This week in Tarot 4 Tyson…
- The Past – Death (reversed)
- The Present – The Hierophant
- The Future – The High Priestess (reversed)
- The Outcome- The Tower
Yikes is the only word to describe this spread upon first looking at it. I even felt the need to grab my favorite skull off my altar for the photo-shoot. You’re probably wondering to what I am referring to when I say, ‘Yikes!’ Dr. Tyson? Well for one -and please refrain from rolling your eyes- the appearance of all Major Arcana cards always signals some serious shit is going down (pardon my language). Also with the spread opening with the Death card and closing with The Tower, this implies some heavy changes are about to take place.
When most people see the Death card they tend to turn ghost-white because they’re afraid that it may be time to cash in their chips, but this isn’t necessarily the case with the Death card, however it can be. Because, as prophesized by the great Kenny Rogers, life is like a game of poker (and not a box of chocolates) meaning, you got to know when to hold’em, know when to fold’em, know when to walk away, and know when to run, but I diGress Dr. Tyson… The Death card can also mean an ending or in this case possibly stagnation or a stalemate (to use a chess term) because of its reversed position. However, when we consider the rest of the cards in conjunction with the Death card, we can discern some more about what it may mean.
In some aspect, the presence of both The Hierophant and The High Priestess leads me to think of a funeral I’m sorry to say. The spiritual and religious authority that these cards can allude to makes me wonder if we’re looking at the recent death of a friend, colleague, or family member. However, despite the form or type of ‘ending’ that is being depicted whether it’s an actual death or the stagnation of a project or situation, The Hierophant reveals an alliance, a coming together in light of the recent ‘death.’ As one of the odd sides to tragedy, is its power to bring people together, though unfortunately it also harbors the potential to destroy which seems to be hinted at later (4).
Before I conclude this reading, lets not forget the role of The High Priestess in all of this. Who is she you ask?
The text describes The High Priestess in her reversed state as pertaining to passion or moral or physical ardor, which in combination with The Hierophant, speaks of an alliance that could be passionate or formed out of much personal need. This could refer to a mother figure, friend, or lover, of which may lead us to what The Tower is foretelling. Due to her (3) unpredictable reversed nature, she may be what causes The Tower to fall or she may just be the calm before the storm. It’s tough to tell.
Finally, it’s important to note that despite all this, and though The Tower appears like another tragedy, it can also be a offering you a fresh start in the near future. Good luck and God and Goddess speed Dr. Tyson!
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Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson, is an American astrophysicist and science communicator. He is currently the Frederick P. Rose Director of the Hayden Planetarium at the Rose Center for Earth and Space and a research associate in the department of astrophysics at the American Museum of Natural History. – (Wikipedia)
*Dr. Tyson has not approved nor endorsed this blog.