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The
Chakra Lube Job: Using the Tarot as a Tool of Healing
by
Cathy H. Burroughs
 The
Tarot, long a powerful tool of divination, can also be used as
a dramatic tool of healing, and for shifting deep patterns. The
deck that I suggest for this, the Rider-Waite, is perhaps the
most well known deck in the Western world. Created by Dr. Arthur
Edward Waite (1857-1942), a scholar of occultism, and illustrated
by Pamela Coleman Smith, a theatrical designer and American member
of The Order of the Golden Dawn, it is the “standard”
teaching deck, and the first to use detailed illustrations of
the Minor Arcana, not just the Major.
The Deck Itself
The 78 cards of the tarot deck are divided into two groups: 22
Major Arcana Cards, and 56 Minor Arcana cards, made up of pip
or suit cards (1-10), as well as court cards, which more or less
correspond with traditional playing cards. The meanings of the
Major Arcana are generally considered more far-reaching, relating
to our journey for meaning and enlightenment, while the minors
are considered more transient, representative of day-to-day activities.
The Chakra Lube Job Reading
Using both the structure of the seven Chakras and the images of
the Rider-Waite deck, the Chakra Lube Job illustrates how the
cards of a layout may be replaced as the healing progresses; as
the images shift, they actually depict the process of growth and
resolution, similar to time-elapsed photography.
The Seven Chakras
The term Chakra is the Sanskrit word for wheel, and refers to
our own energy system: the interface between our energetic and
physical selves, our body and consciousness. Just as the car's
engine requires regular maintenance, the Chakras, too, require
regular “tune ups.” This not only keeps its system running
smoothly, but addresses any blocks or problems on the core level.
While the chakras can be “tuned-up” through meditation,
energy work with light, sound, color, crystals, singing bowls,
musical instruments and others, the method which I've created
and coined is known as The Chakra Lube Job.
The Chakras, one through seven, are: #1, the Root,
at the base of the spine, which relates to our ability to prosper
and thrive on the earth; #2, the Sacrum relates
to our ability to gratify ourselves; #3, the Solar Plexus
addresses our own personal power and capacity to be comfortable
in our skin; #4, the Heart preserves unconditional
love, and the integration of all polarities; #5, the
Throat, the center of the seven, is self expression; #6,
the Third Eye, our ability to see the big picture and our
psychic center; and, #7, the Crown, at the top of
the head, is our connection to the universal, wisdom and bliss.
The Chakra Lube Job Layout
Here is a sample healing Chakra Lube Job, to show you how this
works. This was a session with a woman in her early fifties,
who is accomplished in her field, and highly regarded in her community.
She pulled seven cards, one for each of the seven primary Chakras,
in a vertical formation. She then continued pulling cards, until
I, or, she, or both of us felt the process was complete. This
process uses the images of the Rider-Wait deck to heal and shift
the chakric patterns, in a very conscious fashion, and may take
anywhere from 20 minutes to several hours. (You may want to use
your own deck to follow along.)
Initial Layout
Card #1 (Root) Ace of Pentacles (an immense pentacle
shown emerging from a cloud, held by a huge celestial hand, above
a flowering hedge and archway leading out to mountains)
Interpretation: This is a wonderful, life-affirming card
that points to new beginnings, particularly of a financial nature.
This ties in beautifully with the meaning of this chakra; the
primary concern with this image, however, is that it refers to
divine intervention, and points to a fundamental belief on this
person's part that she did not hold the power for her capacity
to thrive in her own hands.
Card # 2 (Sacrum) Three of Wands (man on land, facing
away from three wands).
Interpretation: This card indicates that this woman has
given up on fulfilling her own sexual and emotional needs. She
has turned her back on any expectation, but does not know where
she will go from here.
Card #3 (Solar Plexus) The Magician (#1) Major Arcana
(an androgynous figure in a red coat holding a wand that points
upwards and downwards, behind a table bearing a cup, a pentacle,
a sword and a wand)
Interpretation: This is a powerful Major Arcana or destiny
Card, #1 in this sequence, which like the Ace of Pentacles, which
she pulled for the first Chakra, (also a #1), shows she is in
a powerful new cycle of putting herself first or fresh beginnings.
This card shows that she has all the resources and power she needs
to transform her life, and create all that she envisions. She
loved this card, and we did not feel guided to choose any other
cards. (This is quite unusual to stay with the first card chosen,
and indicates that this area of personal power is very solid for
her, and that she has everything she needs to make her life as
she desires.)
Card #4 (Heart) Four of Wands (two women celebrating
in the background near a castle tower; in foreground, four wands
forming a lush canopy)
Interpretation: This is a beautiful celebratory card. My
primary concern was that the two women were so far in the background,
indicating they did not feel they were at the center of this area
of their lives. They clearly loved life and had a great capacity
to give and receive love, but tended to put themselves in the
background.
Card #5 (Throat) King of Swords (Virile dark-haired
young king, in blue robes, seated on a throne, holding a sword
erect)
Interpretation: This card indicates that this woman feels
very powerful in her position as a communicator; it is important,
however, to note that this is a strongly masculine or patriarchal
card, indicating that she does not necessarily feel this power
as a woman, but more in a socially determined position of authority.
Card #6 (Third Eye) Two of Cups (man and woman making
an oath or promise. I call this the “going steady” card,
not as serious as The Lovers, Major Arcana)
Interpretation: This is the second card that depicts two
people in it. This indicates that she does not feel completely
self-reliant in her capacity to express her intuitive gifts or
see the big picture. It may indicate that she prefers to be validated
or supported by a partner (in this case a male or romantic partner).
Card #7 (Crown) The Emperor #4 Major Arcana*
(an imposing bearded white haired ruler or father figure, in red
robes and warrior armor, seated on a stone throne, holding an
ankh.)
Interpretation: This is the second card of powerful male
authority that she drew. This indicates that she feels strongly
connected to her higher wisdom and the Universe, but in a form
of male authority, or following in the footsteps of the father.
It is no surprise that this woman has Saturn prominently in her
chart, which points to a tendency to look for authority, and hence
validation, within the framework of the established order of things.
It also indicates that she looks to work and outer sources of
acknowledgement (such as success, status and approval) for her
personal validation. This is a powerful card, as it is a Major
Arcana, and points to an overriding theme in her life.
The Crown
The remaining session lasted two hours, and while we don't
have time to show the entire process, we will give the example
of the Crown position to demonstrate the process. I asked the
woman to draw a card for a chakra position in which she felt the
need for healing. After interpreting that card, I asked her to
draw another card until she felt complete with the healing on
that chakra. We did this with each chakra until all were complete
and healed.
Crown sequence
Card #1 The Emperor (see above)*
Card #2 Ten of Wands (shows a blond androgynous
individual carrying ten wands, as if burdened, on his/her shoulders.
With home in the not too distant background, she/he is closer
to home than he/she realizes.)
Interpretation: This card indicates that she feels overwhelmed
by all that she has to do. This is emblematic of someone who always
has a chore to accomplish or a deadline to meet. While they feel
overwhelmed by this pattern, they don’t know any other way.
The fact that they are closer to home then they realize, indicates
she is maxed out on this tendency, and very close to reaching
a place where she no longer will continue with this pattern.
Card #3: The Empress #3 Major Arcana
Interpretation: I was thrilled to see her pull this card,
the female counterpart to the Emperor, and a Major Arcana card,
showing a major shift in core perception. This is Venusian card,
a celebration of one's femaleness, a card where someone is
allowing themselves to live in concert with the natural cycles,
enjoying life and comfortable in their female essence in a powerful
and celebratory way. This card indicates no pressure to succeed,
and a joy in just being, enjoying and being receptive to the sensual
and natural pleasures of life itself.
This short sequence demonstrates how this process maps a major
shift in self perception. It displays this process, using the
simultaneity of cause and effect, and mirrors back to us, using
the archetypal illustrations of the Rider-Waite, our own healing.
This healing affects our own Chakric well-being, as well as our
own relationship to our self, and to the Universe. This process
demonstrates how The Chakra Lube Job functions to both heal and
maintain a healthy and life affirmative relationship to mind,
body and spirit, allowing us to prosper and thrive, continuing
on our path to true happiness and true self, fulfilling our destiny,
as we go.
Cathy
H. Burroughs is a Tarot teacher, reader, and healer and writer for Aquarius.
For more information on The Chakra Lube Job, astrology, and more, contact
her at 404.292.2000 or cathyb108@aol.com.
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Tarot
