For wonderous news about Tarot in general and this week about the Fifth Tarot go to http://www.desertoracle.net/

Response from The website by Asher

 

.1. Tell me about yourself. What is your most important characteristic?

 

 

5 of Stones

 

5 of Stones/Attunement – An angelic silhouette is receiving spiritual connection to its crown, third eye and heart chakras. Fives augur change and the keyword ‘attunement’ suggests that the deck’s most important characteristic will be to help me attune and connect to my higher self and higher purpose. I will certainly change and grow as a result of using this deck!

 

2. What are your strengths as a deck?

 

 

10 of Lotus

 

10 of Lotus/Enlightenment – A card from the 5th suit of Ether suggests that this deck will help me awaken to my highest potential. A lotus with a pearl at its center floats beneath a golden flower of light. My own light will shine forth if I focus on the messages of wisdom in the deck. The deck’s strength is to help me open up to the wisdom in its messages.

 

3. What are your limits as a deck?

 

 

Initiate of Stones

 

Initiate of Stones – A figure sits in lotus position inside an enormous cave. S/he glows from within, as s/he connects to the deepest aspects of self & of the earth. As a limitation, the deck may call me to meditation and solitude, which may result in my turning inward, paying scant attention to the mundane world. It may also ask me to look deeper into myself than I have ever done, which is a bit nerve-wracking, not knowing what I might uncover. Also, at first glance, the figure appears to be sitting inside a large mouth, which suggests the deck may not speak to me overtly, but will ask me to sit still and just listen.

 

4. What do you bring to the table — what are you here to teach me?

 

 

Tower

 

Tower – We see a figure in a 3-sided crystal standing inside the tower, as the walls crumble while the lightning strikes. Stars are visible in the holes in the walls, as unwanted structures crumble and fall. The lesson of this deck is to stand firm as I undergo change and upheaval. I need to learn to let old attitudes and ideas that are no longer useful fall away, while remaining strong and grow and develop into a more enlightened being. With the Tower in this position, this deck will be very blunt and honest with me, and not sugar-coat its messages. It will make sure I undergo the necessary changes in order to grow.

 

5. How can I best learn from and collaborate with you?

 

 

8 of Feathers

8 of Feathers/Focus – This is the card I pulled at the author’s lecture during the experiential part of the evening. Its message then and now is to keep in focus, to be in the moment, and not to become distracted. The flicker looks to the future, seeking to connect with the spiritual wisdom of the 8 feathers hanging in the purple sky. If I just focus and attend to the signs and symbols around me, I will be able to access the messages I need to receive.

 

6. What is the potential outcome of our working relationship?

 

 

Alchemy

 

Alchemy – This card also appeared in last night’s reading experience. Alchemy is the art of transforming one thing into another, such as changing lead into gold. Working with this deck and blending my energies with it will transform me. Sagittarius’ arrow of truth appears in the card, pointing from the earth to the universe, calling me to look beyond myself & my surroundings to discover higher Truths.

This is a very exciting reading! I am thrilled to begin to work with this deck, and look forward to the growth and changes it has in store for me.

 

Information

Last night, I went to a lecture/demonstration at a local metaphysical bookstore to see Teressena and Martien Bakens, the creators of a new deck called the Fifth Tarot. The new deck is quite amazing! It has added a fifth suit, representing ether, bringing the total number of cards to 92. The set includes the deck and a 350 page book. The authors were inspired by dreams and meditations to create the deck.

A large black and white illustration of each card is included in the book, along with a description of the imagery and symbolism, divinatory meanings, and a section called Applications, which offers activities to do to incorporate the card energies into our lives.

The suit names reflect elements of nature: Fire, Stones, Feathers, Shells and Lotus flowers for the new suit of ether. According to the book, “The fifth suit specifically addresses the higher vibrational gifts emerging with the shift of energy occurring through…our awakening as multi-dimensional beings.” The Court cards are Seeker, Initiate, Apprentice and Elementor.

The cards measure 3.5 x 5 inches, with a thin white border. Within the border of the Majors is the name of the card, the astrological glyph (the deck uses the Golden Dawn astrological attributions), a Star symbol representing the Universal and Spiritual Laws of the Universe, a Mayan glyph, and a sacred symbol of MU. These are all explained in an appendix in the book. The Minors include the name of the card and a keyword.

I am very excited about working with this beautiful deck and will soon be doing a New Deck Interview spread. I will be using this deck for my year-long PDR (Primary Deck Reflections) project on Aeclectic Tarot. It’s not formal study, but experimentation, play and reflection. It’s going to be an incredible journey.