Fusing Tarot and the Body by Miriam Jacobs

Fusing Tarot and the Body

By Miriam Jacobs

Tarot can give us tremendous insight, clarity and affirmation about what we already know. Polarity Therapy is a holistic integrative healing art that balances life energy in the body. It addresses 4 components: bodywork, exercise, nutrition, and communication skills. Both Polarity and Tarot are processes that provide meaning and direction to one's life. When fused by astrological and chakra references, together they bring about a profoundly deep healing – both physical and even emotional. 

 

Polarity Therapy is based on the 5 universal elements, as is the Tarot. The connection to the first 4 are traditionally;

Air - Swords

Fire- Wands

Water - Cups

Earth - Pentacles

The 5^th representing Ether is the Major Arcana which I’ve taken poetic license with. When I laid out the chart below I was blown away by even more connections. All 2,3 & 4s astrologically were cardinal signs, all 5,6 & 7s were fixed, and all 8,9 & 10s were mutable, perfectly aligned with Polarity’s suggested type of touch. 

The Cards chosen may tell us where to contact the body and what type of touch to use, and a suggested practice to balance and integrate the lessons of the Tarot. Incorporate whatever practice from a particular card(s) that you are drawn to into your daily mindful practice.

Major Arcana cards have meditative practices. Minor Arcana cards have yoga-like exercises and Court cards have art practices.

 

Examples: 

 

Empress III

Astrological:Taurus – fixed Earth Anatomy:neck

Touch:light and off the body

Practice:Breathe into your heart. Feel love for Mother Nature.

Eight of Wands/Fire

Astrological:Sagittarius - mutable fire Anatomy:thighs

Touch:deep and dispersing

Practice:Creates action - Bend your knees and slightly pitch forward at the hips. With your palms on the top of your thighs, sweep your palms downward towards your knees. Make a loud fiery “RAM” sound.

Queen of Air

Astrological: all Air signs Anatomy:shoulders, kidneys, ankles

Touch: all

Practice: Dance in free form or with flowing scarves.

"I have been reading Tarot cards for over twenty-five years. Since I found them so effective in making decisions that I began to include Tarot in my bodywork sessions. The brief readings help affirm my clients' experiences, differentiating and integrating their thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations. I realized there was a more expansive and expressive way to use the Tarot. This inspired me to create a unique and comprehensive deck. The images are digital collages. I found inspiration for the images included in the Polarity Wellness Tarot everywhere: in nature, in sculpture, in yard sales and junk shops."

Miriam Jacobs, IPE, CMT, BFAis the creator of the first somatic Tarot deck Polarity Wellness Tarot that provides a Tarot-body connection. Her book on Tarot and the Chakras, with Schiffer Publishing LTD. is due out in 2014.

After a successful career as a visual artist Miriam found herself drawn to the healing arts and began her formal studies in 1989. She trained at the Polarity Wellness Network in New York City and was certified by American Polarity Therapy Association. She received certification in Swedish Esalen massage from the McKinnon Institute in 1996.

Miriam helps people to change through bodywork sessions and Tarot card readings. At times she combines them. Her practice is in California’s San Francisco Bay Area. She is also available for workshops, Tarot parties and over the phone readings.

Miriam Jacobs Oakland, CA, USA
©2013 copyright ~All Rights Reserved 
 

http://polaritywellness.com http://www.facebook.com/PolarityTarot

mimi@polaritywellness.com

Alchemy - The Once and Future Science by Tom Waters

Al-Khemi is Arabic for the black land and was a reference to the fertile soils in Egypt, a location where the art can be traced back historically with archeological evidence. This lineage historically dates back to ancient Egypt roughly 7,000 years ago. The tradition was carried on in secret for a variety of reasons over the ages, most notably by the Rosicrucian brotherhood, or the Fraternal Order of the Rose Croix.

In our modern times it has been referred to as the once and future science by Dr. Albert Reidel (1911–1984) who came to Salt Lake City Utah in the 1930’s to escape the war that was brewing in Germany. In the 1970’s he founded the Paracelsus Research Society. His approach was consistent with Paracelsus who determined the three essentials of matter which are: salt, sulphur, and mercury. These are really code words for energies that are contained within all matter and are not actually table salt and the mineral sulphur or the metallic mercury. Dr Reidel taught that all matter contains a soul (sulphur), a body (salt) and a spirit (mercury) and this can be proven with laboratory exercises.

 Alchemy also teaches us through observation about the aetheric energies associated with earth, air, wind, and fire. When these four elements are in balance a fifth element or quintessence is created."

Dr. Reidel was a pioneer in the hermetic philosophy and the esoteric practice called Alchemy, which is an advanced system of “vibrational” medicine based on correspondences with plants, metals, planets, and organs. These medicines act like tuning forks, and when applied to the body they instigate the organs to operate optimally, removing any blockages, and disease.

The user will experience some discomfort during the process, especially if they have a net deficit of the life force energy, or Quintessence, or if they have blockages. According to the book “Real Alchemy” (page 61) by Robert Bartlett who was a student of Dr. Reidel …”This is the Divine Spark hidden in all things, the reflection of Celestial Fire.  … it is the most purified and fixed part of a matter, formed by the perfect balance of the Four Elements. This harmony between opposing forces of the Elements, brings forth a whole new and exalted state, the Fifth Element or Quintessence. Its action is digestive and maturing. It drives the transpiration and subtilization of the elements upward to regenerate fire.     
 

We can magnify the effects when we coordinate these influences. There are many similarities with the Ayurvedic tradition, and the products that we produce with alchemy can be used in conjunction with the advice of a licensed ayurvedic physician.

Sir Isaac Newton, Paracelsus, John Dees, and Sir Frances Bacon were just a handful of the people that practiced alchemy over the past centuries. There is a pre ponderous of evidence in the historic texts if one cares to research the matter further.

With the advent of quantum physics we are finding that much of what the alchemists knew are finally being proven with scientific methodology and modern instrumentation.

Tom Waters is currently working on several projects including a company www.hydrosolllc.com that produces premium agriculture supplements and soil enhancements which combine the best of modern chemistry and the ancient art of alchemy along with the cutting edge technology of ormus. Another company www.solunalab.com is a formulary which created a powerful nutrient solution for agriculture called tears of isis. www.isisnutrients.com He also operates a website https://thesecretfire.orgwhere you can purchase real tinctures made in the alchemical tradition. Even though they are analyzed and show nothing toxic, according to FDA regulations they are not intended for internal use.

A portion of the proceeds will go to establishing a healing center and retreat for people to learn about the basics of health as well as the application of alchemy to a variety of systems. Tom can be reached at tom@thesecretfire.org, or 714.926.7051.

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