Tarot and the Sacred Feminine

I ran across the "The Da Vinci Code" by Dan Brown shortly after it was published strictly by chance. A friend let me borrow it and I consumed it in two days. Depending on who and what you are, Mr. Brown either opened a can of very wriggly worms or opened a very large window with a great view. The concept of the "Sacred Feminine" has been a reality for centuries but Mr. Brown has brought the concept out of academia into the mainstream and I for one couldn't be happier.

I am currently reading "The Woman with the Alabaster Jar" by Margaret Starbird. I am truly impressed with Ms. Starbird's book. From the very beginning of the book she is honest regarding the fact that the conclusions she draws are a result of her interpretation of the massive amount of research that she and others have done over the years. She makes no claims that her words are the one and only truth, just that the information available points her to draw her conclusions. It is fascinating.

The amount of evidence concerning Mary Magdalene, her possible marriage to Jesus of Nazareth and the possibility that the Magdalene could indeed be the Holy Grail is mountainous. The evidence that the Church tried to destroy the "Sacred Feminine" is just as large. The details that she puts forth ranges from very small facts to very large, historical events which she then ties together in a smooth, coherent manner to support her conclusions. I am a person whose great love is mysteries of all types and Ms. Starbird feeds right into my thought processes.

One chapter of her book set off bells ringing for me. I read Tarot cards and have, from a young age been fascinated with playing cards. My studies on Tarot indicated that cards which evolved into modern day Tarot first appeared in Egypt and eventually traveled the world. The cards are divided into the Minor Arcana and the Major Arcana. The Minor Arcana are the four suits and the face cards (also called Court Cards), much like the playing card decks we use today. The Major Arcana (sometimes called the Trumps) are the cards that represent, simply put, Life's Journey or as I call them, the serious information cards. Tarot today is a divinatory tool to be interpreted by the reader based on the artwork and symbology of the cards. Tarot card meanings may be based in Celtic myths, Greek myths, Angels and many other main topics. There is a wide variety available and readers and soon to be readers are encouraged to look at many decks and choose the artwork that "speaks" to them on a higher level.

Ms. Starbird has given me a new and exciting slant on Tarot. She has found a deck of cards that dates back to the 1400's often called the Charles VI deck. The artwork and symbols on this deck appear to have been the means to pass along the history of the Grail. Ms. Starbird gives many examples, almost card for card, of the meanings that accomplished this feat. In my limited space I will give one example. The third card in the Charles VI deck is called the Female Pope. This card represents the women who were descendants of Jesus' bloodline. These women were strong, independent woman, many of whom were land owners and important members of government in their region. My deck of choice is called the Celtic Tarot. The third card of my deck is the High Priestess. The representation of this card is that she is a source of inspiration and represents the truth behind light and darkness. (A small footnote. The Female Pope card was one of several cards of this deck that were outlawed by the Church. Not the entire deck just a few of the cards.)

This article has covered only one small bit of the amazing amount of information that can be linked with the "Sacred Feminine." It is my hope that each and every one of the people reading this article will pick up one book on this fascinating topic and see where it might lead you. Good hunting and safe travels.