Comparative Tarot

Liberty (Judgement) shows us a figure soaring up into the sky. The figure is nude but encased in a rainbow chrysalis. Beneath the figure are others emerging from within the earth. Still others dance in the moonlight. Winged creatures watch from the sky overhead; some standing and some leaning over the clouds to watch the goings on below. In the frame of the card rests an open book, its message visible for all to see.

The Book says: Although this card is sometimes associated with the concept of Last Judgement after physical death, its meaning for Blake is quite different. Judgement, or human liberation, occurs whenever error is eliminated and this can happen at any time, individually and societally. For Blake, liberty must precede the ability to choose; with the ascension of Liberty, man is finally free to determine his own thoughts and actions.

Keywords: A calling, awakening to freedom, rebirth, metamorphosis, judgement of oneself and others, being judged, change of state, rite of passage, the urge to merge.

Bee's Buzz: Like a butterfly emerging from its cocoon, the figure soaring in air is emerging, transformed, from its time in the darkness. It is radiant and glorious, drawing the eyes of both the angels and those in the Underworld. All gaze in wonder at this beautiful transformed being. They celebrate its change. And the being has the pleasure of knowing it is closer to its soul truth, truer to itself. And this knowledge is the source of its radiance. I would imagine this is the feeling experienced by someone who has lost a significant amount of weight loss or plastic surgery. Afterwards the person feels transformed and reborn. But perhaps the true key to this card is finding ways to achieve this feeling in our lives that don't require these types of radical external change (not that they can't be part of it but perhaps they shouldn't be seen as the only solution).

This card reminds me of a Twilight Zone episode (well two actually) about plastic surgery. One is about a woman (who we only see wrapped in bandages) whose voice pleads with the shadowy doctors to tell her she's "better" now. When her face is revealed we see a beautiful woman surrounded by pig faced doctors. She is the freak in this world. And we can only hope she finds true happiness by moving with the others who are similarly cursed. The other is about a young girl entering puberty who is resistant to undergoing radical plastic surgery which would completely transform her body. Her mother, doctor and best friend pressure her into having the surgery so she'll fit in an be like everyone else. The young girl offers intellectual arguments for staying true to herself. But in the end she gives in and has the surgery. At the end we see her amazingly happy because she looks exactly like her best friend.

In both instances we are offered the idea that radical, invasive changes in our body will provide happiness. But how often have we seen people have various types of plastic surgery and they are just as miserable afterwards as they were before. There is a show on TV called Extreme Makeover which offers the promise of plastic surgery and other techniques to bring happiness into someone's life. Now some of these people really just need to make some lifestyle changes and maybe a new hairstyle - not a facelift and tummy tuck. But they are convinced the surgery will make them beautiful and happy. I'd be curious to see how their lives are in a year. Were there any major changes? Or was the transformation temporary? It seems to me that if we continue with the same mindset we will end up with the same result. The change shown in this card come from within ourselves, not from external sources. And anyone can achieve them if they allow themselves to do so.

Bees Blessings
Debbie