A FOOL'S ERRAND.

I consider facilitating spiritual development in another to be a privilege. Sharing a journey with someone who is on a path of discovery (which never truly ends) is deeply rewarding and enriching.

I am passionate about Tarot, it has been an integral part of my life for many years now and it never ceases to amaze and delight me. Tarot may be many things but boring it aint!!

I hope to inspire and imbibe participants on my Tarot Studies courses with this same wonder and sense of magic and at the same time develop insights into their own life story. I am also keen to guide others into seeing Tarot from different perspectives so that one gains the overall impression of it's versatility and beauty.

One of the ways to achieve this is to encourage the Tarot neophyte to take part in a project which they then share with their group at the end of the 10 intermediate week course. The idea of this project is to galvanise the students relationship to their cards and to bring out their own unique style and approach to reading Tarot cards and ultimately deepen the awareness of their own life experiences.

So, we take the 22 Major Arcana cards and we weave each card into a theme. In the past we have had rock music and opera, animals, recipes, Shakespeare, yoga postures, politicians and story telling, the variables are enormous!

It always starts out the same, when I announce that the group is expected to do this project there is a lot of face pulling and groaning, lots of excuses as to why it can't be done but with a bit of cajoling it usually reaches completion.

I love that moment when someone shares their efforts with the group; not only does it make for a pleasant evening but I am always so touched by the erstwhile attempts which have resulted in fabulous creativity and thoughtfulness. On many occasions I have been blown away by a project, never more so than by that one who really didn't think that they would be good enough either at their project or as a reader. It is a beautiful moment when that person receives wonderful feedback from the others and their is this wonderful sense of achievement. Fabulous!!

Digging around in my archives I came across a poem that a student did for his project. I remember him as being an unlikely candidate for spiritual pathworking as his life did not appear to be a natural fit for such activity, however I learnt form him that you can NEVER judge a book by a cover. It was wonderful to re-discover his poem and also to remember the life lesson and to that end I share the piece that he wrote.

A FOOL'S ERRAND.  by Alan Mangan.

0. One fateful summer evening'

I attended psychic school

and began an epic journey

in the costume of a Fool.

1 I knew the time was right for me,

'twas not a tough decision

before too long, my innocence gone

I evolved into the Magician.

2. I soon moved on from casting spells,

no demons I invoke,

I stood between two pillars

as the mystic female pope.

3. From there I tempted every man,

 clad in a floral dress

with Cupid's sweet seduction,

child of Venus, the Empress.

4.  The time had come to  move along

and formulate the law,

to govern fearful subjects

as the mighty Emperor.

5. To bridge the gap 'tween God and man

my mantras I did chant

I walked the earth, life death, rebirth

the pious Hierophant.

6. My next engagement flattered me,

I'm back between the covers

with every hero's nightmare

a choice between two Lovers.

7.  To choose one's love and break one's heart

I might be dubbed Iscariot

I'm glad to swap the Lovers

for a victory in my Chariot.

8.  I wouldn't risk contempt of court

and fall foul of the law 

to mess around with Justice

leaves one sorry, sick and sore.

9.  Like every avid Trogledyte

who seeks his scholars permit.

I'll hide away for months on end 

'til I emerge the Hermit.

10. I wish trump X were 3 of cups

with music, wine and dance,

not much to say but come what may

a change of circumstance.

11. The card of strength, depicts a maid

befriend a fearsome Lion,

her courage and self-confidence

a mix of earth and Zion

12.The next transition in my tale

deludes with no disguise

a man suspended upside down

observes with different eyes.

13. The card of Death, to fearful men

shows coffin, crypt and tomb

while those less pessimistic

see a new life in the womb.

14. The card of Temperance teaches us

when excessiveness abounds

in steps our guardian angel

to show us middle ground.

15. When ravaged by the Devil

and in need of angst confession

just face your fears, amid the jeers

cut down on the obsession.

16. When life seems at it's bleakest

and you face your darkest hour

no hope in sight, be brave and fight

to break free from the Tower.

17.  With lightening bolts from trump XV1

when solace seems afar

come bathe in peaceful waters

filled with hope form God's bright star.

18.  With troubles almost over

and joy for everyone,

come feel the warmth and happiness

from rays of golden Sun.

19. The journey's nearly ended

We've come full circle, soon

Illusion and uncertainty

the hall marks of the Moon.

20. If you need to alter Karma,

your priorities re-arrange

the card of Judgement beckons you

to answer calls to change.

21.  I now conclude my sojourn,

I've travelled day and night

to dance above the globe of life,

a crowned hermaphrodite.

......The God's have truly smiled on me,

their banners' all unfurled

I started Fool,broke all the rules

and ended up the World.

C. A Mangan 2010.

The Star, Moroccan design and the 8 pointed star.

THE STAR, MOROCCAN DESIGN AND THE 8 POINTED STAR.

The star card has to be one of the loveliest in the Tarot deck. It holds much promise, dreams fulfilled, a bright future, refinement and beauty.

Imagine my delight and intrigue as I discovered possible links to Morocco, a personal soul place and the 8 pointed star including the teachings of  Ibn Al Arabi with our beautiful Tarot star.

Firstly, if the star is the trump 17 then 1+7=8. On many depictions in the star there is indeed a star with 8 points.

The 8 pointed star is the star of Venus and 8 years is the length of a full cycle of Venus. It is also called the star of Ishtar, a goddess of war, fertility, love and sex who was worshipped in Babylon around 2,000BCE.

We must also include Sumerian Innana, goddess of light, love, life and death.She was linked to the morning and evening star.

Both goddesses were deities of many dualities (we can see traces of this influences in the 2's of the Tarot minor arcana, especially 2 cups.)

The 8 pointed star was upheld as a symbol before the formation of Islam. Images of it were discovered in Ur as an 8 petalled rosette.

Babylonian star cult is the core and archetype of ancient astrology. The Greeks recognised Venus as evening and morning star 1,500 years after the Sumerians.

 Sumer is located where several civilisations converged and the symbol migrated into other cultures. Abraham, the father of monotheistic faiths was in Ur.

Islam inherited pagan symbols as did other religions to accomodate astrology (astrotheology). Astronomy plays an important part in Islam. Stars were seen as part of creation and ancient symbols supported the Islamic view of creation. Planetary aspects determined times and places for prayer.

Muslim scholars poured over Greek learning. Pythagoras played an influential part in all of this.

Islamic art grew from the study of geometry. The idea being to seek to understand creation, not to worship it but to honour the creator.

In Morocco you can still find representations of this geometry in the Khatim and the zillij image of the star.

This image is particularly resplendant in Fes. A Moroccan city that goes back a couple of thousand years and it's long history can still be observed in the Medina. These mosaics were often on fountains and public drinking water taps.

This four fold construct is the design for a more contemporary fountain, again in Fes.

8 is an important number to Sufi mystics who had an appeal in North Africa. One of the most famous being Ibn Al Arabi, a C12 sufi master and cosmologist. He said; '' All phenomena are nothing but manifestations of Being, which is one with God. ''

His diagram is form symbolised by the square. Expansion is symbolised by the square with triangles pointing outwards, contraction is symbolised by square with triangles pointing in. The two star shapes together are the cycle of creation; 'the breath of compassionate', one of the 99 names of God and the highest pronouncable. The diagram is effectively a cosmological model of polarities that manifest form....( those 2's again!!).

Moroccan ornamentation carries these patterns although the flag is now a 5 pointed star, the seal of Solomon, but in mediaeval times it would have had 8 points.

The Khatim, (star mosaics) stand for interconnectedness, faith and ultimate harmony in creation, also the highest virtues in Moroccan culture. Learning, faith, community and love of beauty......it just  about sums up the beautiful qualities of our Tarot trump 17, the Star card.

Manifesting with Tarot; A visit to Viterbo.

I am so excited about the planned trip to Viterbo, oct 9th to15th. MANIFESTING  WITH  TAROT, A PASSIONATE ITALIAN ADVENTURE!!

When we think of Italy we think passion....everything is done with such gusto! This trip hopes to reflect our personal passion, who we are, what makes us tick, what we hope to achieve in a world we hope to live in.

Viterbo is a natural fit for this, having a passionate past of its own. Viterbo is an ancient city.in the Lazio region of central Italy, approx 80km from Rome. The historic centre of this city still has the medieval walls intact, built during the 11 and 12 C. Viterbo is also home to the academy of fine arts and the university of Tuscia.

Viterbo is said to date back to 8C. It became part of the Papal states, althgough this was heavily contested in the following centuries. The Popes enjoyed Viterbo especially as they had difficulties exerting their power in Rome. In fact Viterbo was often at war with Rome, deploying its militias against the Emperors.

By the 13C the Gatti and De Vico families ruled alternately. tyrannical and cruel, they held court until 1431.

Then there is the Cathedral of S. Lorenzo, designed by Lombardi  architects and is built over a temple dedicated to Hercules. It has been re-built many times, the last time being after a bomb in 1944.
The Cathedral houses art work in particular Gerolamo da Cremona's Christ blessing.

Terme dei Papi, are the thermal springs, sulphur baths in the valley of the Arcione river. These hot springs,  (which we will be visiting) have reputedly healing properties and have been used since Etruscan times. The springs are even mentioned in Dante's inferno;

In silence we had reached a place where flowed
a slender watercourse out of the wood—a stream
whose redness makes me shudder still.
As from the Bulicame pours a brook whose
waters are then shared by prostitutes, so did this
stream run down across the sand.^[

Viterbo has also been cited as the place where Tarot emerged in Italy. In actual fact it was the Saracen cards that became popular here in 1379 as chronicled by Giovanni de Juzzo Corvelluzzo. There are 3 chronicles of Viterbo still surviving, but it is must be made clear that it wasn't Tarot that appeared at this particular time but playing cards brought by the Saracens, Arab muslims. They played a game called Nayb.
The history of playing cards and their link to Tarot is quite fascinating, but that is a whole new blog!!
Viterbo is also fortunate to have the very unusual Tarot gardens close by.

Other places of interest are the renaissance inspired Palazzo Farnesse with its internal circular court yard, home to some beautiful frescoes. the Palazzo dei Priori being another.
Museo Civico holds many Etruscan treasures, capturing Viterbo's ancient history.

Some of our activities will take place at the Hotel where we will be staying the Ora Domus.
Former convent of Saint Maria Della Quercia. It is situated on the Via Francigenia ,a major route, leading to Rome from Canterbury, a pilgrims path. Built between 1470 and 1525. The site was chosen for a convent after pestilence struck Viterbo, everyone came to pray to the Holy Virgin, painted on a roof tile (1417) and stuck to a tree, many miracles were said to have taken place and thus the terrain was considered sacred.
All of this makes for a magical experience and I hope to be able to connect with the place In a spiritual way.
I feel that this visit will be enriching on so many levels. The charm and history of the area offer so many opportunities to discover our spiritual heritage and personal passion.

SPIRITUALISM, CREATIONISM AND REFORM, SOCIAL HISTORY OR CONTEMPORARY CODE FOR COMMUNITY?

I was interested to read that the Natural History Museum had its 132nd anniversary last week. It is a truly remarkable building with its imposing Romanesque architecture. Construction began in 1871 & was completed in 1881. One can only marvel at the skill of the craftsmen & the sweat of the labourer who built this palatial edifice to life in its myriad forms, extinct or otherwise!
Apparently the museum is home to 70 million items in the fields of botany, entomology, mineralology & paleantology.
The museum has a well beaten track by schoolchildren over the years, a visit here is like the equivalent of entering Ali Baba's cave of treasures, the things one can learn here proffer a tantalising insight into the workings of life, the universe & other small matters! In fact what can be learnt here will be taken by the individual to the grave. A wonderful foundation for the growing mind & perhaps this is not just for kiddies,
there are many adults who would, no doubt, have well rounded lives if they could but realise that life is a continuum of evolving events that place us not at the centre of the universe but as interconnected to the thread of life itself.

The museum has been a constant backdrop in the scenery of South Kensington for the 15 years that I have been at the College of Psychic Studies. I expect it is a little different now, with its Darwin centre, gardens & sweeping external coloured lights....but not that much different.

I am fascinated by timelines & was intrigued by the fact that the museum & the College of Psychic Studies would have been birthed at about the same time. They are neighbours; the museum sitting on Cromwell rd which is literally a step away from Queensberry place, home to the college.

In 1884 the College started out in life as the London Spiritualist Alliance by William Stainton Moses, a cleric & spiritualist. It was a place of experimentation, debate & controversy, although various luminaries of the time would have frequented the building, not everyone approved of the side stepping away from the norms of christian worship.
Perhaps the most notable advocate of eternal life was Arthur Conan Doyle who was president in the 20's & did a lot for the bereaved by supporting the notion of the continuation of life after death.

Another champion of the cause was AR Wallace, also based at the college, a contemporary & peer to Charles Darwin. Wallace was not only an eminent botanist but was dedicated to socio economic reform.

Spiritualism sprang up from a thirst by the educated victorians who found traditional religious doctrine unacceptable but were not satisfied with the materialistic & mechanical view of the world that was emerging form C19 science.

There was a dissatisfaction with the church & its explanation of eternal life. At the same time Darwin (& Wallace) were proving the theory of evolution, natural selection & survival of the fittest.
In many ways that idiom transferred itself on to society & social Darwinism began. Creationism was becoming less credible & as a result the foundations of firmly held beliefs around direct action by God with the individual were being shaken.Victorians were opening up to one's status in life was not appointed by a wrathful deity, perched with pointed finger on a cloud William Blake style but from circumstance & choice.

Spiritualism was a natural vehicle for reform, mainly women. Notably, Victoria Woodhull & Achsa W Sprage (USA) & Emma Hardinge Britten (UK).
Their trance addresses were filled with putting the world to rights through sufferagacy & abolition.

It might be worth mentioning that Robert Owen 1771 - 1858 founder of the Co-operative society & socialist came to spiritualism late in his life & channelled the american president, George Washington.

It would appear that Spiritualism, although received with scepticism in many quarters, was a positive body of movement that earnestly worked to make sense of a changing world, it espoused equality& personal growth & accepted that there was more to life than met the eye.
It embraced the idea that relationships continue & love never dies., still a source of  both comfort & intrigue to this day.

Spiritualism as a movement still has a lot to offer to the modern  community. The 7 principles are still a bareable structure for life & the fact that someone can stand on a podium & connect others to ideas of divinity without wearing robes of office & awaken the sleeping to the energy of love, can only be a good thing & worth preserving & upholding.

So many have the skills to heal & can offer insights of the benevolent Great Spirit not for the sake of hinderance but for improvement, it seems only appropriate that the churches & centres make conscious efforts to bring these gifts into the wider community at large.

Many places do this already but there is still much scope, room for invention & imaginitive purpose.
Reform is not a thing of the past, evolution is in a constant state of flux. In these interesting times we inhabit, it is surely worthwhile to embrace the path of our forebears & bring these fine ideals into the modern age.

the 2 cups and love and war.

The 2 cups and love and war.

I have been intrigued by the 2 of cups for some time. I have learnt that when this intrigue happens there is something developing in my consciousness appertaining to the essence in the card.
The Universe is expressing a truth to me through my toolbox and I am ready to absorb the message.

In recent weeks this card has been popping up in readings for myself and for clients. I have also learnt that when cards repeat in such a way that there is something going on in the ephemeris that has an astrological connection to the card. Now I am no astrologer! However I am totally fascinated by the movement of the planets and the link to human activity. I have great respect for those that plot charts and can interpret the celestial goings on, so my interest is cranked up a notch when I realise that the appearance of the card is possibly influenced by planetary movements and am even more excited when it becomes apparent that Tarot is trying to teach of itself by imprinting the subtleties of this dynamic into my brain, indeed spirit!

Recently, I discovered that Mars and Venus were in conjunction with each other. Suddenly it began to make sense as to why our duo had been making themselves obvious.....
You see, it's not just the 2 cups that fascinates me but the imagery in the RWS deck that draws me in demanding of me to discover more. So I went on a journey, into the card, with this couple and we ended up in Babylon!

In the two's I see opposites, a need to balance out the tension or life force between these opposing factors that  will then create a healthy and sustaining regimen. In this card I can see how opposites attract.
I have found from experience that this 2 can herald the beginning of a new relationship or the start of a fresh new phase in an existing one.
There is harmony and healing, a sense of equality and leaving emotional woes behind. It denotes previous relationship misfortunes but this new chapter will bring emotional brevity and passion, fertility and creativity, on many levels.
The male and the female find their correct vibration, co-existing happily as they mirror each other, Women are from Venus, Men are from Mars, right?
Hence the excitement as with this thought in mind, it transpired that the same thing had been going on in the heavens......

But back to Babylon and the RWS 2 cups! The 2 serpents on the Labrys connect us to Hermes,(mercury)
these serpents were found by Hermes to be in mortal combat, Hermes seperated them with his wand, resulting in peace.
The winged lion is Ishtar, warrior Queen, her domain is fertility,war, love, sexuality and sex. Her dominion is over nature and its inherent oppositions, birth and death, peace and violence, animal and human.
Ishtar is also linked to Lilith, the difference being that Ishtar's wings are raised.
Those that followed Ishtar worshipped Baal, where sacred prostitution in the temple was all part of the rites.
There is something very earthy about Ishtar, blood sweat and tears. The Lion or Dragon is the familiar of Ishtar, giving the idea of sacred energy and protection.

This goddess also has the 8 pointed star, another attribution to Venus, as morning or evening star, we could possibly make a link to Lucifer here, as he was also known as the morning star and could explain why sometimes Ishtar has sinister connotations.

Then; I find myself considering the Star card and her relationship to the stars in the imagery, the portals of Istar perhaps, but that is a whole new blog......

So I can see from this overview of Ishtar, 2 cups and its symbolism that a whole drama is being played out in the skies and I am just an actor who shares the stage with Venus, Mars, Earth and Mercury, oh what a glorious dance....!

A desire for discussion about mythology and its ability to make sense of chaos emerges. The idea of the  human need to discover the world, indeed universe through archetypes becomes a source of intellectual intoxication resulting in spiritual food and a funny kind of memory awakens somewhere.

If knowledge be the source of inspiration as likened to a bottle of wine, then pour me a large one, anyone care to join me?

A country as a soul place, a reality we create.

I have come to believe that countries that we are compelled to set a footprint in are part of our inner design. We created an inner reality that is expressed in the physical by the places we go to & ultimately recognise as familiar.

I set out an intention that I wanted to travel with my work & little by little this beginning to manifest, my approach to which countries I go to is fluid. I go where I am sent, this may sound fatalistic, but I think that actually our 'un-conscious' mapped out this journey.

The stories that I read as a child had a profound influence on this process. The Arabian nights meet Hans Christian Anderson. Note:- Believe in the dreams of children, they will be our future.

I thought that North Africa & the Arabic countries would be my destination, indeed it was for a while. I learnt much. However it was to experience the history of the place, it's own psychic development, the creation of it's interior....Morocco, for example gave me the opportunity to explore great thinkers of the golden age which in turn put certain events & developments in consciousness on a timeline for me. I have subsequently been able to absorb this knowledge into my work & is a ceaseless source of interest, especially early kabbalists & the Sufi master Muyahiddin Ibn Arabi.

I also got the sense that Morocco was a father to me. A paternal guide that taught me valuable lessons in personal responsibility & Courage, honing my beliefs in life itself.....

So what of Finland? I have come to love this country, it's people & it's gorgeous scenery.

Mother Finland, a healing, nurturing place that gave me room to breathe & expand, that has supported my well stream of ideas & creativity, to fly out my big thoughts. I am forever thankful for that.

Our male/female aspects are not just two dimensional but resonate fully on so many levels, especially in how we connect to the heart of a country, have you ever had this experience ? What of the place, your spiritual, sacred place, where is that?

                                FINLAND, ON THE ROAD.

The road is moving, twisting & turning, pushing her way forward.

She will eventually come to the sea, there is no other place to go.

The eternal forest straddles the road.

She, dark & mysterious, tantalises you with her mystery.

At once both High Priestess & the Empress, drawing you in.

The road penetrates her.Deeper into her being.

He, seeking out the life force; invasive & bold, quick witted Magician.

His desire to exist re-shapes the landscape,

Cleaving out his identity until the symbiosis is complete & the road & the forest are one.

Wake Up Happy - A Path to Transformation   

Sunday 2nd September (10am – 5pm)     Venue: The College of Psychic Studies

Avril Price & Linda Cruse  (Special Event)

Have you ever wanted to change the world you live in, lead a more effective and authentic life, develop the confidence to listen to your inner voice, be more conscious of the community and culture you live in? Then this workshop is for you! Learn how to reconnect with your passion and purpose! If you have ever considered de-cluttering the ‘stuff’ in your life - all those things that distract you and pull you away from your personal potential - this event is for you. It will bring you back to your own authentic essence, thereby allowing you to explore who you truly are and ultimately become clearer as to your true nature and where you want to go on life’s journey. You will use many tools and techniques to bring about your own transformation. This dynamic, interactive day includes many practical exercises, meditations and visualisations to reconnect to your inner core and be part of the change of the bigger picture in the spirit of 2012. You will receive your own individual plan of action, tailored to your passion and purpose to deliver swift results.

Linda Cruse is a front line humanitarian aid worker whose experience of life & near death has given her a unique insight into the human psyche & prompted her to establish ' Be the change' academy, which uses the entrepreneurial skills & acumen of business leaders to assist in solving challenging real life problems in some of the poorest & most marginalised communities in the world.

Linda is the author of  MARMALADE & MACHINE GUNS. 16 countries, 12 years & 1 suitcase: one woman's quest to help disaster stricken communities back on their feet.

Avril Price has worked in the spiritual arts since 2001. She teaches personal & intuitive development at the CPS & abroad, including Finland, Turkey & Morocco. Avril also teaches Tarotstudies at the college, embracing the philosophy & practical application of Archetypal wisdom contained therein. Her years of experience as a tutor & consultant have given her an awareness of the human dynamic & the various processes that an individual undertakes through the journey that is life.

Avril's passion is understanding how life experiences underpin transformations: 'Through exploring our own life material, we become our own master.'

COLLEGE OF PSYCHIC STUDIES

16 Queensberry place

Sth Kensington 

SW6 2EB

investment. £65.

please call 0207 589 3292 to book a place.

College phone lines available from aug 15th.

It was Mahatma Ghandi that urged us to Be the change that we want to see in the world. It is one of those adages that will not wear down with time. 

Much has been said about the shift, collaboration, sharing & so on. I feel that we don't really know what that means.

I do believe that this year of 2012 is significant in so far as change is upon us & in many forms, although the snow ball has not stopped rolling, it is gathering momentum. It will be in later years that we will see the effects of this so called shift. So, We are still left with the question, what does that mean for us?

We are indeed interconnected, dependent on each other for so much & on so many levels. I have been in this field for many years. In the early days, spirituality was the denizon of the eccentric & the fanatic; nowadays everyone has some kind of thinking about what spirituality means to them & how we express that in our world is unique, no matter of our calling or occupation. I find this remarkable.

We are individuals amongst the web of interconnectedness & each of us have a part to play in the whole.

The time is right to consider what we could change about the world we inhabit. As we change our own world, we change the world at large. From the esoteric to the exoteric.

Not only that but as we improve on our game, we improve it for others........

There are no more armchair prayers to God, no more whispering in the dark making a plea bargain with the Great Spirit. This is the time for activism & it starts with ourselves.

Mohammed allegedly said that after him, there would be no more Prophets. Perhaps it is because we are our own Guru, our own master. Certainly the writing is on the wall.....we ALL have a bit of inside knowledge......the key to this could be the return to creative thinking.

Potential.....I have the sense that being our potential is fundamental to our existence, we live in hope that we have the skills, talents & resources to live an effective life. 

We must rediscover the passion for self discovery & grant ourselves the power to be authentic.

By shining our own light it gives permission for others to shine theirs. 

It is a kind of spiritual/social Darwinism. Survival of the fittest. The being left behind because we didn't pay attention to personal potential is not an option!

When we explore who we are, when we desire to become close to our true essence, we become close to all that is. We reaffirm our place on the path of destiny & that voice which is longing, longing to be heard, is reconnected to the beloved.