By Marcia Bender
Let me introduce you to 78 of the best friends one can ever hope to have.
I have often stated that there are many paths to enlightenment. Webster’s defines enlighten as: “to give the light of fact and knowledge to; reveal truths to; to inform, give clarification to.” Individuals who seek to understand things that are beyond the physical reality seek to enlighten themselves, to become enlightened beings. There are many “tools” that help one to become more connected and “open” to messages from Higher Forces. Webster’s defines a tool as: “any implement or instrument that serves to aid a person in accomplishing a purpose.” Just as there are many paths to enlightenment, there are many “tools” available to aid one in a quest for the understanding of a Spiritual Path. People that are familiar with me know that my “tool of choice” is Tarot Cards.
I am often asked why I don’t do columns on the Tarot. I could devote the next year of Spiritually Speaking to the tarot and only scratch the surface of this fascinating topic. The question I am most asked is the most difficult to answer: Where does the Tarot come from? You can ask 50 Tarot Scholars this question and you will receive 50 different answers! Many trace the Tarot to the Ancient Hebrews, and beyond, to lost civilizations. Others trace it to the early Egyptians, to the Nomads (Gypsies) from Europe. I am sure you get the picture.
We can take the word Taro (the final T is NOT pronounced) and use it as an anagram in many interesting ways. Here are a few:
Tora(h): the Torah is the name for the body of work that is now known as the Old Testament. The Hebrew Law.
Rota: This is Latin for the word wheel. The Wheel of Life. Astrology charts are charted on a wheel. A Mandala, another tool for meditation, is a circle or wheel.
Orat: A Latin word for speaks.
I can remember in the “old days” when my work with the Tarot first began. When I would tell people that I worked with the Tarot, they would declare me a fortune teller. I would then explain that there are many uses of the Tarot, and only one of them has to do with predicting the future. Yes, they do enable us to see the future and the consequences of our decisions, but I prefer to use the word Divination to fortune telling. The intelligent use of Tarot Cards is as an aid in meditation, spiritual balance, and in giving us knowledge of self and our individual role in the grater scheme of the Universe. They enable us to go from the conscious to the subconscious and to tap into the super conscious.
What a joy it is to talk to “God” and get answers!
A Tarot pack is simply 78 pieces of cardboard with beautiful pictures painted on them. Each one is a work of art. When in competent hands, they can become 78 of the best friends one can ever hope to have. They become a bridge from physical reality to connect with Higher Forces. Many problems arise when the reader uses the power of the Tarot for negative purposes and/or when the reader is simply not competent in their use. One cannot become a Tarot reader by reading a book on the Tarot. I studied more than 15 years before I began to read professionally. Higher Forces have enabled me to teach others, in nine sessions, what it took me 15 years to learn, BUT I can only teach the people that “they” choose for study. However, even an advanced “teacher” never stops learning where the mastery of the Tarot is concerned. It is an adventure of enormous magnitude and is not for everyone. Even if one does not feel inclined to study Tarot and to learn to self guide, the Tarot adventure can still be experienced.
It is important to choose a Tarot reader the same way that you would choose your doctor, lawyer, dentist, financial advisor, or car mechanic! The best way to find a reader is by referral. Ask for references and find someone who is well respected. A Tarot reading is not something to do on a whim, nor is it necessary for the person to go to their reader on a daily or weekly basis. A good reader can predict the most important things coming up in a person’s life and give advice on how to handle these things, covering an extended period of time. If a person is able to read for self, a daily reading is a good practice.
The first step on the path to a spiritual connection is one’s personal desire to better understand self and the mysteries of the Universe.
The Tarot is one of the tools that can aid the ultimate quest for balance and enlightenment.
If you would like more information on the Tarot and some of the other “tools” of metaphysics, just ask. I have stated from the beginning of this column that it belongs to you, the readers.
And remember, Knowledge is the Greatest Power, so Walk in the Light.
Marcia began her career as a school teacher, working with preschool through inner city high school students. She has worked with all aspects of Metaphysics for over 40 years and specializes in Tarot and Numerology. Marcia’s clients and students are in every state and throughout Europe. Marcia has taught over 400 students to “read” the Tarot for the purpose of self-guidance and to use the powerful symbolism of the Tarot to reach higher levels of spirituality. Her column, Spiritually Speaking, originally ran for 8 years in Attitudes Magazine. Email marlou2000@aol.com.
