Quest Cards
Quest Cards
The Imaginosophy Deck is designed to support the reader in discovering who they are and where life is leading them. We do not adhere to the idea that the future is fixed, because the nature of the universe is constantly changing. The Imaginal Deck invites the reader to consciously participate in patterns of unfolding personal and transpersonal destiny. This deck can also be used to become aware of generational patterns and how they still operate in our lives. The Quest cards have Grail practices that are designed to introduce the Western mystical traditions. They can be used for education, healing, self-knowing and the acceleration of consciousness. They can be combined and used with the traditional Tarot, opening another level of knowing, or used separately. Another way to use the cards is to simply draw one and then follow the practice to see where it leads you. Each card can act as a portal or gateway to the 5th Dimension, a non-dual realm, a dreamscape that is familiar to all of us.
The reason we added the Quest cards to this extended Beyond Tarot deck, is to bring an ancient alchemical system into alignment with the energetic changes that are happening on a global level. Mystics and shamans have known about the conscious, intelligent energy of the universe for thousands of years. Western civilization is just catching up.
The Earth has a powerful electric circuitry. This vertical current flow has a potential of 200,000 volts. The thousand or so thunderstorms taking place around the planet are a natural part of this living current. Electromagnetic waves fluctuate and seem to be related to the electrical activity in the atmosphere, particularly during intense lightning activity. There is some change now due to solar activity, particularly solar flares, as well as the loss of a galactic sheet as we travel through the solar system.
The natural pulse or heartbeat of the Earth is 7.83hz, also called the Schumann Resonance. It was first discovered by German physicist W.O. Schumann in the 1950s. The Navy has conducted many studies surrounding it. The Schumann Resonance is the same frequency as the normal healthy alpha/theta brainwave frequencies in humans. These are the frequencies we align with when we are meditating and dreaming, which is why it is so important to spend time meditating and walking in nature. This frequency assist with cell regeneration and overall healing. People are out of resonance with these frequencies can become unbalanced, angry, violent and suffer from a variety of diseases. Tuning into the planetary frequency of 7.83hz has been shown to enhance learning, improve memory, help the body rejuvenate, and give an overall experience of harmony, balance, and well-being. You can download an ap and observe the power graphs and become aware of the dynamic changes that are occurring.
5th dimensional (5-D) space is well known in mathematics. A breakthrough in mainstream understanding came through the Noble Prize-winning quantum physicist Gerard ‘t Hooft. Oskar Klein suggested that 5D existed in a cylindrical form and could appear as a circle. He realized that light was something that occurred more in the 5th dimension, which is why Imaginosophy has included the image of the Rainbow as a prism of light and color in this deck.
As a humanity we are now moving into greater 5-D awareness and beyond. Our dualistic waking state is generally 3-D. Our dream world is generally considered 4-D. During meditation, shamanic trances, and other altered states we can begin to glimpse the 5-D realities and the Otherworlds, where we begin to experience Heaven on Earth. Mystics report that there are 12 to 14 Dimensions that they know about.
The non-dual understanding of “I Am That”
taught by the Indian guru Nisargadatta Maharaj
reminds us that our real identity is both
birthless and deathless.
The Grail champion realizes
the infinite-eternal awareness
and returns
from the journey
knowing that our lives here
are expressions of the eternal play of consciousness.
The 6th Dimension has to do with Spirit Realms, and as we keep moving up the Cosmic ladder, we begin to experience Direct Knowing with the Creator, which is the focus of Imaginosophy. As our vibration increases, so does our ability to tap into these Otherworlds. Sound, light and love help us access life affirming dimensions of consciousness. There are many books now on Near Death Experiences (NDEs) and also Shared Death Experiences (SDEs), that help us understand and embrace the knowledge that we – as consciousness – never die. The sacred pattern of our heart lives eternally
Introduction to the 5th Dimension
What does it mean to enter the 5th Dimension? Physicists started using the term to try to connect all the fundamental forces in the known universe in a way that made sense. It’s tricky because it’s a dimension that we can’t fully perceive yet. The only way we find out is to make the leap from third to fifth density. It requires shifting from the head to the heart, and then from the heart into spacious awareness. We aren’t going anywhere except elevated consciousness. We become a vortex of pure consciousness in the present moment. Once 5th dimension (5-D) has been tasted there will be a continual longing for this harmonious vibrational state again.
One way to experience the 5th dimension is to practice journeying through an aspect in nature, such as a tree. Therefore, the back of the 5th Dimensional cards shows a Celtic Tree of Life. Trees already reside in the 5th dimension and can teach us about it. When we align our hearts with the spirit of a tree, who is in tune with the Spirit of the Earth and the Spirit of the Sun, we might just have a taste of 5-D.
The fifth element in Imaginosophy is Spirit
and is depicted here as Lightning and the colors of the rainbow.
Air, Earth, Fire and Water
are Elements
of the material aspects of the dual world.
Lightning leads us to the center,
to non-dual awareness
and a more holographic understanding of reality.
Every 26,000 years our Earth has ascension and descension cycles. According to many ancient indigenous cultures, we are shifting from a 12,000-year cycle of devolution (the fall) into a 12,000 evolutionary cycle (ascension). In Christianity this transcendence is written about in Revelation. Few in living memory remember what it is like to live in an evolutionary or an ascension cycle, however, according to many mystics we are beginning to find out. The vibration of the Earth has been steadily increasing. The Spirit of the Earth and the physical planet are moving into a higher vibrational state. 5-D Earth is a New Earth. Even though our ability to manifest in 5-D is much faster than in 3-D, making the shift into fifth density is a process. In death the soul leaves the physical body, which is different from the ascension process. In 5-D the whole world is energy. To continue to live and thrive on the planet, human beings will also need to be willing to match the vibrational upgrade.
Those who are connected to their inner artist, their intuitive dream self,
might find it quite easy to connect
with a variety of states of consciousness.
When we look at visual art it awakens something within us…
In several Tibetan traditions, dream yoga is practiced where the bardo body, dream body (mind), and vision body (awareness) are discovered. The yogi learns to be awake and aware inside the dream. In the Bon tradition they speak of both karmic (the challenging) and wisdom (lucid) dreams. The five elements also influence dreams. From the place of pure awareness there is no sleep, only a shifting of dimension.
5-D NEW EARTH – THE QUEST
What indicates that we have stepped into the 5th dimension? There is a facility in an upgraded human being for superpowers like increased telepathy (non-verbal mind-to-mind communication or sharing of impressions), telekinesis (the psychic ability to move objects), time travel and teleportation, even moving through matter. 4-D is the bridge between the two levels of density. In the 4th dimension (4-D) the old programming of the 3rd density (3-D) becomes obsolete and new abilities begin to open. As you enter 5th dimension (5-D) the hidden symbols, patterns and designs in nature become more important. If you feel you want to cleanse your body-mind, move away from cities, and wish to spend a great deal of time in nature that indicates you are moving into 5-D Earth.
Teachers of Dzogchen speak about entering 4th time, or no mind, where we become part of the greater reality. The separation we feel between ourselves and other people (or other sentient beings) is an illusion. The feeling of being part of all time, space and dimension is also an indication that we are awakening to the 5th dimension.
The Age of Aquarius is ruled by Uranus and so is the XVI Tower Card, with the mystical understanding that ultimately all that will remain is truth. The first thing we can expect is that everything that does not resonate with this new ascension cycle will crumble and fall. Those who are entering 5th dimension need to be spiritual warriors and mages, because like the serpent we must shed our skins to make way for the new. We tend to be tested by one devastation after another until we are cleansed and utterly transformed. We should not be afraid of what is dying within but instead turn our focus toward what is arising. We might ask ourselves what has the promise of surviving and thriving? What might seem impossible in the 3-D world becomes possible in the 5-D New Earth. We are the healers of our own minds, hearts, and souls. On the quest we begin to realize that the difficulties in our lives are there to help us evolve, heal, and reach a new level of understanding. In 5th dimension we become naturally more spiritual, and we begin to attract people and situations who match our frequency levels.
As our higher mind awakens, so do our innate psychic capacities. Our ability to heal and live in a healthy body becomes a living reality. We cease to worry about survival needs, including the need for food, clothing, and shelter because we know that whatever we need at any given moment can be manifested quickly. High frequency states of consciousness as defined by Abraham Hicks such as peace, joy, happiness, and love, as well as reason, create harmonious and life affirming environments. We understand that everyone is unique and has a role in the universe. In 5th dimension due to the alignment with higher wisdom we stop doubting and start resonating with our unfolding destiny. The second coming of the Christ happens we awaken to our inner knowing, our hearts hold the secret to true revelation.
THE 13 QUEST CARDS
APPEAR IN ALPHBETICAL ORDERAnam Cara
Ancestors
Choices
Faery Grail
Grail Guardians
Holy Grail
Mother Spirit
Shadow Self
Sovereignty
The Beyond
Veil Keeper
Visualization
Wise Woman
ANAM CARA - Inviting the Soul Friend
Keywords:
Good friend – Guardian Angel – Soul Connection
shadow:
Looking for love – Lonely
colors:
white/gold/emerald
Meaning:
Anam Cara is a Gaelic term for soul friend or soulmate. The Anam Cara is soulful presence yet can also appear in your life as a very specific relationship: a uniting of two people who become stronger for this unique connection. You will recognize a soul friend because you are stronger together than you are apart. Your Anam Cara is a light in the darkest of times and when we keep something bright and beautiful alive in our hearts it helps us survive the difficult times. Anam Cara is a 5th dimensional invitation into the realm of love. It is the higher octave of the VI Lovers. The Celtic view is that an Anam Cara can take one of many roles, that of the romantic partnership, a friendship, business partner, or even a spirit guide. In some traditions, you could not be whole until you discovered your Anam Cara.
If you have drawn Anam Cara in your reading, it is time to tend your soul as a friend. All through your life your soul walks with you, and even in your last hours it is the awareness of the soul who will carry you in love back to your origin. The soul is the bridge to your Higher Self that knows your destiny, and also where you belong.
Symbolism/Image as Guide:
A woman wearing a golden dress with green trim radiates with such brilliancy that she attracts the attention of a magical white stag and a host of faery folk. This spiritual luminary is standing on the Earth and appears to be a mirror for the wonders of creation. Even the trees in the forest bend toward her. This soulful woman has tapped into her Lightbody, or energy field (aura) that recognizes itself as a conscious holographic template. She stands in the 4th Time, or no-time, where all worlds reside as one non-dual unity. Nature is wise and understands that all of life exists as an unfolding hologram. This is the embodiment of Gaia, Mother Nature herself walking the land. The Faeryfolk celebrate her arrival. (From: Undina’s Spell)
Imaginosophy Quest:
Engaging the yoga of dreams, let’s journey to meet your soul friend. Take a moment to focus on the back of the card showing the Celtic Tree of Life. Notice that the Mandorla where the trunks of the two trees embrace is radiant and filled with life. When you feel ready to enter the portal of the card step through into the Otherworld. You may wish to fly with the Dragonflies and Bees past the Ivy and into the branches of the tree where a friend awaits you. Walk into the image and encounter your Anam Cara. Greet your friend with open arms. Describe who you see in this living landscape so that you will never forget. What does your heart feel? – When you are ready step back into this realm and know the love of your Anam Cara is always there for you.
Practice:
Remember to tune in daily to your Anam Cara so your relationship with your soul friend deepens.
Quote:
“May you realize that you are never alone, that your soul in its brightness and belonging connects you intimately with the rhythm of the universe.” – John O’Donohue
Grail Questions:
Who is your Anam Cara?
Are you aware of your Guardian?
Who loves you?
ANCESTORS - Ancestral Healing
Keywords:
Good friend – Guardian Angel – Soul Connection
shadow:
Looking for love – Lonely
colors:
lilac/emerald/light gold
Meaning:
We each carry the spirit and blood of our mother, father, and ancestors. Sometimes our ancestors will come to us in a dream. We may sense that a relative that has crossed on wants to be in touch, or that a wise elder wants to help us understand the keys to life. If you have drawn this card, ask yourself who in your lineage is trying to get your attention.
One thing to keep in mind is that our ancestors love us. They see differently from the Otherworld, view us with a higher or more integrated consciousness and more objective perspective. It is likely that from this place of increased awareness that they understand more about their lives now. An ancestor would never wish harm, and we always practice no harm. If there is a difficult message, then that would be considered an entity, a twisted aspect of the persona. Only a skilled practitioner would engage an entity.
To do ancestral work, we must be willing to step into the 4th time or no-time, where all beings exist simultaneously. Mystics, shaman, and medicine men/woman are familiar with the no-time in which form and the formless mingle with dreams and visions. Sometimes an ancestor is stuck or has business that is left incomplete and needs help from a practitioner. This can feel like a haunting, but it is simply a body of unfinished work that needs attention.
The ancestors speak from a place that is not considered normal consciousness. Take a deep breath and ask who is calling. Listen with the ears of your heart, for it is through the heart that we must respect the dream world and enter the imaginal. If a relative or deity calls you from a dream, they probably do have a message, so connect if it feels correct. Imagine what conversation you might have with them. You will know in your belly, your center of innate awareness, if the conversation has truth in it. You can also draw what comes into your mind, write a poem, or even give them a voice in a journal.
Symbolism/Image as Guide:
The card depicts woman’s face which is that of Evienne, the fictional daughter of Merlin and Nimue who appears in Nimue: Freeing Merlin. Merlin and Nimue stand beneath their daughter, encouraging her to step firmly and lovingly into the future. Nimue holds a golden Grail in front of her heart, as if reminding her to always stay aligned with wisdom. Below a white rose blossom symbolizes the purity, love and loyalty between mother, daughter, and father. The Periwinkle flowers in her hair signify eternal love. The Sun behind her indicates that the Spirit of the Sun is encouraging Evienne to bloom into her perfect design. The butterflies behind her suggest a metamorphosis is taking place. The horizontal crescent moon on her forehead is an ancient symbol for feminine empowerment. It indicates that Evienne is in the lineage of Diana the Huntress (mythical mother of Nimue) and Greek Artemis, Goddess of the Hunt, Wild Animals, and the Wilderness.
You may ask yourself if one of these ancient deities: Nimue, Merlin, Evienne, Diana, or Artemis has a message for you, perhaps a key to health, love, and/or longevity. Feel into the wisdom streams that flow through this lineage and see if you might be part of this river also.
Practice:
Ho’oponopono (pronounced HO-oh-Po-no-Po-no) is a beautiful Hawaiian prayer and forgiveness practice. The basic idea is to think of the person you are struggling with and repeat these words like a mantra: “I love you. I am sorry. Please forgive me. May we live in peace.” You can repeat it over and over.
True forgiveness begins by understanding the wrongdoing and holding space for the feelings that arise. There are rumors that a psychologist did this practice and was able to clear out a mental institution just with this mantra. Once we become aware of our feelings, and we have learned what we needed from the experience, then we can move on.
As well as reciting these words, you can imagine you are standing under a waterfall or swimming in a lake or Cosmic Ocean, just allowing all your suffering and the challenges (karma) of your ancestors to wash away. It is a good way to forgive yourself and others. Basically, the mantra releases any pain and suffering you may be experiencing and opens the doors to a new way of living and being. You forgive not because what someone did was correct, but to free yourself so you can go on a live a good and healthy life. You can also help the ancestors liberate themselves from anything that is holding them back.
Quote:
“We forget that the soul has its own ancestors.” – James Hillman
Grail Questions:
Who is calling?
Is there a relative or deity that is trying to get in touch with you?
What dreams do you carry from your mother and father?
What are the gifts of your ancestors that you carry in your blood and spirit?
CHOICES - Trusting Inner Wisdom
Keywords:
Preferences – Impulses – Wholeness – SpiritSelf – Integration – Totality – Wisdom
shadow:
Confusion – Binding – Addiction – Running Away
colors:
Red/Yellow/Green
Meaning:
Every day we are offered a series of “Choices.” Our free will ensures that we are tested to see if we choose the more materialistic energies that bind and enslave; or the energies that make us wish to escape reality (often through addictions); or the middle path of balance and higher consciousness. Imaginosophy would call this harmonious middle way Wisdom.
The main idea is that as we awaken to our True Nature, we need to become increasingly mindful. The point isn’t to push any of the forces away, but to become fully aware, integrated, and wise. Sometimes we must remain bound to a project or need to flee a situation that does not work for us. Wisdom knows how to respond to each situation with appropriate power. The aim is increased consciousness.
If you have selected “Choices” in a reading, it is time to become fully aware of a situation you are currently involved in. Do you feel enslaved or bound? Do you wish to run away? Do you need to deal with an addiction? Can you trust Wisdom to show you the way forward?
Symbolism/Image as Guide:
The artwork depicts three swords which bear some semblance to King Arthur’s Excalibur, the magical sword given to him by the Lady of the Lake. There are also other magical swords such as the fiery blade from Welsh mythology called Dyrnwyn, the sword of Rhydderch Hael, which would blaze with fire if drawn by a praiseworthy individual but burn a disreputable person to death. King Arthur had another blade called Clarent, which was designed to be a sword of peace. However, it was used by Mordred to kill his father and was henceforth known as the coward’s blade. The sword Arthur pulled from the stone was called Caliburn, which possessed magical powers associated with rightful sovereignty. These magical swords (that must be freed by the rightful person who then assumes some sort of power) unveil even more ancient forces.
“Choices” artwork depicts an esoteric concept taught by Rudolf Steiner founder of the Anthroposophy Society about the three “Choices” available to humanity if we wish to become wise, integrated, spiritual human beings. “Choices” is a spiritual test. Three swords are face down in the soil, bound to the physical plane and manifest reality. These are large swords and each one wields a familiar power.
The sword on the left with a red crown and flame, represents the Ahrimanic/Satanic force that binds, divides, and enslaves. The smaller green sword on the right, represents the Luciferic force, that wishes to escape, perhaps into addiction, illusion, or false conclusions. The middle golden-yellow sword represents the middle way, that of the Christ impulse or the Cosmic Consciousness of full Presence. The only way to deal with the confusion inherent in the Ahrimanic and Luciferic forces is to connect to inner Wisdom. Rudolph Steiner believed that once we become aware of these forces within ourselves, we can avoid many traps, stay increasingly aligned, conscious and balanced by the golden Christ impulse. Eventually the integration of these energies leads to an evolved Spirit-Self.
Legend/Theology:
In Christian theology the forces of Christ are set against a single devil, an embodiment of all that is evil. It makes one wonder why the dualistic knowledge of good and evil is bad. Perhaps the purpose of the serpent is to assist in the evolution of humankind? Maybe it is useful to know the difference between good and evil so that we become increasingly wise.
According to mystic Rudolf Steiner who was an esoteric Christian and founder of the Anthroposophical Society, the influence of Christ is set against the forces of Lucifer and Ahriman (Satan). None of these energies are considered bad, simply forces to enhance our human evolution. According to Steiner, the Luciferic attributes include: frenzy, hyperactivity, generalization, fantasy, globalization, even desiring transcendence. The Ahrimanic traits include: boredom, statistics, dogma, literal reading of the Gospel, materialism, slavery, mathematical astronomy, division, and technological advances that enslave humanity. The power of the etheric Christ drives away the darkness of the soul. The emergent Spirit-Self is whole, healed and awake
Prophecy:
According to Steiner, Lucifer incarnated the third millennium before Christ, and Ahriman will incarnate in the third millennium after Christ. Which makes us ask how we prepare for the coming of Ahriman, which is marked by less culture, art and literature, and increased materialism, division, dogmatism, and technological advances. Steiner wrote that Lucifer and Ahriman are two scales of a balance and were held in check by learning to walk the middle way. Steiner taught that the Paganism of the West, especially Egypt and the early Greeks, prepared the way for the Christ impulse that gave rise to Christianity, which few fully understand. The understanding behind these forces can be realized on the Quest for the Holy Grail. When integrated this Christ/Sophia impulse becomes integrated as the loving Spirit-Self of the 6th Epoch or next era of humanity.
Rudolph Steiner taught that the Earth also has its own spirituality and is most awake to the Christ impulse between Yule/Christmas and Epiphany (January 6th). This is the time to recognize the Pearl of Great Price – your true Self.
Practice:
What within you feels bound? What part of you wishes to escape? Become aware of the shadow projections of the outside world. The Quest for the Grail leads the seeker from darkness into the light. Lighting a candle, focus on the reality and wholeness of the Spirit-Self.
Quote:
“It is always darkest before the dawn.” – Samuel Lover
Grail Questions:
Which Sword do you feel drawn to pull?
What within you feels bound or wishes to escape?
What is your experience of the Spirit-Self?
Faery Grail - Establishing Healthy Agreements
Keywords:
Magic –Stewardship – Harmony – Agreements
shadow:
Domination – Neglect – Discord
colors:
Silver/Pink/White
Meaning:
The Grail is not a fantasy but a state of consciousness that inspires unity, wholeness, and peace. Grail myths go back to the dawn of time and the very real desire humankind has of making direct connection with the Divine. Much is known about the Holy Grail, the cup of Christ, but few know about the more ancient Faery Grail. Even less know about or believe in the Faery Accord. In Welsh mythology, there are many journeys to the realm of Annwn (Annwyfn), an inner world that exists just beneath the human kingdom of Logres. In Arthurian legends, several heroes ride to discover cauldrons that test them in a variety of ways. Some of these vessels would magically crack when lies were told and mend with spoken truths. While the cup or cauldron may change in shape or size it always nourishes and heals those who are true. There is a promise that when the Faery Accord is reestablished that joy will return, and the world will flourish once again.
The Faery believe that the worst vice is to break a promise. If the Faery Grail has appeared in your reading, it is the moment to become aware of any discord in your life and vow to reestablish peace. The best way to maintain relationships and friendships is to create and keep healthy agreements.
Symbolism/Image as Guide:
Four butterflies encircle a silver cup or Grail lined with pearls. A pink flower faery with green wings sits on the base of the cup dangling her feet over a bed of Oak leaves. Stars, or perhaps flashing fire faeries, surround the cup suggesting its link to magic. The stars are reminiscent of Arcturus, the brightest star in the northern hemisphere. King Arthur arises out of an ancient knowing that truth can be found in the stars. The ancients believed he was Arth the bear, around which the heavens turned. Polaris, the North Star, is part of Ursa Minor, the small bear.
Legend:
Grail myth is always unfolding and changing. The realm of Faery in medieval literature is a parallel world close to our own and faeries were completely real to these writers. Not available to mere mortals, the blessed isle of otherworldly Avalon is for those with faery blood and the people they love. In some tales Arthur is raised in Avalon by the faery queen Argante, and Lancelot is also reared by the fey. In almost all Grail legends, at the end of his life Arthur is escorted back to Avalon for healing and restoration. It is said that Arthur returns in each generation.
In The Lost Book of the Grail, Caitlin & John Matthews explore a 13th Century French poem called “The Elucidation” as a prequel to the Christian Grail narrative. Clearly there are many Grail stories, all of which invite us to step outside of time. While the most familiar tales are about a cup or dish from the Last Supper, there are older vessels. We discover that the mysterious Grail is a hallow or treasure that exists in the realm of eternity and can surface in numerous ways. Chretien de Troyes wrote in the 1180s, which means “The Elucidation” written two hundred years later, even though it is a prequal, it is meant to be a continuation of Grail legend. The Maidens of the Well in the poem are not human. They offer hospitality from another time and space, a parallel realm. Over time the faery folk were diminished into tiny, winged beings. In older myths those of the realm of Faery are not small, and they might or might not be friendly.
In Logres, the land over which Arthur rules, the faery and human folks live amongst each other. Many Arthurian knights fall in love with mysterious fey women, but danger lurks around the faery folk. Some say they are ancient gods and goddesses forced to live in the hollow hills, others claim they are fallen angels. When the Faery Accord was honored, there were glorious maidens who had a cup from which all could drink and become well again. “The Elucidation” speaks of the time when the peaceful accord was broken, and the faery folk could no longer be seen. Once the faery horn of plenty was stolen, the gateways between the worlds closed. With distrust between the two races, the kingdom became a Wasteland. Now a veil exists between the two worlds, and there is a question about whether we can heal the Faery Accord. If we can restore our faith in one another; if we listen to the voices of the wells once again; if we enter into communication with what is sacred and healing, then we might enter into a state of unity once again.
Practice/ Imaginosophy Quest: :
The Quest for the Faery Grail is about reestablishing harmony within our bodies, minds, and souls, and also with the living world around us.
Quote:
Faeries, come take me out of this dull world. I would ride with you upon the wind, Run on the top of the disheveled tide, And dance upon the mountains like a flame.
– William Butler Yeats
Grail Questions:
Do you believe in Faery? What is it you hope to find in the inner world? What nourishes you?
GRAIL GUARDIANS - Keepers of Knowledge
Keywords:
Archetypal Feminine – Equality – Harmony – Love – Awakened Womanhood
shadow:
Disconnection – Hidden secrets – Withdrawal
colors:
orange/pink/turquoise
Meaning:
The Ladies of Avalon emerge from a holy well. They are symbolic of the energies in our hearts that arise when we tap into the energies of the Celtic revival and remember the authentic roots of the Western Spiritual Tradition. A woman holds a golden cup or chalice skyward, and the smiles on all the women’s faces suggest that the priestesses and goddesses of Avalon have returned and the archetypal energies of the feminine have been freed at last. How wonderful that these women can dance beneath the full moon and feel the creative powers inherent in life without fear of domination, suppression, or reprisal. This marks an evolutionary leap for humanity and suggests that we may be ready to enter a time of greater equality, harmony and love between genders, races, and religions. The Ladies of Avalon promise that we can live together in peace.
If you have pulled the Ladies of Avalon in a reading, ask yourself how you are celebrating your inner feminine. Have you seen the feminine face of the divine?
Symbolism/Image as Guide:
Beneath the full moon, three women and a child emerge from a well beneath the Glastonbury Tor. They depict the four phases of awakened womanhood: maiden – mother – priestess – elder. The design on the well lid depicts two vertical overlapping circles forming the Vesica Piscis (latin for bladder of the fish) which is often used as the symbol of Jesus of Nazareth. However, it has an even more ancient origin. In Italian it is referred to as the Mandorla or almond. Looking closely the shape is more aligned with the vagina, through which all creation is born and points toward a more ancient matriarchal lineage.
The Vesica Piscis is inextricably linked to divine and human creation. The symbols including the silver flowers from the Otherworld are held within a silver circle, representing eternity. A dove and a white butterfly flutter skyward past blossoming white roses, symbols of young love, spiritual peace, and unity. The dove can be seen in the Glastonbury Zodiac that is etched into the landscape around the town of Glastonbury. Others see the landscape etching as an eagle, phoenix, holy ghost, or guardian angel, but the wings enfold the Tor. It is recognized as one of the signs of Aquarius, the cup thrown down at the chalice well by Ganymede, Zeus’ cupbearer. The Chalice Well and its beak are at the site of the Chalice Well, meanwhile Ganymede escapes becoming the constellation Aquarius. There are many tales that point to the promise of a New Age of peace.
The colors of the dresses of the women also have meaning. The child/maiden wears pink, the color of youth and unconditional love. A mother looking pregnant in her orange dress looks toward the questor inviting life-affirming questions into the nature of creation. The blonde priestess wearing turquoise reaches skyward holding a golden grail, an ancient Otherworldly symbol of regeneration. It may be the cup of Christ, but there are even older Celtic stories where cups or cauldrons of healing, wisdom and rebirth can be discovered. The Faery realms are at the heart of Grail myths and legends. The fourth woman with long grey hair holds the hand of the child-maiden. She wears a rainbow dress signifying that she knows her next phase will be into the realm of spirit. This elder is at peace with her life and knows that beauty can be found in all aspects of incarnation.
Legend:
An ancient spring flows between the Glastonbury Tor and the Chalice Hill into the Chalice Well Gardens located in Somerset, England. It is called a chalybeate spring or red spring because the water is high in iron content. This healing water flows from deep within the earth and fills what is known as the Chalice Well. The well, spring and gardens are protected by the Chalice Well Trust, founded in 1959 by Wellesley Tudor Pole (1884-1968). The well lid made of iron and oak shows a Vesica Piscis and is said to represent a bleeding lance interlocking the visible and invisible worlds. There are many myths that surround the Chalice Well. One is that the uncle of Jesus, Joseph of Arimathea, visited and buried a cup containing the blood of Christ in the holy water of the well. There is also a pilgrim’s bathing pool where one can walk in the water. People from all spiritual paths are welcome at the Chalice Well. It is a garden which inspires a connection between people, nature and the divine and acts as a beacon of hope around the world.
The Founder of the Chalice Well Trust in Glastonbury, Wellesley Tudor Pole was a spiritualist, involved in the Baha’i Faith as well as a quester for the Holy Grail. During the Second World War, he started a campaign called the Silent Minute, where people all around the globe united in meditation at 9pm each evening to pray for peace to prevail. King George VI, Sir Winston Churchill, and President Franklin D. Roosevelt supported the Silent Minute. At 9pm each evening Big Ben would sound, and the Silent Minute would begin. There is a report that a Nazi solider confessed that he felt that Germany had lost the war because of the secret weapon of the Silent Minute. There is no financial involvement attached to the Silent Minute, no political or religious affiliation, just a collective prayer for peace. The practice gained a new following after the attack of 9/11 at the World Trade Center. Some people have continued the Silent Minute since the Second World War devoting their peaceful prayers wherever they are needed on the planet. The trustees maintain that the collective focus of the Silent Minute has a benevolent effect on humanity.
In 1902 Wellesley Tudor Pole had a serious illness which included a vision. He claimed he had dreams in which he had been a monk at Glastonbury. The dream gave him inspiration and he began to make pilgrimages there. A cup was found in Glastonbury, and there was a flurry of interest and speculation around it. At the time there was an interest amongst Christians in esoteric ideas, eastern religions, and philosophies. Pole discovered that there had been a pre-Christian authentic Western spiritual tradition that arose in Ireland and extended to Glastonbury and Iona. The idea of this Western mystical tradition intrigued him and has since then inspired many others. Many have been drawn to Glastonbury to study with other like-minded individuals Western Hermeticism, Theosophy and Spiritualism, and many other spiritual subjects.
During Pole’s second pilgrimage, he had a dream in which a woman’s hand holding a cup arose from the water then just as mysteriously disappeared. He later discovered that this place was St Bride’s Well. Several people, including Annie Besant (president of the British Theosophy Society) felt there was a connection with the cup from the Last Supper. The insight was that the cup had migrated across Europe to Glastonbury. Other visionaries saw that a cup with five stars had been left in a well in Glastonbury. This vision inspired interest in the matriarchal or goddess lineages that had existed in Ireland. Perhaps what had disappeared with the coming of the Roman Catholic Church, was the connection to the goddess and the land. These ideas have inspired a Celtic network of researchers and visionaries who have sought to re-discover this ancient Celtic spiritual tradition in which the divine, masculine, feminine and land are honored as aspects of the Infinite.
Practice:
If it is possible, visit the Chalice Well, St Bride’s Well or another Sacred Well or body of water and spend time in nature quietly attuning to the surroundings. At 9 pm, practice the Silent Minute.
Quote:
For me the Goddess is the female of God, she is powerful if different.” -Tina Turner.
Grail Questions:
What is the Grail?
Which aspect of the maiden, mother, priestess and elder do you identify with?
Have you seen the feminine face of the divine?
HOLY GRAIL - Revealing the Higher Self
Keywords:
Meaning – Purpose – Individualization – Spiritualization – White Magic
shadow:
Secrecy – Black Magic – Opposition – Wounds
colors:
Red/Yellow/Green/Blue/Violet
Meaning:
We each long for meaning and purpose in our lives. To continue our process of evolution, we must taste the nectar of something greater than the persona or lower self. It may be time to steer away from any dogmatic religious or theological teachings you have been bound to and taste Wisdom directly. You have been called on the Quest for the Holy Grail.
If you have pulled the “Holy Grail” in a reading, there is a call to the 5th dimension and an awakening of the Higher Self or Self-Spirit.
Symbolism/Image as Guide:
The artwork is a depiction of the Holy Grail, which is always by necessity an illusion. Because we have four limbs and a head, five represents human beings. The multi-colored flowers and five overlapping circles are symbolic of the wonders of spiritualized humanity and the many dimensions of being. The golden rose symbolizes the human soul and the link to the Mystery of Golgotha, which is taught in Rosicrucianism. Those who are tasked with carrying the wisdom of the ages are concerned with the spiritual aspect of the Rosy Cross or the Higher Self. The Holy Grail represents white magic, as opposed to the black magic of those who misunderstand or abuse the mysteries.
The Ash leaves in full bloom suggest that the mysteries of the Grail have antediluvian origins. In Norse mythology the Tree of Life was an Ash tree known as Yggdrasil. Odin hung himself upside down and received the gift of the Runes. The Ogham name for Ash is Nuin (pronounced “NOO-un”) which means letters. The Cosmic Tree is even more ancient than human beings and is associated with the Cosmic Axis. In the Celtic world the Ash, known as the World Mother, was the feminine counterpart to the masculine Oak. An old teaching suggests that the understanding of our true self comes through our wound that is tended by the secrets of the ancient ones, which links us back to the mysteries of the Holy Grail and its unremitting relationship with the Goddess.
Legend:
The Quest for the Holy Grail is a story told about the chalice used at the Last Supper. There is an inherent mystery that surrounds the Grail which involves the Quest for meaning. The Brotherhood of the Holy Grail consists of initiates who preserved the secrets (the transfiguration) of the Christ. The chalice becomes the Holy Grail when blood dripped from the body of Jesus as he hung on the cross. The chalice was held by Joseph of Arimathea, and then taken to the island of Avalon (near Glastonbury). As is told in Arthurian legends, the Hallow was kept hidden until those who were ready could receive the vibrations of this healing vessel. The cup is a reminder that in mysticism the human soul is always represented as feminine. The Holy Grail re-etherizes blood, opens the heart and pineal/pituitary centers, and leads to the spiritualization of an individual which is symbolized by the rose.
The swan in Grail legend represents a person who can perceive the higher spiritual worlds beyond the stars and into the center of the universe. This person is said to be imbued with the Christ and has become a Life-Spirit. There are always tests of character, particularly around the nature of physical desire and black magic. The legends of the Holy Grail have become part of cultural heritage. The tales originate in the 5th to 9th centuries and are designed to steer the initiate away from bloodshed and toward individualization. The stories are embused with spiritual currents of energy which are designed to awaken a seeker to the Christ Mystery or Spirit-Self, but the correct questions must be asked. An individual who is not prepared, such as Amfortas, will suffer when encountering the Grail. He can only be healed by someone who like a swan has experienced the higher worlds. The Grail heralds the True Self which is whole, united and eternal. The illusion of the lower self is then seen as mortal and transitory. The dead wood of the cross vanishes, and a living rose blooms, symbolic of the immortal Self. This is the promise that each ordinary person may blossom into the Higher Self, epitomizing the spiritual evolution of humankind.
Practice:
Meditate with a rose and in an aware state, sense the subtle nectar of the soul.
Quote:
“The highest imaginable ideal of human evolution results from the ‘knowledge of the Grail’.” – Rudolph Steiner
Grail Questions:
Who does the Grail serve?
Mother Spirit – Eternal Creative Power
Keywords:
Embodied – Nurtured – Safety – Sanctuary – Guidance
shadow:
Un-housed – Troubled Heart – Exposed – Lost
colors:
royal blue/green/pearl
Meaning:
We live in bodies on the planet, both of which we often take for granted at our own peril. Learning to reside with awareness in our bodies can take an evolutionary leap. When we are perceptive about our health, movement, and the consequences of our actions, we tend to live better. We need to remember to tend the watery places that are entrances to Gaia. We cannot just continually take without consequences. The Earth needs our honor and respect.
The planet is home to all sentient beings. Most animals build shelters, and human beings are no exception. Houses can challenge or cherish us. To have a family and home is our natural right, and yet sometimes there are disruptions in this field. It is difficult to feel embodied or at home when there is scarcity, addictions, or familial discord. People may feel disrespected or misunderstood due to gender, race, religious affiliations, or other issues. A place of sanctuary helps us hold all our contradictions so we can integrate; to shelter what is un-homed or wild in us. A home shelters us and gives us space to dream in peace.
When you have pulled Mother Spirit in a reading call upon her to wrap her nurturing energy around you, so you feel held and safe. It is time to come to peace with your body-mind. Learn how to quiet and nurture yourself. Make a home for yourself, a temple or temenos, a chrysalis, so that you have a place of sanctuary. A true home protects the dreamer and allows one to experience peace.
Symbolism/Image as Guide:
The card depicts Danu, the Mother Goddess of the Irish tribe known as the Tuatha de Danann. This ancient Mother Spirit gave birth to Ireland’s most ancient race.
Legend:
Legends of the Grail: Stories of Celtic Goddesses begins with the story of Danu, and all the other stories flow from the Mother Spirit of the Tuatha de Danann. Knowing that a wave of warriors were coming to claim Ireland, she chose to shift into another dimension with many of her children. Over time they became known as the faery folk or Sidhe.
Throughout mythology, Danu is the great mystery; the Goddess of the primordial waters of creation. She appears in every culture as the principal of birth and beginning. She is both light and darkness; the one who gives us life and then reclaims us. Danu enfolds us in velvety darkness and also warms us with the rays of her light. She is as warm as the sun shining on the ocean, and as cold as the stones in a winter river. Danu is as old as time and as young as each breath. Her name is known everywhere and her face is largely unseen.
Danu is both transcendent and embodied, reminding us how we can live into the divine feminine. She is constantly changing, growing, discovering and becoming. When Danu comes to us as a guide, we learn that we can embrace all aspects of ourselves with love and acceptance.
In Irish mythology, Danu was the daughter of the mighty Dagda, Celtic God of Abundance and Goodness. Her lineage suggests that she was also a Goddess of Abundance, who was linked to the fertility of the land. Although there are few myths about Danu that still exist, there are many places that bear her name. Some scholars and poets say that she arose from the River Danube in Eastern Europe. Others claim that she still resides in the Paps of Danu in Ireland, two breast-shaped hills that were capped with stones-like nipples. The Tuatha de Danann traveled from Greece to Ireland during the Bronze Age around 3,000 BC. Danu was the name of the Mother Goddess of the Celtic tribe. She is an ancient Indo-European Mother Goddess who bestows life and abundance, appearing in Welsh mythology as Don. In Hinduism, the name Danu refers to the unknown. Her name in Sanskrit is Dana, meaning “waters of heaven.” She may have a connection with the Greek Mother Goddess, Demeter. Anu is another name for Danu, sometimes appearing as a sister Goddess who is eventually absorbed into Christianity as Saint Anne, the grandmother of Jesus, to whom many holy wells are dedicated. In Glamorgan, South Wales, Saint Anne’s ancient link to Anu is depicted in a fountain with water gushing from her nipples.
Much of Danu’s legend arises out of the mythology of Ireland’s divine race, also referred to as the Celtic Gods and Goddesses, the Tuatha de Dannan, or Sidhe (pronounced Shee). Over time their status was diminished from divinities to faery folk, or even corrupted into frightening stories such as Black Annis of Britain, who was said to steal little children and eat them. However, as Celtic mythology is restored and increasingly honored, we find that the Tuatha De Dannan includes many notable deities including Brigit, who became known as Saint Brigit or Bride, and Eriu, Mother Goddess of Ireland, amongst many other beings of goodness and light. Let’s turn now to Danu and let her share her own legend.” (From: Legends of the Grail: Stories of Celtic Goddesses)
Myth of DANU
“There was once a time when every well, spring and river was considered a sacred portal to the Goddess. The wise ones say that we find wisdom at the water’s edge, and it is there that spiritual illumination is given. Danu can be seen as an ever-flowing river of otherworldly grace.Throughout mythology, Danu is the great mystery; the Goddess of the primordial waters of creation. She appears in every culture as the principal of birth and beginning. She is both light and darkness; the one who gives us life and then reclaims us. Danu enfolds us in velvety darkness and also warms us with the rays of her light. She is as warm as the sun shining on the ocean, and as cold as the stones in a winter river. Danu is as old as time and as young as each breath. Her name is known everywhere and her face is largely unseen.
Danu is both transcendent and embodied, reminding us how we can live into the divine feminine. She is constantly changing, growing, discovering and becoming. When Danu comes to us as a guide, we learn that we can embrace all aspects of ourselves with love and acceptance.
In Irish mythology, Danu was the daughter of the mighty Dagda, Celtic God of Abundance and Goodness. Her lineage suggests that she was also a Goddess of Abundance, who was linked to the fertility of the land. Although there are few myths about Danu that still exist, there are many places that bear her name. Some scholars and poets say that she arose from the River Danube in Eastern Europe. Others claim that she still resides in the Paps of Danu in Ireland, two breast-shaped hills that were capped with stones-like nipples. The Tuatha de Danann traveled from Greece to Ireland during the Bronze Age around 3,000 BC. Danu was the name of the Mother Goddess of the Celtic tribe. She is an ancient Indo-European Mother Goddess who bestows life and abundance, appearing in Welsh mythology as Don. In Hinduism, the name Danu refers to the unknown. Her name in Sanskrit is Dana, meaning “waters of heaven.” She may have a connection with the Greek Mother Goddess, Demeter. Anu is another name for Danu, sometimes appearing as a sister Goddess who is eventually absorbed into Christianity as Saint Anne, the grandmother of Jesus, to whom many holy wells are dedicated. In Glamorgan, South Wales, Saint Anne’s ancient link to Anu is depicted in a fountain with water gushing from her nipples.
Much of Danu’s legend arises out of the mythology of Ireland’s divine race, also referred to as the Celtic Gods and Goddesses, the Tuatha de Dannan, or Sidhe (pronounced Shee). Over time their status was diminished from divinities to faery folk, or even corrupted into frightening stories such as Black Annis of Britain, who was said to steal little children and eat them. However, as Celtic mythology is restored and increasingly honored, we find that the Tuatha De Dannan includes many notable deities including Brigit, who became known as Saint Brigit or Bride, and Eriu, Mother Goddess of Ireland, amongst many other beings of goodness and light. Let’s turn now to Danu and let her share her own legend.” (From: Legends of the Grail: Stories of Celtic Goddesses)
Practice: Danu’s Gift
Eternal Creative Power
“To find me spend time in nature at night. Take a walk along the beach at dusk or sunrise, or camp in the mountains. If you cannot do so, then simply take a chair into your backyard and shift your focus to the nighttime sky. Notice the luminous darkness and observe the many planets and twinkling stars. You may even become aware of the planetary zodiac, or simply the Big Dipper so loved by children. The nighttime sky is filled with potency and creative power. It is like the womb of the Great Mother Goddess. You were breathed by the play of the void and the light into existence. The Mother breathes you alive each morning, and when you are ready to return you will be carried ever so gently. Sometimes when we silently contemplate the Great Goddess, we may smell the scent of flowers, or even taste ambrosia or sweet nectar in our mouths. Any time you wish to find me catch the silver ray of a star and I will come. Under the nighttime sky, give thanks for the life that you have been given, for the loving intelligence that always fills all sentiment beings. Take a few breaths and feel the starlight touching you, guiding you toward your destiny and even greater light.” (From: Legends of the Grail: Stories of Celtic Goddesses)Quote:
“When you utter my name (Danu) with love in your heart and peace in your mind, I will come to you. Even now I hold you. My arms have become rivers, my body wide as continents, my soul one with the sea. And I can also come to you as a woman who loves you, and in whom there is deep abiding trust. Relax into my deep embrace and feel the song that flows to you now from the silence of an ancient past…”
(From: Legends of the Grail: Stories of Celtic Goddesses)
Grail Questions:
Do you feel at home in your body?
Do you feel that you belong in the world?
Where is your home or sanctuary?
Shadow Self - Awareness of the Unconscious
Keywords:
Dual Self – Projection – Wild Child
shadow:
Disappointment – Pain – Sufferin
colors:
Black/White/Grey
Meaning:
To be a good person, we split off from what is bad (hatred, anger, etc.) and place it in the unconscious. We might go for a spiritual bypass and pretend that we are completely virtuous, moral, and even without blame. However, we live in a dualistic world, so the brighter our light shines, the darker the underworld becomes. Inevitably, someone or some event tests us and then knock us off our pedestal. It may feel like a betrayal, but ultimately this is a gift because we have a chance to bring awareness into the places that hurt. We might feel like our Good Persona is in a dualistic battle with our Shadow Self. Reverse the spelling of “evil” and you get “live.” This battle produces a third choice, an integrated and authentic True Self.
If you have pulled Shadow Self in a reading it is time to embrace the aspects of yourself that have split off through judgements, betrayals, or traumas. What have you suppressed? Look within and see what inner part wishes to reveal itself so that you can feel fully alive. Can you sense your mirror image?
Symbolism/Image as Guide:
The card shows a woman looking at the mirror image of herself. The two selves look the same, but if you look with your inner knowing you will see the Shadow Self is looking at the Good Persona. What reveals itself is a third option in silver which appears between the two women. It is an image of a silver chalice. This artwork could be an accident, two people creating the illusion of a Grail. Or it could be that the way a Grail is found is by getting to know the mirror image of yourself. This card is all about perception and increased awareness as a gateway to wholeness. Love in its many forms is what leads us ultimately to the discovery of the Grail.
Quote: “Projection is one of the commonest psychic phenomena…Everything that is unconscious in ourselves we discover in our neighbour, and we treat him accordingly.” (Carl Jung, Archaic Man)
Carl Jung & The Shadow: The Swiss psychoanalyst Carl Jung taught that integrating the Shadow could lead to a more fulfilling life. To effectively live within our relationships, families and in our societies, we have designed a personal mask to please others. This means that parts of our persona (ego identity) must be suppressed. The aspects of ourselves that we believe to be too negative, too wild, uncivilized, or even too magical and powerful are placed in the shadows of the unconscious. These fragments and rejected parts create a Shadow Self. To evolve into an aware and awake human being, the Shadow Self must be faced, for then there is the possibility of alchemy, healing, and wholeness.
Quote: “Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate” – Carl Jung
Defining the Shadow Self: Every person has a Shadow Self. To bring what is in the unconscious into the conscious mind we must be willing to tolerate disappointment, pain, and suffering. If we do not acknowledge our wild destructive side, we set ourselves up for defeat, depression, illness, and/or dullness. Then again, we may act out in damaging ways, even becoming vicious or violent. Sadly, we see this sort of destructive behavior on the news regularly. Healing begins with each one of us when we consciously embrace our Shadow Self, so we do not have to unconsciously act it out. The Shadow Self not only contains what we have rejected about ourselves, but often what is magical and powerful too.
Shadow-Self Challenge: Bringing awareness into the darker aspects of the Shadow Self is an important part of our Quest for wholeness. In Arthurian legends the hero or heroine often must take a voyage into the underworld. On the path of inner realization, we must take an inner journey to discover wisdom, a precursor to our wholeness. Some of the soulful wisdom that we might encounter is the natural intelligence inherent in emotions which lead to essence. When we feel angry, we may need the essence of strength to deal wisely with a situation. Hatred tends to arise when we feel our power has been taken from us. Instead of living as a victim we may need to call back out power. The Shadow Self is complex and fascinating.
“The fact is that if one tries beyond one’s capacity to be perfect, the shadow descends into hell and becomes the devil.” – Carl Jung
Shadow Self Addictions: The Shadow Self judges, criticizes, divides, and points out the evil in others, but cannot tolerate the malevolence or negativity inherent in the lower self. To get away from the Shadow Self the persona might engage in self-sabotage, turning toward addictions using alcohol, drugs, food, sex, gambling, or any other compulsion or type of escapism to try to numb out or forget. A person may even feel suicidal, although in that case it is probable that a dualistic conflict is taking place in the unconscious. Often the Good Persona wants to get rid of the Shadow Self and doesn’t know how. The third option is an alchemical discovery of the True Self.
Wild Child: We often relegate our inner Wild Child to the shadows trying to suppress it only to have it emerge as a fragment of the Shadow Self. When this happens, we may act in odd unconscious ways, saying or doing things that we do not mean. To navigate through this world of fragmented selves we must be kind and gentle, bringing increased awareness into the unconscious. We need to get to know our Wild Child again and remember how to play.
Good Persona Challenge: The Good Persona that we project into the world usually claims respectability, innocence, and civility. We want people to recognize this goodness and can be furious when others see us any other way. This Good Persona knows deep down that the impulses of the Shadow Self are real and have wisdom in them. Whatever we were shamed for, we put away into the Shadow Self. We are not to blame, because we were trying to do the right thing by locking up our bestial and murderous instincts, our hatred and rage. The only problem is that we often put our power in the shadows too and sometimes our life force. The serpent that lives in the depths is ultimately knowledgeable and life-affirming. We simply must have enough maturity to use these complex energies wisely. The greatest challenge with the Good Persona is that it often represses not only the Shadow Self and its wild fragments, but limits access to the authentic True Self as well.
True Self: The issue with the Shadow Self is that when we splinter off, we lose our authenticity. We forget who we truly are. The Good Persona places a mask over the True Self, who must tear off the disguise and look in the mirror. Eventually we discover where we have stored our creativity, soul qualities and power. When the Shadow Self and the Good Persona face each other there is the third possibility of discovering the True Self, which is much more wholesome.
Legend:
In Nimue: Freeding Merlin, the protagonist Nina/Nimue faces a mortal challenge and so instead of dying she splits herself into a spirit and a demon. She survives, but her demon-self wanders causing destruction. Nimue realizes that the only way to reestablish wholeness within herself is to find and embrace her demonic Shadow Self. Recovering her wholeness takes the three-fold effort of an invisible white wizard, Merlin, a water spirit, Nectan, and the dark Lord of the Underworld, Gwyn Ap Nudd, skilled at rescuing lost souls. Here is an excerpt from the book:
Practice:
In the Imaginosophy Quest Cards we honor Carl Jung’s concept of the active imagination to create an interior dialogue or conversation between the persona/ego and the unconscious. To engage in shadow work, we must discover the Shadow Self. This takes courage, and it is optimal to engage a Jungian analyst or someone skilled in Internal Family Systems (IFS), the Diamond Approach, or shadow work.
Tarot as a tool for personal storytelling, helps to open doors of perception to the unconscious. A reading or series of readings can be done focused on the Shadow Self. Create a safe space to become aware of the Shadow Self. The aim of the exercise is not to judge or criticize, but to allow the Shadow Self to express itself. The purpose is to bring awareness into the darkness to illuminate what is there.
Jung’s shadow work is recorded in his grimoire known as the Red Book, which was not published until after his death. He left behind an inspiring manuscript that delineates the challenging and restorative power of shadow work. Writing, painting, dancing, and any other form of creativity are generally helpful as you explore the underworld. Gestalt therapy is also useful when discovering all the inner parts that make the whole. If you feel you want to dive deeper, a modern-day integrated psycho-spiritual system devoted to wholeness is the Diamond Approach: https://www.diamondapproach.org.
Grail Questions:
What have you repressed?
Can you describe your Good Persona?
Do you know your Shadow Self?
What are you addicted to?
Can you sense your mirror image?
Have you met your True Self?
Sovereignty - Leading from the Heart
Keywords:
Self-choice – Self-ownership – Individuality – Embodied
shadow:
Rebellion – Enslavement – Lack of Choice
colors:
Rose/Gold/Green
Meaning:
Sovereignty is not something that you discover in the world, but a feeling that is sourced from within. It’s a power that arises when you discover your connection with the land, your roots, your body, psyche, and the soul of the world. A true sovereign does not dominate but instead leads with the heart. The reason the true awakened feminine is such a threat is because she does not need an outside authority figure. This is not gender based, because all people contain the trinity of the masculine, feminine and soul within them. As we see in the world today, the masculine within us can become distorted, violent, and domineering when out of balance with the feminine. Jung calls the inner feminine the Anima. In Imaginosophy we are familiar with her as the Goddess of Sovereignty.
If you have chosen Sovereignty in a reading it is time to stand in your own truth. You know what the correct path is for your life, not anyone else. Honor yourself, hold tight to integrity, heal the mother wound, and fully embody. It is time to individuate out of the family, tribe, nation and take ownership of your life and well-being.
Symbolism/Image as Guide:
The card depicts a beautiful maiden, a May Queen in the blossom of youth. Although young, she is also wise. Her green and gold clothing links her to the goddess and the land. The Goddess of Sovereignty is an ancient Celtic archetype and ruler. In pre-Christian Ireland she chose the correct king. Appearing as a beautiful maiden, or as a hag, she asks for a kiss and often more. If a king is not a fit ruler the power can be taken away from him.
The Goddess of Sovereignty is an embodiment of EARTH. The butterflies that circle her indicate that the element of AIR loves her and will do her bidding. The golden shirt looks a bit like fish scales, associating her with the Ladies of the Lake. She holds a cup, perhaps the Holy Grail or an older Faery Grail. The cup and the river that flows behind her, connecting the goddess to the element of WATER, both horizontally and vertically. Her sword or dagger faces downwards, a vertical blessing for the land. The rose just below the hilt suggests that the goddess is an expression of life. Is it her creative power that awakens the flowers and causes them to bloom? The sun behind her lovely red locks sends life affirming rays confirming that the element of FIRE is also supportive of the goddess. The Sun/Moon pendant on her necklace symbolizes that she is in harmony with the cycles of time. Complete within herself, the Goddess of Sovereignty gazes into the future. The kingdom of Camelot is behind her. Is she what the knights of the Round Table are seeking?
Legend:
In the haunted Ingelwood forest, King Arthur becomes separated from the other hunters and kills a stag that is not on his land. The mystical knight Sir Gromer Somer, who owns the property, challenges Arthur and says that the king must discover what women most desire, for face the consequences of his misdeed. Since Arthur has mistakenly trespassed, he must pay a price and answer a question (riddle) or lose his head. He has a year to quest for the answer. Arthur despairs and rides through the countryside collecting asking women what they most desire.
Eventually King Arthur meets a very ugly woman, a loathy lady who calls herself Dame Ragnell. She tells the king she can answer the question and save his life on one condition, which is that she marries Sir Gawain. Arthur is horrified and shares his dilemma. No man would ever want to marry such an ugly old woman. But Gawain is a noble knight and agrees to save his uncle. Ragnell tells Arthur that what women want most is Sovereignty.
When the year is up Arthur can successfully solve the riddle, for the answer is that a woman wants the freedom to make her own choices. Sir Gromer Somer is furious with his sister for giving away the answer, but Ragnell hasn’t had her fill yet. She demands to have a lavish wedding in front of the entire court of Camelot. Arthur fulfils her request.
On her wedding night, when she is alone with Gawain, Ragnell becomes a beautiful woman and cup bearer. She tells her husband that she is under a spell placed on her by her stepmother. So, as things are, he can have her be ugly during the day and beautiful at night, or beautiful during the day and ugly at night. Sir Gawain ponders the situation and cannot pick, telling Ragnell that she must decide for herself. At once the spell is broken, and since Ragnell has been given her freedom of choice, her sovereignty, she can choose to be beautiful all the time. The couple and court celebrate the transformation.
Practice:
The Goddess of Sovereignty invites us to engage in Inner Mothering, which allows us to belong to ourselves. Most of us have been trained out of inner sensitivity. We override our limits, forget to set healthy boundaries, and take what others say personally. We forget the importance of raising nutritious food, establishing supportive relationships, and building a hearth and home that gives us a sense of belonging. The Goddess of Sovereignty reminds us that the land, our bodies, and our lives are sacred. Embrace the wisdom discovered when we heal our sacred wounds (wombs).
Quote:
“This is who I am. I am not asking for your approval. I do not have to justify my existence. I want to know and be known for who I am.” ~ Marion Woodman
Grail Questions:
What does a woman (inner feminine) want the most?
What does Inner Mothering mean to you?
How do you source Sovereignty?
THE BEYOND
Keywords:
Peace – Hush – Calm – Alchemy – World Soul
shadow:
Chaos – State of war
colors:
gold/violet/royal blue
Meaning:
Although we may feel as though we have no control over outside forces, when we join collectively in thought, word, and deed we can change the course of humanity. The first step is in discovering the ancient alchemy of the soul. If you have drawn The Beyond, it is time to learn about the power of meditation (emptying out to receive divine inspiration) and prayer (acting on the inspiration). When we meditate and pray, we are modeling the in-breath and out-breath of our bodies, and all the other animated beings who breathe with us. As yogi Mark Whitwell says, “We are the power of the universe, the in-breath and out-breath of the cosmos operating.” One way to begin to enter The Beyond is to pick a time each day to meditate and simply become quiet for one minute. Imagine peace in your heart and all over the planet. We have more power than we know. That one small magnanimous action can benefit all of humanity.
Symbolism/Image as Guide:
The artwork depicts a woman being pulled into a portal in which a gold Grail crackles with electricity. It is similar to the image of the Ten of Spirit, and the meanings do overlap. This is the feeling when our souls are being called in to the unknown. The woman’s eyes are closed, and the sensations may first happen in dreams, or visions, or during mediation. There is a pronounced calling for something, an absence in the heart and that is often a pull toward a quest – the quest for the Grail. Is it an object? Does the Chalice have Christian or Pagan significance, or perhaps both? The wonderful thing about the Grail is that it is something you journey for alone to discover in your inner world.
In the silence of the dream world, or in a conscious dream, a woman (symbolic of the anima or even the anima mundi, the world soul). She wears violet, the color of spiritual healing and transformation. She stands on the Earth and is being pulled into something greater. Meanwhile the golden Grail crackles with divine energy. Golden vibrations from the Grail also extend from the base activating a living Holly wreath. Outside floating the universe appear the alchemical symbols for the elements. The planets associated with astrology and our solar system are held within the cape wings of this soulful woman with pearl trimmed edges. She looks like she might take flight like an ancient butterfly through the Grail portal. Perhaps there she will discover the secrets of the universe, or realize that she is the gateway to direct knowing.
Legend:
The Founder of the Chalice Well Trust in Glastonbury, Wellesley Tudor Pole was a spiritualist, involved in the Baha’i Faith as well as a quester for the Holy Grail. During the Second World War, he started a campaign called the Silent Minute, where people all around the globe united in meditation at 9pm each evening to pray for peace to prevail. King George VI, Sir Winston Churchill, and President Franklin D. Roosevelt supported the Silent Minute. At 9pm each evening Big Ben would sound, and the Silent Minute would begin. There is a report that a Nazi solider confessed that he felt that Germany had lost the war because of the secret weapon of the Silent Minute. There is no financial involvement attached to the Silent Minute, no political or religious affiliation, just a collective prayer for peace. The practice gained a new following after the attack of 9/11 at the World Trade Center. Some people have continued the Silent Minute since the Second World War devoting their peaceful prayers wherever they are needed on the planet. The trustees maintain that the collective focus of the Silent Minute has a benevolent effect on humanity.
In 1902 WWI Officer Wellesley Tudor Pole had a serious illness which included a vision of the Holy Grail and a connection with Glastonbury. Pole had been confirmed in the Anglican church, and this was understood as the Broad Church. In other words, he had a broad respect for all religions and philosophies, seeing the Grail as the symbol of unity that connected all faiths.
The Grail has fascinated many people and it has become a symbol of spiritual healing, integration and unification. Many people interested in Western Hermeticism, Theosophy, Kabbalah, spiritual healing, alchemy, tarot or simply establishing a direct connection with the divine, are drawn to the Grail Quest which can lead to many places in the living landscape both seen and unseen. The Grail acts as a doorway to the Western spiritual traditions.
One place where people go regularly to contemplate Grail legend is Glastonbury. Visionaries are drawn to the living landscape, and there is a zodiac etched into the landscape that encircles the town. Mary Caine wrote a book about it called the Glastonbury Zodiac: Key to the Mysteries of Britain. No one knows why it is there, but there is much speculation. Some believe it was a mythical path laid out by Ancient Sumerians or other travelers. It points the ley lines, or lines of psychic power that can be found all over our planet. These energies are gathered in specific areas. Some wonder of the zodiac was King Arthur’s Round Table; or have found a mystical connection between the two that Merlin and Nimue may have been aware of. Sometimes it is difficult to distinguish between myth, history and stories of the soul, which operate beyond language in the world of symbols.
Practice:
At 9 pm each night, practice one minute of silence and see peace spreading throughout the world.
Quote:
“Silence is a source of great strength.” – Lao Tzu
Grail Questions:
Do you feel called to the Grail Quest?
How do you experience The Beyond?
What alchemy is occurring in your soul?
Veil Keeper - Oracular Gifts
Keywords:
Oracle – Augur – Healer– Diviner – Prophet – Clairvoyant
shadow:
Sorcerer – Illusionist – Emotional Manipulation
colors:
Yellow/Violet/Red
Meaning:
The Priestesses of Avalon were trained Ovates or Seers and developed healing and oracular gifts. They learned the language of the trees (Ogham) and studied herbalism. Magic was sacred to them and they knew how to access the universal intelligence to heal, read the future, or tap into prophecy. They would often use a scrying dish, the reflection of a sacred well, the flights of birds, or Ogham for prophecy and divination. If you have pulled Priestess of Avalon in a reading, regardless of gender, it is time to awaken to your natural psychic and mystical abilities.
The Quest is to enter the animated or living world in which stars sing and plants whisper. The Priestess of Avalon says this is the moment to remember your inner magic. Read with your own deck of cards today or go outside and simply observe nature. Talk to the trees and listen to them with the ears of your heart. Notice the phase of the Moon, the change of the seasons, and see if you can practice developing a deeper connection to Mother Earth.
Symbolism/Image as Guide:
Nimue, an enchanting young woman, gazes at the reader. At this phase of her training, she is innocent. The red flowers blossoming around her indicate that she is in touch with her red strength essence and has the potential to fulfill her destiny. The Oak spreads out behind her as a Round Tree, which can act as a gateway to the Otherworld. The horizonal crescent moon on her forehead is an ancient symbol connecting her with Egypt and the goddess Isis. The Greeks associated all goddesses with the moon, so Isis made her way through the Greco-Roman period as a lunar deity. Mother Mary is also often depicted in religious art with a crescent moon beneath her foot, connecting her to the lunar goddess Isis also, and perhaps even more ancient magical deities. What is important here is that Nimue is part of age-old goddess tradition. Her blue eyes sparkle with curiosity and there is already a hint of magic in her aura.
Legend:
The card depicts Nimue as a young Priestess of Avalon. She is an empowered, clairvoyant, and magical demi-goddess, with supernatural powers that she is still understanding. In ancient Greece she would have trained as an Oracle, but in the Celtic tradition she is becoming an Ovate. It’s a different term for the same position, in which the Goddess or Wisdom speaks through a Priestess and passes along information from Source. Behind her the sky is a silvery grey, and it seems that two eyes are looking at her. It is unclear whether the face is protective or angry, but this deity has its gaze locked on the young Priestess. It could be that Merlin’s wife Guendoloena, one of the Fey, knows that Merlin will fall in love with the young demi-goddess Nimue. There is certainly an energy that will challenge the young Priestess.
The portrait also appears in Nimue: Freeing Merlin. In this part of the novel Nimue finds herself in 5th Century Britain. Daughter of Diane the Huntress, Nimue has been given in safe keeping to Anna and Naradek, High Priestesses of Avalon. They have taken her under their safe keeping and are training her in the ways of the Priestess. It is clear that Nimue has innate magical powers that she is learning to master. The horizontal moon on her forehead symbolizes her clairvoyant abilities. She has met Merlin and is captivated by him. Nimue’s second sight has revealed that she must perform a task that she considers too difficult and is questioning her true role as priestess.
Although the story here is entirely fiction, it is reported that there was indeed a school on Mona (Angelsey) where the Druids were instructed. They were both men and women and the education to become a Druid lasted twenty years. The Bardic grade was about learning the stories of the people. The Ovate grade was more about learning how to clairvoyantly read the signs of the natural world. Then eventually they would make their way into the Druid grade, where they would learn to lead the community.
Practice:
Create a Celtic Wheel of Life on your altar or in a sacred grove and deepen your alignment with the natural world.
Quote:
“Most women I know are priestesses and healers, although many don’t know it yet, and some never will. We are all of us sisters of a mysterious order.”
― Marianne Williamson
Grail Questions:
What is the phase of the moon?
What season are you celebrating?
How are you a part of the living landscape?
Are the mysteries calling you?
Can you see between the veils to the Otherworld?
Visualization
Keywords:
shadow:
colors:
Russet/Olive/Indigo
Meaning:
Symbolism/Image as Guide:
Practice:
Quote:
Grail Questions:
Wise Woman
Keywords:
Oracle – Augur – Healer– Diviner – Prophet – Clairvoyant
shadow:
Sorcerer – Illusionist – Emotional Manipulation
colors:
Rainbow
Meaning:
The Wise Woman, Grandmother or Elder is someone who has lived a long life and has metabolized the inner and outer darkness they have encountered so that they possess some wisdom. This is generally the matriarch that the family and even the community revolves around. The Wise Woman tends to have soup on the stove and warm bread in the oven. People feel comfortable around the Wise Woman’s hearth, and sense they can share what ails them. The Wise Woman may bring an insight forward which may help to resolve an issue that is heavy on someone’s heart. The Wise Woman is a natural healer.
This Grandmother may be skilled in the ways of herbal medicines, or shamanism. She seems to know her indigenous roots and be attuned to an animistic way of viewing the world. Often, she is a good story teller. This Wise Woman has an understanding in her bones that the world is alive, time is a hologram, and that in truth she is eternal. She stirs her cauldron with a stick calling forth the wisdom of the world. She could be called “the one who knows how to enter the living field of wisdom.” She discerns that once we gather all the colors of the rainbow, we restore ourselves to Oneness.
Symbolism/Image as Guide:
The card shows an old woman wearing a magical purple dress trimmed in green. She gives the impression that she is at peace with who she is as a human being, even a magical or supernatural being. Tapping into her natural faery, human, transhuman triplicity this grandmother is a seer, an oracle, unafraid of facing the truth as it is. Playful bubbles arising from her cauldron attract a rainbow. Folktales might give her a name such as the Cailleach, Gaia, the Cailleach, Ceridwen, or the Washer at the Ford
Practice:
Becoming aware of the Wise Woman within is similar to being an Artist who knows how to enter the world of dreams and can discern the fields of wisdom. We might find that the inner Artist is very connected with highest states of consciousness and inner knowing. It may be time to take our your pens and pencils and draw an image of your Wise Woman, or attune to your wise inner Grandmother and write a fairytale to inspire others.
Quote:
“You may find a myth that will evoke the reality in you.”
― Jean Shinoda Bolen
Grail Questions:
What is it you seek?
In what way do you feel broken?
Where do you find happiness?
Who is your family/tribe?
Where do you have a sense of belonging?
