The Moon

The Moon is the 18th card of the Major Arcana. This picture was taken near where I live. When I looked up at the moon near what looked like a chimney, it reminded me of Paris for some reason. So I had to take a picture and then the following day I decided it was a very good moon picture for the deck.

Is the Honeymoon over? Are you moonstruck?

A classic line of spiritual teachings is "Don't look at my finger pointing at the moon. Look at the moon directly!" These are various expressions inspired by the moon.

Pay attention to your dreams, they reveal an aspect of yourself that is compromised in the social world. They usually show your desire to be more authentic in your daily life. If you have the gift of remembering your dreams, it is an invitation to work with them. Keeping a journal would be very inspiring so that you can look deeply into your nature.

Enjoy the reflection of the Moon, don't be deceived by it. The Moon is an invitation to go inward so that you can reflect on what you are about in this world and how you express yourself. Look at your relationships. Maybe try to be more authentic with the people you come in contact with in your daily life.

Adjustment/Justice

The Justice card is the 8th card in the deck of the Major Arcana. The photo for this card is a stone scultpure created by 'The Fool' in the Boulder Creek. For me it ipetomizes balance.

If you are drawn to this card is it time to restore balance. Are you finding yourself in a difficult situation? Are you honest with yourself and others about the way you feel? Is your health being compromised? Are you true to your commitments? Is your check book balanced? It might be time to change jobs.

This card is a message of the Universe to trust your ability to adjust, to change, to remember that you have wanted this change for a long time. It might also be time to look in your closet, drawers, basement. Have a garage sale! Unclutter your head and space so that you can bring clarity, order and balance into your life. Being in nature near water is very healing for you.

The Hanged Man

The Hanged Man is the 12th card of the major Arcana. This picture was taken in Santa Fe by the pond of a dear friend of mine who was sitting watching the fish, this inspired me to capture this moment. The following day I said to myself 'This is the picture of the Hanged Man!'.

If you could take a picture of your life up to now, could you visualize the effect? Now turn it upside down. Look deeply, see if you can have a fresh overview of your past. If you were to pick the Hangman it is a sign that you are rendered immobile by the force of your repetitive and destructive patterns and it is high time to look at why. You might feel stuck and even numb. You feel like a prisoner of your life, constantly restricted by the rational of your mind telling you why you can not move. If you free yourself from your tyrannical mind and observe without judgment you can create an energetic shift. It will free you from old patterns of survival. At this point your determination to become unstuck can release you from your self imposed limitations. It is a surrender to the authentic purpose of your life. Trust that your inner wisdom will illuminate what you desire deeply to express.

Your homework is to go to the children's playground and hang upside down. Or put your head between your legs...what do you see?

The Tower

The Tower is the sixteenth card of the Major Arcana. Like with the card of Death and the Devil, people often have a visceral reaction to the fire and chaos usually represented in this card. But here again it is about renewal via deconstruction. For a few months I was pondering how to represent the Tower. When I came upon a stock of photos where this one jumped at me. It was created by doodling on the Polaroid emulsion after it popped out. I remember my child like wonder when the picture came to life.

The Tower is a symbol of our social conditioning; our survival mode; a structured safeguard to buffer, distort what we perceive as the frightening realization that change is the only constant.

This visual symbol validates your desire to heal, refresh, and restore the clarity and wisdom for your journey on the planet. This card is a reminder to renew your commitment to actualize who you are. Your body is the temple of your soul, so it might be time to diet, exercise, and have quiet moments. See if shedding people and situations is becoming a must to realign with the authenticity of your essence.

The Star

The Star is the seventeenth card of the Major Arcana. This is the picture that I deliberately conceived prior to creating this card. The young woman is a dear friend of mine who lives in Santa Fe, where I go rather regularly. It is taken before sunset by a pond and she is holding a real ancient jug. I knew she would be perfect for the depiction of the Star.

The Star is a symbol of pure radiant energy manifesting in the world of forms. The card is a reminder that we are all potential vessels to contain and pour the precious light of this magnificent universe. The more we trust our destiny the more our destiny becomes a movement of balance and clarity in the world for all to see and benefit. This result in us experiences self sufficiency so that there is no neediness in our relationships. If all of this resonates in you, you are experiencing a deep recognition of your essence.

If you pick this card it is a reminder that you are both the director and the actor, so if you don't like the script you find yourself in it is time to change it. Know that you have the ability to do so. This card is about self esteem and loving oneself.

Strength

The Strength Card is the eight card of the major Arcana. Usually this card is represented by a woman standing by a lion, often she holding his mouth wide open. Which means the taming of the inner demon/beast in all of us. I decided on a collage I had done years ago. When I looked at it again recently it felt right, because in order to tame the inner demons you have to go within yourself and acknowledge them with compassion. The very going within creates the transformation of your demons into your allies.

If you picked this card during a reading it is time to clean up your inner temple! It is not easy to acknowledge ones weaknesses without judgment, but we are all human. We are the bridge between the beast and the divine. Only your longing for transformation will give you the strength, the courage, to look within.

The Emperor

The Emperor card is the fourth card of the major arcana. This is the card of the pioneer that enters into unchartered territories, inspiring others to follow. This picture was taken in Santa Fe in the garden of my friends at sunset. The tree at some point was dying and we had to cut quite a few big branches. After a year or so it looked so alive and vigorous. The trunk with two main branches seemed to represent victory. So when I was looking for a picture representing the Emperor I felt this one was quite appropriate because it looked like a noble giant with his arms raised in glory.

The Emperor represents vitality and eagerness to discover. The Emperor also has to be careful about becoming angry and impatient with those that are not ready to follow him. He might start ahead of the others, and let them realize that they also want to go into the unknown.

If you pulled this card during a reading you have to take charge of your life. Reinvent yourself, try to transform the anxiety into excitement for the unknown.