Welcome to Part 6 of "The Hero/Fool's Journey"! To recap, the Hero/Fool is stepping calmly into the unknown, once he has firmly committed to pursuing his Star Dream, he is being warned to stay alert and act with integrity when making decisions, and eventually finds himself moving through turmoil, maneuvering through conflict.
12. The Hanged Man
What does the Hanged Man have to tell us? What does it mean to be the Hanged Man?
Sometimes we have to learn our spiritual lessons the hard way. To hit rock bottom. We must get to a point of not resisting Justice/Karma, and simply surrender to the Divine. Whether we bring ourselves to this place, or the world does, and we must learn true Surrender. The Hero/Fool allows himself to be strung up. He accepts his fate (and might even view it as punishment) and does not resist. He might feel like a martyr. He is prepared to let go of his life and everything he knows. He is prepared to view things from an "upside-down" perspective. He is ready to die...either literally or figuratively ready to die to his earthly self, his ego. He has seen where his past choices have led him, and doesn't want to go back or move forward.
IN BETWEEN CONCEPT THAT CONNECTS THE HANGED MAN TO DEATH: Release of the Ego.
13. Death
What does Death/Transformation have to tell us? What does it mean to get Death card?
**NOTE: In the GOOD TAROT deck (left card), Baron-Reid uses the word "Transformation" instead of the traditional "Death". Read on to find out why...
Having embraced Ego Death, the Hero/Fool has essentially turned themselves, and their lives as they know it, to ashes. He invites Death in to determine what goes and what stays. Death comes to remind the Hero/Fool why he started his journey in the first place. as he carries a flag bearing the white rose (middle card), which the Fool carries in the Fool card (see Part 1 or 2). Death is not the end, as we see the pillars of Hope in the distance (those pillars you can see in the middle card are the same pillars we see in the Star card, coming up in Part 7), as well as the Sun (coming up in Part 8). He is the pheonix rising from its ashes, becoming innocent and child-like again. It is a chance for a clean slate, and a fresh restart. It is a transformation.
IN BETWEEN CONCEPT THAT CONNECTS DEATH TO TEMPERANCE: Renewal of Purpose.
14. Temperance
What does Temperance have to tell us? What does it mean to get Temperance card?
**NOTE: In the GOOD TAROT deck (left card), Baron-Reid uses the word "Patience" instead of the traditional "Temperance". Read on to find out why...**
After rising from his ashes and being born anew, adjustments need to be made. A divine balancing of books. We need to match our outside life to our inside life. On the outside, it means making life changes and on the inside it means alchemy; making true changes in how we think, feel, react, DNA changes, vibrational changes, etc. This process takes time and patience and we often feel we aren't making progress. The pheonix, who was once a non-fiery bird, wants to be able to live in its old nest, but its old nest is no longer suitable for it, as it is now made of FIRE. It must take the time to build a new nest. If the pheonix becomes impatient and gives up and goes back to its old nest, it will burn it down. The Hero/Fool must find a delicate balance between making necessary life changes and waiting; between taking action and letting the universe react. It's a delicate alchemical potion: A splash of water, a spark of fire. The angel mixes the two, sees the result and see what is lacking or what there is too much of, and makes adjustments.The Hero/Fool must balance their wants/needs, heart/mind, emotions/thoughts, material/spiritual. All of this happens in Divine Timing. But just as the Hero/Fool is finding his balance, the devil steps in to test his resolve and faith.
IN BETWEEN CONCEPT THAT CONNECTS DEATH TO TEMPERANCE: Tasting the forbidden fruit.