For an overview of and foundation for this series, see HERE There has been a lot of focus on the self. This journey has required a lot of work on our part, what with all the self-mastery, making decisions, and living our own truths. You would think that the purpose of all this work would be to create a good and easy life. If we do all the right things, then things should go well for us, right? Hmmmm. The challenge of this row is Justice, to always do the right thing, to always be just, to always live in a way that reflects your code of ethics. That shouldn’t be so hard, right? They are your beliefs, you picked them, so it should be a piece of cake. But life isn’t a cakewalk.

For an overview of and foundation for this series, see HERE The second row shows the questioning of everything learned in the first row and the inward search for self. Modern psychology really comes into play here, as we confront the illusions of ego, defensiveness, and rigid habits of the past. The first two cards, describing the basic issue of this row, are Strength and the Hermit. Like the High Priestess and the Magician, these cards represent opposite sides. Strength is about self-mastery, self-control, knowing when to rein yourself in. The Hermit is about living your own truth. Both deal with inner searching as well. With Strength, we examine and heal our shadows, integrating

For an overview of and foundation for this series, see HERE Part 2 HERE Part 3 HERE If you have successfully met the test or challenge of the Emperor, you will experience the Lovers, in both its traditional and modern forms. Traditionally, the Lovers is about choices. If you have been successful in integrating your inner and outer selves and your private and public selves, then you have made choices. You cannot successfully complete this row without making choices. The Lovers is also about passion and about choosing (choices again!) or doing things that you know in your heart to be right. So, skating through school or learning to pass through society under the wire may get you

For an overview of and foundation for this series, see HERE Part 2 is HERE In this article, we look at the main test or challenge of the first row, which is represented by The Emperor. The flanking cards, The Empress and The Hierophant, show the energies the create or intensify the challenge. Many people think of the Emperor and the Empress as a pair, representing opposing forces or opposite sides of the same coin, so it is confusing why in this case the Emperor stands alone as the crux of the challenge and the Empress is essentially “paired” with the Hierophant. The basic issue of the row is how you relate to and experience the world, which is shaped (in childhood) by home