Thursday 6 September 2012

Mantra and Tarot: Hermit, Wheel, Strength


Hermit: Ong namo guru dev namo 
'I bow to the teacher within.' This mantra is the opening to all kundalini yoga sets, as well as the closing prayer 'Sat nam' ('Truth is my name'). The Hermit is both the teacher within and perhaps an outer teacher. (Images in this post are from Cosmic Tarot).

Wheel of Fortune: Om haksa mala varayam soha
The mantra invokes Kalachakra, the Wheel of Time, a Tibetan shiva. The Wheel of Time is the last teaching of the Buddha before his death. The Kalachakra tradition revolves around cycles--from the planets to our breath, the wheel without beginning or end. The Wheel card has a similar meaning of constant change and flow, and the mystery of the interconnectedness of time and the universe.

Strength: Om sri rama, jaya rama, jaya jaya rama 
'Om to Rama, victory Rama, victory victory Rama'. Rama in this context is the divine self located within us all. Strength indicates the ability to face life with hope and eagerness, showing a person strong from within, experiencing life passionately yet peacefully. It is a complementary side to the Chariot card, Strength being the inner and Chariot being the outer self.

(Apologies for the formatting on this entry, Blogger has apparently decided to lose its mind today and I lack the patience to continue to work with it...)

2 comments:

  1. Anonymous7.9.12

    I absolutely love what you're doing here, matching mantras with Tarot cards. Love them. You even softened up the Emperor for me with the suggestions of "Om nama shivaya," one of my favorites.

    - Ari

    ReplyDelete
  2. Why thank you. :D

    ReplyDelete

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