a Plan A and B, but also a C, D and even an E. And we had to rekindle our courage and faith. Many of us learned the true meaning of the Serenity Prayer – some for the first time in their life.
God to grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.
As we look back on this year, there are many illuminating questions we may ask. Where did our own serenity come from? What things did we have the courage to change, and what things were not ours to change? Did we embrace the spiritual wisdom of release and acceptance? What spiritual insight and personal growth did we gain from this challenging year?
Transitioning With Grace
Autumn always awakens my awareness of transitions. Not only does the entire scenery change color, but each individual leaf on every tree is in a constant shift of shades of greens, golds, yellows, oranges, and reds. With every shifting shade and combination of them, the pattern of the palette continuously alters too.
Then, of course, there is the falling of the leaves – the gradual transition from tree to ground, from full foliage to bareness in various new measures day by day. The rise and set of the sun, and the length of the night and light incrementally inch through their own thresholds as well.
Like the changing season, life is full of transitions. From the moment the soul enters the womb, an endless sequence of them begins. The body develops in a rapid succession of changes, then carries the soul from womb to world.
In the world, the embodied soul then undergoes transition through various ages and stages, growing from infant to toddler to child to adolescent to adult, until gradually winding down to leave the body behind and proceed to the next one or world.
In between, you and I – the embodied souls – may face a multitude of additional transitions in relationships, careers, residences, levels of consciousness, and more. Such transitions – even the best of them – are not easy. They naturally incorporate intervals of instability in the liminal spaces between here and there. Transitions entail shedding, releasing, letting go of the old that was, and then birthing and rebirthing the next and new phase that will be. They empty us out and fill us up, again and again. Transitions are not easy; they may even make us feel queasy!
So, how can we move through the endless array of life’s transitions gracefully? As with all things, there are probably as many ways as there is individuality among people. What I share are simply some of the ones I have found especially helpful.
