Key to Tarot Symbolism
This is a glossary of symbols and term used in the Halo/Sharp tarot system. Familiarizing yourself with the meaning of key symbols used in the tarot deck will help ensure proper interpretation and absorption of tarot archetypes. An important note, always make “right interpretation” your goal. Despite what a lot of people have said over the years, it is not OK to “put your own spin” on things. Having a perspective is OK, but if your concern is awakening and empowering, you absolutely want to access the Truth (with a capital “T”) of things. If you want to wake up and empower, you simply do not want old energy ideas and old energy thinking stewing around in your brain.
I talk more about the importance of right thinking and how to use the tarot to ensure right thinking (a.k.a. right thought) in The Book of The Triumph of Spirit and in this short article on Tarot Purpose. Here I just want to provide a quick run down on some of the terms and symbolism I use. If you want to understand the tarot, and in particular if you want to understand the significance of the Halo/Sharp new energy tarot, it is important you understand the symbols and what they are intended to convey. You cannot expect to achieve right thinking/enlightenment if you come up with meanings that were never intended for the cards. This would be like reading the English language, but assigning your own random meanings to the words. It might be clever and creative, but you will be unable to communicate with anybody if you do not get the meanings. So take the time to learn the symbols and definitions.
Key Terms
The Book
The Book is a metaphor to describe the collection of archetypes that make up a planet’s Creation Template. The Tarot (both old energy and new) is one manifestation of The Book. Each of the major arcana of the western tarot represent a “leaf” or “page” in The Book. Put all the tarot pages together and you have this planet’s Creation Template. Currently there are two Books that you can read from, the Old Energy Masonic version, or the New Energy Halo/Sharp version.
Creation Templates
Creation proceeds from consciousness or rather, the ideas in consciousness. This is all very fine and dandy if there is only one person creating, but at this stage of The Unfolding there are billions of incarnated monads on just this one planet. The basic engineering problem is, how do you organize the intent of billions of people towards a focused creative goal? The answer? Creation templates! A creation template is simply a set of archetypes designed with a creative goal, and inserted into the consciousness of the individual physical unit, that guide collective manifestation. There are currently two creation templates, an active and masonic one, implanted without permission into the children of this planet, and geared towards creating a world of hierarchy and privilege, and the Michael Sharp Halo/Sharp version geared towards creating a world of equality and prosperity for all.
Archetypes
Archetypes are the individual “pages” in the The Book. Archetypes may be a single idea, or a collection of ideas wrapped into a single, meaningful, bundle.
Archetypal Constellations
Individual archetypes rarely stand alone. One archetype (for example the masonic FOOL) intepenetrates with other archetypes (for example the masonic Magician) to create an explanation, expectation and (in the case of the Old Book), justification. Archetypes interpenetrate by design. Complex creative tasks can be accomplished by carefully designing inter-related archetypes.
Halo/Sharp Tarot
The new energy Creation Template designed by Michael Sharp and illustrated by Oxo Halo.
Book of the Triumph of Spirit
The first tarot book by Michael Sharp. Provides an initial glimpse into this planet’s creation template. Sparse and poetic by design, intended to facilitate intuitive connection and opening.
Book of the Triumph of Spirit Master Key
A complete exegesis of the old energy and new energy Creation Template, along with an introduction to the advanced spiritual psychology of The Lightning Path.
Definitions
Chains. Chains mean chains. In the tarot deck, the chains that appear in the Saturn (old Devil) card represent the chains on consciousness that bind our physical unit and keep us from our Joyful Power and glory. Because all things are rooted in consciousness, chains are applied primarily by imposing certain archetypes into the collective consciousness of this planet. The old energy tarot applies chains, and the energy Halo/Sharp removes them.
Circles and Spheres. Circles and spheres represent, depending on context, energy points, energy sources, or monadic intensifications (your soul in other words).
Color. Color is used to indicate different (though not necessarily “higher”) vibration. For example, in Joyful it is used to represent the different vibrations of the seven chakras. In the World card it is used to represent the “twelve tribes,” a.k.a. the signs of the zodiac, a.k.a. the many different “vibrations” that consciousness can hold as it manifests in the physical world.
Disks, clay disks, and dirt. Disks and dirt represent the 3D/physical universe. The 3D physical universe is the one that you see when you open your eyes in a physical body. The physical universe is represented in multiple locations in the Halo/Sharp Tarot. In Sacrifice we see it as a clay disk, in Star we see it with the yin/yang symbol superimposed to indicate the energetic foundation of physical creation (i.e. a balance of ying and yang).
The Devil. The Devil is used to represent The System. In the Halo/Sharp deck, the devil is vanquished as the chains that bind consciousness are finally and forever removed.
Egg (Cosmic Egg). The file pointer to your “akashic file.” Expressed with elegant metaphor in consciousness, and mirrored (as above in consciousness, so below in matter) magnificently in reality. For a definition of the cosmic egg, see the LP advanced book, the Book of Light Volume Two.
Helix. The double helix DNA is the physical manifestation of the “akashic file pointer.” (see book of light volume II). See Dossier of the Ascension for information on the significance of DNA to activation and awakening. The helix appears in the Halo/Sharp tarot Initiation.
God. In the old world tarot, when god appears it is as a symbol of authority. God the abusive and punishing father, God the sheep herder of sheep, etc. The Halo/Sharp Tarot deck relies on a properly conceived understanding of God. If you wish to learn the true nature of God, consciousness, and Spirit please consult The Book of Light.
Great Work, The. The Great Work is the work of ascension (See The Book of Life and Volume Four of The Book of Light). The idea of the Great Work is present whenever you see a wheel, circle, or world in the tarot. The Great Work is represented in The Sacrifice card, The World Card, and The Universe Card. The Great Work is about uplifting creation and it is why we incarnate and Sacrifice on this planet. In the Halo/Sharp system, the Great Work is something we ALL participate in (as clearly indicated in The World card where we see all twelve signs of the zodiac working with Gaia to achieve ascension (the successful ascension of creation is represented in The Universe card).
Infinity Symbol. The infinity symbol is the sideways 8 ∞ which you often see in esoteric writings. It refers to consciousness, or rather one aspect of consciousness which is that consciousness is infinite, alpha and omega, beginning without end. When it appears in the Halo/Sharp tarot it is as a reminder of the infinity of your existence and the fact that you’ve been “around the block” more than once.
Light. Light refers to consciousness (as defined in The Book of Light) so wherever you see light (i.e., light bulb, star, glowing star, Star of David, star in a lantern, etc.) think consciousness.
Lightning Bolt. Divine inspiration. The realization of The Promise. The loving and gentle embrace of god, Spirit and truth that clears away the dust and detritus of The System and reveals to you your pristine power and glory. See the Tower card in the old system, and the power card in the Halo/Sharp system.
Serpent. Physical creation. The universe. The cosmos. The multiverse. Especially when shown as ouroboros (i.e., snake eating it’s tail). See the Book of Light volume two for the cosmological foundation of this symbolism.
Skull. In the Halo/Sharp archetype system, skulls represent fear.
The Sun. Understanding the significance of the sun in tarot symbolism is key. See the Book of Light volume two for the cosmological foundation and philosophical explication of the full import of the symbol. Remember, you are a STAR.
The Moon. Intuition, receptivity, holistic thinking, pattern recognition, THE RIGHT BRAIN.
Water. Water represents consciousness. Sometimes physical creation. Sometimes energy. Sometimes all three. It depends on the context. Water is equivalent to energy and energy is displayed as fractal imagery in the Halo/Sharp tarot.
Wheel. The Wheel represents The Great Work. In the Halo/Sharp deck it represents the divine work of ascension which we all undertake, in the corrupted old world decks it indicates karmic work and/or or slavery to the wheel (i.e., the productive aspects of The System).
Yellow Brick Road (The). Contrary to masonic opinion, the yellow brick road doesn’t lead to the smelly old Hierophant dangling himself in the big oak chair. Instead, it leads directly back to knowledge of self and awareness of Divinity, i.e., the original state of JOY and bliss of self.
