ancientarchetypes

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Life Purpose Tarot Spread

(I created this spread, so please don’t remove my details.)

Sort your deck into different piles for the Major Arcana, the Aces, the court cards, and the others. Concentrate and get into the right mindset like you usually would.

Shuffle the Aces and lay them out face down. Hold your hand over each of them, and pick the one that feels the most magnetic. This is the top of your pyramid.

Then shuffle the Major Arcana, divide into three piles and recombine them however feels right. Take the two uppermost cards and lay them in the next row of your pyramid.

Take the court cards, shuffle them and cut into two piles. Recombine and lay out the top three cards below the Major Arcana cards.

Shuffle the remaining cards, cut into three piles and recombine. The first four cards form the bottom row of your pyramid.

Card 1 - The overarching energy of your life.

Card 2 & 3 - Your lesson in this life is to either bring these two cards in balance, or transmute one into the other.

Card 4 to 6 - Your helpers, be they actual people, spirit guides or something else entirely.

Card 7 to 10 - The circumstances you have to work with, be they positive or negative.

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Acting and Consciousness Transformation

One of the most incredible on-screen performances I have seen in a long time was by none other than the late Heath Ledger as the Joker in “Dark Knight.”  Never before have I seen a villain so comfortable and secure in his own insanity. In the film, Heath Ledger effectively transformed himself into a maniacial anarchist, schizophrenic, and psychopath intent upon bringing chaos into the world.

In the process, he opened his consciousness into dark spectrums of reality that began to slowly change him. The character of the Joker began to seep into his reality, something that he was apparently unprepared for. Jack Nicholson said similar things about his experience with playing the Joker, and claimed that he ‘warned’ Ledger about the part. Ledger also stated that during the filming he slept only about 2 hours a night, and that “I couldn’t stop thinking. My body was exhausted, and my mind was still going.” Prescription drugs also brought him no peace, and offered no solution.

Viewing the similar experiences of both Jack Nicholson and Heath Ledger when both transforming into the role of a psychopathic, murderous clown, we see a connection. When analyzing the situation with an awareness of consciousness, a startling reality becomes apparent. Through the continued practice of being the Joker, they both began to transform into that character.

Acting is much more than taking a role and pretending to be another person. It is a process of self transformation, of changing and altering one’s own consciousness in order to personify a different being.

In transforming into a character, an actor redefines and changes their entire reality. They transform into a new person; one with a new history, one with new stories, and one with new motivations. When talking about his change into the character of the joker, Ledger stated that he “had a picture in his mind” and that he “went away, found it, came back.” In other words, he set an intent, focused upon a spectrum of being in the universe, and manifested a new reality for himself.

This is a very powerful and highly conscious practice, one that requires self-discipline and strength of will. During the transformation process, great actors will immerse themselves in the world of their character, expending massive amounts of time and energy molding and shaping their awareness into a different space. They learn how to operate from a completely new set of initial conditions when it comes to experiencing and perceiving reality.

This is the same journey as the expansion of consciousness, but with a very different intent.

While this is the process that many actors and actresses utilize in their experience, they may or may not be aware of exactly what it is they are doing. They may not be aware that they are changing the universe, expanding consciousness, or increasing their awareness. For many, it may simply be the means to the ends, how they accomplish what it is they need to do.

Our society believes that they revere and respect actors and actresses because they are beautiful, or because they are entertaining.  The fact of the matter is that it is for a much deeper reason.  As beings of consciousness, we are attracted to the power of these highly conscious beings due to their self-awareness and their ability to shift and mold their consciousness.  It resonates in the depths of our being, reflects our innate nature as conscious creators, and our ability to change and alter reality.

But in this process, people can expand into very dark spectrums of reality. One can open to things that can be overwhelming, or that one cannot understand. Without any context or awareness of what it happening, it is easy for someone to become lost in the infinitude of the universe, and lose their basic grasp upon reality. If spend most of my time changing my nature and altering my consciousness, it’s possible that it can be done so many times or to such an extent that it may be difficult to return to themselves.

We hear of actors, actresses, entertainers apparently going ‘crazy’ or behaving erratically for apparently no reason at all. Well, I propose that there is in fact a reason, that they have expanded their consciousness into a space that they are completly unfamiliar with, and it scares them. Perhaps they start having waking visions, lucid dreams, astral traveling, hearing voices of spirit guides. With no context to understand these sorts of experiences, one can easily think that they are going crazy. How do many respond to these sorts of phenomena? Drinking, partying, drugs; anything to help it all go away.

This is the power of choice, this is the power of concentration, this is the power of our attention. This is our power as sovereign beings of consciousness. Whatever we choose to be, however we choose to define our reality, we then create this for ourselves. We become what we choose to become, what we choose to perceive. The law of attraction responds to all energy indiscriminately, both of the positive and negative nature. Our thoughts and our intents immediately begin to alter the universe and become manifest.

By practicing awareness, we can be conscious of the choices that we make and the energy that we emanate into the universe.  The change we choose to be is powerful, so be sure that you be what it is you wish to see.

Why so serious?  Breathe, relax, be easy, and enjoy the ride.

By: Adam Lanka

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Yeah! I've had a conversation about my written exams today and it went really well and was very interesting... How fitting.

Click on ZodiacTarot for zodiac tarot cards for each sign.

You should see the fantastic astrology and zodiac entertainment at the best astrology site: iFate.com

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Then I went to Pinterest, and saw this in my feed... Yes, the Queen of Cups is a meaningful last card indeed. (This is Circe by John William Waterhouse, by the way.)

[ancientarchetypes]

#78 World Wednesday - Queen of Cups

I can’t believe this is the last post of my 78 cards in 78 days project. I’m both relieved and sad. Read how it works here.

Hawaii

The only place that I know of where they literally great you with love. (Aloha means love.) I don’t need to explain about the sea there, the dolphins (who was featured as my Page of Cups) or the mystical qualities of the islands... I’m a big fan of the book Urban Shaman by Serge Kahili King, and I’m sure the Queen of Cups would approve of it too. And once again I’ve managed to find a picture that resembles the card, or in this case, the background...

I also believe there’s encouragement in my project ending with this card. Just beautiful.

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#77 Fairytale Tuesday - The Hermit

This post is part of my 78 cards in 78 days project. Read how it works here.

The Fairy Godmother

There are plenty of actual hermits to be found in myths and fairytales, but I thought I’d dig a little deeper and look for the archetype in another character. The Hermit doesn’t only stand for a going or searching within, but also for help from a wise counselor. And look how like the Hermit the fairy godmother from Cinderella is!

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#76 Movie Monday - Queen of Pentacles

This post is part of my 78 cards in 78 days project. Read how it works here.

Can you believe it? With only two days after this one, I dropped the whole deck and had to figure out which two cards I didn’t do yet... 

I realise I’m using my own interpretation more than anything I’ve read so far, but to me the Pentacles are more about magic than the other suits. And she’s the queen, the one who’s wise and probably understands the qualities of her deck the deepest. Also, the Thoth version of this card bears an uncanny likeness to Maleficent... See for yourself. (It makes me wonder whether Walt Disney intended this when he created her... Very interesting.)

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#75 Song Sunday - The Empress

This post is part of my 78 cards in 78 days project. Read how it works here.

I’d like to draw attention here to something I feel about strongly. Namely, the fact that female archetypes can be embodied by men, and vice versa. The Rider Waite deck has been called stereotyped, and I understand why, but it doesn’t have to be interpreted that way at all. In fact, it’s not the deck so much as our reaction to it. There’s no reason the Queen of Swords couldn’t represent a man. 

The drawback is that we still think of traits like passivity as feminine and action as masculine, and this might be hurtful to individuals who are expected or even required to act a certain way. The advantage is that we all understand the difference intuitively, and I have a suspicion that’s because our sex hormones are purely masculine or feminine, even though a complete human being might not be.

Anyway, here’s Björk singing about a boy who’s sensual and sensitive. He’s focused on the senses and pleasure, just like the goddess of love.

[ancientarchetypes]

#74 Art Saturday - Five of Pentacles

This post is part of my 78 cards in 78 days project. Read how it works here.

Applicants for Admission to a Casual Ward by Sir Luke Fildes

I don’t think this needs much explanation, though I have to agree the card has much more subtle meanings as well...

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73 Fiction Friday - Strength

This post is part of my 78 cards in 78 days project. Read how it works here.

Jane Eyre

When I thought of this young, possibly virginal woman guiding the lion, symbol of our powerful unconscious forces, I immediately thought of Jane Eyre and Mr. Rochester. He’s moody and unpleasant in general, but under her attention he becomes harmless. The same will happen to our own demons when we bravely shine a light on them.

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#72 Throwback Thursday - Ten of Wands

This post is part of my 78 cards in 78 days project. Read how it works here.

Slavery

This is someone who has to carry all the burdens by himself. In readings, it’s also possible that the person has taken on too much voluntary, but as an image, it speaks more of unfairness to me.

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#71 World Wednesday - Eight of Swords

This post is part of my 78 cards in 78 days project. Read how it works here.

Le Mont St. Michel

It looks like the woman is standing in the wetlands that separate this island city from mainland Normandy. I’m sure Pamela Colman Smith knew of this place’s existence, but why she would chose it for this card puzzles me.

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#70 Fairytale Tuesday - Eight of Wands

This post is part of my 78 cards in 78 days project. Read how it works here.

The happy ending

This may seem like a bit of a copout, but actually I believe it’s not, because most every fairytale ending fits the description of the Eight of Wands. Conclusions, revelations, swift action, romantic or sexual events... In a movie, this would be the action montage that makes the hero succeed.

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#69 Movie Monday - Death

This post is part of my 78 cards in 78 days project. Read how it works here.

SPOILER ALERT

Pai is a girl coming from a long line of Maori chiefs, and she has a calling to be chief one day. But, because she’s a girl, her grandfather cannot accept this. Only after she almost drowns a transformation can take place. It’s almost like the shaman’s calling and initiation, except this time, it’s not the person being called who has to transform, but her surroundings.

I love this film so much...

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#68 Song Sunday - Two of Swords

This post is part of my 78 cards in 78 days project. Read how it works here.

Yes! Marina & the Diamonds again... Some excerpts from the lyrics that evoke the Two of Swords:

One track mind like a gold fish Stuck inside my Petri dish I can't breathe and I can't smile This better be worth my while

Forgo family, forgo friends It's how it started, how it ends I can't open up and cry 'Cause I've been silent all my life

I feel numb most of the time

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#67 Art Saturday - The Hanged Man

This post is part of my 78 cards in 78 days project. Read how it works here.

Alienation by Anelia Loubser

When you are upside down, everything you know reverses; the world becomes unfamiliar. Photographer Anelia Loubser captures this perfectly in her series of upside down portraits.

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#66 Fiction Friday - King of Swords

This post is part of my 78 cards in 78 days project. Read how it works here.

The father in Franz Kafka’s short story The Judgement (Das Urteil)

The father in this story is judgemental and aloof. He resembles the figures in Judgement and the Emperor, but this one is only human. Not the perfect archetype of a just and caring father. However, the father in the story is so bad, he may be the card reversed.