The world is a playground, and life is pushing my swing. -Natalie Kocsis
The World card is the last in the Major Arcana. There are neat little images tucked all over this one. The four images in the corners represent the four Fixed astrological signs: Lion= Leo, Bull=Taurus, Aquarius=Cherub and Scorpio=Eagle. The Fixed signs are aligned with stability and persistence.
There is an infinity sign at the top of the wreath, which stands for continuity, and the wreath itself represents achievement.
The lady’s legs are in the position of the Hanged Man’s, but are inverted, so they stand for action and moving forward instead of resting. The lady is also a gifted flaming baton twirler, so well done there.
I found this quote about The World, and it always strikes me as perfect. “One does not conquer the world, one discovers it.” I’m not sure who said it, but it covers the focus and achievement of the World. This card is associated with getting the job, finding balance in your life, graduations and celebrations. It’s a culmination of all of your hard work and the confidence that comes along with that.
The elements mentioned above – the determination, stability, persistence, and achievement – this is reflected in the other cards of the Major Arcana. If you see all of the cards before this as a journey, this is the happy conclusion. The infinity sign tells us that another journey is beginning, and the wreath tells us that we’re ready for it.
Inverted, this card comes up in readings when someone is being a fakey fakerson or pretending that everything in your world is just fine when you know damn good and well that it isn’t. I see it a lot for people who lie – even without malice. There’s this song by Ani DiFranco called “As Is”, and it’s pretty much the inverted World card to a T.
“What bugs me, is you believe what you’re saying. What bothers me, is you don’t know how you feel. What scares me, is while you’re telling me stories, you actually believe that they are real. And I’ve got no illusions about you. Guess what? I never did. When I said, when I said I’ll take it. I meant, I meant as is.”
It’s about creating another truth for yourself that doesn’t fit and is terribly uncomfortable. How long can you wear that? How long can you punish yourself while the truth is just waiting for you to live it? I get this card a lot with people who are in jobs that don’t suit them, or marriages that have died on the inside. It seems impossible to change the situation, but unbearable to stay.
I think that the Shadowscapes tarot captures the “Look what I’ve accomplished!” vibe beautifully. I get the feeling that she’s going to toss that beautiful globe/hard work up in the air and walk off to start discovering again. I wonder sometimes if the ends justify the means, but then I remember that it’s the journey that counts. It’s all of the ups and downs, the craziness, the light and the dark n’twisties that help to make us shiny, bright souls. Like a rock tumbler, but much more poetic and whatnot.
“I am not in this world to live up to other people’s expectations, nor do I feel that the world must live up to mine.” – Fritz Perls
Shadowscapes Tarot by Stephanie Pui Mun Law
Tags: advisor, Aquarius, cards, deck, determination, drive, element, Fixed signs, flaming baton, fortune teller, Hanged Man, I rock, infinity, Leo, Major Arcana, psychic, reader, readings, rider, Scorpio, Shadowscapes, St. Louis, Stephanie Pui Mun-Law, success, tarot, Taurus, The World, waite
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December 31, 2011 at 3:36 am
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