The story

I want to talk about the story, the stories we tell ourselves, that we construct, those we love hearing, and the stories we create when we read the cards. This is not a new idea, many have mentioned the wonder of storytelling to be had with the cards. Reading tarot is a way for us to tell ourselves stories, to create new stories, and to look back at past stories. Through this creation we are able to refine our self, address areas of concern within our lives, we are able to gain enlightenment as we grow spiritually through the story, as we learn.

There is something very magical about stories. Julio Cortázar, an Argentine writer, spoke about how photographs function as a revelatory image. A story told through the world of the image allows the viewer to contextualize, open up, what is left unsaid. Frequently,  we wander around with vague ideas about the big concepts of life, love, being, the self, belief, hate, wisdom, knowledge, etc. The moment in which we look at an image or a story at the right time, there is a revelation, we are able to see, truly see what is before us and within us. This moment of revelation is also the function of stories, hence their importance. Stories help us give voice and put words to the unknowable, to the silence.

When we read the cards, we are in fact creating stories, whether for ourselves or for others. These stories help us put images and words to vague concepts and ideas that beforehand remained somewhat elusive to our grasp. When we are able to create a story we can look at what lies before us objectively, from different angles. In this way, we gain insight into our self, into what lies beneath, our unconscious. When we read for others we help them see the story from another angle as well, we help them gain insight, direction and advice.

Storytelling is as old as time, well I am not getting into the logistics of telling stories, the history and what not. What I mean to say is that it is an ancient art that has been vivifying the experience of human-ness for aeons. The paintings of Lascaux tell a story, for example, for ages we have been passing down stories orally, and with them beliefs, ideas, concepts about life and being.

Thinking on this I decided to ask the cards, “What story do I tell myself, that I need to look at more closely?”

Remaining still to germinate an idea into fruition will breed results. This is a reminder that while there is a time for stillness and contemplation, too much turns into hesitation, which transforms into doubt and then leads to fear. All this encased within the shell of inaction. In order to “make something happen” actions are needed, this is true in life an in magic. In order to achieve the perfect balance of the two cups, one must act, one must do, and one must dare.