Symbols of Rebirth

The Death card, as chosen from my previous blog entry, contains the following symbols: armor, a flag bearing a red and white Tudor rose, and a rising sun. Death Itself is depicted as a skeleton, which is quite cliché to say the least. However, depending on the deck in question, these symbols can be picked and chosen or replaced with something else of equivalent meaning.

In the Rider-Waite, the one I typically use, other symbols include children on the ground, a bishop (looks to The Hierophant, come to think of it) with his hands praying as if to plead to Death, the horse, dead-looking trees in the background, and two towers with the aforementioned rising sun between them.

 

A breakdown of the meanings of each symbol goes as follows:

-ARMOR: personal reservations, possible fears of the inevitable—it’s always good to let down your walls and welcome what is to come. Accept your fate, accept the changes that come your way, because they may just be a blessing in disguise.

-TUDOR ROSE: This rose appears on the flag as red and white, and those two colors represent the blood of life and the promise of new beginnings—overall, this rose is a symbol of rebirth. All that dies will be reborn, and all that falls shall rise again.

-RISING SUN: This is another symbol of the promise of new beginnings. Think of it as the “light at the end of the tunnel” or a “silver lining behind every dark cloud”. It also can be interpreted as the beauty that comes with Death, as endings always come before a new beginning. It also can be seen as the foreshadowing to The Sun card.

-CHILDREN: This is likely another symbol of rebirth, and because they are tired-looking and leaning on each other, it tells the reader and the querent that there is a stress that needs to be relieved with the coming of this inevitable change.

-BISHOP: Not even someone with power, like a bishop in the Catholic Church for example, can defeat Death. He reflects the natural order of things, much like The Hierophant card.

-HORSE: The horse upon which Death is sitting, in many cultures, represents passage. With each major change we undergo, we encounter a chance for passage and transition into this new phase of life. It also represents the passage of the soul in literal death of people or animals. It also could very well be a Biblical reference to the Book of Revelations, where there are Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse who are said to arrive at the Last Judgement (according to Christian tradition).

-DEAD TREES: This is a cliché symbol of death, but the dead trees are a solemn reminder to the reader and querent that like the seasons, life changes and transitions. Alternatively, you must learn to accept your losses (winter) before new leaves can grow (spring).

-TWO TOWERS: The towers have the sun between them on the right side of the card (at least in the Rider-Waite) are very much like a foreshadowing to The Tower card and its connotation to external destruction. Death, in contrast, reflects internal destruction in order for creation to take its place.

 

Overall, this card would be mine (aside from The High Priestess) because as a person, I am always evolving—I have a strong belief in the polarity of death and rebirth, as it is all connected with life. Without death, there cannot be life. Without destruction, there can be no creation. Without the natural order of things dictating that nature rid of the old things, there would be no new things to sprout in their place. I see these changes around me in everyday life, even on a level so deep I can’t put it into a single sentence.

Leaves fall off the trees in the autumn, making the trees dead and dormant in winter. Without this, the promise of spring wouldn’t allow for new leaves and blossoms to grow.

Forgive the morbid example, but it’s the same with hunting a deer. The blood from that deer rushes into the soil when it is shot, allowing for nutrients to nourish the seeds below and allow life to grow. Imagine that new life growing from the deer’s blood in the soil as a tree—an animal can live and feed off that tree and its leaves or whatever fruits it bears. Even a tree bearing fruit, the fruits contain seeds to allow new life to grow…I could go on about this, but I’ll stop right here.

A Celtic Cross

The question for this querent was: “When will I see my mother and uncle again? Are they watching over me?”

So I performed a Celtic Cross reading for her to ultimately answer this question, as well as gain any insight on her life at this moment. I always inform my querents that fate is NEVER set in stone, because it is what we do in the present time that changes it for better or worse depending. To supplement this, I give valuable advice which the querent can take at their discretion.

Another note, I do not always see the cards as literal. You will see this in the following commentary, done by me, and you will see that I have incorporated my visions into the reading:

 

“The first card represents your current situation, the Nine of Cups upright. It’s a very positive card, right now, you’re feeling very optimistic and you’re pretty much getting what you want right now. Just think of any earthly pleasures that you like, since its cups, drinks…but that isn’t anything you haven’t told me. But definitely positive in meaning. I can probably advise that if you want something right now, go for it.

What crosses you, [King of Cups] an older man, he’s a Scorpio, and he is known to give very good advice. He’s very emotional, he’s about in his forties. He seems to be well financially established especially since he’s grown emotionally and enough to understand the value of material possessions. Yeah, he’s pretty wise with what he does. He is to come.

The best you can achieve right now [Three of Swords reversed], is healing. Definitely a lot of healing. See, in its upright aspect it represents grief but the best you can achieve is healing of the self, healing of the soul…whatever pains you are feeling right now, make sure you cut things out of your life that no longer serve you, and this may take some contemplation beforehand…but I really see it’ll do you good, especially in the next couple months.

This is the hidden factors [four of pentacles upright], I can relate this back to the man crossing you, and I can also see it applies to you, but I can relate this to that [Three of Swords]. You’re holding onto past hurts. You gotta lose it. Again, it make take time, it may hurt to part with things that no longer serve you, because sometimes what we hold onto, we believe it means the most to us.

The past, this is the recent past, like within the past year. [Four of Cups] Solitude, I mean, this isn’t something you haven’t told me, but even in the past couple months its felt a bit lonely and I feel like you’ve been already taking steps to emotional healing that you need to undergo. Definitely, I mean it’s helped so far. You’re on the path already to emotional healing and healing of past hurts, or anything else you have in your life because its attributing to the hurt.

The near future, the fool reversed, my advice in the near future is don’t take unnecessary risks because you’re gonna probably get in trouble. But again, that’s me giving advice. You have a free will. Do as you wish. Trust your gut, instinct, if something is wrong anywhere you are, leave. That goes hand in hand with letting go. When you avoid taking risks around people you know, friends, then you’re gonna let them go, and you won’t make these mistakes.

I gave a piece of advise to answer a mid-reading question; “apply healing to your life. Positive affirmations help.”

Your views, Page of Pentacles upright…definitely there’s a young man who is ambitious with money, he’s also got a lust for life, too. Seems familiar to me too, I can’t put my finger on it, I don’t know who. But I have a feeling he is going to help you see your potential in applying emotional healing to your life. This is someone alive. Yes. You already know him.

This is how it affects the situation [Four of Wands], with this person’s influence you will find peace and rest. They’re responsible, like I said, good grades, a business major here. This is a card of rest. You will be able to allow an inner sense of strength to shine through, and it’s a renewed sense of it.

Hopes and fears [Page of Swords], this is another person in your life…what did you say his name was again?”

“Joe was my uncle.” He has since passed onto the other side.

“He seemed very rational, gave good advice, had good sense of conviction, knew his opinion mattered, and was able to stand up for what he believed in. He’s coming through right here. He’s definitely watching over you. I don’t think I had to pick up a card to see that anyways. We have spirits watching us everyday, and that is why.

The outcome, [The Lovers], they’re BOTH watching over you. The Lovers looks literal, but in this case, it’s not. You have a choice to make, and it’s the choice to let go and heal emotionally. The context of this male and female, you can see it here as a polarity. There’s a balance. You will see them again. You will. They have a lot of knowledge to offer you. A lot. So if they ever visit in dreams, pay attention. Dreams carry messages anyways, but dreams of the dead are valuable; they are trying to tell you something. Their knowledge is valuable. Depending on your spiritual path, a prayer to them could help you open to them. Those who have passed become our guides, especially those close to us. Thank them for this knowledge. This is general life knowledge, and is yet to come.”

I let her meditate to guide her further to emotional healing by letting her hold stones, and for as long as she felt comfortable. Below is her feedback.

“It’s was really cool and insightful and accurate for the most part, but I’m confused at some parts.”

I responded; “they will manifest in due time.”

Major Arcana and the Self (10/14-16)

This whole time, I seem to have been drawn to The High Priestess of the Major Arcana, simply because of the card’s spiritual, arcane nature. It seems that while I am still very much drawn to the properties of this card, I feel like after going more in-depth with each of the Major Arcana that Death is the card that is most resonating to me. Here is why…

Death comes to us all; it is our greatest teacher, but in time it kills all of its pupils. Without death, there would not be life, just like without darkness, there would be no light. Kind of goes hand in hand with what I like to say; “balance is all”. Many people are frightened or even saddened by the topic of death, crying or mourning if a loved one dies. The truth is, the spirit is eternal and there is always a chance for rebirth after this life; wherever we go, I won’t know until I get there myself (as will everyone in due time), we are made whole again. When we cry at a funeral, for instance, we cry for ourselves. We are innately selfish because we would do anything to have that person back, alive and well—but the thing we must focus on when losing a loved one are the memories. Those will live on for as long as we remember and cherish them.

Death doesn’t always have to be literal, either. In life, we encounter important, inevitable transitions of phases or ways of life—getting married, getting divorced, going to college, having a baby, seeing that baby grow into an adult, loss of job, loss of home, loss of ideals or beliefs…all of these more common aspects of life fall into this category because they bring about big changes in life overall. Sometimes these changes are more internal than external, but either way, they affect us in huge ways.