From the Fool through the Emperor…
I’ve been thinking about all of the different people who have influenced me in my personal tarot journey – my own Fool’s Journey if you will, and realized how I have drawn from them to develop my own style of reading. From my first step off the cliff of the Fool, as a teenager (yes, it was long ago and far away), so many wonderful tarot icons have imprinted a bit of themselves into my soul, broadening my knowledge of the tarot and helping me to blossom as a reader. I invite you to join me on me own personal Fool’s journey as I pay tribute to those influences that I honor as a tarot professional!
THE FOOL – Me, of course! Need I say anything more than I just did? I thik not.
THE MAGICIAN – The ultimate provider and master of tools for life… I proclaim James Wanless of the Voyager Tarot to be my Magician as this was the second deck I owned and its collage of images fascinated me from the moment I saw it. The expansive array of symbols allow for such broad interpretations and I have found many creative ways to use the Voyager Tarot to supplement readings. James himself is so charismatic and magnetic – when you meet him you can’t help being mesmerized and motivated!
THE HIGH PRIESTESS – Serene, glowing, mysterious, filled with inner knowledge. Mary K Greer is the ultimate High Priestess. Through her books and through classes at Omega and Readers Studio, Mary has inspired me to seek and honor my inner knowledge of people and the tarot and to infuse that “knowing” into my readings. Mary is a true midwife of the tarot and midwife of the soul! When you are lucky enough to work with her you undergo a birthing process as she helps you to frist grow and then deliver the knowledge of the tarot!
THE EMPRESS AND THE EMPEROR – Ruth Ann and Wald Amberstone of The Tarot School and Readers Studio are cornerstones of the tarot community. When I first found out about the Readers Studio in 2008 I was afraid that I was not “qualified” to attend. I had not read professionally and I did not know anyone who did. Lucky for me I decided to embrace my inner Knight and ride my horse into the Studio. I studied like a good little Page and embraced the lessons taught by the Amberstones. I was nurtured and encouraged to grow in my tarot practice and to then stand tall and move out beyond the confines of my own living room. Ruth Ann and Wald introduced me to the Kingdom of Tarot and welcomed me into the tarot family.
So who are your personal Major Arcana influences and why? The words I share here are few and can no way offer the level of tribute that these icons of tarot deserve. Please click on the hyperlinks embeddein in their names to check out their sites! And then… Join me in Part Two of This Fool’s Journey when I introduce you to my Hierophant through the Hermit!
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What fabulous representatives! Except that Fool! I would say you are Strength!
I would add Rachel Pollack as my Hermit…the study of the deep through her quiet wisdom. Robert Place is the Hierophant, with so much wisdom about the structure of alchemy, history, and other wonderful symbolic systems.
Thanks Donnaleigh! For this journey I am happy to play the Fool! Be sure to keep an eye out for where YOU fall in my Major Arcana! I hope others offer their thoughts on who their influences are. I have Rachel and Robert both within my journey, but at different places. Yet your reasons for placing them with the Hermit and the Hierophant make wonderful sense as well! Truly every one of the influences I have chosen are multi-faceted individuals and I could “explain” them into almost any card!
Hi Karen!
What a brilliant idea! I love it! Your site is looking good, btw.
Blessings!
Theresa
Thank you so much Theresa! Working hard at it with a little help from my friends (smile)! Keep an eye out for where you fall in my influences! I am so happy that our paths have crossed in such a delightful way!
What an inspiring activity, Karen! I must go through the Majors and assign people to them who have influenced my life, work, spirituality, and so forth. Thank you for this.
Thank you James. It really was fun to do this and to really recognize and honor what I have gained from so many people in such a short time. You embody so many traits that I aspire to and are one of my influences so keep in touch!
Excellent Blog !!!! Thanks for your info
Thank you so much for reading and your comment.
What a great post, Karen! As I try to ponder who has influenced my Tarot journey and who might represent them among the Majors, I’m surprised to realized that none of the people are actually Tarot authors or anyone “in” Tarot!
That is what is so great about the concept – it is YOUR personal Fool’s Journey, no rules attached! I think I will ride with your process and go through the Majors again and this time pay tribute to my non-Tarot Tarot influences and send them a card and note to thank them! Thanks for sharing!
Excellent subject I could not of thougth off that !
Thank you! I would not sa you could not have thougt of the proces, just that you did not as yet! Happy journeying!
Wirklich Nett! i like it! Wo ist denn der Facebook-Like-Button?
Danke! Wish I remembered more of my German to respond in same, but the button is at the top of the page on the right!