Bells

The Card: Ace of Bells

The Name: The Bell

The Image: A Hindu Bell and Dorje floats in space.

The Interpretation: The suit of Bells is all about the Spirit or Essence of things, the Archetypal reality underlying what is perceived. The Ace focuses on this concept, and is a reminder to look at the world this way once in a while, lest you get caught up in irrelevancies. As a person: One who looks for underlying patterns and who sees the Spirit behind everything. As a time: The Once Upon A Time beginning of the world, or at least the current story. Reversed: Stop looking for interpretations and look at what is right in front of your face, or you're going to walk out in front of a bus.

The Card: Two of Bells

The Name: Berdache

The Image: A man in women's clothes dances for the tribe, her hair in twin braids.

The Interpretation: Once acceptance of the female in the male, or the male in the female, is reached, new insights can be achieved. As a person: Someone who is androgynous; someone who is in touch with the male and female side of things; someone who is bisexual. As a time: A time of the meeting of opposites. Reversed: Don't shun aspects of your own gender—but remember, society's definitions are only one option.

The Card: Three of Bells

The Name: Fruit

The Image: On the branch, a fruit ripens. Suspended by ribbons from the same branch, three bells tinkle gently.

The Interpretation: Spiritual planting bears spiritual fruit. Nurture that which is growing within you—when it ripens, it will feed you in preparation for your next cycle. As a person: Someone with a green thumb; Someone who is very spiritual, and whose spirituality brings good effect on the material plane. As a time: The time of fruition; The moment when that which has been planned comes to pass. Reversed: You'd better pluck the fruit, because the moment of ripeness passes in an instant into putrification.

The Card: Four of Bells

The Name: Flying Tower

The Image: From a distance, winged people dive from the top of a square tower, swooping and frolicking on the updrafts.

The Interpretation: Take flight! But make sure you've got a solid base to jump from. As a person: Someone who takes "leaps of faith." As a time: A time to take the leap; a time to take off and begin your flight. Reversed: You're not starting from a stable surface, and probably shouldn't jump until everything's ready.

The Card: Five of Bells

The Name: Astral Projection

The Image: A soul-walker glides along an astral road. Beneath, attached by a silver tether, is the sleeping form of the walker.

The Interpretation: Move beyond the material, and you'll find yourself on a whole new level. As a person: Someone not well connected to the material plane; a dreamer. As a time: A time of escape; a time of rest and inner search. Reversed: If you forget to take care of your body and maintain your connection to it, you may lose part of yourself.

The Card: Six of Bells

The Name: Ascent

The Image: A woman clothed in gossamer climbs a crystalline stairway through the night sky.

The Interpretation: All evolution happens through a combination of your own efforts and support and guidance from Spirit. It is time to start climbing. As a person: Someone who is on the way up. As a time: A time of spirit-assisted work; a time of evolution. Reversed: You are having such a hard time because you are struggling against the guidance of Spirit.

The Card: Seven of Bells

The Name: Satori

The Image: The meditator awakens after a long search, enlightenment clearly on his face.

The Interpretation: The insight you seek is upon you, prepare for the flash. As a person: Someone who is seeking insight; someone who has the sought-after answer; a catalyst. As a time: The moment of sudden inspiration. Reversed: The understanding you seek is already there, you are merely afraid to face it.

The Card: Eight of Bells

The Name: Judgment

The Image: The judgment of the Egyptian afterlife: The heart is weighed by the gods against the feather of truth.

The Interpretation: All wrongs are balanced in the end, perhaps you shouldn't focus on them now. As a person: A person of solemn judgment; someone concerned with karmic debt. As a time: A time of judgment; the afterlife. Reversed: Something is uneven in your judgment—it would be best if you'd reexamine your motives in the matter.

The Card: Nine of Bells

The Name: Vision Quest

The Image: A youth sits in a meditative posture in the wilderness. A spirit animal approaches.

The Interpretation: It's time to step away from the everyday world for a while to see whether in the solitude you can get a closer connection with Spirit. As a person: Someone who has been on a vision quest; someone who gets guidance from a spirit animal guide. As a time: A time of fasting; a vision quest. Reversed: Don't ignore the material world, or you may have nothing to return to when your quest is over.

The Card: Ten of Bells

The Name: Shamanic Transformation

The Image: A village Shaman transforms into a wolf.

The Interpretation: In entering the next phase of your development, you must be willing to change form. It won't necessarily be comfortable. As a person: A Shaman; Someone who, at least emotionally, seems to be a shapeshifter. As a time: A time of transformation. Reversed: Take courage and continue the process you've begun, or you will die in the Chrysalis.

The Card: Heir of Bells

The Name: Ringing the Bell

The Image: A child rings a bell larger than herself.

The Interpretation: Spirit is sending out a call, and if you respond you will find yourself on a path into a new world. As a person: A child; Someone who calls people to greater things, intentionally or not. As a time: The time of the Calling. Reversed: As the Moslems say, "Follow Allah, but first tie up your camel." Take care of material matters before you go wandering off into the wilderness.

The Card: Champion of Bells

The Name: Spirit Guide

The Image: At a crossroads, a spirit animal sits, directing the traveler.

The Interpretation: Listen: all around you are signals showing you what you want to know, you have but to look! As a person: One who is guided by spirits. As a time: A time when a decision is at hand, but the decider is directed. Reversed: Stop asking the spirits what to do—you either know the answer and are avoiding it, or are perfectly capable of making up your own mind.

The Card: Consort of Bells

The Name: The Hermaphrodite

The Image: A naked blue man embraces a naked red woman tightly enough to make them appear as one being with features of both.

The Interpretation: Only things created by man have black-or-white reality. Spirit is both genderless and encompassing both genders. Embrace paradoxes and seeming opposites. Contradict yourself. This is one of the paths of wisdom. As a person: Someone who is androgynous; Someone who embraces both sides of things. As a time: A time of transition between opposites, as is Dusk. Reversed: You are having difficulties discerning. Sharpen your focus and you'll see that two things you are looking at are not the same.

The Card: Monarch of Bells

The Name: The One

The Image: In the midst of the void a glowing sun burns. It is the combined energy of an infinity of souls, who exist both as separate entities and as part of The One.

The Interpretation: All spirit is one Spirit, all souls are one Soul. This does not interfere with your individuality, but allows you, if you're willing to let go, to tap into the resources of the infinite. As a person: Someone who is in touch with the infinite; someone who is part of the whole; someone who channels Deity. As a time: Infinity. Reversed: Stop trying to melt into the infinite and be yourself. The time has come to be an individual.