Tackling the Tower

Where to even begin with this card, I feel like I should be writing this blog post from a basement lair with thunder clapping outside but alas today is a complete contrast with the sun shining and the birds singing. I suppose even on sunny days we can see The Tower looming in the background as a constant reminder that at any time everything we have worked for could fall to pieces- I know, I am a real ray of sunshine with that last statement. I don’t think I have ever done a reading for anyone ever where they looked happy to see this card; on the other hand, I also have people in my life who have come to expect the Tower as it loves to make an ongoing appearance in their lives- the Tarot does have a sense of humor after all. Personally, I have don’t connect with The Tower even though I connect with other darker cards in the deck, I can read the card, but I just don’t jive with it. I will do my best, because I love you dear readers, to explain this card.

As you can see above, we have two figures being forced out of their Tower by a bolt of lightning that is causing a fire. One figure looks to be falling on their head, forced out of the Tower, while the other person is clearly jumping out likely saying, “Aint nobody got time for this! FREEDOM!” or something of that nature. If you look closely, the person who refused to jump is going to land on some jagged rocks with no blessings (the little yellow orbs) while our jumper is going to land on a nice fluffy cloud and they are surrounded by blessings. The moral of this little story is that if you think you are in a situation you can’t get out of- you are never stuck, you can always find a way out. I know, easier said than done, but it can be done, it just takes a lot of work and some BIG lady or man balls to do so. I always try to tell my clients that if they find themselves in a situation where they feel like they are putting too much effort into a relationship, project, friendship etc. it might be time to jump out of that tower. If this card comes up, whatever it is that has been eating up all of your time and energy is going to come falling down anyways, so why stick it out and fall with the rubble? The blessing that I see in this card is that often once we learn the lesson of the Tower we do not need to revisit it and know for the future when to let things go or when to move on.

The Tower, has a way to ripping our blinders off and making us see the situation for what it truly is. Sometimes this card is a hard pill to swallow, it can come up at the worst of times, especially if you find yourself trying to see the positive in a truly negative situation. I did a reading once for a lady who had her own business. The business wasn’t doing too good and she was wondering if she should keep putting money into it or if it would be better to move on. When I turned this card over, I knew immediately her answer was to move on, it was difficult for me to deliver this message, but it is important none-the-less if you are reading the cards to be honest regarding their messages. After spending some time going over her options, she decided that it was indeed time to move on- opting to be our jumping friend instead of our person who waits for everything to crumble. I understand it can be brutal seeing this card, but I do believe in the end, it has your best interests in mind- or if nothing else, it might scare you into doing what is right or at least give you a heads up for what could come in it’s wake.

Keywords when thinking about The Tower are: endings, change, everything falling apart- eek, expecting the worst, get out while you can!

Getting to know The Tower

Get out your journal or a notebook and think about The Tower. What impressions do you get from this card? What do you think caused each of the figures in this card to either take action or not take any actions? What outcome do you see for these two people?

To better get to know yourself through this card, make a list of the projects, tasks or even people who are eating up all of your time and try to decide what or who you can cross off your list. Do you have a Tower that is going to crumble in your life? What can you do to start distancing yourself from your life’s Tower? How do you think your life would improve if you demolished your Tower before it could demolish you?

Wow… I feel like a Debbie Downer after that post! Jeeze! Remember, if you see this card in a reading it is likely a heads up or a lesson you have already learnt, nothing is static in our lives and our fates are always changing, sometimes it just takes a big ol’ strike of lightning to get our asses in gear!

Until next time dear readers, all my love!

Dealing with Devils

The Devil XV

Warning- this is going to be a long post, I can feel it now before the words have even been written, so grab a drink, a comfy place to sit and let’s talk, it’s been a while and we have some catching up to do.

To anyone out there in the vast web of the internet, who enjoyed reading my posts, my apologies to you dear reader for my disappearance. I have always been a believer in being honest and open about my life, so I am going to begin this post with a little explanation for my disappearance from this humble Tarot blog.

It’s really funny you know, back in the Spring when I made my last post, I had so many plans. Plans for this blog, plans for my career (both my day job as well as Tarot), and it all went straight to Hell- which just so happens to be the most perfect word for this post. I went through a harassment ordeal at an old work place, which just so happened to be a counseling service to help people cope with the same issues I was being harassed with there. Due to what happened, I completely lost control of my depression. I spent my summer months navigating the treacherous waters of my mental health. I left the job and decided to take the month of August off from both working full time and my beloved Tarot. I needed to unwind, unplug and re-energize. With the support of my husband, I went to see my doctor and finally found a medication that would help me with my depression. Please if you are reading this and suffer from mental health issues, please do not be afraid to reach out for help. It is nothing to be ashamed of and IT IS NOT YOUR FAULT. It has been six months since I saw the doctor and enough time has passed between now and when I worked there, that I feel healed/mentally balanced and back to my usual Tarot loving Goddess-self (yes, I am tooting my own horn- Toot-Toot!)

There have been so many positive changes that have also took place during the time of my disappearance: I have reconnected with my witchy sister Jenn; Paul and I had an amazing vacation to Prince Edward Island and I now have a day job that I love. I had a very busy Fall and Winter filled with many Tarot adventures. I have been working hard growing the “Tarot with Tasha” Facebook group and it is awesome to get to connect with so many wonderful people on a daily basis. I have had the pleasure of meeting some truly wonderful people over the past few months since the last post and have had many chances to use the power of Tarot to help heal and transform the lives of others. I think that the Tarot has also had a BIG impact on my own personal well being too. Our lives are filled with so many highs and lows and I am happy to finally be on an upswing. Now that I have bored you with my personal life, let’s talk about the man of the hour, The Devil. Que Spooky Music

The Devil card is one of my favourite cards in the deck, which should come as no surprise to anyone who knows me. This card can be both concerning and a breath of fresh air (sulfur air?) depending on the nature of the reading. Traditionally, this card can indicate temptations and addictions or a need for selfishness. On the Rider Waite Smith card, there are two people shown chained to the Devil, to me they represent being chained to your addictions. There is a fine line between indulgence and over-indulgence. This card can come up when someone is trying to recover from addiction and may be feeling a relapse. In a love reading our horned furry friend can indicate codependency issues. Another example with this card in a love reading is that it can indicate unfaithfulness and temptation. There are other times when The Devil shows up to offer a positive message as well. In the love reading where infidelity is a non issue he could be making an appearance to advise you to start spicing up your sex life. If your client is getting a health reading, Old Nick might be showing up to urge them to think about themselves by putting their needs first. We are often taught that if you only think about yourself it is selfish behavior, which in my opinion is bullshit- sometimes we NEED to put ourselves first and that’s the bottom line. The Devil might be urging you to make what YOU want for supper, or to go out and spend that last $10 on yourself instead of your kids etc. He wants you to be a little bad and have some fun. Of course, everything needs to be in moderation, when you find yourself taking advice from The Devil, it’s important to remember there is nothing wrong with having some fun, but you must be cautious with that fun! When you see this card in a reading, try to keep an open mind. There is nothing wrong with flirting with the darkness from time to time.

Devilish Activities

In order to get to know The Devil card a little better, I would recommend taking one day out of your busy week or month and just do something for yourself. Be a little bad- again moderation. If you enjoy wine, have a glass; if you have been craving a certain type of food that everyone else in your house doesn’t like- make it anyways! Put yourself first. Be your number one, even if for a couple of hours.

To understand more about the temptation aspect of the card think about what temptations or addictions you are currently dealing with. What are some temptations you would like to remove from your life? My list would include midnight snacks as well as a million other things. Once you have your list written down, make a promise to yourself on how you are going to try to stop allowing temptation into your life. Then light that list of tempting things on fire to symbolically give yourself a fresh slate. Plus fire is FUN and The Devil really can be a fun card if you keep that fabulous mind open.

As my favourite singer of all time Dax Riggs once said, “Have mercy on the Devil, he’s a friend of mine.”

Until we talk again many blessings to you dear reader!