3/16/20- 72 Degrees of Tarot: March Tarot Challange

What can the High Priestess card from the Major Arcana tell us about our intuition and how we can maximize its potential. All the very interesting insights are right here!

When I started to write this article, I realized I was having a hard time generalizing what I was coming up with for the previous Tarot Challenge. There's nothing wrong with the one I was using, it was just coming up with some very personal things. I've found another that I think will be very useful for everybody. And today is a doozy. It's a little different in that I'm not randomly pulling a card from the deck. We'll be looking at a specific card and gaining some insights about how we can listen to our intuition.

Here's the card :

The High Priestess was always one of my favorite cards out of the Major Arcana. There was just something so serene and peaceful about her that resonated with me.

As far as our intuitions are concerned, I think one of the first things we should consider is what she's holding.

1) Read and Study

Most figures, at least in the Major Arcana, are holding something, mostly instruments of power or status. Or they might have their hand upraised in a certain gesture or signal, symbolizing something. But not our High Priestess. No grandstanding, no status symbols, but she is holding something very powerful. She's holding a book.

If we want to be able to listen to our intuition, then we need to be open to what's going on. Sometimes we get the impression that if we just stare at our navels long enough, enlightenment will slap us in the face, but that isn't really the case. To be sure, we want to be in tune with ourselves (more on that later), but education and study are very important. Whether its a divination system, current events, psychology or even just people watching, we need to take in information and then subject it to analysis and introspection. If we want to be of value to others, we can't be a closed circuit.

2) Be aware of duality

The High Priestess is seated between two pillars, one black and one white. This kinda mirrors the seating arrangement of the Hierophant that we looked at last week. It always impressed me that the High Priestess was seated between two states. Good - Bad, Severity - Mercy, Pain - Pleasure, it didn't matter, pick one.

I think its always important to be aware of duality. That there are many ways of existing, of living your life. There are many choices to take at any given moment. We're not just on fixed courses beyond our control, but we have a myriad of options.

By being open to this, we become aware of the control that we do have over our lives. Our intuition will then kick in, as if to say, finally, you're open to consider your options and then it has the chance to gently nudge you to a certain direction or choice to make.

3) Stay humble and vulnerable

Directly after this card in numerical order in the Major Arcana, we'll see the Emperor, the Empress, the Hierophant, the Devil and others seated. And they will be on thrones, more or less, with decorations, embellishments and baroque much-ado.

But what does our High Priestess sit on? From what I can see, its just a short bench. I'm not sure it even has back support.

There's one sure-fire way to kill communication from your intuition and that's arrogance. Ivory towers don't suit people who want to broaden their intuitive abilities and be able to help people. No power trips, no bragging, no pronouncements from on high.

It's only from a humble position and spirit that we can hope to hear anything from our intuition. Always stay diligent to stay humble and the channel of communication will always be clear.

4) Be Mindful and present

If you've been reading my Tarot Posts, you'll know I pay attention to whether any figures in the picture are facing to the left (the past), the right (the future) or straight ahead (the present). And, no surprise, the High Priestess is facing forward.

By being in the present moment, you can notice what is going on around take action efficiently. There's a reason "mindfullness" is trending now and that's because people are beginning to realize that they've been on autopilot and just going through the motions as they go about their day. But, if we really don't take notice of our days, of our moments, our intuition won't have a chance to say anything about it.

Hold on! I'm about to give you the one secret to being a wonderful Tarot reader or even a generally more effective intuitive person.

Ready?

Pay Attention!

Most people look at these cards and just see the bare minimum. "I see a lady sitting down, holding something. So what?" We go through our lives on automatic and barely pay attention to what's really going on around us.

Being mindful and present allows us to be intune with not only is going on around us, but also inside us. Pay attention to your breathing, is it quick and shallow? Slow and deep? How are you walking? Are you rushing for no reason? Are you just glancing at things or are you really seeing?

It's an uphill battle, but practicing mindfulness and being present in the moment will help you in leaps and bounds to get you in touch with your intuition.

5) Be aware of phases and cycles

There is a crescent moon at the High Priestess' feet and I believe its there to remind us that there are cycles and phases to everything.

For those people who love walking, hiking, or just being outside, you are already aware of the phases that exist in the world. The cycles of the seasons, the phases of the moon. The life cycles of plants, flowers, trees and gardens ebb and flow.

Being in tune with nature certainly does help with being aware of the phases that exist, but even the daily journey of the sun tells us that almost everything exists on some sort of cycle. Things begin, they exist and then they end. And being aware of this will help your intuition to plug into what's going on, where you or the things in your life are at in this ever moving cycle and then let you know what you can expect in the future.

Thank you so much for reading! I'm really excited about this challenge and think we're going to learn a lot about our intuitive skills.

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Thank you again and I'll see you tomorrow.