Aerin
A bit of background (from Part I The Arthurian Tarot, of Hallowquest by Caitlin and John Matthews) first:
The Hallowquest pack is based on the early Celtic legends about Arthur (as against the romanticised later versions). If he existed, it was c. AD490 - AD 535. We have Greater Powers instead of the Major Arcana, numbered in the same way as for the Rider Waite deck but with some name changes. The pip cards are known as the Lesser Powers.
The Court Cards correspond with the four great houses of the Arthurian cycle (Pellinore (Grail), Benwick (Stone), Pendragon (Sword), and Lothian and Orkney (Spear). They guard the four sacred objects which are each associated with a suit (pictured on the Hallow cards (Aces)):
The Sword of Nuadu (Air, East) - Function is dispeller of illusions, the Sword suit
The Spear of Lugh (Fire, South) - Function is challenger, the Spear suit
The Cauldron of the Dagda (Water, West) - Function is healing and plenty, the Grail suit
The Lia Fail (Earth, North) - Function is preserver of knowledge and guardian of tradition, the Stone suit
We will be going on a quest for each of these objects, travelling through the landscapes of the Lesser Powers. There are deliberately no people on them so we can enter as ourselves....
Lesson One:
Meditation - we will be required to enter the card we are studying through the black doorway on the card. Once we step within, the scene is not static but rather filled with other scenes, animals, characters etc which the doorway is hiding. We need to be alert and receptive, our clear perception and remembrance of subtle reality is important. Use the first images which come on entering a card. If interacting with a character, it may be silent verbal or symbolic. Accept the first gift you are given even if it seems extremely odd and unlikely/ silly and ask the giver for its significance and qualities. Be flexible and adaptable, go with what seems right rather than following the instructions to the letter.
Breathing - From the diaphragm, very deeply, so your stomach rises. Spend 2-3 mins before each meditation breathing in and out at least five times. Visualise your system being oxegenated on the in breath and worries and problems leaving you on the out breath.
Earthing and grounding - Make sure that you ground yourself after the meditation e.g. by reciting some ritual words (we get to do this in a later lesson), eating and drinking, making sure we perform mundane tasks with full attention and commitment.
Diary record - we need one. Ideas for entries:
date
time
moon phase
weather
meditation subject
report
card chosen today, and how it resonates with the day's events
reading
important events today
Tasks:
1. Look through the book. What preparations do you need to make? What changes to your routine? Take out the cards and shuffle, asking 'What is the most important factor in the course for me? Take 3 cards at random and note them in your diary along with expectations/ doubts/ questions on the course
2. Practise breathing and note how you feel
3. Choose one image to meditate on, or one of the speeches that preface each card description. Meditate for 10 mins. Record findings
4. Begin your diary record. Do Daily Companions Reading (either for today or tomorrow). NB: The deck does not use reversed meanings, so use cards upright. First sort the deck into 3 piles, Greater Powers, Court Cards and Lesser Powers:
Shuffle Lesser Powers: What experience will I learn from tomorrow/ today?
Shuffle Court Cards: Who will be my guide tomorrow/ today?
Shuffle Greater Powers: Who will be my teacher tomorrow/ today?
Pick one card from each pack to be your Tarot Companions, to find hidden life patrterns and understand them better.
And that's it for this week. (Phew!)
Aerin
The Hallowquest pack is based on the early Celtic legends about Arthur (as against the romanticised later versions). If he existed, it was c. AD490 - AD 535. We have Greater Powers instead of the Major Arcana, numbered in the same way as for the Rider Waite deck but with some name changes. The pip cards are known as the Lesser Powers.
The Court Cards correspond with the four great houses of the Arthurian cycle (Pellinore (Grail), Benwick (Stone), Pendragon (Sword), and Lothian and Orkney (Spear). They guard the four sacred objects which are each associated with a suit (pictured on the Hallow cards (Aces)):
The Sword of Nuadu (Air, East) - Function is dispeller of illusions, the Sword suit
The Spear of Lugh (Fire, South) - Function is challenger, the Spear suit
The Cauldron of the Dagda (Water, West) - Function is healing and plenty, the Grail suit
The Lia Fail (Earth, North) - Function is preserver of knowledge and guardian of tradition, the Stone suit
We will be going on a quest for each of these objects, travelling through the landscapes of the Lesser Powers. There are deliberately no people on them so we can enter as ourselves....
Lesson One:
Meditation - we will be required to enter the card we are studying through the black doorway on the card. Once we step within, the scene is not static but rather filled with other scenes, animals, characters etc which the doorway is hiding. We need to be alert and receptive, our clear perception and remembrance of subtle reality is important. Use the first images which come on entering a card. If interacting with a character, it may be silent verbal or symbolic. Accept the first gift you are given even if it seems extremely odd and unlikely/ silly and ask the giver for its significance and qualities. Be flexible and adaptable, go with what seems right rather than following the instructions to the letter.
Breathing - From the diaphragm, very deeply, so your stomach rises. Spend 2-3 mins before each meditation breathing in and out at least five times. Visualise your system being oxegenated on the in breath and worries and problems leaving you on the out breath.
Earthing and grounding - Make sure that you ground yourself after the meditation e.g. by reciting some ritual words (we get to do this in a later lesson), eating and drinking, making sure we perform mundane tasks with full attention and commitment.
Diary record - we need one. Ideas for entries:
date
time
moon phase
weather
meditation subject
report
card chosen today, and how it resonates with the day's events
reading
important events today
Tasks:
1. Look through the book. What preparations do you need to make? What changes to your routine? Take out the cards and shuffle, asking 'What is the most important factor in the course for me? Take 3 cards at random and note them in your diary along with expectations/ doubts/ questions on the course
2. Practise breathing and note how you feel
3. Choose one image to meditate on, or one of the speeches that preface each card description. Meditate for 10 mins. Record findings
4. Begin your diary record. Do Daily Companions Reading (either for today or tomorrow). NB: The deck does not use reversed meanings, so use cards upright. First sort the deck into 3 piles, Greater Powers, Court Cards and Lesser Powers:
Shuffle Lesser Powers: What experience will I learn from tomorrow/ today?
Shuffle Court Cards: Who will be my guide tomorrow/ today?
Shuffle Greater Powers: Who will be my teacher tomorrow/ today?
Pick one card from each pack to be your Tarot Companions, to find hidden life patrterns and understand them better.
And that's it for this week. (Phew!)
Aerin