In this lesson we consider karmic possibilities in our numbers and Tarot cards.

As written above, all numbers and Tarot cards have karmic implications via their positive and negative possibilities.

Some numbers and Tarot cards have attributes or pictures that make it easy to see these Karmic possibilities in them. 3, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 18, 20, 21, 22, 30, 40, 63 and 64 and 87, 88 and 89 are some of the more obvious and have a strong karmic bent. If we add the Qabalah's attributions to the Tarot cards and their numbers, they bring out their karmic aspects more clearly; 10 and 11 are two such cards. Key10 represents Cosmic Laws; Key11, Man-made Laws. These Keys signify God (10) and Man’s Works (11). Hence, good and bad Karma grow from the consequences of God and Man’s Works. 2011 has 11 in it so everyone is being held accountable for past good and bad deeds whether globally, racially, familially or individually.

To help take the 'sting' out of the concept of Karma,  it is best to perceive it as“testing, correcting, proving or teaching” rather than labelling it as completely negative and being fearful of it. If we perceive our Karma in a 'helpful' light .... that we learn our best lessons from our worst expeiences .... we focus our attention on finding ways of overcoming our difficulties instead of morbidly focussing on  them, which only magnifies them and creates 'monsters in the dark'. Thinking that Karma is our 'fate' or our 'lot' dis-empowers us and renders us helpless.  We need to nurture the understanding that our problems, challenges and obstacles represent all kinds of growth and development that evolves us. If we don't and choose to use our woes as crutches or excuses to remain stuck, then that's what we remain - STUCK - we do a terrible thing to ourselves - we arrest our development.

BUT. If we see that our tests or challenges have a purpose; that they contain self-instructive potential, then this potential serves to initiate self-enlightening, self-empowering processes. Such inner Light and inner Strength usually dawns from recognising the causes, desires or intent that generate mental, emotional, physical and material pain and suffering. Once the "Aha" moment or insight is experienced, efforts to restore balance, happiness and well-being can begin. However, this requires ACTION and elements of discipline, courage, sacrifice, surrender and letting go. They are part of the “self-revelatory, self-evaluation, self-correction process” we must pass through to restore our sense of peace and equilibrium. The self-instructional part is the actual point of the lesson (pain). It challenges us to correct where things have gone out of kilter to restore balance and harmony both within and without.

It requires an attitudinal change to be able to see that the promise of growth and self-betterment lie behind unpleasant experiences. As simple as this might sound, it helps to alleviate holding on to a pessimistic view of them. Holding on to a pessimistic view only feeds negativity. It does nothing to dispel pain and suffering, just the opposite. So the antidote is to find the positive in the negative as well as create positive strategies that transmutes negativity as well as support happiness and success.

A change in attitude helps us to see things in a different light. No better Tarot card than the Hanged Man represents that. It is a great card to ponder or meditate on to find new ways and new eyes to view our worlds and our circumstances in a different Light or from a different angle. If we can perceive the apprehension, discomfort and anxiety inherent in our lives as presenting learning experiences from which self-awareness and self-empowerment develops, then we are on our way to being bigger than our problems. If we look for the gifts and the lessons in all negative experiences we begin to break negative cycles and habits and replace them with those that reinforce well-being. Then we begin to accrue good Karma. If an attitudinal change followed by right actions that take us towards rewards rather than punishments is consistently applied, then logically, the amount of bad Karma taken from this life and into the next must lessen and the good, increase.

Cultivating and nurturing this perspective helps to remove a sense of helplessness and ill-conceived notions attached to Karma. It also quells the belief that we do not have the power to change our destiny for the better. If a number or Key’s negative qualities are reflecting personal faults and flaws, they provide a "to-do-list" that brings our attention to what needs to be worked on and corrected instead of accepting them as our “lot” or “fate” or “destiny” and very likely becoming apathetic about dealing with them. Karma can be modified any moment when conscious action is taken to exchange self-negating thoughts, habits and reactive behaviours for those that promote right actions.

I mentioned Key3, The Empress, in the “Karmic” list of numbers above. Who would guess that the Empress Key would represent Karma unless one notices the bountiful harvest at her feet? It is then that the association to sowing and reaping dawns; one must sow one’s seeds in order to grow one’s crops. The harvest is the product of what one sows as well as one’s labours. These concepts imply Cause and Effect ... Karma. Is that the message to see in Key 3, The Empress and the 4 of Wands Key? Do these Tarot cards hold the Keys to the kinds of fruits we harvest? The World Tarot card (21) depicts what we can ultimately achieve - the Personality liberated from Karma when we get things right!

With all the pain and suffering that is going on in the world right now, one cannot help but think that world, racial, family and individual Karma is well and truly at work. We are obviously being held accountable for our past and present actions and so far it has been far from pleasant for many. 2011 provides us with a wonderful oppoprtunity to clear some of our Karma. One major clue to this is in year 11 that makes up part of 2011's numbers. Take out its Tarot card and look up its meanings to see why. 2011's numbers have unique characteristics if time is taken to analyse them in-depth.

Maybe more on 2011 next time ? Hmmm

In Light and Love,

Louise